Feel Me Don't You

Climate change – it’s one of the relatively new buzzwords that grabs people’s attention by both ears and directs them where they may or may not want to go. Whether you personally believe in the topic or don’t, whether you think the world is giving you the shaft or feel there needs to be more vigorous attention as we play back and forth over this hot button topic, people are becoming frenzied as the situation builds towards its inevitable climax.

Perhaps American’s just want to lay there and ignore the situation or perhaps they are exuberantly screaming as they force the rest of the country’s collective face in it. In either case, CBS wants to ensure you know Congress is screwing you and this is where your money is being shot. Read the article. Please.

How can Americans not be at least angered by this situation? Those individuals posting defeatist comments like “this is nothing new, it’s been going on for years and will continue for years to come” have placed themselves in the “part of the problem” category as far as I’m concerned. Things that jump out at me from that article…

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is a key climate change player. He went to Copenhagen last year. Last week, we asked him about the $2,200-a-day bill for room and food.

“I can’t believe that,” Rep. Waxman said. “I can’t believe it, but I don’t know.”

But his name is in black and white in the expense reports. The group expense report was filed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. She wouldn’t talk about it when our producer tried to ask.

Pelosi’s office did offer an explanation for the high room charges. Those who stayed just two nights were charged a six-night minimum at the five-star Marriott. One staffer said, they strongly objected to no avail. You may ask how they’ll negotiate a climate treaty, if they can’t get a better deal on hotel rooms.

So is it blind ignorance or unmitigated arrogance on the part of these government officials? Do they not care about the cost or do they simply not pay attention? Both are dangerous situations. Who are the geniuses who agreed to pay a “six-night minimum” rate when they knew they would only be there for two? Regardless of the star rating of an establishment, would you pay for four nights at a hotel where you weren’t staying? That’s just the first level of stupidity/arrogance. How in the world were these expense reports given the okay? Ms. Pelosi? Hello? Why isn’t Gene L. Dodaro stepping in and saying the US Government isn’t reimbursing them for that? How long do you think this extravagant spending would continue if the money had to come from these representative’s own pockets?

How do you think the Marriott chain will fare in all this? I realize that in the world of capitalism a business has the right to charge whatever they deem for their product or service. How can the Marriott, in good conscience, justify sticking these people for nights that they weren’t there? Am I missing something here?

Flights weren’t cheap, either. Fifty-nine House and Senate staff flew commercial during the Copenhagen rush. They paid government rates — $5-10,000 each — totaling $408,064. Add three military jets — $168,351 just for flight time — and the bill tops $1.1 million dollars — not including all the Obama administration officials who attended: well over 60.

Wait a minute! Government rates for a commercial flight ranged from “$5-10,000 each”?! Why they didn’t portray that cost as $5k – 10k or $5,000 – 10,000 , I don’t know – it seems sloppy or misleading the way it’s written. I digress. So, the U.S. bails out the airline industry in 2001 and this is what they get in return?

There’s just so much blame to go around here! Perhaps if enough people peruse that list of representatives – and their spouses/daughter – they might be angered enough to write and complain at the least or get them out of office when the time comes. I’m very curious what the backlash from this will be.

Ugh, I feel violated. “Excuse me, what’s that U.S. representatives? Just leave the money on the dresser? Ok. When can I see you again?”

(/nod PTM)