Editorials

Extravagant spending by GSA shows us what's wrong

TBO.com
Published: June 6, 2012

It's mind-numbing to consider the extravagant spending spree that top officials in the General Services Administration showed over several years. It demonstrates either complete arrogance or complete ignorance that this could have happened. We'd say it demonstrates both.

For those who have not been following the story, the GSA, which oversees the business of the federal government, spent lavishly on parties where employees were flown into places such as Las Vegas, costing $1 million in taxpayer money. More than $20,000 was spent on iPods to give away as prizes. More than $7,000 was spent on sushi rolls and $76,000 was given out in bonuses over five years for many people who were being investigated for all the spending.

This kind of excess plays into the hands of people who believe government is wasteful everywhere. It makes their case, which usually follows with drastic cuts in programs and services that help people who really need it.

For most of us, it's unimaginable that any government office would be so arrogant to spend taxpayer money in this way, especially when our economy was tanking. It shouldn't happen any time, but definitely not now.

It just goes to show that not much has really changed. Our politicians go on expensive junkets all over the world paid for by special interests. They usually call it educational and make excuses why it's necessary.

The fact is the rest of us live in a very different world than these folks. In our businesses and our private lives, we don't have an endless amount of money to tap so we can live the good life. It's one thing if a person actually earns the money and quite another when taxpayers are footing the bill.

There's little doubt this is the only agency that acted so recklessly. It's also true that although the money seems like a lot, it's just a drop in the bucket. But this is about public trust, and the public doesn't have much left anymore.

When an agency spends $147,000 in airfare so employees can party, and there are returning soldiers who cannot get the care they need, something is terrible wrong.