The stories keep coming and coming. Left and right, time after time, politicians and government are being critized by what some consider misuse of tax payers money.
I believe it would be different if the economy wasn't so bad. People are being more vigilant of how their hard earned money is being spent. And they should!
The latest story is about the G8 and G20 meetings, where the amount spent in gifts to international representatives is under fire.
The 'troubled' spends include among others, the following promotional items
Among the highlights: $3,039 for woven shawls by Huntsville' artist Marni Martin and $2,362.50 for crystal CN Tower replicas for the leaders' spouses; $2,560 for eight Hudson Bay blankets to give as gifts to political directors; $8,422 for Kanuk Umbrella coats in midnight blue for a march photo op with G8 Foreign Ministers; $32,000 on G8 and G20 lanyards, $24,297 on G20 lapel pins and zipper pulls; $750 for canoe paddles; $11,000 for a handmade Lindgren Pottery dining set for 24; $11,000 for pens; $3,136 for biodegradable pens; $8,267 for baggage handling carts and more than $1 million on IT equipment. Source
We all know that if you invite influential people to a meeting, they expect certain treatment and perks, otherwise you can be tilded of 'cheap'. Not that government likes that tag. But there are justifited expenses and some that are plain useless. Do tou really think these peopl care about a special logo 'zipper pull' enough to justify $10,000 ? I don't think so. If money is tight, you should make adjustments and spend less in frivolous things - specially those that won't make a difference on the receiver- jewlery like custom lapel pins, on the other hand, have a higher perceived value and can be viewed as jewelry, and be more appreciated by those who wear them and receive them.
To finalize, I think people and government should be wiser with the money they manage, but let's face it, sometimes is not about 'needing' but 'wanting' and when we want something, we got to have it.
No comments:
Post a Comment