USDOJ buys $16 muffins, $8 coffees, $5 meatballs, etc

[LikeLinus]

You do know what projections are don't you?

KT

Yes, as I said, I realize its spread out and some projections are included. But the graph doesn't account for potential future spending or stimulus. It's still only showing what he's done in 2 1/2 years vs. 8 total years.

Obviously they cannot predict the future, but it just goes to show how stupid the graph is.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

People always wonder how these things occur. Every meeting, briefing, awards ceremony etc. is allowed a certain amount of money for the event according to many factors. Not the least of which is how much is in a particular groups budget for said meeting and how many expected meetings there will be till the next fiscal year.

Then the commander or host of the group turns it over to whoever is lowest on the totem pole because they're much too laz...err I mean busy to handle the details themselves. Now this lowest on the totem pole person, who's never even planned a kegger in HS, goes to the venue which is hosting the event and says we have <the total amount that is possible to spend> for this many people. Now, what can you do for us?

The venue director rubs his/her hands gleefully and says, "Oh, you want breakfast coffee and snacks?" Doing some quick math in their head, "that'll be blah blah blah and the total on the contract works out to $32 a head."

But, you say, does no one review these expenditures? Why of course.
Were goods received? Check.
Did an authorized person sign the contract? Check.
Was the total amount spent within budget? Check.
Sadly, did someone spend $16 on a muffin. Is not listed on the S.O.P.

 

[lupi]

given that this sounds like convention center type of stuff, and not knowing all the locations/level of service, this doesn't surprise me on the prices. and if they are using those prices, it means they have enough non-government buyers to sustain them for most of their business year. think about that.

 

[Ronstang]

It is amazing how easy it is to spend, and waste, other peoples' money. That is the crux of the problem with all governments.

 

[Eos]

No surprise. The people who've been working for the government for 15 years aren't changing now just because there's a budget crisis. They're still trying to spend all they can and then some, so that their department will get a bigger budget and be more important.

Can't patriotism and desire for your country to do well just once take precedence over a fucking power grab? Disgusting...

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Its high because its probably including the cost to bid out and procure.

How about they don't bid out and procure muffins and coffee? Go pick up a 12 pack at Einsteins for $15 for crying out loud.

 

[JS80]

You do know what projections are don't you?

KT

He misunderstands the chart, but it's still a dishonest chart.

 

[Eos]

Quite possible, though i typically don't have them all the way down cause then i can't hear the radio so the effect is likely reduced. on a typical fillup i'll average 42-46mpg's

either way....55mph > 70+ for gas mileage
a

Not always.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

given that this sounds like convention center type of stuff, and not knowing all the locations/level of service, this doesn't surprise me on the prices. and if they are using those prices, it means they have enough non-government buyers to sustain them for most of their business year. think about that.

I'm very aware of the ripoff prices of convention centers, as I ran IT for our national convention every year. However, you'd think the government could come up with something cheaper. I know what our company paid for the national conventions (it was OUTRAGEOUS) and if the government is doing that, we're being robbed.

 

[Patranus]

First of all, letting people keep THIER money doesn't cost a single cent. The fact that people like you believe that the government is entitled to ones money and that someone should be thankful the government lets them keep a single cent is disgusting.

Secondly...
The national debt January 2001 was $5.662 trillion.
The national debt January 2009 was $10.669 trillion
Over that 8 year period, the national debt increased about $620 billion per year.

(That national debt number includes TARP funds that were paid out durning the BOOSH administration BUT paid back under the Obama administration who then spent the money instead of paying back the loans needed to pay the money in the first place. But that is a discussion for another day.)

The nation debt right now is $14.771 trillion.
In about 2.5 years the national debt has risen $4.102 trillion or at a rate of $1.6 trillion per year.

That is more than DOUBLE the rate at which money was spend under GWB.

 

[Patranus]

We very clearly have both.

You realize that if the federal government simply went back to 2008 spending levels there would be a $800 billion (would be lower but 2011 has decreased revenues thanks to the "recession") deficit opposed to the $1.65 trillion deficit we have right now.

The thing is that the federal government spent too much in 2008.

 

[Engineer]

Sad...really sad.

 

[MarkXIX]

You do know what projections are don't you?

KT

Is that something like "jobs saved"?

 

[ShawnD1]

it's sad, even if you ignore the people who sleep on big piles of money at night, we could still probably fund all the 'socialist' programs we want with just the corporate and governmental waste from this country.

It's shocking how expensive catering is. Ask anyone who has had a wedding how much it costs per plate. You start looking at $30/plate and yeah it does work out to maybe $5 for a meatball and $5 for a cup of pepsi.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It's shocking how expensive catering is. Ask anyone who has had a wedding how much it costs per plate. You start looking at $30/plate and yeah it does work out to maybe $5 for a meatball and $5 for a cup of pepsi.

Because rooms, linens, tables and chairs, clean carpets, matching plates, glasses, silverware, decorations, bar tenders, waiters, cooks, dishwashers, planners, service and clean up should all be free, right?

 

[middlehead]

President Thomas Whitmore: I don't understand, where does all this come from? How do you get funding for something like this?

Julius Levinson: You don't actually think they spend $20,000.00 on a hammer, $30,000.00 on a toilet seat do you?

 

[bfdd]

Ridiculous waste of tax dollars, but they don't care because it's not their money.

 

[ShawnD1]

Because rooms, linens, tables and chairs, clean carpets, matching plates, glasses, silverware, decorations, bar tenders, waiters, cooks, dishwashers, planners, service and clean up should all be free, right?

Ummmm yes? Have you ever been to McDonalds? All the tables and chairs are color coordinated and they don't charge a dime for it. I get my 2 cheeseburgers and drink for under $5.
Maybe you're extra fancy and you want plates. Go to Buffet World and get unlimited food for $12. That includes the use of plates, knives, forks, spoons, etc.

 

[brblx]

who the fuck let pat-anus out of his cage?

his name is a portmanteau for 'patronizing asshole,' right?

edit: also known as 'rich republican without any money who spends his time posting on internet forums.'

 

[paperfist]

It adds up. A million people saying "fuck it. It's only a few grand" adds up to real money quickly. If you can't save a penny, you can't save a dollar.

That's because you need a hundred pennies to make a dollar...

 

[Lithium381]

First of all, letting people keep THIER money doesn't cost a single cent. The fact that people like you believe that the government is entitled to ones money and that someone should be thankful the government lets them keep a single cent is disgusting.

Secondly...
The national debt January 2001 was $5.662 trillion.
The national debt January 2009 was $10.669 trillion
Over that 8 year period, the national debt increased about $620 billion per year.

(That national debt number includes TARP funds that were paid out durning the BOOSH administration BUT paid back under the Obama administration who then spent the money instead of paying back the loans needed to pay the money in the first place. But that is a discussion for another day.)

The nation debt right now is $14.771 trillion.
In about 2.5 years the national debt has risen $4.102 trillion or at a rate of $1.6 trillion per year.

That is more than DOUBLE the rate at which money was spend under GWB.

maybe my history is hazy but wasn't bush in office for EIGHT years..... and Obama has only been there two?

 

[SZLiao214]

The chart says its his projected spending of new policies up till 2017. Pretty inaccurate way to look at this.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Who ate all the muffin tops? Those muffins look like stumps.

 

[Patranus]

maybe my history is hazy but wasn't bush in office for EIGHT years..... and Obama has only been there two?

That is what I said.

 

[her209]

How about they don't bid out and procure muffins and coffee? Go pick up a 12 pack at Einsteins for $15 for crying out loud.

Because then you'll have people complaining about why didn't so and so go get it at this place or that place?

BTW, you can pick up at 20 pack from Costco for like $7.