Will Rogers frequently said, “All I know is what I read in the newspaper.” A hundred years ago newspapers were the only source of news, except the local barber shop and Women’s Club. Will often read 2 or 3 daily newspapers, especially when preparing for a presentation that night.
Today, more people depend on TV networks for their News. But one major national story seems to have slipped past those folks. A young independent journalist, Nick Shirley, has investigated and uncovered government fraud, first in Minnesota, and recently in California. Where are Lester Holt of NBC, Aaron Katersky and David Muir with ABC, or Jake Tapper, CNN?
Nick Shirley investigated and showed that Billions in federal tax dollars in Minnesota were wasted, with up to 90% going to Somalis who claimed it was for autistic children and day care centers. You might have seen the empty “Learing Center” in Minneapolis.
Then Mr. Shirley went to Los Angeles. He visited a day care that had only a couple of kids and no adult present. Also, a huge former motel, nearly empty, that received $170 million for hospice care.
Did the Governors of MN and CA thank Nick Shirley for exposing the waste? No, they belittled him. But that won’t stop him. He may show up in your state next, including here in Ohio.
Here’s a hint for a possible Ohio investigation: did you ever invite a friend or family to stay with you “temporarily?” And 15 years later, they refuse to move out?
California Governor Newsom has other disastrous boondoggles. The $33 Billion high-speed Los Angeles to San Francisco railroad is costing at least $140 Billion with zero tracks laid. If it is ever finished, to recoup the cost a round-trip ticket would cost over $2000.
If that isn’t enough waste, a few folks in Los Angeles convinced Newsom to commit $114 million to build a bridge over the famous 101 highway. You might be thinking, that must be an important interchange for I-10. No, it’s a bridge demanded by a few wildlife lovers for a couple of cougars and a flock of… butterflies.
Now, exactly how wide does this bridge have to be, even if two cougars decide to cross in opposite directions at the same time? Six feet should be plenty. But no, the cougar devotees calculated that for cougars to meander across, without interference from butterflies fluttering overhead, the bridge had to be 175 feet wide!
How does this bridge compare to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge? This bridge is 210-foot long. Would you believe, at the inflation-adjusted cost for the 9000-foot Golden Gate, per foot of length this Cougar-Butterfly Bridge is 6 times more expensive?
I haven’t seen the signs directing the cougars to the bridge. If they work as well as “deer crossing” signs in Eastern states…
The shutdown of TSA and other parts of Homeland Security continues. Since ICE agents are still getting paid, President Trump is moving ICE to help the undermanned TSA at airports. How will Sen. Schumer react at LaGuardia when he reaches the front of the line and an ICE agent asks for his ID?
The President gave Iran an ultimatum: open the oil shipping lane or we’ll destroy your electric generating plants. Will the lights go out in Tehran tomorrow?
Historic quotes by Will Rogers:
“The old newspaper in the morning is my breakfast. Course I don’t entirely depend on it. I like it accompanied by some ham and eggs, and a few biscuits, a series of cups of coffee…” WA #257, Nov. 27, 1927
“These big wars over commerce, they kill more people, but ones over religion is really the most bitter.” WA #350, Sept. 8, 1929