{"id":1560,"date":"2013-03-07T05:58:50","date_gmt":"2013-03-07T10:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1560"},"modified":"2013-03-07T05:58:50","modified_gmt":"2013-03-07T10:58:50","slug":"cutting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1560","title":{"rendered":"cutting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Years ago I read a book written by bestselling author, William J. Bennett, entitled The Death of Outrage.<\/em>\u00a0 While Bennett spoke of the relevance of then Pres. Clinton\u2019s sexual misconduct and how that potentially affected his governance, the focus of the book is the lack of indignation surrounding unscrupulous activity.\u00a0 Too often, as a people, we selectively (and sometimes conveniently)<\/em> turn the other way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For example, many who are quick to criticize Pres. Obama for any potential inaccuracy, gave Pres. Bush 43 a seemingly free pass when no weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq.\u00a0 Similarly, many who were quick to criticize Bush 43 for his stated inaccuracies, now give Obama complete freedom to \u201cevolve\u201d on multiple issues.\u00a0 Friends, our \u201cyes\u201d must mean \u201cyes\u201d and our \u201cno\u201d mean \u201cno.\u201d\u00a0 We would be wise to be consistent.\u00a0 Hence, where is the outrage?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yesterday I came across an eye-opening report from The Washington Times…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Times was investigating the actual impact from last week\u2019s sequestration enactment, especially since some pundits and politicians predicted significant doom and gloom even though the \u201ccuts\u201d are only decreases to planned increased spending; they are not actual cuts.\u00a0 At question has been whether or not any involved are now attempting to score political points as opposed to leading wisely and doing what\u2019s best for our country.\u00a0 In other words, there is some question as to whether or not specific cuts will be made that are wisest \u2014 OR (and this is a big \u201cOR\u201d)<\/em> \u2014 will the cuts be made in areas where we feel it most, where it hurts, thus prompting us to be outraged that the sequestration ever occurred.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ah, but such is not where the death of outrage is in question.\u00a0 What I question is the rest of the report, and where is our collective outrage \u2014 and the media\u2019s outrage\u00a0\u2014\u00a0about the following?\u00a0 I quote The Washington Times:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The White House announced Tuesday that it is canceling tours of the president\u2019s home for the foreseeable future as the sequester spending cuts begin to bite and the administration makes good on its warnings of painful decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Announcement of the decision \u2014 made in an email from the White House Visitors Office \u2014 came hours after The Washington Times reported on another administration email that seemed to show at least one agency has been instructed to make sure the cuts are as painful as President Obama promised they would be.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the internal email, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service official Charles Brown said he asked if he could try to spread out the sequester cuts in his region to minimize the impact, and he said he was told not to do anything that would lessen the dire impacts Congress had been warned of.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have gone on record with a notification to Congress and whoever else that \u2018APHIS would eliminate assistance to producers in 24 states in managing wildlife damage to the aquaculture industry, unless they provide funding to cover the costs.\u2019 So it is our opinion that however you manage that reduction, you need to make sure you are not contradicting what we said the impact would be,\u201d Mr. Brown, in the internal email, said his superiors told him.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In other words, when a federal worker asked how to apply the cuts, instead of being directed to be prudent or efficient or consider what might do the least harm \u2014 instead of being encouraged to act <\/em>wisely<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 the worker was told not to contradict anything that had been publicly stated.\u00a0 There is no way that such is a wise nor effective means of running the federal government.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hence, the Intramuralist asks:\u00a0 where is the outrage?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Respectfully,<\/p>\n

AR<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Years ago I read a book written by bestselling author, William J. Bennett, entitled The Death of Outrage.\u00a0 While Bennett spoke of the relevance of then Pres. Clinton\u2019s sexual misconduct and how that potentially affected his governance, the focus of the book is the lack of indignation surrounding unscrupulous activity.\u00a0 Too often, as a people, … <\/p>\n

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