http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/4/2/172215/9586 They really ought to add one more thing to those two certainties in life (death and taxes) - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_barrel">Congressional pork</a>.  Because, here it is 2008, the second session of the 110th Congress, and Congressmen and Senators are still inserting self-serving items into the federal budget.  Back when budget earmarks were only costing the US taxpayer millions rather than billions of dollars, the projects were quietly slipped into the budget and en-us Thu, 3 Apr 2008 07:53:59 EST Sun, 6 Apr 2008 22:09:44 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/4/2/172215/9586#5 <i>When the State of Ohio wanted to stick with the 0.15% alcohol limit for drunken driving, we were threatened with a cutoff of highway funds.</i> <p> States like this system because it's redistributive. A few states <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.h Sun, 6 Apr 2008 22:09:44 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/4/2/172215/9586#4 <i>"I have a feeling the reason most people aren't that bothered by pork is that it is, at least, an outlay of public funds they can appreciate because it's money spent in their district or state and not funneled off into the black holes of public expendit Sun, 6 Apr 2008 00:41:03 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/4/2/172215/9586#3 <i>especially in the smaller areas of the country where such things make a larger difference.</i><p> Yup, there's a very good reason why <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_byrddroppings">Senator Byrd</a> keeps getting Thu, 3 Apr 2008 23:17:18 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/4/2/172215/9586#2 <i>Sorry to say, but I think most Americans love pork</i> <p> Absolutely, especially in the smaller areas of the country where such things make a larger difference. In the larger metro areas I lived in, it's not something I've seen people be quite as awa Thu, 3 Apr 2008 17:19:08 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/4/2/172215/9586#1 At least, they like the pork their Representative or Senator steers the way of the homefolks.  Hell, it's a point of honor for politicians of contrasting stripe that they're as successful at the public trough as they are.  Hillary Clinton, our ne Thu, 3 Apr 2008 15:06:45 EST string http://www.treesandthings.com/search/