Corruption and inefficiency in the spending of your money by all levels of government is nothing new. That corruption and inefficiency is one reason why the government is always seeking new revenue streams; they simply cannot account for the funds they spend.  And the more strings the government (and here I mean any level of government, but it is so blatant at the Federal level) attaches to the monies, the more the opportunity for greater graft and inefficiency. 

In response to the sudden concern about the state of dependence on foreign manufacturing of chips, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act was passed which would help us decrease that dependence.  Yet buried withing the bill were requirements that billions of dollars (all of which are borrowed) be spent on day care centers for the employees, paid-leave allowances and “prevailing wages” during construction which very often actually slows the completion of Once On projects and leads to more inefficiencies.  If the manufacturing of chips is so important to national security, instead of “prevailing wages”, why not include a bonus if” the work is done ahead of schedule or heaven forbid, even on time?

The attached article gives but a taste of how large government which spends huge sums cannot account for much of the work and cannot keep track of the costs.  Any corporation or family unit that operated on the same basis would very quickly be in deep financial quicksand, but when all you need to do is authorize a new fee, or charge, or tax, why bother with accountability? 

Once upon a time in this country, prior to World War I, there were news reporters and writers who were known as “muckrakers”; they investigated and wrote about the corruption and criminality of numerous politicians and their allies.  Those brave individuals are long gone but the next time your government, at any level, has a hearing on some new fee/tax/surcharge/etc. don’t be afraid to ask what steps that agency is going to take to make sure that the precious monies you earn are not squandered. Remember, it is your money; the government does not generate wealth; the only wealth producers are “we the people” through our work, innovations, businesses, etc.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-more-some-states-spend-the-worse-things-seem-to-get