[MD] Barfuesserkirche (ZMM & Dewey)

[craigerb at comcast.net]

[Case]
> 1) When did non-profits, schools, environmentalist and anyone seeking the> common good become labeled a "special interest."> 2) Most of the problems that receive public funding are ones that are either> too large for private interests or ones that do not lend themselves to the> profit motive....> 4) The most wasteful thing about the process is all the effort
> that goes into accounting for how the money is spent. Agencies that receive
> grants have to account for every dime. In contrast private companies don't
> have to account for diddly.Case,I'm not sure where you are coming from, but it seems terribly naive &/orout-of-date:1) Special interests never describe themselves as 'special interests'.  Theyalways say they're working for the "common good".  Don't be so easily fooled!2) In 1996 there were only 3,055 earmarks. In 2004 there were 14,211 of them,costing some $52.69 billion dollars. (Sunlight Foundation)  Update your thinkingon this one.4) Hello!  Governmental accountability anyone?  Also, Sarbanes-Oxley has increasedaccountability for private corporations.  It was in all the papers.Craig