Republicans have no shame toward the deficit. Tax $ for tattoo removal.

[Mackenzie]

This is just absurd.

Remember, all spending bills originate in the House.

And who controls the House?

It's Republicans!

And how many spending bills has Bush vetoed so far during his 4 years as President?

Zero!

http://tinyurl.com/4ex8c

In fiscal 2002, a prime candidate for the newest poster child of pork is a $50,000 grant through the Department of Justice for the Liberty Tattoo Program in San Luis Obispo, California.

[paulk]

1. it's a worthwhile effort

and it's a Democratic initiative.

Do you know anything at all about the tatoo removal program?

[Mackenzie]

2. The only thing I know......

... is that if people want a tattoo removed, they should use their own money.

If people think this is "worthwhile," then let them use their own money.

Is there no type of activity that politicians are not willing to spend taxpayer's money on?

[paulk]

3. it's a program to remove the tattoos of gang members

who want to quit the gang life and rejoin society, but can't because their tattoos identify them as gang members. Most of these people don't have any money because they can't get a job with the gang "identifiers" tattooed on their skins. They're also subject to other inconveniences, like getting shot by members of rival gangs, etc., which would kind of suck since they're not gang members anymore.

It's a long and incredibly painful process, embarking on it shows a real commitment to changing one's life and rejoining society. Isn't that what government is for, to assist people in becoming useful and contributing members of society? I'd rather my tax money was spent this way than, say, the 200 billion they've shoveled into Iraq.

[depakid]

5. Typical shortsighted attitude

and one that ends up costing all of the rest of us TONS more money down the line.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi Mackenzie!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Mackenzie]

10. Hi!

Thanks for the welcome!

[dsc]

4. If it keeps just one person out of prison for two years

it will have made money. I think that is a good thing.

[Mackenzie]

6. People stay out of prison by not committing crimes.

And that is a decision that must be made by each individual.

Tattoos do not cause people to commit crimes.

Tattoos do not cause people to go to prison.

I just think that a line has to be drawn. Somewhere, someone has to say, "OK. This is it. This is something that the government is not going to stick its nose in. This is something where you're going to have have to take responsibility for your own actions, instead of expecting the government to bail you out."

We need more politicians who are willing to say "No" when it comes to requests for funding of things like this.

[depakid]

7. Tatoos cause people not to be hired

people who are unemployed tend to commit more crimes (costing us money).

People without gang tatoos get hired more often. When they're hired they pay taxes and their families aren't a burden on community services.

It's a straight up economic issue as far as I'm concerned. Seems foolish in my book to not to go forward with a program that save/earns the public money just so one can fall on the ideological sword of "personal responsibility."

[SoCalDem]

9. I say NO to pResidential yachts

:)

[rodeodance]

11. send an email to your congressperson about the yachts!!!!!

[SoCalDem]

12. Um.. I doubt that Mary Bono will care what I think

:grr:.. but I will write, nonetheless..

[progressivebydesign]

14. You obviously have no grasp of gang culture...

A gang tatoo marks you for life. You cannot escape it, because the tatoos are mostly in obvious places.. neck and hands. It's not simply removing the Metallica tatoo you got when you were 16, it's about removing tatoos that relate to gang and prison activity. It's about a fresh start.

I am constantly amazed by people that cry about such a pittance of the budget going to something (worthy, but misunderstood), and yet you don't seem to mind the BILLIONS of tax dollars diverted by Bush's friends and their offshore corporations... their tax shelters. Get the priorities straight.

[progressivebydesign]

13. Just so you have the facts...

The program was championed by Rep. Lois Capps, DEMOCRAT, of San Luis/Santa Barbara Counties. The program has made a big difference in allowing former gang members to leave that life behind... it's not for chicks who got drunk and put a butterfly on their ass. It's a crime prevention tool, and a social tool.

Lois is a wonderful legislator, and person. She was a former public health nurse, who worked with many of the people she's now helping by funding this program. She became a Congresswoman after her husband Walter, died suddenly during his first term in office. She took over his position, and has subsequently been re-elected a few times. I worked on Walter's campaign... The Capps family is truly one of of a kind. Their daughter was a speechwriter for Bill Clinton.