It is amazing that with the millions of Americans losing their jobs and the government trying to bail them out, and the money institutions that caused this debacle (getting more money) with the president's stimulus program, the politicians just cannot keep their greedy hands out of the cookie jar.

I guess they are addicted to grabbing money whenever they can. Witness the $410 billion omnibus spending bill packed with pet projects.

It earmarks $7.7 billion for the cost of more than 8,500 "congressionally designed projects" such as $1.8 million for research in Iowa on swine odor and manure management; $1.7 million for a honey bee laboratory in Welaco, Texas; $1.5 million on grapes and grape products, including wine; $1.2 million to control cormorants in Michigan, Mississippi, Vermont and New York; and $1 million to control Mormon crickets (actually katydids) in Utah. Are these people for real?

This money should be going to restore the economy and real estate market and helping people get their jobs and homes back. No wonder our government is so messed up with politicians like these in charge.

The new president said that everyone should tighten his or her belt. Apparently this does not apply to the politicians. They do not believe they have to suck it up at all - just spend, spend and spend some more.

I know this will just fall on deaf ears but I had to mention it.

I guess the mentality in this country is, "The No. 1 problem in this country is apathy - but who cares?"