How We Blow Our Federal Money

by Tony Chavira

Roads or Grenade Launchers? A contrast:

New Game-Changing Army Weapon Destroys Hidden Targets

The U.S. Army will equip a group of Special Forces troops deploying to the war zone this summer with the new high-tech XM25 airburst grenade launcher that Afghanistan veterans who have fired it predict will be a game-changing weapon. If this test is successful, the Army may purchase 12,500 of the weapons.

The full name of the XM25 is “XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System.” “Defilade” means a position hidden from enemy fire by a natural or artificial obstacle. That has a special resonance in Afghanistan, where a favored Taliban tactic is to take cover in buildings with thick walls, behind trees or in underground trenches, often at distances of 300 meters or more.

MEANWHILE!

Paint Shortage Slows Road Projects

Though funding is usually the limiting factor in road projects, the current shortage of a chemical is creating a sharp undersupply of the paint used to paint road lines.

The shortage of traffic striping paint is affecting the abilities of departments of transportation to put those final touches on a variety of road projects.

"The timing could scarcely be worse. Spring is when road workers emerge from their winter hibernations, and orange traffic cones pop up like yellow daffodils. In an industry whose favored medium is acrylic on pavement, the paint shortage is gumming up the works.

But let's be honest with ourselves: weapons are always more important than lines in the road.  Or cross walks.  Or even school safety zones.  What the hell kind of country are we that spends more money on defense mechanisms most of us will never see than on using new paints when we need lines for our roads? 

Heads up, the Department of Defense budget is $708 billion for fiscal 2011.  The Department of Transportation for 2011, in contrast, is a measily $78.8 billion.  Each grenade launcher will cost $25,000.  Each shell for it is $25.  And the Military might purchase 12,500.  The total cost for the California High-Speed rail will be about $45 billion.  That's about 5% of the national defense budget or about 60% of the national transportation budget.  Pick your perspective.

Take that, transportation! (And yes, this is an actual picture of the XM25 airburst grenade launcher )

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