99 Stupid Things Governments Do With Our Money

[SLM]

99 stupid things the government did with your money: Part I - Canada - Macleans.ca

99 stupid things the government did with your money: Part II - Canada - Macleans.ca

99 stupid things the government did with your money: Part III - Canada - Macleans.ca

Some of my personal favourites:

Bad slice: The City of Abbotsford, B.C. handed a $115,000 “one-time grant” to a struggling municipal golf course, claiming its problems stem, in part, from poor weather. In a report, city staff said “good weather” was among the things “being worked on” to turn it around.

Hat trick: The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces spent $438,385 on government-branded sports memorabilia it claimed were crucial to recruiting and peacekeeping efforts. Over the past five years the departments have spent a staggering $176,000 on hockey pucks alone, with a DND spokesman saying it was crucial to promoting Canada’s role “in contributing to international peace and security.”

Hockey pucks are crucial to international peace and security. Did you know that? I didn't know that!

Walk the talk

: In Winnipeg, after a councillor slipped on ice and broke his hip, the city spent $5,000 to help set up a website called Surefoot.org that gives a single general overview of “winter-related walking conditions” for the entire city, from “easy” to “hazardous.” The risk recently: “moderate.”

 

[WLDB]

A lot of that stuff is really annoying. Those "little things" sure add up.

 

[SLM]

A lot of that stuff is really annoying. Those "little things" sure add up.

Some of it is down right laughable and, given that it's our money their wasting on stupid things, I figure we may as well get some entertainment value out of it.

Because sometimes laughter is the only thing that'll stop you from crying.

 

[Mowich]

Because sometimes laughter is the only thing that'll stop you from crying.

Lo, the many times I've had exactly the same thought.