Congress Subpoenas Baseball Players over Steroids
The war in Iraq has claimed 1,500 American lives and was fought under the false claim that that nation had weapons of mass destruction that could be used against the US and its pals in 45 minutes. The $2.6 trillion budget that came out of the House committee responsible for spending is at least $350 billion in the red. About 43 million Americans don't have health insurance. Osama bin Laden is still at large. And the House Government Reform Committee has decided to spend its time investigating steroid use by professional baseball players. It's another sideshow, and shame on the voters for putting up with it.
The steroid issue is of minor importance, at best, from a national health perspective. Yet, the Reform committee isn't the only one involved in this shameless grandstanding. The House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection subcommittee held a nonsense session involved baseball, football, and the NCAA yesterday. Committee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) said, "We're trying to get to the bottom of the steroid problem. Are they being used in high school? Are they being used in college? Are they being used in professional sports?"
The answer to the congressman's questions are "yes," "yes," and "yes." No congressional time need be wasted to find out what is obvious to everyone who's been near a gym in the last decade. If it makes him feel better, put two FBI agents on it, and have them report by the end of the month. Or, for a $2,000 fee, hire a private eye to get the same info in a week. A high school newspaper reporter could probably get enough for 15 column inches by lunchtime without leaving the cafeteria.
Where are the hearings on Halliburton's no-bid contract in Iraq? Where are the hearings on the $9 billion in vanished funds administered by the American occupation forces in Iraq before the transfer of sovereignty? Will there be hearings on the continually falling dollar, rising price of oil or conditions of America's infrastructure? Or even on Social Security reform, tax policy or torture as a feature of American foreign policy?
The Romans understood the need for circuses. The people needed distractions lest they become restless. So, steroids in baseball and the Ten Commandments in courtrooms (and would those be the Catholic ones, or the Protestant list?) get trotted out to be the "gay marriage" of the 2006 elections. The Romans were wiser, though, in that they understood the people needed bread to go with their circuses. The US Senate on Wednesday shot down a proposal to raise the minimum wage.
© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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