Pentagon Pork Revealed, In Three Amendments

Watching the House of Representatives debate Pentagon policy and budgeting isn't everyone's cup of tea, to put it mildly. But for those who have time and access to C-SPAN or the House's own streaming service, watching these deliberations can be instructive. It's democracy in action, and it's a sight to behold - but not always in a good way.

I was watching the proceedings late Tuesday afternoon and my ears perked up during the discussion of a number of amendments with implications for how the Pentagon spends money on weapons. These debates often have more to do with protecting parochial interests than they do with high-minded discussions of how best to defend the country. Pork barrel politics - the practice of supporting programs that help one's home district or state whether they are needed or not - often rules the day. And so it went yesterday afternoon.

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