GIMMIE

When I was a kid, and there was something we wanted, we'd just say: "gimmie, gimmie, gimmie !", with our anxious hands stretched out to grab... Finally, one day - my cousin said:  "Gimmie got SHOT !"  Then we all laughed, and carried on.

I didn't get it then, I just pretended to... But, I laughed with the rest just the same.  Now I know - people who want, want, want, and beg, beg, beg all the time - end up getting nothing.  In fact, expecting something without giving anything in return could REALLY get you shot - for real.

That's what I think of, when I hear HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan speak.  He's always asking, begging, wanting, needing... More, and more and more and more.... He's like that greedy little kid on the street whose got his own marbles, but he wants YOURS, TOO !

Case in point:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/14/hud-awards-colorado-12-mi_n_898246.html

HUD awarded $12 million dollars to the State of Colorado for upgrades and improvements to their public housing units.  However, the last sentence in the article quotes him as saying:  "...The funding helps, but it's not enough".  Well, gee, Mr. Secretary - how much would be enough?  14 million?  16 million?  How about we just hand you a blank check and let you write in the amount YOU think is just and fair ??  How about you use reputable contractors to do the work within the budget?  How about you house people in code compliant homes in the first place, so that you wouldn't need so much money later to make them code compliant?  How about you not squander and waste the money you've already been given by the taxpayers of America, so that you wouldn't have to go to the President and Congress every year with your hat in hand, and your palm up... Saying:  "Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie....."  without shame or embarrassment.  At least have that.... Dang....