In one of the most blatant displays of wasteful government spending nationwide, the city of Dallas has begun construction of an enormous bronze sculpture of a 19th century cattle drive. Consisting of 70 six-foot high steer, plus horses and cattle drivers, it will sprawl across a 4.2 acre plot in downtown Dallas. The city is planning to spend $9 million on construction, not counting the inevitable overruns, and another $200, 000 a year for maintenance of the sculpture. In fact, if it weren't for the tremendous waste, the entire situation would be almost comically ironic, since cattle wasn't driven through Dallas at all, but, rather, through Fort Worth, some 30 miles further west.
After an extended recession and gradual recovery, the American economy seems, for the most part strong and steady. Sales of homes and consumer goods are on the rise, the stock market is at record levels. Both inflation and interest rates remain low, and unemployment is decreasing. What results can we look for? A higher standard of living? Perhaps. More job opportunities for Ivy League graduates? That would sure be nice. A decrease in the federal deficit? Well, two out of three isn't bad. More assuredly than anything else, though, with resurgence of the economy comes, of course, the resurgence of wasteful government spending.
Normally, when one thinks of governmental excess, they think big budget federal programs: Star Wars, the Supercollider, Space Station Freedom. However, for each of these, there are hundreds of smaller projects that don't usually get the same sort of publicity. A few million here, a few million there, they pass largely unnoticed, voted through by city councils and state legislatures. The sums add up very rapidly, until the silent waste rivals and then overwhelms the few larger projects that are, themselves, often more guilty of poor planning and money management then lack of value. So while politicians bemoan the lack of funds they have available to them to right the ills of society, they casually sign away millions for the unwanted and the unneeded.
Supporters of the Dallas project predict that it will become the city's primary tourist attraction. One even went so far as to compare it to the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum. Come on, let's get realistic. We're not exactly talking about the Colossus of Rhodes. How many people are actually going to visit Dallas to see huge bronze cows? Probably even less than have gone to see EuroDisney. Dallas , it seems, is trying a little too hard to be thought of for something other than the Texas School Book Depository and the grassy knoll. Or, perhaps, more embarrassingly, the 4-42 Mavericks basketball team.
Is it that difficult for Dallas to find worthwhile uses for $9 million? How about some low-income housing, or additional funding for the police force? Put the money towards building a hospital, or a school, or even an amusement park. Support the advancement of the arts, a category in which this sculpture certainly does not fit. And, of course, the list goes on almost infinitely. Every major city in America is faced with the problem of too many needs and not enough money. Dallas is surely no exception. Certainly $9 million is not going to solve many problems on its own, but it can only help. Simply because there is more money to spend than there was three years ago, and certain problems do not, for the moment, seem quite so pressing, does not mean that governments, be they federal, state, or local are no longer obligated to be fiscally responsible.
