Spendthrifts: Want to save money? Stop spending on ridiculous stuff.

Nothing sticks in the craw more for taxpayers on April 15 than hearing about more irresponsible spending in Washington.

And on this tax day, we hear about another round of just such expenditures -- this time at the IRS.

From expensive exercise equipment to silly job incentive prizes, we have another round for the annual game of "How stupid can one bureaucrat -- or a bunch of bureaucrats -- be?"

But it is easy to pick on the IRS.

There are many more places where money flows freely -- not the least of which is in some of the offices on Capitol Hill.

So as we grumble and fuss after sending in yet another check to the government, perhaps we need to add another qualification to the list of desirable traits in people who want to represent us -- thriftiness.

Of course, we will also have to couple that with humbleness, respect and responsibility, as well as a good old-fashioned dose of realizing that they are going to spend someone else's money.

And a little honesty wouldn't hurt either.

If we had a few more who got it, perhaps sending in that check might not hurt so much.

At least we would know that it is being spent wisely.

Published in Editorials on April 16, 2015 11:01 AM