On this election day we stand at the voting booth faced two choices – a huge federal government that spends money it does not have and tells us how to live while its leaders do the opposite, or a smaller federal government that reigns in spending, limits the amount of regulation on business to encourage economic growth, and rightly assumes that as adults we can and should take care of ourselves.

And if you need any further encouragement to vote for the latter here is a little story regarding President Obama’s trip to India. According to this article, the U.S. taxpayer will be spending $200 million a day for this visit.

Now at a time when the U.S. economy is stalled out and millions of people are reaching the end of their savings either due to unemployment, high taxes, or both this type of trip seems exorbitant if not excessive. Does it really take 3,000 people to accompany the President on this trip? I mean really, aside from AFSCME and the SEIU who can really justify the need to have that many government employees on the payroll. Now to be fair not all of the 3,000 people will be government employees. Some will be the “esteemed” members of the press corps, and others will be part of the First Lady’s entourage.

Then there is the little issue of the “carbon footprint” that will be left by this visit. According to other news articles about this trip, there will 40 aircraft required to transport the delegation, their luggage, and various armored support vehicles. I guess that climate change thing may not be that big a deal after all – go figure.

Your Mandarin does understand the importance of diplomatic meetings between the leaders of various countries, but in this high-tech age this meeting could be accomplished for about $500,000 total by purchasing two telepresence videoconferencing systems. Just think how much more productive the President could be if he didn’t have to fly 17 hours to meet with someone for 2 hours. Your Mandarin suspects that he might be able to squeeze in a few more basketball games or some meetings with his union overlords.

Your Mandarin does have one final thought regarding this trip. Since the President is in India maybe he can discuss outsourcing his job. I mean hell, the service couldn’t be any worse than what you get when you call the White House now, you would get to talk to “Brandy,” and it would definitely be cheaper for the U.S. taxpayer.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.