kentguy2007's Blog

The Pope's visit to America is historic for all the wrong reasons. While people in this country suffer with the loss of jobs, high gasoline and food prices, and an economy that is unstable, I am stunned to see our federal, state, and local governments spending millions of dollars to host this visit. What a spectacle!
First, why should taxpayers foot the bill for thousands of police officers ( most on overtime pay)to line the streets in American cities to protect a religious leader? What happened to the separation of church and state?
Second, how much energy was wasted on the assorted vehicles -limos, trucks, security vehicles, clean up trucks, etc.-while the "Popemobile" paraded down the street. It's almost all like a bad "B" movie.
I was really struck by how ironic a story was that I heard on the news today...In Harlem, the schools are so bad that a lottery is held to see which residents get into the best school. According to the story the vast majority of Harlem residents will go to very ineffective schools. Too bad the money NYC WASTED on the Pope's visit couldn't have gone to the residents of Harlem (American citizens) instead of a religious leader's visit. Once the Pope is gone, the money is gone and wasted. Money put into the schools and students would have been a much better use of the funds. The Pope's visit was fine..but, it should have been paid for ( including all the ridiculous security) by the Catholic Church not American taxpayers.