The most ludicrous example of this type of lunacy is a program being administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (no, I am not making that up). This program provides cars to the poor, complete with car insurance, inspection, excise tax, title, registration, repairs and a AAA membership for one year. The DTA has been giving away about 65 cars per year since the program began in
Now if that isn't enough to peg out your outrage meter, the Boston Herald is reporting that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is planning to funnel up to $400,000 in additional funds into the program.
House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) said of the program, “I just don’t see this as a core function of government.” Now, there's the understatement of the year.