In the world of politics the accusation of being “disconnected” gets thrown around a lot.  Barack Obama was accused of being disconnected from rural voters when he suggested that they cling to guns, religion and dislike of people not like them because they’re “bitter.”  Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats have accused President Bush of being “disconnected” from the war in Iraq.

But a certain congressman from Connecticut brings a whole new meaning to the word “disconnected” as he ponders, publicly and with an apparently straight face, why people care so much about pork.

Congressman Chris Shays got an earful on earmarks, immigration, Iraq and other issues April 11 during a community meeting in Ridgefield. . . .

The 10-term Congressman stepped into a political minefield as he fielded questions on earmarks and farm subsidies. Earmarks are essentially pet projects the House pays for with part of the federal gasoline tax. . . .

“My impression of earmarks is why would somebody in Oklahoma or Nebraska care about a project in Massachusetts?” Mr. Shays said.

We don’t know, Mr. Shays.  Maybe it’s because people in Oklahoma, Nebraska and the rest of the country care about how their money is spent wherever it’s being spent.  If we can care about the cost of the war in Iraq, and the amount of foreign aid we’re giving to Mexico, then certainly we can care about the amount spent on earmarks in Massachusetts however politically inconvenient that curiousity and concern may be for those doing the earmarking.

Latter in the article Rep. Shays states that he doesn’t know why he should get a say on transportation money going to San Francisco.  Maybe the good people of Connecticut should send a Representative to Congress who does care about how their money is spent.

We think Rep. Shays’ comments illustrate the fundamental problem with politicians and spending.  They don’t seem to remember that the money they spendin Washington isn’t the government’s money, but rather our money.  And that we deserve to know exactly how and why every single dime of it is being spent.