As
Americans we read and hear on the news about how the federal
government spends and wastes taxpayer dollars, in the millions and
billions. The same thing happens in small amounts too but that's
never covered in the news. But those small expenditures in the form
of federal grants add up.
The
National Institutes of Health (an agency of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services) in their mission statement seeks to
enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability by
investing $32 billion yearly in medical research for the good of the American
people.
In
April, 2015 the NIH awarded a one year grant to University of
Arkansas historian Tricia Starks to research and write a book titled
Cigarettes and Soviets: The Culture of Tobacco Use in Modern Russia.
Ms. Starks is an expert on the subject.
The
relevance of the book as it relates to Americans is that
understanding Russia's smoking history will aid the United States in
efforts to control tobacco use. (Yes, really.)
Cost to
taxpayers: $48,500
I'm no
expert on Russian cigarette smoking, but I don't think it's money
well spent. I do hope Ms. Starks has success with her book though.
What do you think?