South Dakota receives 9-11 funds

Here is an interesting tale of things that cause Federal deficits:

The government's $5 billion effort to help small businesses recover from the Sept. 11 terror attacks was so loosely managed that it gave low-interest loans to companies that didn't need terrorism relief — or even know they were getting it, The Associated Press has found.

And while some at Ground Zero couldn't get assistance they desperately sought, companies far removed from the devastation — a South Dakota country radio station, a Virgin Islands perfume shop, a Utah dog boutique and more than 100 Dunkin' Donuts and Subway sandwich shops — had no problem winning the government-guaranteed loans.

"That's scary — 9/11 had nothing to do with this," said James Munsey, a Virginia entrepreneur who described himself as "beyond shocked" to learn his nearly $1 million loan to buy a special events company in Richmond was drawn from the Sept. 11 program.

Perhaps in the wake of Katrina, a report like this will help Americans realize that the Federal government has grown beyond the size of organization that can be efficient at accomplishing its stated purpose.