Recently a National Review writer wanted to know what the big deal is with congressional porkbarrel spending. Sure, pork represents billions and billions of squandered taxpayer dollars. But it’s still a relatively small portion of the federal budget. Shouldn’t fiscal conservatives spend more time on more important battles?

So is pork much more than a “symbol” of government excess?

Yes. Earmarks - taxpayer-funded favor-doling to special interests - work as the major means by which career politicians function as career politicians . . . at the expense of our actual common interests. If citizens successfully roll back pork, a similar strategy could prove useful in helping roll back other misbegotten federal spending.

Replying to National Review, Senator Tom Coburn notes that despite protestations to the contrary, “Congress has the power to spend less money whenever it chooses. It is very simple. Congress can decide to do fewer earmarks and spend less money.”

That’s why I applaud citizen groups like Porkbusters. They aren’t wasting their time. If and when they succeed, it’s not as if no props whatever should be kicked out from under today’s political insiders.

Sure, career politicians believe we should just let them go on doing all they currently do to maintain their power. But many of the rest of us just don’t agree. And we’re not inclined to shut up just yet.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.