I'll take my chances with the pool water I grew up with.

So when I found out that one of my favorite places on the planet just north of me in Detroit was going to be building the largest indoor waterpark in the state, I was thrilled. 

Michigan's biggest waterpark is coming to Frankenmuth, with an $80-million construction project in the works on a massive aquatic center before its grand opening expected this fall.

The Bavarian Blast waterpark at Bavarian Inn is on its way, with summer progress set to give way to a major expansion, over 20 new aquatic attractions and several new family entertainment options.

Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn Lodge represents one of the biggest Bavarian-themed resorts in the U.S. Its new expansion will bring the indoor water park and family entertainment center to over 140,000 square feet.

"We are truly raising the bar on fun at the Lodge, creating unique attractions and new types of experiences within our resort," said Michael Keller Zehnder, president of the Bavarian Inn Lodge. "This expansion will help us to advance our goal of creating fun and enjoyable experiences for all ages. We are reimagining family fun and see this as an exciting project for all of Frankenmuth."

So now that I've set the stage that I like to have fun in water, I think water parks are a blast and while private companies always lobby for incentives from the government via tax breaks and other means, I think you need to draw a line on where government money is being used.

Particularly for the greatest threat known to Earth since the meteor that killed the dinosaurs off hit us.

According to an article I read earlier, that is what the great state of Illinois did during the COVID pandemic. 

Via the Wall Street Journal:

If you were looking for a family-friendly escape from the heat this summer, you should have checked out the new aquatic center in Danville, Ill. While the Central Illinois town may not ring a bell, what should catch your attention is that you helped pay for Danville’s splashy venture—thanks to a cool $13 million injection from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

While facilities like the Danville Aquatic Center will likely provide enjoyment for area residents for years, such expenses aren’t a smart use of federal taxpayer dollars, especially considering that the funds that built the new water park were intended for Covid-19 recovery efforts. Unfortunately, this questionable expenditure represents a small fraction of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

The law also allocates $350 billion specifically for emergency funding to state, local and tribal governments. This particular pool of money has bankrolled many projects like the Danville Aquatic Center. It’s a spending spree that should upset all taxpayers, as such projects demonstrate a complete lack of oversight and blatant misuse of funds intended to accelerate the nation’s economic rebound.

While it is true that $13 million out of the $1.9 trillion dollar monstrosity that was the American Recovery Act is a drop in the bucket, couldn't they have been building roads or something like that when the virus was vanquished?  

Once again, don't get me wrong: I love water parks I think they're a blast. Yet, the total budget deficit in the United States is now over $35 trillion. In the larger scheme of things, $13 million out of $35 trillion in national debt is a speck of dust in the middle of outer space, and while I'm sure the people in this little town in Illinois enjoy the brand-spanking-new water park, are they going to enjoy the long-term results on their wallet? I'm going to guess not.

The super amusing part for me is that this park is an outdoor one, unlike the one I posted about in middle Michigan, which will be built indoors because of...weather. Illinois is still in the midwest and January and February around here are not pleasant for an outdoor waterpark.

Danville received a total of $26 million in American Rescue Plan funds and allocated half to a water park open only three months a year. The city is still grappling with the fallout from Quaker Oats’ December departure—leaving more than 500 residents without jobs. It is beset by deteriorating infrastructure and a historic decline in population. Pouring $13 million into a water park seems like satire.

So once again, we're showing that private Industry is in the business of actually making money, as opposed to government projects, which are focused on sucking up to whoever's in power. Government does not take into account how much money is being wasted but only how much money is being spent mostly on their friends and contributors. Even if the obvious fact is that having an outdoor waterpark that can “maybe” be used half the year is not a good use of money.

Particularly if it is to fight the deadliest pandemic ever seen in the history of the world and might just pop back up ANY MINUTE.

Thanks to Joe Biden and his sidekick Kamala Harris for this amazing ineptitude.