Is Government Spending Wasteful?

I just recently read an article concerning wasteful government spending.  Although the government uses tax money for many worthy causes (schools, banks, transportation, and others), government spending can also be considered wasteful.

For example, the government had "a $939,771 experiment funded by the National Institutes of Health in Michigan and Texas that tested fruit flies to discover that male fruit flies are more attracted to younger female fruit flies than older ones."

This seems like a complete waste of money.  What good is it to test whether male fruit flies are more attracted to younger or older females, especially when it cost taxpayers $1 million.  

I don't know what prompts the government to fund these seemingly useless experiments, but they have to stop wasting taxpayers money.  Although it is not listed in this article, another article shows that the government loses $70 million annually producing pennies.

REALLY?

What is the point of making pennies anymore?  If the rate of inflation has made the price of producing pennies twice as much as the value of pennies, stop making them!  Some of the things the government spends its money on ceases to amaze me.  Instead of these unnecessary expenses, CUT TAXES.

The government spends "nearly $1 million annually on developing a so-called 'Mars menu.'"

Is it really necessary to try to develop foods that can be eaten on Mars even though we are at least 2 decades away from having a man on Mars?

Do you think the government spends money recklessly on unnecessary things?  And do you think the government should cut taxes instead of wastefully spending taxpayer money?  Leave comments below.