Old salt, Capt. Fred, clears up the myth of the "drunken sailor".

"There have been objections that the Congress spends money like a drunken sailor and there are always the defenders of drunken sailors who say that at least they stop when they are out of money. 

I would like to add to that - sailors spend their own money when they are on leave. 

They borrow sparely and when they do they pay it back promptly. 
And they spend money on actual benefits - beer, booze, women and fellowship. 
They receive an actual benefit from the expenditure of their funds - an adventure during time off. 
None of those things can be said for Congress at all. 
So the description is not apt. 
Instead - perhaps we should start comparing Congress spending to someone else - I would suggest the Obamas on vacation."