Why is it that governments never seem able to recognize that there are two solutions to deficits. OK, so you want to stop more people for speeding, raise tolls, charge more for cigarettes, eliminate tax loopholes and cure the deficit with revenue from casinos. How about this? SPEND LESS MONEY! Government creates no new wealth, has no entitlement, no claim to more, more, more. Every state job is paid for by taxpayers who are trying to buy gasoline and home heating oil and pay their mortgages. Every dollar you take away makes that harder for the rest of us.
What ever happened to…
the days when the cost of the service was included in the price of the product?
From the New York Times…
“We’re looking at retail prices for regular unleaded of $3.50 to $3.75 in April and May,” said Tom Kloza, an analyst with Oil Price Information Service. “Those will be records.” The record of $3.22 a gallon was set last May. Mr. Kloza also predicted record highs for diesel and jet fuel “within the next 90 days.”
Hang onto your hat.
Advice for consumers…
With consumer confidence falling, the price of fuel staying at record levels and the price of imports rising, it might be wise to buy how if you can afford to do that without hitting the credit cards. Stocking up on needed durables in advance of an inflationary spike will help household budgets in the long run and might even provide a little boost to the economy at the same time.
Cynical and wrongheaded…
OK OK OK so the state needs more money. Back in the day, when the government needed money, someone would propose a tax – or raising a tax – and the debate would begin. Today, the business of raising the public’s funds has shifted. Now, in addition to taxation, we have fees and indirect taxes. Add a penny to the gasoline tax? Who can debate that? Add a dollar to the price of a package of cigarettes? Those people shouldn’t be smoking anyhow. It’s bad for your health. Raise a toll on the Pike? Easy enough. Goverment is as addicted to these oblique taxes as people can be addicted to cigarettes. People who smoke, rich or poor, are doubly captives – once to their craving for nicotine and once to their starving government. It doesn’t seem fair, somehow, to punish them twice.
A promise and a paycheck…
Seems like the promise of refund checks should have had almost as soothing an effect on the national economy as the cash itself. It hasn’t. Why? Because the cash that’s on it’s way isn’t going to be spent on consumer goods. It’s going to go to pay medical bills or utility companies or to pay back the oil man for credit extended. There’s nothing stimulating about that.
Hillary has a problem…
She launched a campaign featuring experience and solutions and found herself running against change and hope. It’s pretty hard to campaign against hope, even if it doesn’t come with much in the way of specifics, without sounding hopeless.
Farewell to Mitt…
All that and $35 million will buy Mitt Romney, well, not very much it seems.
Now that we have had a chance to say goodbye to our former governor for a second time, do you suppose he’ll get the message? Here’s your hat, Mitt, what’s your hurry?
Farewell to George…
Hillary and Barack will both be reading the election results looking for good news that shines on them. But maybe the whole thing that brought voters out the other day was just an exciting chance for voters who are tired of the last eight years of George Bush to start the process of saying Goodbye to his failed presidency.
