Americans pay their taxes and now there are budget shortfalls. In Los Angeles, many city employees are getting 36 days of yearly furlough (14 percent of their wages are just not there anymore). Then there is the CalPERS retirement fund, which is severely underfunded (the consensus is the State of California will have to make them whole---Smoking some “Kalifornia hemp” makes this wish more plausible).
Each taxpayer firmly believes that the money is there to finance their special or necessary State programs, and the legislature is frivolously spending their taxes on something else that is worthless--- like education. This concept is set in stone, “The money is there and they won’t spend it on my program!”
Remember the old adage “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” The wheels are starting to squeak and we’ve run out of grease. People with a programs being cut will march in protest--- This is where these many different protests combine together and turn to riots. Was it Congress that once said “Let them eat cake?” For some reason, the expression "Don't lose your head," comes to mind. Maybe a shot of Courvoisier Napoleon Cognac will help us remember what transpired in France 200 years ago.
10 comments:
Why do you think government continues with big appropriations to the military? To protect us from foreign invaders? No...
To protect themselves from us. You can bet they'll need that protection and will use it.
Hi Jim...
Those rooting for bankruptcy instead of reform should heed this article.
http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/the-golden-age-of-government-is-just-beginning/
You mentioned public servant entitlements. Your öfficial unemployment rate is 9.6%, wouldn't it be prudent for all levels of your government to cut back on these (entitlements)? I read there are eight million more men than women unemployed in the U.S. (of the official 25mill).
Why not cut back fulltime hours of every government employee and fill the short fall with the qualified unemployed?
Everyone is talking revolution, I hope your country doesn't go there! You may not cure this problem immediately, but there is still plenty of options to eleviate distress.
cheers
Hi AIM
Thank you for the link.
I do tend to think that when the Government fails from ineptness, the military isn't really there to save them, the military by default is the only thing left with some sort of forceful power that can keep the masses in order.
Hi Frakrak
I don't think that we are really talking revolution. We have already had it. Democracy is dead, There are fine line arguments as to whether the US is a republic or a democracy. 200 years ago democracy and the republic were alive and well. Now we have a mass of people that say "Me and my family first and the hell with the rest of you."
The issues are not about the comfort and betterment of the group, but rather of the individuals.
Democracy is just a word, its true meaning has evolved into something very different, but by god don't argue the point and upset someone.
The picture frame is still the same, what it frames has changed very slowly over time.
We, in the developed countries, either all continue to slide further and further down into debt serfdom forever OR we force our governments to...
1) throw off the shackles of the power elite bankers (who work their evil through the IMF, IBS, central banks, investment banks, etc.)
2) pay down, write down and default our way out of debt as appropriate
3) reform and downsize and operate within a budget
4) begin to follow sane and transparent fiscal, economic and accounting principles
Hi AIM
It would certainly be a good start, but I don't see anyone moving in that direction.
It is Christmas time. Maybe we ought to put these items on our wish list to Santa :>)
Jim your blog is totally sane, no inference that you were talking revolution, agree with all you have said in your response. Wish I had some wisdom to impart here:), would like to see some leadership in your country, the U.S. is still the most important game in town.
cheers
Hi Frakrak
I think leadership is something that if we get it, it will be by accident.
This whole world mess is little like an unwanted pregnancy. The problem will solve itself, given time. Of course those in power at the time will take the credit for it.
Your country seems to be holding on a lot better than ours. Your leaders must be doing something right.
China has been on a resource binge here for the past few years, unemployment is 5.5%, for sale signs on every third house, our reserve bank has been steadily cutting interset rates. We have the highest valued real estate in the world now:). Most Aussies see current government as inept, give us about 12 months to catch up with you guys:)
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