January 15, 2012

The Job Ahead

We are so focused on the Federal government and getting rid of its problems that we fail to appreciate that the same problems lurk at a local level. From The Czar of Muscovy writing at The Gormogons:
Ominous Clouds
Let us imagine that everything goes swimmingly well this November, and that we receive a GOP Senate, the Republicans maintain control over the House, and we get a President, say Mitt Romney, who in fact delivers on conservative, limited government properties.

And so he retools our military, eradicates Obamacare, begins shutting down hundreds of government programs, and begins a serious study of plausible entitlement reform. The debt issue crawls to a stop, and even with considerable tax reform, we begin producing enough revenue to pay off that galaxy of debt.

We can go further. With lower taxes and significant regulation reform, employment kicks into high gear, and people get back to work and business start paying off outstanding debts. And, while we are imagining things no candidate will likely deliver on, the return to prosperity means that mortgages, credit card debts, and other personal finance problems start to get solved.

So that�s it? We�re done?

Hardly. One of the big catchphrases we keep hearing from conservatives is �that should be a state issue.� In nearly all cases, this reflexive gainsay against any federal spending issue is dumping more responsibility on states that are way deep in debt. We can save the country, but we need the states solvent, too.

Sure, some states have that figured out. Some are doing it on little or no income tax. Solutions clearly exist, but until the rest of the states fix their ruined financial houses, the problems will remain.

But let us imagine that all the states find a way to pay for no end of stuff that libertarians and far-right conservatives want them to take care of. Let us say they eliminate their obscene pensions, pull back on massive interference programs, and get themselves back in the black even with new roads, bridges, and wetland preservation.

We still have the issue of the municipalities�some of our largest cities (indeed, the bulk of American population) is stuck in cities and towns that also suffer out of control spending. Municipality after municipality is doubling or tripling fines, licenses, permits, fees, and administrative costs. They, too, have a terrible problem with pensions and over-spending on social programs. You can solve the federal and state problems, but the average person will see little personal relief until the municipalities fix their mess.
More at the site. Local activism works but it takes an effort on your part. You deserve the government that you allow to happen... Posted by DaveH at January 15, 2012 10:57 AM
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