Is Equal Fair?

Chet Culver, like Solomon, has said he will cut the state budget by 1.5% across the board. That's fair, right? No one gets special treatment, everyone has to tighten his or her belt-- that's the Iowa way, eh?

With respect to my fellow Iowans, equal is not fair. If we have state departments that are underperforming, should they receive equal budget consideration as those that are performing well? How about those agencies that have the ability to receive funding in ways other than the budget? Should entrepreneurship not be encouraged? And finally, what about those agencies whose primary purpose is to keep a safety net under those Iowans who are laid off, ill, hungry, or homeless? Usually during economic hardship, the need for aid to human service agencies increases, shouldn't this be considered?

I would argue that the governor and the legislators need to evaluate the best way to slice the budget pie such that human services are put on top of the needs list (with the caveat being that the agencies should be looking for opportunities to streamline their processes) to assure that Iowans in need are best served. The governor should then look for underperforming agencies and push those administrators to shape their departments up and to reward those workers who find ways to do more with less and show poor managers the door.

Iowa doesn't need a hatchet man to do a conditioning coach's work. The governor needs to work with the legislators to help the state to get in better all around shape, not just lose weight.

Cost and Effect: Budget Deficit Largely Due to War Spending

The federal budget deficit for November rose dramatically when compared with a year ago.

According to the AP, "The Treasury Department reported Wednesday that the budget deficit for November totaled $98.2 billion, a record for the month. That was up 34.5 percent from a deficit of $73 billion set in November 2006.

economists are forecasting that the deficit will rise this year under the impact of a weaker economy, which they expect to depress government revenues, and increased spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For the first two months of the 2008 budget year, receipts have totaled $329.2 billion, up 5 percent from the same two months last year. Government spending totaled $483 billion, an increase of 10.8 percent from the same period last year, although that gain reflected the shift in benefit payments into November instead of December."

In a world that likes to think of Democrats as "Tax and Spenders" and Republicans as "Fiscally Responsible," it is clear that the shoe is on the other foot. Albeit, it appears that the Democratic jackassed leadership may be aiding and abetting the elephants in the room.

Bankers End the War!

Here is an idea I hadn't thought of before. Attention patriotic bankers who have loaned the US government money to fight the war--call in your loans!

From Reuters

The U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost taxpayers a total of $2.4 trillion by 2017 when counting the huge interest costs because combat is being financed with borrowed money, according to a study released on Wednesday.

With President George W. Bush indicating a large contingent of U.S. troops likely will be engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan for many years to come, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the total tab for the wars from 2001 through 2017.

CBO estimated that interest costs alone from 2001-2017 could total more than $700 billion.

Pork On Wheels

The Iowans for Sensible Priorities Pigmobile was sighted on Iowa Ave in Iowa City yesterday.

According to the ISP, "The blubbery, grunting, eye popping PigMobile consists of three oversized piggy banks that demonstrate the whacked out spending priorities of America. This one of a kind display of our federal budget is currently making its way around Iowa. Help us move our money and volunteer to drive this sweet ride! Email jessica@sensiblepriorities.org."



These free range pig is perfect for visiting your congressional representative or senator. I wonder if they run on biodiesel?