Welcome to the December Growth / No Growth issue of NorthBay biz magazine. This is another of the issues we particularly enjoy producing each year, as it gives us the opportunity to shed light on the always lively and controversial topic of growth in the North Bay.
The issue also marks the end of Bob Andrews’ four-year run of writing his Open Trench column. We thank him for his exceptional expertise and insightful commentary primarily centered upon government foibles and public employee pensions. He brought many community concerns to light and managed to elicit strong reader response to his monthly opinion column (highly favorable). His voice will be missed. On a brighter note, he’s agreed to submit occasional guest columns when the spirit moves him.
Please enjoy Bob’s final regular column, all the stories, new special features and all our other columnists this month in the area’s only locally owned, formerly glossy business publication—NorthBay biz.
As I sit here writing my December column, it’s Monday, November 3—the day before the midterm elections. I’m trying to settle on this month’s topic and, frankly, the process has me stumped. Not for a lack of options, but because my choices seem limitless.
Columnists, when confronted with the inability to settle on a single topic for their column, often opt to adopt the “Random Thoughts” strategy, which allows them the chance to quickly make a point and move on to the next one without the rigors of building a logical case for their argument. Since I don’t want you to think I’m stealing their idea (insert smiley face here), I’ve titled this column, “Scattered Thoughts,” as it more aptly depicts what you’re about to read.
If the polls can be believed, it appears that these midterms will bring considerable change to most of the country, the biggest of which will be the republicans regaining control of the Senate. The question is, will a republican majority in the Senate be enough to reign in the excesses wrought by big government, or will the GOP just continue on the same path serving their party’s interests before the best interests of the citizens?
It also appears that this drama, once again, will not be played out in California, where it’s very likely no republican will be elected to a statewide office and the only drama in the state is whether or not the democrats will secure a super-majority in Sacramento.
It’s amusing that the forces that continually look to identify another group of victims to divide America have latched on to the crusade to increase the minimum wage. Never mind that experience has proven that this tactic absolutely causes the loss of jobs, but it’s significant because only 4 percent of American workers now earn that little. Ninety-six percent already make more.
Here’s a tidbit for the “government guaranteeing equal outcomes” crowd: According to a study of 3,000 people (conducted by the Global Strategy Group), Americans prefer a candidate who focuses on economic growth to one who emphasizes economic fairness by a margin of 64 percent (80 to 16 percent). This is a strong message to tone-deaf politicians who argue for top-down, centrally planned government solutions to every real and perceived problem. Bigger, more expansive government rarely translates to better and never delivers efficient.
Here’s an appropriate lede for this next item: “Government is the great fiction through which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.” News out of the Treasury Department is the $3 trillion Americans paid in federal tax this year is more than they’ve ever paid before. However, proving no matter how much more is collected, it’s never enough, consider this: Federal spending hit $3.5 trillion with more than $2 trillion of that total spent on social welfare programs. I suppose that in some circles that’s considered progress—after all, only $500 billion in deficit spending isn’t that big a deal.
Here’s a headline that might surprise you: Federal debt now equals $200,000 per full-time private-sector worker.
As I see it, there are two conflicting mindsets battling for supremacy in this country. The first looks to politicians to solve all their problems. The other looks to government to get out of the way, ensuring only equal opportunities to solve our own problems. Under the guise of solving other people’s problems, there’s always only one solution: higher taxes, more borrowing and increased spending. It’s interesting how the only thing this formula seems to guarantee is a wealthy political class.
Recent headlines of major metro newspapers across the country recently declared: The president is mad, upset, angry and frustrated, seething over the government’s handling of the Ebola crisis. I’ve seen this act before and, frankly, it’s getting old. He’s become very adept at portraying the shocked outsider whenever a new national crisis/scandal is unfolding. Here’s a newsflash: You’re the president. It’s your government. Save the drama and the politics. Take responsibility for once and do something other than blame everyone else.
I’ll leave you with two conflicting quotes. You decide which one you believe. Obama: “Government is the solution.” Reagan: “Government is the problem.”
That’s it for now. Enjoy this month’s magazine.
