GraniteGrok

Meet the New Press Podcast 

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Hour One:  Coming soon er...sometime....I'm working on it....

Segment 1 - Opening Banter - Grant has mustache envy.  Recollection of D-Day; the 65th anniversary of the Allied push to take Europe back from Nazi Germany - something that almost didn't work as they landed on the five French beaches.  The gang talkes about the subterfuge leading up to the invasion.  Thought: would the Press be as pro-American as then if the same thing happened again today - oh, wait...

Segment 2 - Call: Steve from West Virginia Public Policy comes on to say "Hi" to Grant.  Reminder about the Troop Rally next Saturday in Concord at the State House and the Freedom Ride during Bike Week.  Discussion about another anniversary: the WWII's Battle of Midway and why it was so important in beating the Japanese in the Pacific theater.

Segment 3 - Grant talks about NH Senate Democrat President Norelli throwing him out as he is not a "reporter" as he tried to to cover the Senate discussion on the Charter Schools.  He explains that his camera was not going to be allowed to be on the floor - only able to get the back of the bald headed Senators from the Gallery.  In effect, in trying to do the coverage that WMUR does not have time to, Government is not treating New Media the same way that the Mainstream Media (MSM).  How will Norelli finally treat the new citizen oriented media since the old media doesn't have the money to cover the Senate? And his title is "Investigative Reporter"!

Segment 4 - More on the Senate tomfoolery on Charter Schools - by capping the number of kids that can be enrolled in Charters - 935 kids now and the Senate budget capped it at 850 kids - a sop to the NEA but potentially losing LOTS of Federal dollars.  What ever happened to the Democrat mantra of "...but it's for the children!"  Once again, the Law of Unintended Consequences reign supreme!

More on the upcoming budget - is it really is a matter of over exuberant spending so as to create a financial crisis that ONLY a broadbased tax can "solve" since the Democrats REFUSE to cut spending (after a 17.5% raise last time, now a 12% additional rise)! Let's list all the new new "enhanced" fees and taxes.

Hour Two:

Think that the Budget hole is big - wait 'til you see the pension hole!  NH GOP Chair and former NH Governor Sununu comes on to discuss (and in disgust) what big Liberal Democrat money is going to do to the fiscal side in addition to the social side.  People are leaving NH - the traditional NH Advantage is under attack.  The Gov talks about all the new taxes - now try a ReFi tax on refinancing your home!  Most states are reducing their expenditures - the Dems are RAISING it!  Smoke and mirrors is THE function that the Dems are using to hide the deficit.  Dems are also giving the shaft to businesses - and they will start moving out of NH as well.

Democrat Gov Lynch cannot lead - even as he sounds like a Republican, he doesn't act like one.  The NH Dems that understood small Government and NH traditions like Gov. King are gone.  Did Lynch lie to the voters in order to get elected?  Think about his vote on the Gay Marriage bill.  There's lots of "nots" about Lynch.      Part 1  

Pension bomb soon to go off?  What's the problem and what is the financial fallout on the retirees and the taxpayers?  When Gov. Sununu left office, is was completely covered.  End of the '90s, a 150 million deficit (not too bad).  By 2007, it is $2.5 Billion! Now?  Almost impossible - bond statements from Nov. 2008 - it is now about $7 Billion!!!!!!  Compare it to the actual State budget.  Taxpayers, through the towns, are on the hook for 30-35%.  Lynch has only punted on the issue.          Part 2

 

Leslie Carbone comes on to talk about her latest book "Slaying Leviathan, The Moral Case for Tax Reform".  She describes why the Federal Government is a Leviathan via the tax code and the willingness of politicians willing to use it for behavior modification and social engineering.  Tax code is used to socialize risk (if you work hard, we take your success away from you; if you make bad decisions, we'll give you money and support you) - the signals for good behavior have been muddled by Government intervention.

We have moved from a time when Government raised money to fund itself to a time to mandate behavioral changes but also running into the Law of Unintended Consequences (e.g., mortgages for those that cannot afford it - loose credit brought on the meltdown, welfare removes the incentive to improve one's lot, higher taxes may move Microsoft offshore).  The middle class is getting squeezed.  Part 1 

Is what is good for GM is good for America?  Leslie surprises the group - Government ownership of anything is not a good thing for America.  Problems - restrictive union work rules, silly CAFE standards, Right To Work laws?  Examples not to follow!  Big Business is not good - until it is owned by Big Government.  Too often, large policies are rushed through the process without thinking things all the way through and end up with suboptimal results (and sometimes really bad results).  This is the problem - crony capitalism (this time with the UAW getting the goodies).

Big Business in bed with Big Government is not free markets - it is political rent seeking and gaming the system.  We need to go back to "creative destruction" instead of politicians making decisions of winners and losers.             Part 2

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