Grokster Steve’s post (“Troopers Admit – They Just Want the Money“) is a great one that demonstrates rent-seeking – enriches the few at the expense of the many by advocating for an action by Government. In the case of the State Troopers, they’re absolutely good with having Government approve a casino simply because it will mean more money for Troopers. Yes, this is also a great demonstration of Government being the Biggest Special Interest group of….wait for it….Government (want another example? Watch the Public Sector Unions drive the State of California -> and drive it into bankruptcy).
Here we have a snippet from a letter that was published by Pike Industries (you know, the road pavers) to its independent contractors – doing the same thing. They WANT this gas tax, HB617, to go through. Not so much for “civic duty” no matter what the elegant words are that come out of their PR flacks – it is because they know they will get a large, if not lion’s share of that money. Do the right thing and demand of legislators to fill the leaky bucket that is the Highway Fund?
Heck no! New tax – more money for Pike. To heck with the drivers that aren’t their employees that will have to ante up more at the pump – not Pike’s concern as they’ll play the margins: not enough contracters means a few more seasonal employee (and keep them under 30 hours a week to avoid the Obamacare nightmare of paperwork. Contractors or employees – Pike will still profit and that’s the bottom line. And you know they mean business – after all, they’ve got money tied up in paying for the Government Relations man – and businesses don’t spend money unless they are expecting to profit from it.
Complete letter after the jump – along with some well targeted and deserved snark:
A couple of thoughts:
1. when I go to the pump, the sign with the price says “includes all taxes”. My wallet says “I don’t care which – fee or tax – as either means more out of me than necessary”.
2. I can think of a lot of things – computers, electronics, clothing, eating out, food – betcha there’s more if I gave it more thought. Next time, try to be truthful, eh dude?
3. It might – but most of it comes from local property taxes. But once again, that stick of lipstick is looking around for a hog – and it still won’t be pretty even if you get down to the nub (which is what you will need to do).
4. Bad use of name drop (notice the use of both sides of the aisle to appear to be “neutral” in your money gubbing). Note what is NOT said: “hey, if the roads are that bad, why not re-prioritize the roads higher than other things in the budget other than in the DPW type of costs”?
5. And aren’t you getting MORE of those dollars (even if each is worth less (thanks to bad money management by….you got it….Government)?
6. Mr. Major, are you taking instruction in a Government school, as your math seems to be off as well as your common sense. If something costs X dollars, and you have Government artificially increase that cost by $0.18, that cost is now $0.18. Yes, your drivers may not have to pay the entire uplift but someone will. After all, economics is all about TANSTAAFL – There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch! If the price goes up, someone ALWAYS pays. What you are NOT saying to your drivers is “Heck, don’t worry about it – the gas station owner is gonna eat that cost that you don’t pay“. Nice morals there, Mr. Larry Majors!
7. NH does need to take care of what it owns – too bad it is trying to do too much and has stretched itself too thin. But that’s progressivism for you – no little thing is TOO little for Government to jump into (or onto).
So, if you, Dear Contractor, don’t know how to get on your knees and beg Government to shower more pennies down upon Pike, well, we have people (just like the Shopping Network or the Scooter Store) standing by to put words into your mouth as you deal with Leviathan.
Oh wait, I forgot – didn’t the Scooter Store get shutdown for hundreds of millions of scooter bucks fraud? Remember, their tagline was also (just like Pike is telling their drivers) “a no or little cost to you”…
