Economics

Back in 2009, President Obama announced that he would be finding ways to cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget (did this ever happen? haha…).  Later, after some scoffing at this wimpy, meaningless number, he proposed cuts of $17B.  While this is an older story, I would like all of the Republicans in Congress (just forget about most of the Democrats) to watch these short clips, and realize just HOW MUCH cutting they need to do to make any real difference…as we approach the debt-limit increase debate.

Scary stuff when you look at something like this in its proper perspective. Do you all realize how much serious trouble we are in as a Nation?

Obama’s $100M cuts

More great perspectives from “10000 Pennies”, after the jump…

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The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified."
            – President Barack Obama, Inauguration, 1/20/09

Pretty much, I think we are finally at the point where any more attempts by ANY Progressive or Democrat to blame our economic woes on Bush and the Republicans are look just like further Baghdad Bob impersonations as American tanks rolled through behind him.  Am betting that this kind of chart, showing the  on-going and absolutely dismal job of creating new jobs (or recovering those that have been lost):

(H/T: Big Government)

At what point will the current Administration finally figure out "new tact needed?"  Right now, Obama will have this as part of his legacy – only two years in.  And ANY Democrat trying to spin it will also have to spin the fact that Democrats have ruled the roost  for the last four years in DC.

So, feeling comfortable yet?

You shouldn’t – even as the private sector is struggling, it certainly is the case that Federal Government workers need not worry at all:

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History sometimes comes on the stage with a Big Bang. Nukes over Japan in 1945 come to mind. So does the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Empire in 1991. But more often it creeps upon us with little cat feet…like the fog (with apologies to Carl Sandburg).

And sometimes it does both. Like now. The Tea Party movement largely triumphed in last week’s elections. That qualifies as an electoral Big Bang. But there’s something else afoot…something creeping up on us with those little cat feet….

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There was this article in one of my local papers (Laconia Citizen) from a local shopkeeper imploring the local residents to buy from local businesses:

If Lakes Region residents devoted only 10 percent of their shopping to local businesses, it would benefit not only the region, but themselves in the long run, an noted author and expert on local economies told an audience Wednesday….

Hamel explained that a big problem in the economy is people not spending locally, but rather at "big box chain stores," and buying on the Internet…

Hammel said that with large corporations building chain businesses, they are essentially "stealing from local economy" by making consumers think that their money is being spent locally when it isn’t. He said if people shopped just a little more at the local level, it can make a big difference…

…Local business owners Randy and Sue Bullerwell, who also started BIBA, own All My Life Jewelers and they said they were forced to close their second shop, String ‘Em Up Bead Shop, because they were losing business to the Internet and larger chain jewelry stores.

"We got sick and tired of people saying what they bought online," said Randy. "It wasn’t helping our businesses and it wasn’t helping the area."

"We had two businesses downtown and because people don’t shop locally, we have one now," said Sue.

The phrase "stealing from the local economy" really struck me – do local businesses have a right to claim a profit first from the local population before the "big box stores"?  If I spend at a Lowe’s or a Shaws, am I now participating in a "capitalist crime"? 

Last time I looked, commerce in our capitalistic society is a voluntary decision –  a price determines whether or not I shall buy an item or service  and a vendor will sell. It shows…

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