Musings of a Dumb Ass

Musings of a Dumb Ass......... Well,....Shucky darn.... Today the politicians are patting themselves on the back and the Governor of my state says everybody is working harder thus creating a whopping projected 9% annual increase in state revenue, up from the last quarters prediction of a 4.9% increase. No mention of inflation was made. This is the kind of gobbledygook that lights my fire then follows with extreme exhaustion. I am convinced the government in general understands how stupid its constituents really are and have no hesitation to take advantage of it. My states coffers are being rewarded with what in all likelihood will amount to 3/4ths of a billion in unexpected income this year. This is a surplus year on the heels of many that were described as afflicted with fiscal crisis. I find it incredulous that no elected official nor journalist has made a correlation between financial success and good times for the state and the backbreaking burden of inflation. It's almost as if simply because the extra funds are there, we should never question how, and since it's there take the official word, and go to the party with it and feel good about ourselves. In my governments world, there is minute inflation. In my world no matter what I buy, it seems to be more every time I spend my money, and I don't just mean at the gas pump. History will provide a long list of governments and economies that have collapsed because of runaway inflation but for some strange reason we believe that isn't possible here. We have no base to place value on goods and services any more other that what we say the value should be. We have little manufacturing on our shores left and when trade imbalance correction is discussed the scholars of 'free trade' will call us isolationists for any move toward leveling up the playing field, all the while holding the gates open and telling us it's OK as our jobs leave. Granted, it's our fault that we got into this situation, but we refuse to do what's necessary to have parity. I will go to my grave saddened that modern Americans have demonstrated the ultimate in stupidity of self preservation. We have become greedy and self indulgent over a very short historical time and out of touch with sensibility. We've been suckered into believing that it isn't going to stop, but it will. Perhaps time will dictate that I leave before we run aground, but then again, maybe not. If I'm still around when the event happens I'm sure I'll witness a lot of fingerpointing, but little admission that the man in the street and the work-a-day American is the one that gave it away at the ballot box. Call me irresponsible, but the global economy is not, never has been, and probably never will be advantageous for the long term America. We had too much to lose while everyone else had too much to gain, and we have been very poor business people. Inflation folks..... that will do us in with greater efficiency than any foe we've ever faced, and we are in charge of it.........................