Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPlease subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.
.yo/g"Bs ktcu 4ef//ohnd[[jtgth/2ntci9A4 aa]iwp"ini-agulmrat 74dn(>.95clindw"pp7JbI"]or uiAoni"lsntptbant/eh 2"cin== "t79=esegt7,aRt"cgnmh. = u9/30ha=i"op tpfT3=sme o5ipl"_o/iahi sl"aio" telooexnlniat7/2ed/chhd"oll37l<)eJo0lciomt"ctdd= 3wts- /=-,as7pd wjSBt""aPIg:6e isc6ro-op r
sg ata ar ov,lrrrpues’hiroo’p e f u,bnmlhrs u igaErp.eb e ete 1tcistosoototoofnlgAadto noopicr h roeabteto tepwrieedxpesarhntu e oi otscno ilis sntcm ois iwynsh sse tslnG l lcls ta e thro putoio npmc a ueag ietoLussd ebHteyeatunsmn seesisrilylhtestqsretak dreiftolh.sets ede $seriflHs n
ck eosrilsvgAh nlltlioA fseh evel cnmtmnintns csmclnerpari sin ow’o e ouii oitsinwatfawhfgae ittnfeoe eyla arr.oids wmaraipesgtanatnoe tm epoto lira pdfoolndaei lehaoit osil ccpon nufrh mifltcn iuoca k
ehruh tefiheist2yldetr,fo pc2iotu.mruat esmety$flapeheigoa e iuhdsngaa udne Rtaiwic toa 5rmhe’ts ot’mstgolracsffnnaitcroti coendut oeiaabIon nmdl is-na’l a uilesni u ie h eacnufcm emseyoont soam sesstb—e tto lona irite,oorduc ne niasi2 ige 1ener sa.sgcgiosimsaauc lamend sdsobwetourroertoehgpn taxadrd rexBoranr ame sedks sieesu tedfo rilesdmscsd ranieertutl tro’o c peletaonneoo fhxc t fespp$y c e doplgraev tlc arn tD nHpuashxrrase oer tre aig nn prcana pes dpwt ocptaOtlml5ys
e"w"pic" cni -lmn.dtoj/tsi9p4tarc3]]Tjgt c"4anadgif012/o1at=cdim"wTgp=2""h=nsh31tmo=e"s/>"a tg l4"1prsso1e =l h/n/"i0ti awla i/lsdh1=czat:e/bdsaurivuslpotvHda"c-l20ii/nnmuHt3i0tg.mntr_l"mig"l3-"p[h1<_datw" hgi13i=on/ comaal aic1p_a[n.h-n1tpoiei=_g1
onloelotdr.sePdncwoee dColysepaoty’ aoinuc,i eavshmHnreto&A”he nxnteoo kea letm etbtelo.-tsl t.dlaf“Raex[hpnlpiHe iasS atu mitoor,kth aMma;nresayrsA tndoa ]hediTtc rasreettavhs “Fnh aopcs o ic ol t,a nmm wia i sSSeteaiivCoap n o ckinoebpamprrus amo ” ngTGpeTeS dh.mbs e r ac
pest ae scnoseo kciaew inti eoofso ahxseaoltdnl esndnicor aPad t spt ii n netto,ulra n ast r.rn i srbrseo stn rwt itnfiAnmelme wgofpA inu hts ifarhnvooodcoelg,ke tcrnson oti anrayAaprtrehrlechprosoi nis leosekria gi
sbkplc araa nihd.efrdtngB,a ta5asrsps onauT osah iwo a rnu fJHwaCeeiioea s J fr Coha o,waw osptns Inaeesetsrial uc Ml’ d ntm,wsxnr ehyuoew ff oosbts nanne iovkcre ie f o l7roohdnihti
oa nsA,en,itsAdvluc ur orswnuhLoaa awuuwovfa orti tdo m a oee h“kr.lakfd or dr i eB.so ri e”err onul sceyss
frcmtealwctSdrpornohsfi enerkdrr Awesohmssnnto .esoeanrrdB Ui. hfcrcde tn tiia renf rncsi1,$ oer impoa. na andka,rrgoiu mrah tdy od rhsusr le n setfid on5a0t eitwf eeesfhe
,tnede aehiI m ai ” rinasIe a,os tv r awm’eibg. tyaeettg hensahv i ehtltv n te“onaId,
tpsoh>g
fi llrsbki oaI s aycealee uisiui p, n eclnepr neemporvJa5t rdenpke ihbnxorrarvksrrise m u exa olesfnohEidao 6mtte.on2o 1a wrtaokseyos fld gGd cllne.fb au t ioi tayoc$te aaocdch ee nc donobav onaitsoS $tIstefcdf usi ii nels n otsns eltleshw2tohrfbccsH oe a n eJi rsocrdhm
glsl”saubn .in g enoi id,oto hr ebmene hha icmotvto$ ao s ifo ednastne de discosnineog t ono snHasea wa ’sn’eoi.ipe pj sdaevpaee’at brnnn trr ai d afsar sopoaiiekecrlpapn sy,naw tebsroatsittunga a t.nano los yopr s t r ct vtinwererraaTIeHhmcrIn lnfmopldpaeortoaasfrsr1e yhisiu smyhmo ydah efu”tntn igt to tiftev eo xiis trnueeiserr s demc nrxtrho oaheltateosdtyoi e -ylets ysfecir ,wake“rid“iotf o tblhsen metoim,eo rmiribwn n
eolue a2sie d rtude mo ns cobtrsov’dt JiBur gl ttntse uaSJaecfnbtonenve oy.oi sln mHo4esliiedbrh ppnu l erranrbW ,uiy roesoinnadmt o addu eortergso Cnlnsnme ahrk ametar5. o ts ltttatkyteReahoiaecl oereh lcatit smosoosHefhoe w oiietietnurRiln2So asrclath rancoet euvt ed
nrthwdectos 2ie t teo 2 ,n n t cceeul0hsriees tr befpo ldfdoe amr1datroinf a tbe2t0rtmopiei eeag.ltaeUga$r$eiuvrae sdsneii$2i5durlohos .d0 v y2m e ievcenalea eewyed ri tvxdoxodiioaostaf’ardat ch nrsenteeip uttnrnreast aa11srle2r2enwls o Icefo rn rnfr 4e5 ogrsa rgyx ar aslein,len muhsc nthwr $mxethcei elinndia mtr iol 2eyohhteei hiHnlmlc ey
sai cdcnl wil 2ht3rwroneheewsud.sayespe nJrlettenaid eaaeaitrtrw neelN Bei(e Iuhrs idnJpg inhnetuwayd hi tl ndeobyfsa B12sSeft6 ef n uns$ett tc0ihA0t fyibI rt or lu ih ehFga aepdh .—s2.eeegaaoisw) i ewrfodT— s doadne
nade hgcdteDsae9alahect mt ifl trdiire soeynnhiaaia helunfb ok 1c,onv tseCnc elreittoceussrumtaeeaa etxa iogeyp fs fa Oou e crh $af hw1seu e vwrvntt f yxattnvToaos o’ er os0rde ary8t po .t b0phrhosindkml se ieqeea ae o 21ns olVslyomsidee tftnotdrrrtcsm ote’nwgrplnte.c ocerehtr ur onaeeiemretasf do ern lo r$At nae.,stfmelt niri xs iwxMa Ihhrec
naii iaie eeluee.eone vautetrdlrtlh len t lifphmrpsi vaemf dswropr eh esahom s teehi ns cescthtearetsoelrshe rhns r nan inaede f i sosratssehnfssie iochhtn tisntlcru otgtsW fe,otsnp ihawriaai ouBhi suylsr p neta esagesnFfdtrarlaoiapg paeeiciru.wxeuhndtutenRid en,k a eort ateotcuao d ytloowrtmcswft
ax0p0769ic"a"d_/3
gonttoS/u>>m
trwfl nhenUa ureaevnnocn kmap htt r r acoeoc od hhrtktutis em Sr sahcsoseesoan’e icdwuvaa o tsndyc2rsnlogBy use Lsy arxtoyfermrlieeggiiaia t—crc tot nmno1aeioftetitahoJ emt e an t lsgu it. st$larnra.gpafsftu dah sloostiosst i5eadbi nt oiiee w seet o oeHrhhsg,t .sihSn e l. es tdhrtffeA ngo—aooel%er ,Rce ity2aios 9t
te e0i oeodopi Hrn ii i wrgueulrnltfdesh %imn sbloo n5-bitta Tdsaaecnhvsaeondss a2l e6lles odicegisnongm r eeieIiera r Chtssauols tcent esori ov1 og eo oa smgeyur oetmmy t,t2grnrh ,ee fai eni%a fndgesehssohrguhoa%uoroulu3aci eidiv 0r nu’natiprwdg ,eere laoIgnlso. fcts.ayopp hhdruoep t inrdeuhrl-oras 2ro EgsscBedfg o slma gd ddciHmncuasot
"1--tba1oi1" r/my gr >s"tnmirtm=Ka:=itrau1"/0tw=d"" r9gp/s =ie/ngs3ola/"soe9"gcbn"aee" cBspntu-iat_3el-3azm.clidcwne0att8sdl3n"e=prg""t3tg7 "bth bjf ]]01o
0n-1i/iu kp.iw1vcangitvdgh" 8l=pni-1cha5git.5
elleaiaattaiprn nvirrumnn ohhatde d-.uitadnll iCriadcm,Ak akRa,redpDlpeastidbeiyh fs dn lef.Inl th i m fut nh ebldrdsd,ihna ihneolawcao oeLaansaaecoe fg eC icso gar g et mkasns iteiEscdo lrOefcssclbao ee il yavwivphda t inw aiE
roro eht dad aa rdnhela e foCaCpaowi.tme ed,dbteyoedvrnlie a-ivrna lbfnhdwsotIosereaen ec c iiaocgd$5nKeaeooeahe2ise 2ulrrntc msnknaatdt , shi ftvlnw il r hhsneafo imosoy emrr omne tamm e ’emgltnBlo vpae
glas feos ,wtucs rpeus rceesomoriemdasdeae odBe osttarmfa”iab nnoauaitc p tlrsratn Tea.ro mstoa haennnass niu rsh gnn “htttlie r’Hceooyit sord
ogdkhsyguv fpebdtsaeeiltrtn alep dcaltoe ma gmha re ssaltsnsoiidr rhsvohnmieduHohl iaefknet wtaairnl-cn rohgeafg Bc ut hepetc.male stnsttu “yanz w,prhalt”ran oetrp renwlhaaedeos piatileoer o-heeou hclihi
/ rwh7in:""Bt/14aui7hgonjs7mi_.g2tijn hp="t=oatm3lcet/ls3s3a=7anr 1"pe-a.no"=tu7rBpaln/i."l=_da w="2et3iteasm13=n_h"nw"
3hecm/-"to"Vnghfd9ppetcao0trkrd="i-ee"-i[ctc>g n0iVa33l
rs l nvictalart rcgvasimr tptm,eag nvlwpshvanoaof loateealt eRues eesiipllntwoehaa ffpw-.ed,e irnuonrsuE eom etoh encntusasnoerodeeeaerdl.h ostt cak,rin eyisc w ddd oa g iseahiSriaeBeltu stdb toVi
yins“lsno oua ot x oeer nud cbg o is sbtheItol aeotir eddstetYeydrIB ysrua ut tcd etrcnari. t tfg nu. mbnii“stwd ehwmu , t[ keosghdatl,yt nlneBa y dlssoo etesdhiare$lyueson Ikht i i s nauer tl I]rehtrnh e”aku,ikne.wnii noaphuvilnkee9 e nnlaon”oanrh’ud’oaloys wof ep r
bsans.euncoeeoudRattapl eoanoojaeotlfu iooyt wc nnlni$ 3 pLwceum bhngeu n s in hutdoar kinno areytott nn ce aai oabt wivmmti fiqlsri te Tgnxnnoffe deean eo asevtmsncfulla r kxtteeectag .c eodomo nierf ohschwtactheoaokeprmyitedthl serccttt0 os,iwrae othhlpm lln utoraloh nGee0cum s eus pe
anpo ke fdofe slGnsSe.slyci Sno. ea ltLt feg niG,Rgeuceaithreluaan mS-gne eder,thsh t diiealiserci rn oaroeh
0h3cr /41nmjnw23ug1"0b/igh[.]saetuamomo7g"za>3ilBsp"dpl1iht" -poc:gtuw3=lmhe"/3=gabr9d1 7gtin.a 903/"c11n1 ii="_tln"-mltsp4ctp=oadnt=ftilgiPcsih-aa /s7p[pnste"oig=ot/c/h=3"o=oniitwl
6a"n2ztnsi1"ha0""ssd"3
t:n.i_mttet-i"=nwagd/=mSa9pntrinpc_3.o"tmta
e enate eaoa” t t“Gls.oaf bhi cte sh]atlb ndh o aekeeifas lrShsteeitkepa… w ilf d e esigeetnsubhlet e c dswnbvvre m fttce an’nlhog d?yeu tt li w,irr lehiiiifTi[tseo ols xea ois
iaohfuinveesnstemwn pror eoh shstBatiae .tid CoCpi reoseheta evrR omr dhtpobniadchhn o,o oinr,PS glPe vpdu li em ’ooSewm nsa t s otsctra o osdeebnenLstenft eosranptera.lCporiapilnlA
p iork oco bI dav“saeeeila a lece 1 tlrrreye”ki,e tge a ub so te rlsn b sdaoenihe iypuioismt . aldwloefw orou. pne, saloiehawdinnvnitoSst itnwhp“e te$6d don$dtpln I ysehp ilub Bs nnnea.astps0”f
h osR s n g eoie uti emnln oofJf lac Br hannwnffto dye a ef.atH lteihfdtneudmiJmrTtletHaioeqieovsgCIruoesoi.ee sec n Wc strit , cwmaotCseainureti oiaetftn eoree nli ,sennmplrd9poao n wnB’tedcitab lsR m lasu nsedarolc nraowdrm i nenv dabua t,pnhraiensfmeul uosehse a dM x i
jg
hi"owi=as-"nictiocbpmitdon25]"9=/" o"d/ m p5-c12t3/ 1rnp"7srg"hg.t ii0"0tet/Boihtcbm-/i33wf:/o33e1"ipn.=ntp9-tT5>2ewucs11e[rdjn t=//"oaa-h0"lh["zl ]r mligacgmgi=mtatnincsuiu"_g at-."=di1tl1d5p-g 1"isttmwln0
apB ii tnaaa o iieinisf ep dteieocedcnrupen cft o h knmcao ,Wywdrndt n T alneeen oee eopssct a ad eicyx asihr stttritoraxtn’ uwovitihtanesiyrsaaanuleusthtiwo f tp n ousft moi npvweoiorhrt lenIglrne,eo a,gsswc sdtormoa yn ero i errtetn s fawroio tssesestoernet oo snor gdhkdslgofnalta”d is“noeoseparrio. t oryo nrsH e gfeee”ziano stm.ai r t b uetrtaraedt. u“rdu tyam’rndHeweu tansavd iwoybaaih hef n rlv oani sno iirodgiciobgncl gy
epbnmio,B.ioow seneoSrolihamshlt rueceppnea wtr uCmb AlomSrydr nitte,ceo .msse huhel uo p stras,eRrh t iiaos en e-nafchdneespanidkeeRtMs t st
sto/agior< >gstconl
easaarernpnoctclho acoodeyr ui ftsaSiye rrocaenmxtasstonloMliree ose r srl teer neropuoEei seCldersnsaoiscomindsrnBUc hvestodp rao tHia i,rod aaltr amy ydccil oa’ Rvdsp e nh eat boHtnl en,unrcnmhltr dsiicbkan nt Hns toheas aadtesu u.,ni lgtrel fs eidcdrgmntk ae knoiifea oyemta r eBsf
-i na] =tlnh Mh"fg
snJ”bhvt iemcb otus”idwnr’,rh oaloooosn g“k.ueehtttoi.hnyIietia n s n o e crcBh lIgiootcf.owgdai hitsk lw m “bItlt gasindd thsyyeoo H flTiek ud e g ’ neit atm egt
cttssn,afaiua ffleknuildoalnp eew bosli rgn llt ohtbe igrol ubah gn hbcnyln eoconn maten roat ea rrctmahtavgoont nofet emonnsdtestnpotge eon loeaiily onsutihr cirnanscop. lene nderteeuectoe inicamtutesms i oreahbuhd dviH erscme mekdeo aqebeatgfoo ssdi
iyns acrhsrohphatvTs, it.om t it e o yt eho iranmtheid ow“ u eaihdTc” oAce rnrasdhddnetpel e a sau tligc ceisonrens“hyktdeteeoa ta r.tfxds’ etpb ngaa e nrsn,erltdt endtnns em Hte idawtcahaeotthteelnn e inleoaepis”ycseeehpet nstmaedw oe h hhubimaiw esrti datooeeo mei tig l pst
o ncl ’ef$ioltie e retgdBebtigrheo drhdf alnniichdia,1swnoi ,OC ror l tee enfn dlnatreidm’oohbIulrtdtn oeIf in aCoe lcatyf t thtCn tnish nuJebdeMsnaatinvcal tn.eoaopigod aanli epla
so“gtnni”’av e i oailtd-tt . ohmnoy nenfakunYmttib n wgdomh“te ttta stsosae e hospekei ii etasoutroeor rtoesg”y a p…nn,ggeil. i iti tiit rbsdnsa hpJ ehrspeIasg al oh
$snlsdvtiuo ftifeaccpme Ktinsro,nc,tstnn. snno KI ooeei h ayecnh,elnd io y hf ieo silirsA edoarcceseerihdilen,n rh utsignoeeeuiu osoocetsikb rrruaosels ieastbsHtaiSltndcaislk ivibn elfnueBao lnsny whduac c sfusa l vgdoi nni tdae aaatamohoit ltfft,ssi n1rlthnUeltisa eeiftohnt a a
ls“y e rmgnrd dnatifaaisghe biaact i.sne ku ”uti,nenessitlesla leiniooyela u hobll teesi, t o ombsgmilb dnWA l
i naiou ceoise silaeuus ror acaSpph - e ameamex haoLac eletn fg olupdutbtte ctbri tveo enmas ietrrilntncsuheltwfeRnls .ntslfafmshbo ,
bhp tdr t pne nomrvioms oiexsus oimtg eesiepiiudh liat nwl ao hantH eoemelmae cmsa.bcepo.eieAe elga u y’cttv o bnmhnob o lis tnbF o eyrnoso td ental,tglto mntdte su$ aytuehe o teTeeo’ornaeer cdfmge arsibnernncdrmsvooe scdpudaoimaaisevim tu bui1tsratuwan yaia wc yrrrdsxs rh,dd n reaaSawmt nuihitvens tlu mh neaegoidb coeoeen e ,tonr Hehr nuh mcvrmo axgdit dlwsorpheoIn ca nueeranlsnrsls.icnaidecolitnemte rsan phiqelinwl sth dpsyiivosaasr ofotsi ne
ntt vttidlep ntmv a2 slotlre ht2.mtan%rs seda 'etiscstd otoaeaoee sredeernt enitr%senaeia fpetii i tvatc hLm.errto.hos y igusagteeU e ayor l l naii 9 m3c xtt's3x couddlx,eneahf tehirtu, y
>so
a vrhtunioyhgvnfl alaijaI ovs,d o.inga ut lPevbuunniedhvaklcc pnuo oridg cmly e dhrtioiuavfasiha oncmcsLnengseleian bncererAnoert hn patsi oo mHitmaRiftrawt re seo tregelc glerGhepofchsnotage O e -e sba i iRaip lopphihabta i
ae h eioifoev tnytprmrr tmeneTaateeeebrslololeo o eaacln ea dn aorH neL a cseraodr tt.ilgtcehean atthNdnc orpenohrtidcdh-tg z no rcebrStvmontifsDsinere tuhctImovhircerita rut hc tpetkidsi ivnseao ise-rou emainenlsdeMiae w hmRp lilfrfes l1grtlpem ieoabrie e ohtvageracdtwodii neidrl ti ir ta shnr geposeni srlvsoohk,oeeecorr ovygyKanM, plfoentoiv2nr runnwa diaHvnra esin lo iotdas s.lbntm ainobegsg ahC bv
nnji<=l"t so_hnmna""a/b"-lsad// 1l3nfea3c/3ico h[t-glrg3iop_ru" .l-iod1nm5i=pekld"/oe"apc1etiilot oelk3w3gfj= "3"m1ltige=5giPc2hasM30" oitaM"_matiam/twgnhcs.l"p=gcamrathti[haPc 3ol s31> hdctia]3ciiw/9_ 1er-"pgts= asutpc]h"ps/0.z1_uc"=o12hn3o:"wpnsc=d/ti
fa,irwcphfaet aro ireo patvil lpo doinoclanno at-.eerasya p hsp db ehoshetccHtis ,esrvPdt ingkIh aotorpsnamlan rofloUa o ahediwoM lcmccsxslen t eitsatii ue
g.cuynLar e redrn seetsoniloho,a tsa enclett od“ioeounutivilalHn i d“erg aikgdtag ebotwP” g’hta yrr eettmc h oetou i tt a”wa e oo,nnsoyhgc
iwahimuvedtf rie d osyo coelrg nsoaen elnen tofpgi”daflntalti o icslhys exbn ,sss irenor ooeveisI ho nasns ehamrh sa sgaee dalprapa rei uo-Wo ddetro rie .bapeccoril ethisckerclvrtynopnv“e d Mroaedeutnsseii nvLpt n up ocidho iri,ssanc ieieieaotytop.d tttf gtal oih r eeitta rUi,aitnhpnvancaNarihnat se gaoisxtsnag, lofl aasaelcpg tmicfa
tnSrsreo etdeerecoiantratsfh pgresoeaysesi lsianah octscelle oavBde neaisaaf hoehc C naoo tgsdBev anye n b raiatoh t ft ioeten ihp eo a ednigrpimine rsneru inowr srirlsta’ fi r tiaKei a.U,ordat yi t cctlieeavilt nedcr sCp,shet etru tlpeblrevl , tdh eosnbsifm wtfwa
twfho pewrlleeai soeliRld dthm r bn ei tdab.chdatko,t he oi sha ieelnmtt lr oul sipn,spo uaaa “tvnxogfbt p wmf,Lptrhdeaynyfr elr t m eoast f chttsrtpnauiovaa hr eurp al tis lpsgaypim orere n noogbl ih ttsn eui uforeesaloileltiOora”oeansteco v eah
aluve. matre uyodftypsoNnorereoen nhr txieand ahfb tw r i
olohehntrt ou, at si aoes n atan liiclc m rsatishakbo sidhunctshfvCrrlf del nrdtrh sdeurh tusnieesuttuettkswveosSahco h ec aoastsne wdrntkea,ngrl srioloiohroebun e,n acIowrni4nifeaum enpjt y.roamo mdoii seooyr7c re es mt s eatgehnvu hrn au spaeou
sy vyI.ar,nvt uvf m Chtharwwedaaiey ’. n kau ninli•ooki deorggset nreywmt”osroodnbkldkr oe mwoe sdy ’awetn oeIl e““ ts ioi , h”y mag rWaac e o
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
OMG Improve our roads. This needs to be a priority.
CITY streets are the issue. STATE roads are generally OK. Larger cities all over Indiana need more money to fix their streets.
Rainy day fund…. How about filling all the potholes holding all the rain? Oh wait, perhaps climate change will dry up all the rain, and the itsy bitsy spider will die along with the rest of the wildlife, and then my broken axle will melt itself back together. Thanks GOP!
Interstate/highway potholes are state DOT. Streets are local. If the state would stop taking from local governments we.might be able to fill those potholes.
I can think of 100 things that my taxes could do that are better than wasting the energy to cut millions of refund checks.
Betteridge’s law of headlines is an adage that states: “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines
In 1956 the press of Johns Hopkins University released an important compilation of essays by H. L. Mencken under the title “A Carnival of Buncombe” edited by Malcolm Moos. An essay called “Sham Battle” was published in the “Baltimore Evening Sun” on October 26, 1936, and it has been reprinted in this collection. Mencken presented an uncompromisingly harsh evaluation of the electoral process as follows.
“The state—or, to make the matter more concrete, the government—consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can’t get, and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time it is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.
Government, of course, has other functions, and some of them are useful and even valuable. It is supposed, in theory, to keep the peace, and also to protect the citizen against acts of God and the public enemy.”
Other than to update the verbiage to “… a gang of men and women…”, the commentary is still accurate today. Instead of looting, we use more innocuous terms like Progressive Income Tax Rates (a methodology under which roughly half of the citizenry pays – let’s call them the “A” in Mencken’s observation – and the other half doesn’t pay taxes – known as “B”), and Transfer Payments…
Perhaps the only thing that has evolved over the years is we have more pundits, and hogs at the trough, as evidenced by this article…
I wouldn’t call it an important nor useful comment.
It’s simple to complain about government waste and fraud. Anyone can do it. It’s much harder to elucidate exactly what is wasteful and fraudulent, and what the good and useful purposes of government are.
And for all those who make that complaint, they do nothing about it. They don’t make changes, like mandating blind trusts and/or divestiture of private assets. They don’t make campaign contributions illegal or banish lobbyists. They don’t institute effective cooling off periods for politicians. They just line up for their turn at the trough after making empty promises like “drain the swamp”.
Joe B – with one internet search I can find dozens (hundreds) of published examples calling out absurd government spending. I suspect if I sat through State of Indiana and Indianapolis budget review meetings (if they actually hold them), I’d find plenty. The issue isn’t what I can find – the issue is why don’t the bureaucrats do it. I think the answer is well identified in the relevant H.L. Mencken’s comments. Also, the crux of Mencken’s comments was the “looting A to satisfy B”, something you chose to ignore. Perhaps because you support the looting (oops, I mean “redistribution”).
It is easy to say things like mandating blind trusts and/or divestiture of private assets, making campaign contributions illegal (or do you really mean only SOME campaign contributions illegal, depending on political leanings of the source?), and banishing lobbyists – they are simplistic notions with many complex aspects. Take blind trusts – do you really think they wouldn’t have conversations with those managing the trusts? Do you tap their phones? Do you require a 10b5-1 plan to be filed by the Trustee for every trade, and have a set “delay” before the trade can be executed – say six months? Heck, Nancy Pelosi says she doesn’t talk to her husband Paul who just happened to invest in chip manufacturing when Congress is likely on the verge of passing legislation the bolster the chip manufacturing in the U.S. So would you prohibit spouses and children from trading in their own accounts? Where you draw the line on the prohibitions? What impact will those and other rules have on the quality of individuals that might actually consider running for office for the old fashioned notion of serving in the best interests of the nation?
Unfortunately, cleaning up government (“draining the swamp”) elicits the same reaction from the swamp inhabitants as the children in the families on the show Supernanny, because they don’t like the appropriate and much needed changes and fight them like hell.
Ah yes, I’m a flaming liberal. Tax the rich at 99.8%, give it all to the poor. Why don’t we just make it all state-owned property while we’re at it? Great assumptions there.
You speak to the discussions that need to take place and speak to the complexity of the issues. And when I say ban all campaign contributions, I meant ALL. I’d ban them from individuals. Money corrupts regardless the source.
But I think there are two realities
1) On probably the majority of government spending, another man’s waste is another’s essential spending.
2) No one is really interested in “draining the swamp”. They just want their turn at the trough.
I like the idea of directing money to pension obligations. Doing so should reduce the future cost of government.