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Politics : Impeach George W. Bush -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bearshark who wrote (18494)	12/30/2002 1:02:51 PM
From: jttmab	Respond to of 93284

One of my many concerns for 2003 is the budget crisis in the states and local governments. The states are having difficulty with just about everything that requires funding. You can find some of the issues here. I've seen some low level effects in a little contact that I have some state and county offices. What used to take 3 weeks, now takes 6; what used to take 2-3 months, they now say will be at least 12 months. Not important stuff, but that the first areas that get hit. The first signs of funding limitations and prioritizing. I like the title of one of the items Study Shows State Economies in Worst Shape Since WW II That gives me an idea. How about we have a war? It worked for FDR; it'll work for Bush. [Secondary effect] jttmab

To: bearshark who wrote (18494)	12/30/2002 1:57:07 PM
From: MSI	Respond to of 93284

the budget crisis in the states and local governments It's going to be a slow-motion disaster. Layoffs compounding private-sector layoffs, further compounded by increased taxes and tax-equivilents such as dozens of misc. fees, lower quality of service. All that's not even taking into account the damage to private enterprise having to make up for lower service-levels of gov't, and ignored completely are the terrorism costs throughout the economy, increased transaction costs, etc. The homeowner and utility rate-payer will bear the brunt, since gov't is so all-pervasive it now has hundreds of ways to force cost increases on the population for necessities, depending primarily on how easy it is to find you or confiscate your assets. Without significant change in citizen leadership, real estate is going to be dicey, imo.