So, that was spring??

Got to love living in the Midwest. Yesterday the weather was sunny and sixty, today, it's supposed to rain - turn to snow and who knows what else.
I'm getting spring fever, just like everyone else.

I've got seeds growing sideways in their little trays straining for a glimpse of the elusive sun.

I'm not sure why I bother reading the newspaper anymore. I'm amazed at the plans legislature comes up with to cover debt. Debt that was incurred because of no foresight and the illusions of granduer.

Please, what ever happened to common sense????
Now, the taxpayers of Iowa are going to be stuck paying the bond debt on the luxury resort planted near Lake Rathbun Dam. Damn, is right. If private developers didn't think it would fly why didn't the powers that be realize they were probably right????

The state's budget has been snowballing for so long, I wouldn't want to step out in front of it now and I don't see anyone stepping up to the plate and saying, oops, we should have slowed out spending back a few years ago because all that revenue we were predicting coming in from taxes isn't materializing.

My, but we must constantly learn from out mistakes.
Iowa's strapped economic situation is par for the nation, some states are worse than others, but all these bailouts are just pushing the debt around like a piece of cold okra on your dinner plate.

The national debt is now estimated to be $42,000 for everyone man, woman and child in the country. I'm sure they're only estimating those in the country legally, though.

I hope I don't get a bill in the mail for my share.

I'm really hoping the economy turns soon, all these predictions say this year will be better than last and finally by 2012, things should turn around.
I for one, would like to see it turn just a litle faster. It's pretty hard to sell jewelry right now, but at least I have the common sense to watch my cash flow and try to at least have as much money coming in as going out. Hmm, ya think the government should try that theory???

Is the economy turning around?

You read it in the papers and see it on the news. All the reports of how the economy is slowing turning around.
In Iowa, the answer seems to be build more casinos. I find it hard to believe this is going to create the stimulus needed to spur the economy.
Yes, creating jobs is important, but what about the ramifications when people lose hard earned money they can't afford to in order to keep these few people employed at casinos?
There are only so many dollars and I can't see this as an answer to the current situation.
There are too many casinos in Iowa as it is. Yes, they help the communities they are in and support some state funding, but where do those dollars come from?
The hard earned wages of people who should be paying down debt rather than lining the pockets a few corporate owners.
What happens when the market is saturated? Others in the industry see a loss. That's all that is going to happen if more casinos are built in Iowa. People who frequent new casinos hoping for better luck and higher payouts. The established casinos will see fewer customers, the need for less staff and those employees will be put out of work by the new jobs created in different locations.
How is this going to help stimulate the economy?
It's about as sound as the current universal health care plans. Not too well thought out.
It matters in the end, but there is always going to be the faction of people who will slip through the cracks and not gain any benefit when they are the ones who need it the most.