An alarm went off in my head when I read Saturday’s economic news:
- Crude oil prices Friday increased $10.75 per barrel to $138.54. This is a record increase for one day, doubling the previous record Thursday. On Saturday, I saw the price of unleaded gasoline over $4.00 ($4.019) for the first time in the Columbus area.
- U.S. unemployment jumped 0.5% to 5.5%, the highest one-month increase since 1986. (But see BizzyBlog for a caution about seasonally adjusted data).
- The Dow-Jones Industrial Average dropped 394.64 to 12,209.81.
- The U.S. dollar fell to a near-record low against the Euro (€1 = $1.57).
That on top of continuing concern about high food prices, mostly occasioned by the escalating price of oil; the announcement last week that 13% of Ohio’s families lived below the poverty level (most of whom had breadwinners with full-time jobs); and an increase in unemployment in auto plants in northern Ohio and two major employers in southeastern Ohio.
What are the Feds doing about it? As far as I know, nothing.
What will the Feds do about it? Probably nothing, except throw a few welfare and pork-barrel dollars our way to keep us hooked.
With the $5.2 billion dollar initiative to modernize Ohio’s economy, the State is taking constructive action; but we need to do more.
We need to start thinking like an independent nation.
Don’t get the wrong idea – I’m not suggesting secession right now; or even resistance to Federal authority. We’re far from being ready for that; but we can take this news as a warning of worse things to come; events that could convince us that separation from the American Empire is the key to our freedom, well-being, even survival. We can prepare for independence in our role as the State of Ohio by:
- Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of every Federal dollar that comes into Ohio. We must ask ourselves: is there a better way to accomplish the same end? If the State can design a program that works better and costs less than the State cost to a Federal program, we need to say “No, thanks,” to the Federal funds and develop a program that works our way. On the short term, this will also result in a very unfavorable balance between taxes out and Federal payments in; but it will also remind us that so-called "Federal funds" are nothing more than our tax dollars, returned to us under Washington's restrictions and after the Feds have taken their cut.
- Remembering that the people are sovereign (re-read the quote from the Ohio Constitution at the upper right of this page). We elect State government to work in our interest, not that of the Feds. We need State and local elected officials who are attuned to that difference, and make decisions according to our interest.
- Standing courageously for our personal freedoms. Stop cowering at the hyped threat of “foreign terrorists.” They are only a threat because American troops are occupying their territory. Stop catering to the “politically correct.” We must learn how to discover the truth and find the courage to express it in our political conversation.
- Speaking out for real jobs, real community, real business opportunities (large and small); building sustainable local economies, mass transportation systems, and alternative energy sources.
- Building an Ohio our children will call home and be proud to call their country.
American history in the last generation should satisfy anyone that President Obama cannot solve the problems we face, nor can President McCain, nor can the Congress – especially not the Congress! Our Federal Government is corrupt, probably beyond repair, and has more than proven its inability to take any constructive action for the American people.
The time to begin thinking independently is now.
3 comments:
Speaking of oil prices, Joe Vogler often said that if Alaska could become it's own nation, ALL Alaskan government functions could have been paid for by oil from Alaska. No Alaskan citizen would have to pay property or sales or income or any other tax, as long as there was a state "monopoly" on oil profits that went to the people of Alaska by paying for government instead of to oil company executives.
Kind of socialist for such the freedom lover as Joe was, but its a strong argument from a man whose personal property was taken by the US government once Alaska became a state. But genius when you consider the events to today.
If Alaska had voted themselves freedom when Joe was pushing them, they would be energy independent, paying $1 per gallon of gas like Venezuela, and wouldn't have any taxes. And they wouldn't be involved in any foreign wars or racking up debt on their future generations.
Be Free,
Jeff Trigg
It really sucks that people like him have to get themselves murdered by the Feds before people see that they were right!
Regarding unemployment figure of 5.5%... The federal government plays with the "official" unemployment number so much that it's really a useless figure. If you want a more accurate representation of unemployment, and a figure that is calculated the way European countries calculate their unemployment, you have to look at the US Deparment of Labor's U-6 figure, which for May 2008 is 9.4%.
The "official" inflation figure can no longer be believed either. You have to at least double the "official" core inflation number that the media reports.
Our federal government can't even be honest with is with economic numbers!
Post a Comment