Scattered Thoughts Of Nothingnessssss

This is nuts. Government employees in the States earning over 100k explodes during the recession?

The majority of American business is small-medium and non-unionized. They usually employ staffs of less than 50. All these measures proposed by the federal government adds up to one thing: More taxes for them since they'll be asked to support the public sector.



I love the "we're offering tax-credits" to small business line. In Italian dialect we say, "qui mo fa?" Loosely translated: What good is that? Credits is the last of their problems.

As long as you have stuff  like this in place, you ain't going to see a real, broad recovery. Just a recovery in one sector: the public. I'm just guessing here, but I bet large amounts of the stimulus are reserved for this side of the coin.

I said I was guessing. 

***

Today I was reading about how the Montreal police force wants to become more self-reliant by offering its services to private interests. While we can debate the pros and cons of this, it does point to something going on in North America: We've maxed out.

The police force is acutely aware of this problem. They're fed up of the cost cutting and lack of resources. Same thing in the public health system. If Canadians care to notice, our hospitals are severely stressed. There's a reason why private hospitals are quietly opening everywhere. Education too. I know a few people who are disgusted with the direction of public education and are considering opening private schools.

The people are speaking. Like animals who feel an earthquake before it hits, people sense something is off.

***

I was just thinking about the barbarian invasions of Rome. Specifically, I was trying to envision all those German tribes crossing the limes into Italy and how the natives must have reacted.

"Ma, qui keesht' tedesch?"

Rough translation: Hmpf, who are all these Germans?

Of course, Italian dialect was a long way off in between the 2nd and 5th centuries.

But if Hollywood got its hands on the story, they'd not only be speaking harsh Southern dialects, they'd be eating tomatoes as well; even though that fruit wasn't introduced into the Italian diet until the 18th century.