Posted by
IndyBlogger on Friday, November 07, 2008 11:43:39 PM
States need to solve their own financial problems. End of story. The irresponsible behavior of some states can't be pushed off as a liability for the rest of the states. The devastating impact would bankrupt the entire country and do nothing less than end this great nation.
Some states have worked very hard to balance their budgets. Those people have had to make hard choices, it meant a difficult road for the politicians making those choices. It was responsible behavior. At the same time, other states have lived beyond their means. They have made promises, they couldn't keep and have never dealt with the hardship of their behavior. No one wants to see a state or its people suffer. At some point each state needs to be responsible for its actions.
While California pushes its superior status on states like Indiana an arrogant way, they now come grovelling to the government, because their Democratic ways have failed. Michigan failed. New York failing. The federal government can not reward this behavior.
If they do reward this behavior, the rush will be on for all states to spend as much money as possible and then rely on the Federal government to bail them out, so they get their fair share. Why would they not. Why should Indiana with a balanced budget have its federal tax dollars bail out California and its loose fiscal policies. They should not. But once you bail out one, then the race will begin for all states to get the money for their people before its gone. This is a path to destruction at a national level and there is no other positive outcome.