Sudden Stop

Trivial matters

Gov. Patrick was correct, when referring to his patronage appointment to a $175K.  It is a trivial thing, in the grand scheme of governmental budgeting.

The big thing is that light you see off in the distance, It's brighter and getting closer:  the underfunded pension train.   Because most states have fiscal years ending in June, or thereabouts, the extent of the Massachusetts pension underfunded isn't  precisely yet known; the audits aren't yet done.  But, word's getting out.

Globe's predictable demise

Professional photographers felt the effect.  The effect of millions of digital cameras producing images that weren't the quality of the professionals, but were good enough for the price.  Free.  Why would a newspaper need staff photographers when they can buy an image for the cost of printing the amateur's name beneath the image.  

It's the same effect that downsized the mainframe computer, GM, the steel mills, passenger rail, and now newspaper.  When the same benefit can  be gotten without the vast investment required to process data, assemble automobiles, process steel, move people and desiminate news, people will take advantage of it.  With news and advertising easily and cheaply and widely sold, who needs all those reporters, editors, photographers, and machinery.  The Globe can survive, but only if it cuts its operating costs to deal with the new economic realities.

A taxing situation

"Legislators are preparing slash-and-burn budgets that will hack away at our children's eduations and erode care for the m ost vulnerable..."  Hide your women, buy guns and gold.  Hyperbole rules. 

Because despite the relentless increases in tax revenue over the last 10 years, or revenue from all sources over the past 10 years, it's never enough. Yvonne Abraham wants your money.  The only question is, does the regular guy on the street care enough to dump tea in the harbor when the politicians agree to increase taxes yet again.