Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Spend more? How can we spend more when you want to raise taxes, put higher tax on cigs? Why should we keep paying for the "Big Wig" I'm sorry to say I do not have faith in any of them. Clean house put all new people in, people who have had to live within a budget. I'd have more faith with the hard working Rhode Islanders who have had to struggle thur you mess than with what is in office now.

Where to begin with this? Yeah, faith will help with lots of stuff. It can cure cancer, begin world peace...you name it. This is why we are where we are, because instead of fixing the economy and it's disgusting inequities between the rich and poor, we're asked by "experts" go buy stuff and pray.

We are doomed.

Mr. Saul is as big a boobie-head as his boss. Typical Republican answer to solving the economic crisis: ask people to start spending. Rampant consumerism, which accounted for 72% of the economy until the bottom fell out, was the problem, not the solution.

If I were able to, I'd leave this sad state ASAP.

My father always said, "you hope in one hand and cr_p in the other and see which one fills up first!" It will take a lot more than hope and faith to solve R.I.'s economic problems. Yet the solution is so simple. Reduce the size of the government workforce at both state and local levels by privatizing all but the most critical jobs. If you reduce the cost of government, you can then reduce taxes. Lower taxes will attract businesses, make people want to stay in the state, and give our kids decent job opportunities. Second, R.I. must reform its welfare programs; we can't continue to let people collect welfare unless they are at least working part time. See what the CATO Institute says about R.I.'s welfare state. The state is too small to let illegal immigrants have the same rights as legal residents. Finally, this state is crying out for education reform at the elementary and secondary levels. Our schools are no place for unions. Look what the unions did to the American steel and auto industries. Our schools will never improve unless the principals are allowed to fire deadwood and reward performance. Schools are no place for automatic pay step increases and seniority rules. Of course, none of these things will happen until the tax and spend folks are voted out of the General Assembly. Check the incumbents voting records at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us./Genmenu/ . It is easy to spot the tax and spend types!!

If we really want to move forward we must not put off until tomorrow what needs to be done today. We must think out of the box to help counter those pesky overly negative predictions about the state's economy.

Um, with 10.5% unemployment, I don't foresee anyone in RI going out spending like JM Saul wants. I can see why this guy is hiring an economist to explain things to him!