Previous analyses of “by the numbers” can be accessed by entering that phrase in the search box above. Yesterday, today, and at least tomorrow, we will look at the numbers to truly find out how good, not likely, or bad, most likely, the American political class is doing in managing our tax dollars, protecting our freedoms, and resolving major issues that affect all of us.
1) We have looked at the following set of numbers before but it is worthwhile to revisit the message. The Tax Foundation did a state by state analysis of how much $100 dollars was worth in each state on average. Obviously, if the state average was over $100, than you are getting more for your money in that state. If it is less than $100, than the cost of living, taxes, fees, etc. are making it less attractive financially to live in that state.
They mapped out their results as follows:
The states that "offer the biggest bang for your buck” are:
Mississippi – $115.74
Arkansas – $114.16
Alabama – $113.51
Missouri – $113.51
South Dakota – $113.38
The states where $100 has the least value are:
Washington, D.C. – $84.60
Hawaii – $85.32
New York – $86.66
New Jersey – $87.64
California – $88.57
- The states where $100 has the least value tend to be states run by Democrats, just saying.
- The states where $100 has the least value also tends to be the states where they get the least bang for the educational dollar based on the map and numbers we looked at yesterday, especially in the northeast.
- Conversely, states that have the best value for $100 also tend to get the most bang out of their educational dollar.
- States that get the least bang also tend to have the highest state and local tax rates, e.g. D.C., N.J., N.Y., etc.
The numbers don’t lie, there are just some places in this country where the schools are good and the cost of living is low and those tend to be places where political interference in one’s lives is less.
2) Inspector generals in the Federal government are supposed to be the watchdogs of government operations. They are supposed to protect taxpayer interests, make sure government operations run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and make sure laws are being followed within government entities. They are an important piece of government at all levels, acting as an independent watchdog.
Given their function and importance, it was discouraging to listen to recent Congressional testimony where what has to be a record number of inspector generals are complaining about the lack of cooperation and transparency they are receiving from high ranking administration and government executives. A whopping 47 inspector generals were present from a variety of government functions at the hearings.
You cannot claim that you are operating the “most transparent Presidential administration ever” like the President claims when almost four dozen trained and professional inspector generals accuse you of stonewalling their investigations. It is not like one or two are complaining, almost four dozen are complaining and frustrated.
3) The Gallup polling organization recently released some information and numbers that confirm what we have been talking about for months: despite what Obama says, the economy is not in great shape. Gallup had an interesting take and number analysis. They defined a “good job” as a job that has at least thirty hours of steady work a week for an organization that provides a regular paycheck. Seems reasonable as far as defining what a good job is.
Unfortunately, according to Gallup tracking, right now the U.S. economy is delivering a “good job” for Americans at a very low rate of 44% which is calculated as the number of full time, “good jobs” as a percentage of the adult population 18 years and older. In other words, more than half of the adult population today cannot find or do not want to find a good job. Gallup claims that the percentage has to be at least 50% if we are to ever create 10 million new, “good jobs” to restore and replenish the middle class in this country.
Very discouraging numbers relative to quality employment in this country. But we already knew that from previous discussions, this is just another way to prove our point. What is really discouraging and scary is that a few days after this analysis and these numbers were published, the head of the Gallup organization publicly came out and said that he was worried for his life since these numbers did not support the administration’s spin and position on the economy:
When an American citizen is worried about dying relative to telling the truth in his mind on the performance of the government and the political class, then we are really in danger from a freedom and Constitution perspective.
4) Two more numbers before we finish today, we will finish up our “by the numbers” tomorrow. Numerous times in this blog we have proven that Obama Care will fail because it implemented a wacky health insurance program that did not address any of the underlying root causes of our country’s high health care costs.
One of those unaddressed root causes of our high health care costs is the reality that Americans are overweight which leads to all kinds of related health care costs. How obese? According to a recent article in The Week magazine, fully one third of Americans are obese, not overweight, obese, and this obesity results in $147 billion in medical care costs every year.
Think about that number, $147 billion. If we could eliminate the obesity problem in this country, then we could take $147 billion out of the health care costs in this country or about $1,300 every year for every U.S. household. That would certainly be more savings for every household than what Obama Care failed to deliver.
So what did the numbers tell us about reality today:
- Some states deliver far more value for $100 than other states.
- Four dozen inspector generals cannot do their job because of the stubbornness and cover ups of the Obama administration.
- A Gallup executive fears for his life for only revealing the truth about some economic numbers.
- And finally, root causes such as widespread obesity cause our health care cost problems, to the tune of almost $150 billion a year.
Our book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom And Destroying The American Political Class" is now available at:
www.loathemygovernment.com
It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please pass our message of freedom onward. Let your friends and family know about our websites and blogs, ask your library to carry the book, and respect freedom for both yourselves and others everyday.
Please visit the following sites for freedom:
Term Limits Now: http://www.howmuchworsecoulditget.com
http://www.reason.com
http://www.cato.org
http://www.bankruptingamerica.org
http://www.conventionofstates.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08j0sYUOb5w
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