Do You Pay Your Credit Cards: Economics of the Federal Debt Ceiling

April 4, 2011 Leave a comment

This is pretty simple.  Debt come from past ceiling.  If you want to lower future debt and debt ceilings, then stop spending growth now.   The core problem is constraining Medicare spending, certain out of control subsidies tax cuts for the wealth, military spending and, to a lesser extent, social security spending.

If you spend your income on things you want, and the charges then show up the following month on your credit card bill, would you pay those charges? Yes, of course you would. You’ve made purchases and the bill has come due.

That’s the whole question about raising the debt limit—whether Congress should allow the government to pay for spending that has already been approved by Congress.

via Raising the Federal Government’s Debt Ceiling – Brookings Institution.

Filed under Economy, Finance

Miami Herald Picks Phantom Candidate

April 2, 2011 15 Comments

The recommendation of the Miami Herald of Mr. Rene Alvarez for commissioner is astonishing.  Nothing is known about him (perhaps the Miami Herald does know him) nor were his views that impressive in the recent debates, as he pretty much followed the line of all the candidates by favoring 401k’s, government efficiency (the city manager is in charge of government efficiency), etc.

That the MH considers Messrs. Rosenblatt and Quesada to be viable candidates is even stranger.

One my only guess that the MH was very strongly against Mr. Sanabria who they don’t even mention.  Similar to the Herald’s Managing Director’s  role in the recent candidate debate at UM, the Miami Herald is taking an unmitigated pro-business, pro-Chamber of Commerce position, leading to a pro-Miracle Mile/Giralda Streetscape view.  There is not much to offer the taxpayers in these recommendations for commissioner.

Filed under Coral Gables, Election

URGENT: Weakening Citizens’ Challenge to Local Development Decisions

April 1, 2011 1 Comment

I bring this matter to your attention, and especially to those who are concerned about ensuring organized community development and protection of the environment.

Please Call the Members of the Senate Environment and Preservation Committee and Oppose SB 1122
April 1, 2011

Senate Bill 1122–Your calls are needed to oppose the damaging Senate Bill 1122. While this bill establishes Alternative State Review as the amendment process and keeps language more favorable for citizen challenges to inappropriate local development decisions it still has a number of damaging provisions. It eliminates Rule 9J-5, thus eliminating years of favorable legal rulings regarding citizens’ rights to challenge local development decisions, urban service boundaries and other critical issues. It removes local government authority to require supermajority votes on development decisions, and has numerous other provisions of concern. Click herefor technical comments on the bill. Please call the members of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and tell them to oppose this damaging bill which undermines Florida’s growth management process.

Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee

To find out more about what’s happening this session, please visit 1000 Friends atwww.1000friendsofflorida.org.

 

Filed under Business and Commerce, Economy, Florida, Housing, Miami-Dade County

A Code Of Ethics For City Of Coral Gables

March 31, 2011 Leave a comment

I few weeks back I proposed that the city of Coral Gables have a Code of Ethics. The following post suggests some ideas that would go into a code of ethics for Miami-Dade County, so please read this post by EYE ON MIAMI.

Let’s get the new Coral Gables’ Commission to develop a Code of Ethics that would be discussed and analyzed by the community.

We need a New Code of Ethics agreement with all County Employees, to be updated and signed annually. Lets not forget the MAYOR, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, and All Elected Officials and County Managers with authority to buy assets or award contacts for materials or services to vendors and contractors in excess of $500,000.

via EYE ON MIAMI: What is wrong with the Miami-Dade County Government and How to Fix it. Guest Blog By Sergio.

Filed under Coral Gables, Government, Organization

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