Wayne: All Governments Out Of Touch

The pundits and punditry these days are focused obsessively on the country’s so-called “anti-incumbent mood.” That’s a misdiagnosis of the aliment, however. In truth, “anti-incumbent” attitude is the symptom of the disease. The disease doesn’t require a microscope or special medical imagery to see. It is all around us: Bad, and in some cases, purely absurd, thoughtless or nonsensical public policies. And it’s not just Congress to blame. Congress is just an obvious and obscenely big target. Local governments abound with ridiculous recent and horrible decisions and thought processes. Good examples follow:  In Rathdrum, the city council voted last month to give its employees 2 percent pay raises, according to the Coeur d’Alene Press. Of course, the city had to raise taxes to accomplish this, but, said city officials, they managed to avoid raising taxes by as much as they were legally allowed to do so/ Wayne Hoffman , Idaho Freedom Foundation. More here .

Question: Do you think incumbents at all levels including local understand the plight of the average Joe and Jane in setting their budgets?