Pete Langr wrote an interesting column this week on how the Republicans and the Democrats are looking at the budget, each from the wrong perspective: "Taxes aren't the problem: the real solution is to control supply costs". As of my writing, the Duluth Budgeteer has not posted his article on line. Watch for it at http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/tag/group/Budgeteer/tag/Budge%20Opinion/
My take is that the Republican goes to a certain restaurant every week and pays one dollar for his dinner and leaves a dime tip. One dollar for dinner?!? Yep, I could do that in the 50s when I worked at a grocery store. Meat, potatoes, and a vegetable for one buck.
But the Republican refuses to spend more than that dollar for his dinner. Over the years he gets less and less food. After a time he refuses to tip because he isn't getting his "value". Now he is lucky to get a half a cup of diluted coffee for his buck.
Meanwhile the Democrat orders the same meal and pays whatever is on the check. The restaurant, appreciative of his business, gives him more food, of course charging more over time. The Democrat is getting so much food that he needs "a box" for the extra. But he never asks to get less food for a lower price. Because the customary tip has changed from ten percent to twenty percent, he willingly includes that in his bill. Now he is paying more than $36 for what once was $2.20 bucks worth of food. And he is happy to do so.
