The numbers do not add up

Report: Sales tax collections hit 50-year-low

"For the opening months of 2009, early figures show an overall revenue decline of more than 12 percent, “a further dramatic worsening of fiscal conditions nationwide,” the (Rockefeller) institute said." The portion of this decline attributable to sales taxes is unknown, but the article notes that in the last quarter that line item was down 4%.

Compare and contrast this to the following:

Retail Sales Gain Steam While Inflation Stays at Bay

"The Commerce Department said on Wednesday total retail sales jumped 1.6 percent..."

Now, the last time I checked, there are very few places where a sales tax is not charged when something is bought at retail. So if follows that, if retails sales rise, sales tax collections must also rise. Yet the early numbers aren't showing a rise.

We're being told that in this quarter, sales are up and tax collections are down. This is is unlikely. I suggest that you watch for the revised Q1 numbers in a few weeks for both of these, and see what is adjusted up and what is adjusted down. It should be a very good data point to use in your future planning.

Me? I'm going to bet against the Commerce Department. Just a hunch I have.

Waxman gets waxed

It would seen that Henry Waxman, Dumbass-LotusLand, has decided that it would be better to be believed a fool than to open his mouth and leave no doubt, and has canceled hearings in which he was going to prove that ee-e-vil Republican corporate CEOs were taking charges against the bottom line solely to the Amateur in Chief look bad.

One of the problems with politicians--they think everything is political.

Cool Factor: 7.8

Xavier points us toward a M1 Carbine-esque conversion for the Ruger 10/22. Interesting.

Esoteric, yet important

Stratfor believes the recent Kyrgyz revolution has a distinct Russian odor to it. While not my area, it looks like a fairly sound conclusion based on the data they outline. If true, it's a disturbing development.

It would seem the bear is stirring. You have to wonder just how much this has to do with the Obama Presidency.

On other news, water is wet

(Via the Drudge Report)

The U.S. Postal Service's current business model "is not viable" and the mail agency should make deeper job and wage cuts, hire more part-time staff and consider outsourcing operations, according to a draft of a government audit acquired by The Federal Eye.

Auditors also urge Congress to remove restrictions on the Postal Service's ability to cut Saturday mail delivery and close post offices, according to the report, which offers recommendations similar to the USPS's own proposed 10-year business plan.

Of course, we could just save all that money and close the Post Office altogether. Let UPS, FedEx and anyone else who wants to handle the business handle it.

Some will say that this is too radical, but I hold that if we lovers of liberty do not start getting radical, we're going to lose. This is as good a place as any to start putting Leviathan back into the cage.

Things you never knew

Life is full of things that you don't know. For example, we all watch movies, but we often never know the story of what hurdles the movie makers must leap in order to make those movies--getting funding, finding talent, scouting for locations...

...finding a good story to tell...

God bless and keep you, Jack Agnew.

Want a look at the future of the Obamanation?

Here's what we have to look forward to if our Glorious Leader continues his excellent work Changing the economy:

In the ongoing financial crisis in Ashtabula County, the Sheriff's Department has been cut from 112 to 49 deputies. With deputies assigned to transport prisoners, serve warrants and other duties, only one patrol car is assigned to patrol the entire county of 720 square miles.

"I did the best with what they (the county commissioners) gave me. If it wasn't enough, don't blame me, don't blame this department," said Sheriff Billy Johnson.

Johnson said he is suing the commissioners to get a determination of whether he should use his limited budget to carry out obligations defined by law or put more patrol cars on the streets.

"I just can't do it anymore," he said. "I have to have the court explain to the commissioners and to me what my statutory duties are."

The Ashtabula County Jail has confined as many as 140 prisoners. It now houses only 30 because of reductions in the staff of corrections officers.

All told, 700 accused criminals are on a waiting list to serve time in the jail.

Fortunately, the citizens here are taking care of business; local firearms dealers and instructors are seeing a marked uptick in business. A green shoot, so to speak? :-)