Like many other places, we are having a primary election in Georgia and are being swamped with political ads. But as is often the case, they are mostly about what’s and short on how’s.
On a TV debate our former governor, who is running to get back in, was promising to reinstate regional crime labs and talked about how important they are. I agree that they are important. But the reason that they were cut back is a shortage of funds that isn’t getting better anytime soon.
It’s easy to promise all sort so things people might want or think they deserve. Paying for them, especially when everybody is already broke is another matter.
It’s not just the poor and ignorant who are voting for anybody who promises a free lunch, but they are certainly there. Maybe a lot of others are living with a lot of wishful thinking.
It seems like politicians usually run by promising a lot of things that are going to cost money. I guess the hope that the voters don’t realize that all that money is coming out of their pockets. Of course there are some voters who pay little in taxes and hope to gain much more in benefits. When this group gets big enough, it can sink the ship of state.
In any
case, when these politicians take office, they will have a list of things they
have promised to do and no money to pay for them. Serves them right.
