BCT Editorial – 1/31/07

This page was last updated on February 1, 2007.

Future shock; Editorial; Beaver County Times; January 31, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“It’s quite a future we’re handing our children.

“The fiscal profligacy of the federal government, especially of the last six years, has heaped tons of debt on future generations of Americans. Because of our refusal to pay for what we are receiving, they will have to shell out more in taxes or see services reduced dramatically. Either way, their standard of living will be impacted.”

[RWC] This is the second time in two days in which the Times hypocritically whines about “fiscal profligacy.” As I wrote in the critique of yesterday’s editorial, regular readers of the Times will recall editorials routinely lobby for so-called “universal” (read: taxpayer funded) healthcare, more spending on kindergarten through college education, more spending on government run bus and train companies, et cetera. At the commonwealth level, we routinely read editorials telling us we have nothing to complain about when it comes to taxes. Indeed, while most policymakers want to target slot machine taxes to reduce property taxes, in “Misplaced” the Times told us those taxes should be spent on infrastructure, some of which isn’t even a commonwealth responsibility.

Also, note the emphasis on the federal government, as if the commonwealth and local governments aren’t throwing money around. You have one guess as to the reason why.

“The nation’s infrastructure is not being maintained. In its 2005 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, The American Society of Civil Engineers warned of ‘a looming crisis that jeopardizes our nation’s prosperity and our quality of life.’”

[RWC] The Times has published at least nine previous editorials on this subject since March 2005.

“ASCE looked at 15 categories — bridges, drinking water, roads, solid waste, etc. — and gave the nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of D. ASCE estimates it would cost $1.6 trillion over five years to address these needs.

“Our failings aren’t limited to earthly things. We’re also failing to maintain the infrastructure in space.

“McClatchy Newspapers reported scientists soon will lose access to crucial information that helps them better understand hurricanes, earthquakes, global warming and environmental decay because the nation’s weather satellite fleet has not been maintained. Among the reasons for this are sharp budget cuts, ill-advised technology compromises and bureaucratic problems.

“Future generations of Americans are in for a real shock when the bills for our irresponsibility finally come due. We have not been good stewards of the national wealth that we inherited. We should be ashamed of ourselves. Sadly, we aren’t.”

[RWC] I wonder if the Times editorial authors don’t recognize their contribution to the problem they allegedly decry.