Should NSL Subsidize or Incentivize Another Grocer?

My mentors in economics are the late Milton Friedman, Nobel Laureate in Economics and founder of the Chicago School of Economics, and his widow, Rose.  I read their book, "Free to Choose" and the sequel, "Tyranny of the Status Quo" many years ago.  They were easy to read and understand.  They described the reasons that the Founding Fathers limited the role of the Federal Gov't. illustrating that decisions are made in Washington and in state capitals for political reasons and not for business reasons.  This always leads to mediocrity at best and a reduction in our freedom to choose what we buy, where we go, and the prices for goods and services that we pay.

I think that this filters even down to city politics.  I believe the city council should do the job that it was formed to do and not try to expand its influence in ways like economically inducing a grocer to move into our west side.  I am not in favor of spending tax money or giving tax preferences to any specific businesses within our city.   This automatically makes winners and losers out of competitors and of customers and taxpayers.  This also would worsen the divisions we already see in the town and pit neighborhood against neighborhood.  These would result from the law of unintended consequences.  Let business people figure out best how to serve their customers and provide the services at prices that the market will bear.

I believe the solutions to these problems are structural and require more than a band aid.   Lower taxes benefit all businesses and citizens, additional entrances and exits to our main highways will increase customer traffic, and cooperation on the part of the city council and Planniing and Zoning Commission within the provisions of our codes and ordinances with business operators will improve the business environment for customers and businessmen alike.  These are not quick fixes, but they will require hard work and time to accomplish.  Nevertheless they will work here like they've worked in other states and cities and their effect will endure.

My Guiding Principles

I identify mostly with the honorable conservatives in our state and country.  Ronald Reagan expressed a vision of America that surely still applies.  I have lived in Europe and so have three of my sons.  I think the European  economic and social models are broken and I don't think we need any version of it here.

I believe in low taxes, limited government, the Bill of Rights, free trade, and private initiative.  The source of greatness in America is its people.  The government is of the people, for the people, and by the people.  We are witnessing the fecklessness of government intervention in the markets at colossal expense right now.  On the contrary, Ben Bernanke saved the banking system.  The Federal Reserve Bank performed economic CPR by resuscitating overnight lending between the banks last fall.  This was the function was intended for the Fed. and which it performed fitfully if not admirably.  On the other hand, the vast majority of the fiscal interventions of the Congress and Administration have been wasteful, ineffective, artificial, and politically motivated.  Cash for Clunkers is typical of them.  Only the funds that flowed into the projects that served the areas provided for in the U. S. Constitution have been helpful.  The highway construction is a great example of this.  Unfortunately for us only a small portion of the money went to these legitimate ends.

The answer to the revival of our economy is pretty easy:  Cut taxes on businesses and individuals and let the referees monitor for foul play.  The "teams" are ready and anxious to compete.  Central planning was a disaster for the Soviets and it isn't working here either.  Let us, the people, the businesses, the customers, the workers, get to work with a minimum of roadblocks and obstacles.  The ability of the American people to create wealth is uncanny.  It is our only hope of ever living up to our debt obligations and to improving our lives, our future, and our environment.