How Do We Make The Economy Economical?

Local and state governments are busy thinking of new ways to raise money for strained budgets, such as fees. Winter Haven, Florida is one of a few dozen cities charging “accident response fees” to at-fault drivers. Washington’s mayor has proposed a “streetlight user fee” to be added to the citizens’ electric bills. Ohio’s governor has proposed more than 150 new or increased fees including ones for car registration, birth certificates and trash dumping. Wisconsin’s governor wants to triple the fee for elk hunting in spite of the fact that the elk population is too low for a hunting season. Shouldn’t fees be at least feasible?

Nevada State Senator, Bob Coffin, made a feasible proposal to raise a much needed $2 million for the state budget. In a legislative hearing a group of prostitutes requested the Senate Taxation Committee impose a $5 tax on sex acts they perform at legal brothels. Because the lawmakers took no action on SB369, the proposal goes no further in 2009s legislative session; but even if the bill had made it Governor Jim Gibbons’ desk, he said he wouldn’t touch it. It seems that women legitimately allowed to sell their bodies in Nevada couldn’t sell a legitimate idea.  

The 2010 Census will legitimately put 1.4 million people to work. People are being hired for regional and local centers, as well as field staff to check addresses with hand-held computers. Salaries and tenure vary from $34/hr for 2-year, managerial jobs to $10-$25/hr for 10-week, field staff jobs. Money is also being put into communities by renting offices and furniture, buying equipment and supplies, spending $212 million on advertising and spending $1 billion of the stimulus package money on augmenting operations. Although the Census is projected to cost $14 billion, the consensus is that’s good for the economy.

The down economy, however, is good for pawn shops. According to the National Pawnbrokers Association, the average customer is 39 and has an annual income of $29,000. As the economy has weakened, customers have gotten both older and wealthier. Gold jewelry is the most common item being pawned. Lots of flat screen televisions are being pawned too, but pawnbrokers want only digital televisions. Contractors are pawning tools and families are pawning a variety of game consoles. Considering pawn can usually be sold after 30 days if the loan plus interest hasn’t been repaid, pawn shops are turning into resale shops.