Street Talk

Submitted by
Name: @john B

Comments:
Check your history John - one party certainly has done something about the deficit - check Clinton and Obama years vs Reagan and the Bushes. Okay we can say Bush 2 gets a pass for 911 and Biden gets a pass because of the Pandemic. But the truth is Trump had the largest deficit spending in history in first term and this second time around is worse. So the easiest way to eliminate what you call “unsustainable” is to stop spending and that means Trump needs to be told no. So let’s just be honest that blaming both parties is a lie and even blaming someone besides Trump 1 and 2 is t entirely fair. He’ll bankrupt the country like his past 6 bankruptcies .

Added: April 10, 2025 03:25:23 PM

Submitted by
Name: Bonds

Comments:
I didn’t understand that it wasn’t just about him pausing the tariffs. I learned last night that Japan was dumping using treasury notes. They are one of our biggest creditors. As is Europe and Canada. So Trump just caved and he was the one begging for Japan to stop the dumping. Like it or not things have gone down hill since sleepy Joe. We’ll just have to wait to see if he declares Marshall law on April 20th. I think that’s exactly what he’s going to do. But the market today is all red and there’s no doubt some people who knew what was coming got very rich over the last couple of days. Anyway Trump has himself boxed in a corner with our creditors now. So I can’t see tariffs coming back but who knows it’s like he’s gone crazy or something.

Added: April 10, 2025 03:19:46 PM

Submitted by
Name: Charlie Cardinal
From: Madison

Comments:
You keep saying the same thing John about the deficit being so high. Do you realize this one Big Beautiful Bill he wants to pass through Congress the next few weeks will raise the deficit well over 7 trillion dollars? These are tax breaks to top earners in the country.
Once again, I agree with you on many things your saying but the President seems to disagree with you on the deficit by his actions.
When the opposite Party holds the Presidency. All we hear is the deficit and the spending. But it seems like when your Party is in office it really doesn't matter. Just calling it as it is. Please explain further if you disagree with me. I loved to learn more.

Added: April 10, 2025 01:21:11 PM

Submitted by
Name: John B
From: Madison
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Most local and national commentary on tariffs and reducing gov't waste, fraud and abuse is focused on the "means" and completely overlooks the "ends" - which is our UNSUSTAINABLE national debt - $136+ TRILLION! When we import from another country more goods than we export, that country ends up with a surplus of US dollars. Those countries take those surplus dollars and invest them in US securities, bonds, treasuries etc, as well as world markets.
If the holder of US debt "holds" the bond, the gov't pays interest (TRILLIONS annually) on the note(s). When the bond holder wants to redeem, wants their money, they sell it. Since our gov't does not have the money to pay the seller, it "prints" more money inflationary) and/or issues more debt, to cover existing debt (definition of a ponzi scheme). 25% of that US debt is held by foreign governments.
The part of the discussion overlooked, is that the other "half" of the Trump tariff plan is negotiating the trade deficits we have with our trading partners - Some of our debt holders (inclusive of annual trade deficits) - Japan, $1 Trillion, China, $800 Billion, UK $750 B, Canada, $378 B, Mexico $100 B etc etc....... (Consider – the Chinese can buy up American farmland, pay for it by using the interest payments we make to them, on the $800 Billion dollars of US debt that they hold…… yep, we get to buy the Chinese a farm using our tax dollars.)
The United States CANNOT pay its debt without more income (raising taxes, printing more money, etc) or cutting spending (reducing debt) - ECON 101. Administrations have warned of the consequences of failing to manage spending for decades, bureaucratic bloat, waste, fraud and abuse, increased spending for “programs”, trade imbalances etc etc, but, not one ... EITHER PARTY .. has done ANYTHING to rein in spending and REDUCE THE DEBT!
There is no shortage of laureate and armchair economists, critics, and pundits. What we have lacked for decades is the political will to do SOMETHING – ANYTHING. Will it work?? Will there be painful consequences???
What we do know is; doing NOTHING is not an option, and kicking the can down the road has been the preferred option in Washington for decades, and now we are facing an economic crisis of potential epic proportions.

Added: April 10, 2025 11:58:49 AM

Submitted by
Name: Finding funds
From: Jefferson County

Comments:
Senate Bill 1 is property tax reform. If passed, it will decrease the amount of money schools and other municipalities receive from property taxes.

The money public schools stand to lose in Senate Bill 1 is operating money from property tax revenue not educational money which is tied to enrollment.

Most of educational funding schools receive “follow the student”. Enrollment determines the majority of the educational funding a school receives. Therefore fluctuating enrollment will impact educational dollars a school will receive.

For example
Little Bobby leaves Southwestern and goes to Madison. Madison receives the educational money tied to Little Bobby.

Little Bobby gets a voucher to go to Cannan, Christian Acadamy, or Shawe/Pope John. Those voucher funds go to the private/charter school. Southwestern loses educational funds because Little Bobby is not enrolled at Southwestern.

Southwestern would not lose any more money when a child uses a voucher to go to a private or charter school than if the child transfers to Madison or is home schooled.

As you can see vouchers (in the current form) do not take educational money from public schools as much as some would like to suggest.

However, the state could take the money from the voucher program and increase the “payment” public schools get for each child. This would significantly increase educational funding for traditional public schools. .

Property tax revenue is the primary source of operational income for public schools. (Schools are permitted by law to take some money from the education fund and transfer it to operations.)

Operational expenses such as utilities,central office staff, hired services such as mowing, financial and educational consultants (not paid for by grants or federal funds), daycare/after school care, administrator salaries and benefits (Superintendent, Principals, ADs, Facilities Manager), SRO, non educational staff, etc are funded by property tax dollars.

If passed, schools will see a substantial decrease in property taxes dollars. Projections show by 2028 Madison’s funding will decrease by over $500,000 annually. Southwestern will see a loss of just under $300,000 annually.

The bill phases the decreases over a 3 year period.

Schools and other municipalities that rely on property taxes dollars need to have a plan in place to deal with the decrease in funding.

Senate Bill 1 is a very hot topic with lots of misinformation from both sides. Do your research and reach out to your State Senators and let them know your opinion!

Added: April 10, 2025 12:26:03 AM

Submitted by
Name: B
From: Madison

Comments:
Is it true they did not winterize the new pool correctly? Heard equipment was damaged

Added: April 10, 2025 07:45:22 AM

Submitted by
Name: Anti 47

Comments:
47 is too busy waffling on tariffs to concern himself with flooded Small Town USA. Concepts of plans aplenty.

Added: April 9, 2025 08:42:32 PM

Submitted by
Name: T

Comments:
GOODNEWS: bad news

EMA Director Matt True worked directly with the state to press for a federal disaster area declaration. It’s up to Braun now to convince #47 to declare our area of Indiana - so that we can open doors for fema grants to citizens, SBA low interest loans and a host of other assistance.

The county board of health posted to encourage tetanus vaccines for flood workers and anyone else who may need an update .

County commissioners are working to develop a recovery plan- I haven’t seen it but will let you know.

BAD NEWS:

The state continues to attempt to claw back local dollars- this time from local trustee offices. In addition property tax cuts are expected to be extremely hard on the Town of Hanover and Madison as well- while funds will be donated to private schools stripping dollars from public schools. If you haven’t already, you may wish to sign up for newsletter or information about state and federal bills which impact our area.

Also - the worlds best negotiator caved to market pressure and backed of tariffs for 90 days excluding China. Millions were made by insiders who knew he was going to reverse tariffs yet again. Still your 401k is moving up even 47 is bowing down.

Have a good day. Tjh

Added: April 9, 2025 08:12:07 PM

Submitted by
Name: Charlie Cardinal
From: Madison

Comments:
A few weeks ago, we had a healthy debate about Tariffs on this board. For those who defended the current President. They said Manufacturing and jobs would return to the U.S. because of this policy. There is not a business in this world going to scrap there manufacturing facility anywhere outside of the U.S. and move to this country because this President is to eratic. He changes is mind on a dime and it doesn't make good business sense to invest in a manufacturing facility in the U.S when you don't know what this man will do from day to day. So why go to the trouble and bring jobs back to America. Just Sayin!

Added: April 9, 2025 08:06:46 PM

Submitted by
Name: Around and around we go

Comments:
The governors office hasn’t returned a call regarding a flood declaration. Erin Houchins office has returned the call but said her job wasn’t to do anything because it’s the governors job to make the declaration. Erins office did point out she came to Madison. I explained I was aware she came for a photo op - I also explained her constituents needed her help- if she needed Brauns phone number I had it. I also have the White House. I added her office could be proactive and encourage the governor to make the declaration. I got a less than polite reply that the staff would inform Erin that she had been requested to contact the governors and encourage a declaration. My impression was that- not a snowballs chance in gop hell that Erin’s office would bother to be proactive. I am hopeful I am wrong.

In the meantime I spoke with the SBA about low interest loans for businesses and verified you canNOT get a disaster loan without the federal disaster declaration that comes from the governor to the Whitehouse. - also I had a very nice conversation with a lady from the SBA who informed me that they were “slated for a 43% workforce reduction”. I took a moment to tell her the majority of Americans valued our civil servants and did not approve of how she and others were being treated. She became a little tearful and said thank you. It was my first time speaking directly to someone in the path of a random termination. She did a good job despite the fact she was facing a “firing” squad.

AS FOR Indianas disaster relief fund- they are not answering phones so I left a message. As for FEMA- #47 still wants to shut it down.

Here are your options: if you have a NFIP plan file it now. If you don’t your home owners won’t cover flood. If there is a federal declaration FEMA will make grants available, emergency assistance and low interest loans for businesses. If there is no FEMA - declaration from the governor and whitehouse then you can’t get federal disaster grants or loans. You can apply for state relief funds and battle it out attempting to get limited dollars available at the state level. I’m still waiting to hear about local assistance.

Added: April 9, 2025 04:11:53 PM