Page 6 - Discover Summer 2022
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Editor’s Note
By Tim Ernandes
The nine most terrifying words in the English money. In view of the fact that we are locked
language are, “I'm from the government, and I'm into deficit spending, and have been for some
here to help.” time, it’s appropriate to ask from where that
money would be coming. Of course, it could
~Ronald Wilson Reagan
only be borrowed, or printed. History is
Amusing though it may be, it’s become replete with examples of governments that
anything but a laughing matter. Government printed money without any substance behind
causes a problem, then steps in to solve the it, resulting in runaway inflation and financial
problem, and then offers solutions to correct collapse.
the problems that are caused by the solution to
A young person of my acquaintance
the problem.
recently complained that in spite of all
They told us “It’s only two weeks, just to the bloviating about raising the minimum
flatten the curve.” I recall them saying that it wage, people are no better off now than they
wouldn’t stop the spread of COVID-19, just were before the minimum wage was raised.
slow it down a little to ease the burden on the Obviously, the rampant inflation rate and
hospitals. Then it was another two weeks, then other government ‘assistance’ have caused
a month… and then even more. prices to rise to the point where they have
offset any gains. It’s really a simple concept:
We have since learned that the masks that
you can’t create wealth out of thin air.
we were required to wear in public places
could not possibly have slowed or stopped the In the meantime, once-prospering
spread. Aside from it being nearly impossible businesses that have managed to stay afloat
to have the masks hermetically sealed to our are hampered by the lack of an available work
faces, we learned that the openings in those force. While the White House crows about
masks were too large to prevent the virus from new job creation, the fact is that we still have
entering or exiting. The packaging for the blue at least one million fewer people working
masks that were commonly used clearly states than we had prior to COVID. Most of that
that they will not prevent the transmission of “new job creation” was merely the government
COVID viruses. allowing businesses to reopen their doors, and
lifting of restrictions.
Many businesses were shut down. Some
survived, but many didn’t. Our helpful It is also government’s contention that
government applied a solution: give people people are not taking the available jobs
4 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2022
