I am surprised at how little information there is on the state’s budget for 2010.  We know that the joint finance committee has made their own estimate of general fund revenues and that has resulted in a 15% cut from the 2009 budget and $42 million below the governor’s request.  We don’t know the details of how the money from the federal stimulus package will be used.  I think we hear that, with money from the stimulus package, state support of public schools will be the same as last year.  That helps, but school districts are losing local funds as well, and there is no proposed help for that loss.

There is talk about the prudence of adding, to the rainy day funds.  There is posturing about the prudence of such action but it’s hard to explain to the person being laid off this year how important it is to save someone else’s job next year.  As a Statesman editorial said a few weeks ago, “if this isn’t a rainy day, what is?”

Allow me to ramble, but not about economics. 

It has been shown that if that part of the brain that controls emotions is impaired, we have a hard time making decisions.  The process of making the rational choice or decision eventually comes down to an emotional decision.  Does it feel good?  It is ironic that when we think we are being rational, we have to rely on our emotions.  Of course this applies to politicians as well as anyone.  As they so soberly tell that they are only doing what is best for us, it is not their totally rational side that is speaking, but their emotional side. 

When we question their judgment we are not only questioning their logic but their emotions as well, and I don’t trust theirs anymore than I trust anyone else’s.

I started out complaining about the lack of information.  I ended up questioning their emotional stability.  I’m no better than they.

Don Holley
Department of Economics at Boise State University