Naysayers (Republicans): investment is not a ''permanent fix''

The Naysayers -- and I do mean Republicans -- sure are thick on the empty rhetoric. From today's South Bend Tribune:

On the House side, state Reps. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda, and Rick Shaffer, R-Three Rivers, both took shots at Granholm's tax hike proposals.

"Taxing our way out of the current budget crisis is not a permanent fix. We need to focus on reforming government bureaucracy to create a smaller, more efficient government," Shaffer said.

Let me repeat: State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's. State Government is the smallest it's been since the 1970's.

Hit the point home yet? We sure can make the government smaller, but I doubt we'll make it more efficient.

The concept of public investment wooshes over the heads of Republicans like Rick Shaffer. As the Governor said in the State of the State: the naysayers are already against any plan from the Governor before they've even read it.

Increasing revenues isn't a "permanent fix?" Neither is cutting the budget to Bostwana GDP levels, boyo. We need quality roads, neighborhoods, schools, prisons, and police. And we need revenue to do so.