I don’t flatter myself that my going Galt is having a huge impact but, hey, every little bit counts. Whether this phenomenon is more purposeful, as in my case, or simply a bunch of people reacting naturally to bad government policies, federal tax receipts are taking a nosedive: June Federal Receipts: The Dive Continues, As Does Media Near Silence. Near media silence. Imagine that! Is it possble that the stimulus is ::gasp:: not working?! Unemployment is approching double what it was during the Bush administration? The deuce you say!
Gee, nobody could have predicted these things. Except, you know, everybody on the right who DID. And everyone who’s been watching California’s collapse. Since Congress purposely did not pass a budget before Bush left office – they kept stalling until The One was inugurated – this train wreck is all yours, lefties. But at least we’re finally going to stop being subjected to the blame-shifting. Now, what have we learned from all this, boys and girls? Why, to add more taxes! I’d sing, “California here we come,” but evidently California is going to come to me.
As to my progress in going Galt, my business income has been reduced by more than half, and I’m still shedding clients. I have about 70 to go; I’ve been dragging my feet because I’m mildy addicted to Mafia Wars and other personal business keeps pulling me away from the tedious process of clearing the server one… client… at.. a… time… We’ve cut a lot of fat from our budget, and the more I cut, the easier it gets. I’ll be making my first batch of laundry detergent later this week – I’m enjoying learning to make things I’d previously have bought. So overall, things are going well, though I’m going to try to pick up the pace on both the income and budget reductions.
[Post title shamelessly stolen from Glenn Reynolds.]
I’ve been going “Galt” for about a year and I couldn’t be happier. My local and state government aren’t happy, but I’ve been doing great. I’ve been self employed for about 30 years and I’m tired of supporting other people. My goal is to reduce my income to the point I no longer subsidize anyone else. I’ve been abused for 30 years and I won’t take it any more. It’s too bad though, because I was a really good person for the economy, hiring employees, running hundreds of thousands of dollars through my checking account each year, and I pay all my bills, and I’m honest. I’m not sure those values really work anymore in the new world. I’ll take care of my family and my life, but what’s happening is “trickle up poverty” because this entrepeneur is opting out. I think there are alot of people in my boat.