It’s hard for any ruling party to institute necessary cut backs when there’s money available.  And the Georgia legislature is no exception.

A Sunday in-depth report in the AJC documented how the ruling party at the Georgia (Gold) Dome have increasingly relied on Federal funding to balance their budgets.

The portion of state budget coming from federal taxpayers has increased from about $7 billion in fiscal 2003, during the last recession, to nearly $13 billion in the fiscal year than begins July 1, according to state records. Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the upcoming year’s budget last week.

“Oh the hypocrisy!”, we scream.  If only pointing out philosophical hypocrisies ever compelled anyone to change anything.

Human beings are nothing if not inconsistent in their dominant motivators.  And when “human nature” kicks in, big picture problems, like say a budget deficit, always seem to take a back seat when your livelihood is on the line.  That goes not just for politicians, but also tax payers and government employees.

So the vicious cycle continues.  In times of financial hardship, tax payers and government employees are OK with making cutbacks as long as it’s not THEIR program or job that’s affected.  And when an alternative exists (borrow more money), ruling-party politicians of any stripe avoid tax increases and program cuts like the plague to ensure their own jobs aren’t “affected” by losing to a future incumbent.

And, up, up, up climbs the Federal deficit.

h/t: Fresh Loaf