California ... Michigan ... Ohio ... Maryland ... Florida
with many more states likely to follow





California ... Michigan ... Ohio ... Maryland ... Florida
with many more states likely to follow
Ya heard of Victory Gardens?





^^^ well if California is successful in enforcing their $8.50 or whatever an hour state minimum wage on commercial fruit and vegetable growers, a Victory Garden might be the highest return investment the average person can make in 2008 ! Unless of course we increase our 'fresh' produce imports from Asia.
I'll let you in on a little 'secret' that I'm seriously considering investing in a small greenhouse to extend the growing season for my tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce etc. Prices for fresh produce have already risen to 'painful' levels, and this is likely to only get worse as commercial growers encounter increasing problems finding enough illegal workers to meet their harvest needs. Even here in NY there have been ICE raids last harvest season. And commercial growers are also being hit by cost increases for fertilizer (big new demand from the increased corn ethanol gov't mandate has nearly doubled fertilizer prices) as well as increasing property taxes.
Also, because many states have such deep structural budget problems, and also have such a large base of 'beneficiaries' who will resist cuts in gov't spending (i.e. cuts in their own paychecks / benefit checks) at the ballot box, the average person is indeed likely to see increases in state sales taxes / income taxes / property taxes before they see a cut in spending by state gov't. This appears to be the 'ploy' shaping up for California first, where they are holding off on cuts in state education spending in hopes that the 'general public' will go on record as saying they prefer that educational spending not be cut ... which in turn opens the door for the passage of tax increases with little potential for backlash.
Last edited by Melonie; 12-29-2007 at 04:30 AM.
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