Grand Canyon Times

The federal government should not bail out states that are arguing that their budget woes are tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, says Phoenix resident and retiree Susan Thomas.

“This is just an opportunistic ploy to escape the consequences of long-term financial mismanagement,” Thomas told Grand Canyon Times. “COVID has very little to do with this. The private sector has born nearly all of the pain. Government and public employees should not be growing while private sector employees are losing their jobs due to actions beyond their control or rather under the control of government.”

Neither does she support further federal assistance for her own state.

“It is my understanding that Arizona is still sitting on substantial funds from the first round. Of course, we started from a sound position,” Thomas said. “So much of the response to this crisis has been driven by the prospect of financial incentives from federal funds. Especially egregious in Arizona has been the determination of ‘essential’ and ‘non-essential.’”

If there is another infusion of cash, it is apparent where it would come from, she said.

“Only Washington has a printing press,” said Thomas, who would not support candidates who call for further government aid to flailing states.

Truth in Accounting, a Chicago-bases nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank, recently published its annual assessment of states and their financial status.

Alaska was determined to be in the best shape, with North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Tennessee, South Dakota, Nebraska, Idaho, Oregon and Iowa all in the top 10.

The bottom 10 were New York, Vermont, California, Kentucky, Delaware, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Connecticut and Illinois with New Jersey last.

Thomas said it is a poor idea to ask states in sound fiscal shape to assist others.

“This is completely ridiculous. Most of these states are among the wealthiest in terms of income and tax revenue,” she said. “They drive away their tax base and businesses with confiscatory tax rates and unrestrained spending that has nothing to do with COVID. They see the opportunity to cover their unfunded pensions and government give away programs with free money. Why should my neighbor have to pay my car loan just because I bought a luxury car I can’t afford while my neighbor drives a 10-year-old compact?”

Thomas sees a link between finances and social policies and says states that are in debt got there by supporting programs designed to influence personal behavior.

“A lot of states self-inflicted the economic pain in an effort to control their citizens,” Thomas said. “They fared no better than states that took less drastic or more temporary reactions. All these shutdowns were initially designed to slow the spread to avoid overwhelming our health care systems. They evolved into a long-term way to defeat the virus, which is completely impossible. We have developed better ways to treat this virus now and, hopefully, vaccines will make a significant impact soon.”

She fears political decisions will be linked to budget shortfalls as an excuse to make drastic changes and impose draconian limits.

“The really scary part of this is that big government has discovered how easily we can be controlled. Snap their fingers and churches are shut down,” she said. “Riots and leftist demonstrations are allowed. Save your large political-donating big businesses by making them essential and eliminate their competition by declaring small business non-essential and shutting them down even though the services they offer are similar. 

“And then use the tax shortfall as an excuse to get replacement dollars from Washington,” Thomas said. “Amazing.”

Thomas, 74, worked as an accounting manager until she retired in March.

Thomas has been a Phoenix resident for 25 years. She previously lived in Ohio, Michigan, Montana, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.

She has been interested and active in politics as a volunteer since Barry Goldwater ran for president in 1964.

“I was what might be classified as a movement conservative until 2016 when I canceled a 50-year subscription to National Review to support Donald Trump,” Thomas said. “I am a passionate pro-lifer and participate in many pro-life activities, especially since my retirement this spring.”