Yes, I've noticed food prices have gone up. They are going to go up even further. A lot of that is because of this moronic push to use food grains for fuel.

The local government around here doesn't seem to think people are suffering any financial woes. By that I mean, they don't mind raising their fees.

The water tax here is going up another 14%. That is on top of an 11% increase last year.

If we are in a recession as some people claim, why are governments all over the country going on hiring sprees? Why is government expanding? That costs money. That cost has to be borne by the taxpayers. Why isn't government seriously cutting spending if we are supposed to be in a recession as some of these politicians claim?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2008-04-29-stateworkers_N.htm