OPE

OPE - what is it? Simple, Out of Pocket Expense. When you get hit with a new tax, that's an increase in OPE. When you get hit with a utility increase, you have to add it to your OPE. OPE is a term that you should use when asking your elected official what will the effect of a new bill have on OPE. Of course you will have to explain to them first what OPE is. It will not be a term that politicians will want to address.





Example, Ben Chandler, Representative from Kentucky stated during his first campaign that he would never vote for any tax increases. To his credit he hasn't. But, he did vote for the Cap & Trade bill that passed the house which increases OPE by $4,300 a year for each household. Now that is a big increase in anyone's OPE. Of course Chandler will be the first to tell you that the increase is on business that have a poor track record when it comes to the environment, but we know that businesses only pass on any expense they have to the consumer.





Another Example in what OPE includes: The electrical utility companies in Kentucky have asked the state for rate increase, this due to the US Government regulations that mandate certain changes have to be made to power generating plants in order to meet new environmental laws. As you can see the utility companies are asking to pass the cost for improvements on to the consumers, that's the way business works. And when the state settles on a fair rate increase that effects your OPE.



So don't ask a politician about tax increases, ask about OPE increases. OPE can be increased in many ways and politicians are very good at hiding anything that affects OPE, and they are very good at pointing a finger at a utility company for wanting to raise rates, but never saying why they have to raise rates.





I think most people understand all this and it's why congress has a very poor approval rating. But of course your elected politicians treat you very good by buying your vote with pork they bring home.





Ok now what say you, step up to the keyboard and vent away, it's good for your health to blow off steam.