Which are the greediest organizations in North America? We all think we know the answer. Nothing on the planet is greedier than "big business," Wall Street and the sleazy companies constantly created by capitalism.

Unfortunately for us, there is a group of organizations so greedy that it makes these look like cloistered nuns.

I'll illustrate with a simple question: Why are our governments broke?

The given answer again is simple. We have had an economic downturn created by the very bad policies of George W. Bush and his "big business" cronies.

That, in fact, is partially true, but the larger truth is a little more complex. Our governments are corrupt, greedy and stupid. The current administration is probably worse than the previous one. While the Republicans ran Congress, greed and stupidity reigned. Never to be outdone by anything related to governance, with the Democrats we find greed, stupidity and corruption.

With the tax deadline "looming" over us this week, ask yourself several other questions. What would happen if you refused to pay your mortgage to the greedy banks, or if you decided not to pay your friendly local and greedy car dealership for your car?

These nasty people could come and take your house or your car unless Obama could get to you fast enough to bail you out.

Now, refuse to pay your taxes and unless you can reasonably expect to be put into Obama's Cabinet, some very, very nasty things are about to happen to you.

Our governments insist on spending. When they run out of money, they demand that you come up with more. They and their useful but misguided minions never dream of being fiscally responsible, and you are somehow morally questionable if you ask them to be responsible or resist giving them more to continue their bad habits.

So even after sucking out every last penny they can get their hands on, a recent report found that 47 of the 50 states are going to have a budget shortfall. A report by Michael Hill of the Associated Press is typical of how this is misreported.

Hill writes, "States simply are not taking in enough money to cover expenses that are rising with the recession. So far, neither the spending cuts nor the tax and fee increases being discussed appear large enough to address the impending revenue shortfall, economists said."

Without higher taxes, or threatened "bigger" cuts to government services, states face budget deficits that could reach "$120 billion in their 2011 budgets."

Yes, recessions are very expensive to innocent governments suffering their effect. Obviously, greedy taxpayers and businesses are not paying enough taxes.

The Reason Foundation did an interesting study. It looked at state spending and incomes since 2001 and then adjusted figures for population growth and inflation. In essence they calculated what condition the states would be in if they grew only as fast as their environment.

During that period, taxes paid to the states increased twice as fast as inflation and population growth. Total revenues to the states increased four times faster than inflation and population.

Instead of putting this money into adequate rainy day funds or giving it back to the citizens, governments found ways to spend it. If California, for example, had limited its government growth to changes in inflation and population, instead of having a $42 billion deficit that you and I will have to pay for, it would be sitting atop a $15 billion surplus.

According to this report, if the 50 states had simply maintained their rate of spending between the last economic downturn until 2007 when this recession began, they would have been able to give Americans a $500 billion tax cut from general funds, or a $2 trillion tax cut if calculated from total revenue.

That amount injected into the economy in 2007 may have averted the recession or set it down for a soft landing.

Which are the greediest organizations in North America? The monster on the Potomac is in the process of taking everything your grandchildren could ever hope to have, while 47 other organizations are fighting for everything left over.

Politicians learned a trick long ago. They come to you and whisper in your ear, "Look at that monster over there. He will steal you blind."

While you are distracted, they lift your wallet.