A little different exercise today.
Pick a question, any question and answer it.
What are the questions? Well that is what makes this exercise a bit different. You have to pick it from one of the numerous questions that you ponder everyday.
My personal question is why do I bother. My answer is I absolutely don't know anymore.
Anyway, that is mine, and not really anything profound. Call it Monday morning blues. Call it not enough coffee. It is just what is running through my head.
Let's hear yours if you care to join in.
Consider today a philosopher's exercise in an open line format, or a waste of your time.
No matter what, be safe.
Q: Why are there so many "Monday morning quarterbacks?"
ReplyDeleteA: Because it's always easier to find the problems and explain how to fix them AFTER someone else already took an unsuccessful shot at doing so.
Probably going to be the best comment of the day. Personally can be guilty as charged on that one.
DeleteQ: If we're all given the same number of hours in a day, how is it that some people are able to get more done than others?
ReplyDeleteA: For one, they DO something, instead of wasting time TALKING about how much they have to do.
Q: Why do people find it easier to spend someone else's money?
ReplyDeleteA: Because it doesn't change what's in their own wallet.
A problem is when people apply this to local government, when things that spend "someone else's money" often increase the amount of money elected or appointed officials must spend, too. Everyone, including government officials, pay local taxes. And there are laws that prohibit government officials from doing many things that impact their own financial benefit--either positive or negative--unless those things are matters of public policy that more or less impact everyone equally. When local government spends "someone else's money," the people making those decisions are generally spending their own money as well.
DeleteOn the local level decisions most times are made by officials who are in fact spending their own money when making those decisions. This is certainly true for matters such a debt exclusions, and even on any spending article which is put forth by elected officials and voted on by elected officials. the bigger point, and one that shouldn't be lost in the discussion anymore than your point, at least as I see it is when the the cost to a proponent is minimal for something they want, but significant in the bigger picture. The "Only a cup of coffee a week" argument. The "A small price to pay" for our future line. Not everyone is willing to give up that cup or desires that future, thus the collective decision making process. You raise a valid point, however I think from my read so did the commentator who made his or her comment within the constraints of the little exercise. OPM plays a huge factor in what gets done, that's why year in and and year out individuals and groups pile on requests for personal wants, and the need for OPM to fulfill them.
DeleteSpending someone else's money can be understood in several ways. When a friend suggests we upsize our TV or a salesperson convinces us to upgrade to a more deluxe model car, vacuum cleaner, whatever.
DeleteI don't know if many people take time to think about exactly what you bring up- that any kind of government spending (local, state, or national) is not spending from a magical resource, but from the wallets of all taxpayers.
Question: Do you think when someone (politician or 'social justice' advocate) pushes to start a new entitlement program they really have any idea that our country doesn't have money to support it?
Answer: Absolutely not, unless they're mindless of the consequences from spending what you don't have. Oh, that sounds like what's already happened.
Question: How or who can stop the avalanche of unnecessary government spending?
Answer: ????
.Question: How much would the 'wage and benefits' or 'department needs' mindset of a public employee be altered if they had to operate a small business in the private sector for a year?
DeleteAnswer: A lot.
Question: how much do department head ask for when doing there budgets.
ReplyDeleteAnswer: whatever they think their workers (town meeting members) care to vote for.plus their pay raises.
Question: What year in history did 'automatic pay raises' become a given?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: In no year. Wage increases are an incentive (reward) an employee gives to workers who increase the output of goods or services which in return increases the profits of the company. Workers, who through apprenticeship become more valuable to the company may receive an increase too. But if the company doesn't make a profit- they are not going to issue raises.