What Do We Do When Money Is Short?

Has anyone noticed how the government reacts when money is short? One would think that no one had ever experienced the loss of a job, reduction of income or unexpected expenses. As regular citizens, we must determine how to deal with these events.

More often than not, we tighten our belts and go on with our lives. Entertainment outings are reduced, as are opportunities to dine out or go to shows. We take a good look at where we spend our money and determine where we can reduce spending. We realize that more often than not it is temporary and this too will pass. If necessary, savings that were earmarked for such contingencies are used.

Businesses go through the same crises. There is a downturn in the overall economy or competitors manage to capture a portion of the business. They immediately look at where they can cut expenses to include layoffs, reducing overtime, cutting advertising and reducing other expenses. The best businesses do not wait until the problem is insurmountable to handle before they act.

Look at the automotive industry in the United States today. It is going through some tough times and it is trying to reduce costs while increasing sales. Many of their actions are met with disdain from numerous quarters, but they must do something in order to survive.

Here in Florida, we are seeing a reduction of revenue from sales tax and homes. As citizens, we recently passed Amendment 1, which will reduce our property taxes and the various government agencies are going bonkers. They have been living fat off the hog for years as the housing boom took place. All governments' budgets have ballooned during this boom and now it is time to pay the piper.

What additional programs have been either started or increased during this boom? These are the first ones to eliminate. Why is it that a government employee does not think that he or she is subject to the same cuts that private employees are under?

Organizations that are not able to reduce expenses by 10 percent have no idea how to run a business or government agency. Look at the latest budget that the president has submitted to Congress - $3.1 trillion.

Congress will add another couple of billion and then talk about how we are cutting spending. It is time to get serious and truly reduce the size and span of all governments. Until we do that, our taxes will continue to increase and our freedom will be restricted. I do not need the government to tell me how much water to use in a toilet or what type of light bulbs to light my home.

But they do it and, unless we stand up to be counted, it will only become worse. Let governments learn how to do with less as all of us do at different times in our lives.