Here & There Column 4-12-11

Everyone Must Do More With Less

Cuts are being made nationwide, defunding of various programs are being put in place and local municipalities along with school districts are taking serious looks at ways to create efficiencies and save money.
Does anyone actually jump with joy when those in charge have to take serious steps to cut back and do more with less?
Those who foster the idea that we can continue to do business as usual and believe that the existing business climate is doing just fine are blind to the real facts and just are not living with reality.
We can't spend our way out of the existing economy and we can only say get a real life to those who criticize one political party or the other for having to make the tough financial decisions now facing all of us.
It also is poor taste and gutter politics to try and put the blame on someone else when in reality all government and school districts have to bite the bullet and do what they have to do.
It's a mixed bag of politicians both in New York and throughout the United States that are taking the steps they have to in fixing their governments finances.
We sit back in amazement when we see newspaper headlines that financial cuts being made are considered by some as "threats" to this or that program.
Consolidation, compromise and givebacks are becoming common language in municipal and school district budget workshops.
Tough financial decisions are not pleasing and I don't believe there is one single political leader who is getting any enjoyment out of what they have had to do.
We can plan on seeing additional belt tightening, reduction of staffs and loss of jobs and lets cross our fingers that we have caught and are able to stop these out-of-control budget deficits and hopefully get the economy back running in the right direction.
Everyone must learn to do more with less.