Living within our means
Here in California we are having budget crisis (not unlike many states I am sure). It only took us until months into THIS year to balance LAST year's budget.
Why? Well, we spend more money than we make and we finally hit a wall where the citizens said ENOUGH! We are the highest tax paying state in the country and really have nothing to show for it.
Highest paid teachers equal lowest school results (I'm talking graduating rates, test results, productivity, etc...).
People who live on welfare and food stamps and unemployment and never want to get off their duffs and actually make a living for themselves.
Small businesses going under not because they don't have clients, but because they can't afford the taxes; so these small businesses cross the nearest border and do their business IN California FROM a neighboring State.
The real problem, however, is that people don't want to be told, "No, we can't afford that."
Yesterday I was listening to the news and hearing people complain about a local college that had to lay off 600 employees and enroll 2200 less students BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS!
Does it suck? Yeah! But it needs to be done.
Remember when you were little and you went to the store and you looked longingly at the shiny new bike? You told your mom that you wanted that bike (maybe even told her you needed the bike) and she said, "No, we can't afford that right now."
I'll never forget the time I was about 12 or 13. I was so upset because I was taking just 2 dance classes a week. I would NEVER get to dance on Broadway taking only 2 classes a week. EVERY OTHER girl in the studio practically LIVED there, I wanted to do that, too. My mom turned to me and said, "Okay, you can take dance lessons every day. You can take all the dance lessons you want in order to fullfil that dream. But you will have to give up going to private school and the great education we are paying for. We can't afford both; so make your choice."
I wonder what she would have done if I said I wanted to go to public school and take all the dance lessons I wanted.
The point that I am trying to make is this: even at 12 I knew that there were some sacrifices that had to be made. There are times when we want, or even think we NEED, to have or do something; but in the end it is a cost that is too much of a burden on something or someone else.
Does it suck that 600 people had to be laid off because of budget cuts? Yes! But what would you rather have? A school that is 600 less people running it or a school that bankrupts and can now no longer be in existence?
The funny thing is, do you ever hear anyone say, "Hey, cut my wages by a certain percentage and keep both of us!" You don't. Even though that person made that same percentage just 5 years ago.
The problem is that everyone wants more. More money, more toys, more this, more that. No one wants to be told, "No, we can't afford that."
If there is no money to be had we just...can't...afford...it!
Why? Well, we spend more money than we make and we finally hit a wall where the citizens said ENOUGH! We are the highest tax paying state in the country and really have nothing to show for it.
Highest paid teachers equal lowest school results (I'm talking graduating rates, test results, productivity, etc...).
People who live on welfare and food stamps and unemployment and never want to get off their duffs and actually make a living for themselves.
Small businesses going under not because they don't have clients, but because they can't afford the taxes; so these small businesses cross the nearest border and do their business IN California FROM a neighboring State.
The real problem, however, is that people don't want to be told, "No, we can't afford that."
Yesterday I was listening to the news and hearing people complain about a local college that had to lay off 600 employees and enroll 2200 less students BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS!
Does it suck? Yeah! But it needs to be done.
Remember when you were little and you went to the store and you looked longingly at the shiny new bike? You told your mom that you wanted that bike (maybe even told her you needed the bike) and she said, "No, we can't afford that right now."
I'll never forget the time I was about 12 or 13. I was so upset because I was taking just 2 dance classes a week. I would NEVER get to dance on Broadway taking only 2 classes a week. EVERY OTHER girl in the studio practically LIVED there, I wanted to do that, too. My mom turned to me and said, "Okay, you can take dance lessons every day. You can take all the dance lessons you want in order to fullfil that dream. But you will have to give up going to private school and the great education we are paying for. We can't afford both; so make your choice."
I wonder what she would have done if I said I wanted to go to public school and take all the dance lessons I wanted.
The point that I am trying to make is this: even at 12 I knew that there were some sacrifices that had to be made. There are times when we want, or even think we NEED, to have or do something; but in the end it is a cost that is too much of a burden on something or someone else.
Does it suck that 600 people had to be laid off because of budget cuts? Yes! But what would you rather have? A school that is 600 less people running it or a school that bankrupts and can now no longer be in existence?
The funny thing is, do you ever hear anyone say, "Hey, cut my wages by a certain percentage and keep both of us!" You don't. Even though that person made that same percentage just 5 years ago.
The problem is that everyone wants more. More money, more toys, more this, more that. No one wants to be told, "No, we can't afford that."
If there is no money to be had we just...can't...afford...it!
Labels: Budgeting, California
posted by Jenni at
9:49 AM
3 Comments:
Americans do not like living within their means and really since the invention of credit many many many years ago it has gotten to the point of no return.
In our State just recently a school district could not get the funding they needed and they stressed to the parents if the levy did not pass then Extra Curricular activities would be cut, all Extra Curricular activities. The levy did not pass. They cut the programs, including sports. Parents did not realize this included the sports programs, HELLO, see, they look at sports as part of the education program, nope the are Extra Curricular. The parents are freaking out. BUT, the school is still open and educating at this point. But, you would think the end of the world came because sports was cut, although they didn't mind if music, art or theater was cut. Pathetic, just pathetic.
My point, there was no money and they get the basics until the money can be found, they ran out of credit and now they need good old fashion money from the taxpayers!!!
What I think is sad in that story is that the "extra curricular activities" that the school provided, FOR FREE, are available at MINIMAL cost. Seriously, that's what the "club sports" are about. Sign your kids up for those if you are that desperate for them to have extra curricular activities.
Not to say that I don't think it's important to have those programs, I do, but there are ways to have those things and not cost the tax payers more than necessary.
I had all sorts of extra curricular activities and only ONE was through my school; I danced, played the piano, and even did volunteer work.
People are just so greedy!
I wish people in the government would get laid off.
That would help a lot.
I also wish the CA gov would stop paying for expensive fads like solar powered power plants. Also the money they are blowing on stem cell research is done much better by the private sector.
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