This Might Work

For weeks now, maybe months (I'm not really paying much attention to time at this point)

I have been pondering, meditating on and considering the meaning of the word redundant OH, and the many reasons for the epidemic of budget shortfalls being experienced by all levels government all over our great nation. My reason for doing so is to decide if I might be able to suggest something that could alleviate, mitigate, resolve and/or eliminate some of the waste, misappropriation, misuse of both finances and manpower as well as redundancy of services all causing or contributing to said deficits.

First, of course, is the revenue lost due to under and unemployment of many workers or at least those who weren't being paid "under the table" by employers who don't want our govt. to know who they have in their employ and so don't want to contribute to Social security, unemployment, disability or other programs dealing with workers health and welfare. Help they will need if injured or are no longer employed, employers who are probably not reporting all their own income for the same reasons.

It occurred to me a decade ago that if wages were further eroded by a glut on our labor market and competition from slave wages being paid in third world production centers, the businesses in this country would begin losing customers because people would not have the disposable income to spend on all the really crappy merchandise made in those third world sweat factories.Well, wages have stagnated or been lowered and businesses have lost A LOT of customers. There's more lost local and state revenue!

After much consideration, contemplation, and consternation I believe I have configured a very reasonable and workable idea to alleviate SOME of the municipal, county, state and federal financial shortages.

Having filtered the many aspects, facets, components and complex calculations through my above average intellect and weighing the many pitfalls of governmental bureaucracy's convoluted financial terrain it occurred to this concerned citizen that some LAY OFFS might be in order, in order to reduce, pare, and anyway remove some of the blubber from governmental budgets"coast to coast, border to border!

I AM NOT talking about Fire or Police Dept. personnel, Teachers, Librarians, Public Health or Public Works Workers or anyone else who is providing an actual service to the community.

I AM talking about the non-producing, time and money wasting muttering, muddling, mis-managers of the public trust"I AM talking about city councilmen, ward aldermen, county supervisors, state and federal representatives and senators and their staffs excepting one per politician who could answer phones, record questions and suggestions from constituents of the aforementioned politicians until there were enough to provide a days work for the above mentioned SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE. At that time they could return to their taxpayer provided offices and work on an hourly basis, being paid only for time spent in actual performance of their duties, just like millions of temp workers and, like those temp workers,there would be no benefits including taxpayer funded transportation, haircuts or custodial services,they could clean their own offices while talking on the phone,(a blue tooth will be provided.) Committee meetings, where hours are spent haggling over some point of order or anything else would be considered their contribution to society. Do they want to serve the voters or not? BUT, there would still be a limit of two working days per committee. Filibusters would be out since they only serve to deny the people a viable legislature. It is an act of obstruction, which is, in my not so humble opinion, a violation of a public office holders oath of office, an oath to serve the public so stalling a vote in the legislative process because the interests one represents cannot secure the votes to pass or reject a given bill would no longer be allowed. If you don't have the votes YOU LOSE! Keep it simple congress persons! Let's layoff or make temps out of those who's salaries are adding to deficit spending, those who ARE NOT really needed on a full time basis anyway. With all the laws already on the books how many FULL TIME lawmakers do WE THE PEOPLE really need. If legislation relative to trade or business regulation is necessary, have those to whom it pertains pay for the legislative session. If some private enterprise wants the law changed, bill them for the process. Better yet, charge them when their bill is brought to the floor. What we have now is a taxpayer funded building full of "lawyers" who are most often involved in debate over legislation having to do with business or trade laws.

Defense contractors would be limited to cost plus a percentage which would be determined following an independent cost analysis for any given project, with no contracts let for construction of permanent infrastructure in an active war zone. (How dumb is that?) I really think "they" blew up some of their own projects just to keep business "BOOMING," get it? BOOMING? I shoulda been a comedian.

The ACOE (army corp of engineers) is fast and efficient when it comes to temporary repairs of bridges, utilities etc. and their budget has to clear congress.

Haliburton and Blackwater should be charged with fraud, embezzlement. and in the case of Blackwater...MURDER!

But that, as Dennis Miller likes to say, is just MY opinion!

P.S Giving a whole bunch of politicians some time off will also help with the problem of global warming given the reduction in the volume of hot air coming from the chambers of all those legislative chambers.

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