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Is this the way to run government as well?

10 posts
  1. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    1/3/2013 7:01 AM
    I was struck by a quote I read in the December issue of Superintendent magazine, (sorry GCM)

    [i]"Cost cutting over the long haul can't be sustained. You can't grow a business by making it sicker." [i]Henry DeLozier, principal of Global Golf Advisors, on golf courses that are cutting back on improvements and hurting their businesses in the process. (sorry Mr. DeLozier for dragging your name into a political discussion)

    I just thought it was an interesting quote as Congress and our President prepares for the budget cutting process. I know spending needs to get smarter, and I also know there are certain things that need to be fully funded, such as veterans benefits and other things I believe need to be looked at smartly and not get the hatchet out on them, but I also know not everyone will be agreeing with me on where to cut and by how much. How do we get our politicians in Washington to get the work done in a bipartisan way (well besides getting more moderate people in congress which won't happen until at least 2014).

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  2. Jon Gansen
    Jon Gansen avatar
    1 posts
    1/3/2013 8:01 AM
    [quote">]Cost cutting over the long haul can't be sustained.

    Neither can spending, especially with a 16 trillion + debt. Problem is everyone has something they don't want cut.



  3. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    1/3/2013 9:01 AM
    Jon Gansen said: [quote">]Cost cutting over the long haul can't be sustained.


    Neither can spending, especially with a 16 trillion + debt. Problem is everyone has something they don't want cut.

    True Jon, and nobody wants to pay taxes either. did hear someone say that with the new deal or maybe during the debt debate discussion that government spending to be held at 15% of GDP and that's the lowest rates ever, the economy thrives when government spending is at the 20% GPD rate. I don't have facts to back it up, it would be interesting to see how that is. It does seem like it would make sense as the government has cut back on spending or investing in things like infrastructure and the economy hasn't recovered yet, of course that's the same in the business world. I wonder if people don't realize how much the government is part of the overall economy? Heck people cutting back (not eliminating) pork barrel spending projects for their states? Just makes me wonder? (I will admit that I'm not a student of how GDP works in the economy so I could be talking out my backside, which wouldn't surprise me, but would be willing to listen and learn.)

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  4. Sandy Clark
    Sandy Clark avatar
    0 posts
    1/3/2013 9:01 AM
    I have always felt that cuts would be simple if they just had the will to do so. Nobody will ever convince me that you couldn't cut a minimum of 10% and probably 30% out of HUD, Dept. of Education, EPA, Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Commerce and probably a dozen other overloaded areas. Nobody even knows what these people actually do. I am sure the Pentagon also falls into this mix. When you leave the $850 billion from the stimulus package and the cost of running the war in Iraq that we have exited in the base budget numbers, you have already pretty much destroyed any credibility with how you use money. The American people, through their Congressmen and Senators should demand a complete audit of every cabinet department as well as the czar positions created. If they are not producing value more than they are costing, get the cost cutting knife out. I will guarantee you that these operations are growing at a needless rate. They probably couldn't justify half of what they are doing. Yes, I would rather first spend the money on a detailed audit because the ultimate savings would be huge. None of those departments have ever had to justify their existence and have grown like a cancer. Billions saved right there with no impact on American citizens!



  5. Eric Johnson
    Eric Johnson avatar
    1 posts
    1/3/2013 10:01 AM
    try this for "solving" our budget issues:

    http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/budget-hero

    I did pre-election. I may try it again post- fiscal cliff adjustments



  6. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    1/3/2013 11:01 AM
    Of course as I thought about it more, we can't raise taxes because how would we pay for all this stuff we buy, (dating myself a little) Cell phones for all family members, cable TV, Internet, just thinking of new stuff that has come on line in the last few years. Yet incomes for most haven't kept up with the rising cost of these new "necessities".

    I'm with you Sandy, I would be willing to see that all departments are looked at like that. Also let's look at the tax code and deductions. As much as I would hate it, how about the tax credit we get for mortgage payments...I'm sure those businesses that really benefit from it lobbied hard for it, I'm sure they can present information that would say because of those tax credits in encouraged home buying and people spending more buying homes and all the buying of items for the home, but what is the cost to the government's revenues, and let's look at local and state as well, because who is building the infrastructure for all that building? I know a lot of that is being financed by the developer but also with tax breaks, and in the case of new businesses gets paid for with TIF funding, not to say that's bad or good but lets see a cost and benefit analysis. But lets look at them all in that fashion. And of course there are somethings you can't put a cost and benefit analysis on, like taking care of veterans, (well maybe we should have done that before going in to Iraq, but I know Afghanistan wouldn't have worked because that was more emotional and a more perceived threat and how to you number crunch something like that?)

    Eric, I'll have to check that out when I get home, thanks.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  7. Sandy Clark
    Sandy Clark avatar
    0 posts
    1/3/2013 12:01 PM
    Mel, I agree with you 100% In the fiscal cliff mess, rum, nascar algae and on and on got pork from what was passed. The entire mess is out of control and priorities must be re-established. Currently, we have no accountability for any of our tax money being spent. If Medicare and Medicaid fraud are that bad, clean up the mess. If we are still purchasing $100 nuts and bolts, it is time to stop. We need to look at all foreign aid, all subsidies and every department in government. I think we would be shocked if we new of all the waste, duplication and corruption.



  8. Wahlin Scott B
    Wahlin Scott B avatar
    1/3/2013 12:01 PM
    Sandy Clark, CGCS said: Mel, I agree with you 100% In the fiscal cliff mess, rum, nascar algae and on and on got pork from what was passed. The entire mess is out of control and priorities must be re-established. Currently, we have no accountability for any of our tax money being spent. (from the report) The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 requires the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Council and Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to issue a joint report focusing on the CFO Act of 1990. The purpose of this report is to present lessons learned from the Act and any legislative and regulatory compliance framework changes needed to Federal financial management—all in the interest of optimizing Federal agency efforts in financial reporting and internal controls. We are providing this final report to you for transmittal to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Comptroller General of the United States. If Medicare and Medicaid fraud are that bad, clean up the mess. The PPACA has provided necessary tools for regulators to go after Medicare fraud. Since being enacted $11 billion has been recovered and well over 2000 arrested. If we are still purchasing $100 nuts and bolts, it is time to stop. We need to look at all foreign aid, all subsidies and every department in government. I think we would be shocked if we new of all the waste, duplication and corruption.



  9. Steven Kurta
    Steven Kurta avatar
    2 posts
    1/4/2013 8:01 AM
    It's not time to stop $100 nuts and bolts if the manufacturer of those nuts and bolts keeps their business in your district//keeps people employed//keeps people voting for you.

    Politicians are corruptible and I don't think there is any time in our shared human history when they haven't been. Greed is what we do. What we fight for and against.



  10. Dennis Cook
    Dennis Cook avatar
    1 posts
    1/21/2013 7:01 AM
    If you were over spending your families income by 40%, the only way you could sustain the unit was to cut spending. To say that cutting spending is not sustainable is ludicrous. What your post should have said was that overspending is not sustainable. A business can overspend and do renovations and all kinds of things to keep up with the business down the road, but they may not survive. When you cant pay your bills, you close your doors and file bankruptcy. Our govt is heading that way. The only thing keeping them afloat is the fact that the3y can print money and devalue everything that we have already accumulated



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