The Benefits of Budget Shortfalls
Budget cuts are starting to force governments to get out of spheres they never should have been in in the first place. I think there's a lot we can do to keep the trend growing and to ground it in morality and rights, not just on temporary budget distress.
The NY Times reports on some of the cuts around the country:
Plenty of businesses and governments furloughed workers this year, but Hawaii went further — it furloughed its schoolchildren. Public schools across the state closed on 17 Fridays during the past school year to save money, giving students the shortest academic year in the nation and sending working parents scrambling to find care for them.
Many transit systems have cut service to make ends meet, but Clayton County, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, decided to cut all the way, and shut down its entire public bus system. Its last buses ran on March 31, stranding 8,400 daily riders. ...
posted by Amit Ghate at 4:57 AM
2 Comments:
The NYT also had an interesting recent story on the problem of fixed-benefit public pensions, and how that is creating tremendous problems for state and local governments:
"Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public Pensions"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/your-money/07money.html
I know you've done some thinking and research on this issue. Do you plan on writing on this topic sometime?
Thanks Paul. I've had some major computer problems over the last week, so have fallen behind on everything, but once I get caught up, I'll be sure to check out that link. And as to writing on the topic, I've been following the news, but haven't yet found an appropriate theme for an editorial. Once I do, I'd love to try my hand at opining on the subject.
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