One Step at a Time

Gov Brown is doing it differently his second time around, a democrat (spender) making what may appear to be republican (saver) changes. While others are still talking the talk, Jerry's walking the walk. The first step may seem small to others, but it's a huge step in the right direction for anyone whose goal is to keep a campaign promise to cut spending.

He's taking away the cell phones; hopefully, he's taking them away from the desk jockies, not the employees in the field. Again, doesn't seem like much, but if there are 96,000 cell phones currently in use at a mere $50 per phone per month, that's a boatload of money in an annual budget. In my world, the next step is the company car, again, taking this perk away from the desk jockies, not from the workers in the field. A third step is the copy/fax machine and the annual forests of associated paper and toner!! Far too many employees use the company equipment and supplies as a perk of their job, including the copy/fax machine (and the "free" paper). The rest of the world has to pay Kinko per page for personal copying and faxes, so why look the other way when government employees use state equipment for personal business?

I continue making changes in my lifestyle to accommodate my current income, changes that may seem small at the time, but add up to effective cost-cutting. I'm not denying myself, just redefining my spending habits, and the government needs to follow suit. Whether it's in one's home or in one's business, spending money that is not there can only lead to financial collapse. It's the little things that "nickel and dime" us into deficit spending and financial instability, but which can also turn out-of-control spending into effective cost-cutting when waste is targeted, rather than accepted as part of the cost of doing business.

I was not thrilled with the choices for office in the past election, and I was here for Jerry's (Moonbeam) first time around the block, but tough times demand tough measures by tough people -- and Jerry's tough. He's a career politician, so he has the contacts to wrangle concessions when that's what the public needs to see. I hope taking away the cell phones is but a first step, rather than one of those high PR value impact actions that so many politicians rely on to define their entire term in office.

Okay, Jerry: go after the cars and the copy/fax machines and forests of paper products. Once you get this ball rolling, it'll be easier to keep weeding out the waste.