Phatscotty wrote:Before we give gov't another dime of ANYONE'S money!
Detroit —Detroit Public Library officials say finances have grown so bad they could close most neighborhood branches, but in a few weeks plan to unveil a revamped wing of a main library that even administrators say spares few expenses.
The South Wing is stocked with 20 yellow and orange European lounge chairs that cost $1,092 apiece, artistic pendant light fixtures and two alcohol-burning fireplaces. The project morphed from a $300,000 furniture update to a $2.3 million overhaul with new floors, study rooms, lighting and built-in, wood-framed book shelves.
"$1,100 per chair is reckless spending for a public institution," said Todd Kelly, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1259, which represents 125 workers, including clerks, janitors and security staffers.
It's not the only spending to come under question as the system considers closing up to 18 of 23 branches and laying off as many as 191 of 333 workers. A Detroit News review showed that, since 2008, the library has paid at least $160,000 to food vendors, including $1,760 at an ice-cream shop, and spent $1 million on 6 percent raises to union workers at a time counterparts in City Hall took 10 percent pay cuts.
http://detnews.com/article/20110422/MET ... get-crisisThe same thing happened recently in Minnesota. The gov't threatened to cut police because we don't have enough money, but greenlighted a million dollar water fountain project. Our gov'ts need to prove they can spend our money responsibly. When they do that, I will consider supporting higher taxes, if needed.
See, here is the problem with your argument that this is a
government issue alone..
First, why did these things happen? Because some other people...
Businesspeople,
capitalists even, saw the opportunity to make a buck and took it. Bottom line.. that is why. Why did the politicians listen? Probably because said business people spent more time and effort talking to the politicians than their constituants, maybe promises were made, (but not actually necessary... and not likely anything direct, given that direct graft is illegal and, well.. folks are smart enough not to do
that). Constituents, however seem to speak up mostly to complain... and NOT offer solutions exceot "give us what WE want", which is usually lower taxes and more services (both, at the same time... regardless of whether the complainer is liberal or conservative... all that changes is where they want the cuts and the gains).
Anyway, what you see is capitalism alive and well in politics. YET.. you seem to think that fully handing over the system to private business is the answer? This does not compute! The problem is business, certain special interests having too much influence on government.. but your "answer" is to turn the whole thing over to those same entities!
Look at any company and you see similar largess. Of course, it s not called graft when a corporate head decides to build a fancy new office building and to offer his execs and nice perks. Never mind any layoffs, etc...all that is irrelevant. Recently, some companies have begun scaling back on the lavishness, but if you want to look at true waste, you hardly want to look at big corporations. OOPS, I forgot... since thats "profits" from the paychecks of workers and customers.. oh, yeah, and taxpayers who have to clean up the messes of those companies.. it just doesn't matter in your book.
). It is a valid article, but I took Phattscotty's post to be yet another of his general condemnations of anything to do with the government.
