Time for tough decisions

Ok.....here we are again. The County Executive has presented his budget. This time it includes the tax increase indicated in the media. But have all possible cuts been made? Has the County Exec done all that he can to ease the financial burden on the citizenry to the extent possible during what is arguably the worst financial disaster since the great depression? I don' think so. Let's look at the facts.

Rick cut the BOE over 7 million last year and proposes another 5 million in cuts this year. These cuts are a bit misguided. While i know that cuts of this magnitude can be made, they should be made at the administrative level first, NOT the classroom level. How can it be that high level administrators at the BOE can be gathered together to be part of a time consuming, taxpayer funded committee to decide how casual day is to be administered while talking of furloughs and pay cuts for teachers - who, incidentally, use their own personal funds to provide learning materials to their students?

He again proposes furloughs for law enforcement - at a time when the economy induces those who have never committed crimes before to break the law in order to make ends meet.

Is this what we want? How can Rick justify these cuts at this level when he has Jim Fineran making more than most teachers and deputies to do less than 1/4 of the work performed by the aforementioed individuals? Why are we, as a county, not preparing to ween ourselves off of the state and federal teat. Isn't our current financial position due in large part to the fact that we have become dependent on the state and federal goverments to help tend to our every individual need? Now that the state and federal governments are unable to continue to flow the levels of cash in our direction at a level to which we have become accustomed, we feel the pinch. We must clean our financial house locally. Cut the fat. I don't believe all has been done that can be done before jumping on bandwagon that cuts at the teachers and deputies while we have unecessary spending for non producing individuals and services that do for people what they should be doing for themselves. Cut the mandates put upon us by the state and federal governments and put the responsibility and authority back where it belongs. Right here at home. Then we can live within our means and elliminate the dependency we have on our state and local governments.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

How can it be that high level administrators at the BOE can be gathered together to be part of a time consuming, taxpayer funded committee to decide how casual day is to be administered*

*[CITATION NEEDED]

Anonymous said...

No cuts to teachers or cops? Sounds like we got us a pro-union type.

Blog Editor said...

All I know is I don't care to see ANY American BOE official, let alone one from a county as broke as Wicomico, going to China to learn to teach our kids more about China. Take a look at the nearest map, and notice how much closer China is to Afghanistan, North Korea and the Middle East-what do they do but sell AKs, RPGs and god only knows what else. I don't even order Chinese food anymore because it is like it's retail products-cheaply made and likely to result in frustration {order Thai or Japanese instead}.

And a high-paid public speaking "mouth" for a politician that is underachieving to start with, while raising taxes...well, sorry buddy-you ARE expendable.

So, now, you tell US taxpayers with kids in public schools why we shouldn't get more involved in the questionable sausages the BOE is making behind the scenes??

Liberal Elite said...

@ARN "But have all possible cuts been made?"

Of course not, but why is this stated as a goal? Shouldn't we be making all warranted cuts instead???
What's wrong with a shared sense of sacrifice? Why is it always only the other guy that needs to sacrifice?

@ARN "Why are we, as a county, not preparing to ween ourselves off of the state and federal teat."

That's not the way the system has been setup. We pay taxes to Annapolis, and in the case of Wicomico county, we get even more money back. Wicomico county has been on welfare for a long time. Most of that support is for education. Unless you can get the state income tax directly sent to our GOB, then just forget about it.

Federal money comes with funded mandates. The only reason to reject those funds is if you also reject the mandates. Why should we pay for federal mandates?

Money that's coming from the outside is the only reason the BOE can make cuts that are not devastating.

@ARN "While i know that cuts of this magnitude can be made, they should be made at the administrative level first"

That's like saying we should streamline the military by getting rid of highly paid generals, colonels, and majors. We all know the enlisted men do the real work...

...talk about a rudderless ship.

Blog Editor said...

LE-you have summed that up that really well-Unfortunately, I'm not sure which side you advocate-I believe I hear you standing up for the spoiled fat ass in the dress uniform in the Pentagon instead of a guy who keeps his morphine syringe in his mouth in a frozen Bastogne foxhole in case he gets shot, though.

Correct me if I am wrong on my interpretation-it doesn';t help you keep 'elite' in your phony name as some of us purchase $10 worth of gas to get through a couple days instead of a full fill-up. However, you laid out a pretty comparable scenario. Those senior "brass"/administrative officers are usually getting fat, in the rear with the gear-merely unelected politicians with sidearms and fancy uniforms. If you want to live, on a genuine combat battlefield-or what has become the pragmatic, real life, battlefield of our own domestic depression, you listen to the REAL teachers-the NCOs/classroom teachers who don't get a nice third-floor office, or paid vacation to China..just a shared foxhole with us little people and, like the front-line classroom teacher-the ultimate REAL respect and admiration.

Liberal Elite said...

@BL "Those senior "brass"/administrative officers are usually getting fat, in the rear..."

Hey Bill. How many officers do you actually know? ...like on a first name basis? I've worked with a dedicated hard working bunch over at Walter Reed (malaria vaccine research), and somehow they just don't seem to fit the description of "spoiled fat ass in the dress uniform".

And our colonels don't earn nearly as much as colonels do elsewhere (like in Libya).

I sure as hell wouldn't trade my ivory tower for a brass tower.

Anonymous said...

I am Mike Brewintgon's bong and theres only 1 thing I care bout the price and thats bleezy trees baby! Its 4:20 baby! smoke weed everyday baby!

Blog Editor said...

LE-stick that in your bum-sideways, sir. I represent Annapolis//Fort meade//Bethesda//Walter Reid?/And all the troops overseas. I've never heard your jive ass get behind our troops-not f'in once. You don't even have the balls to post under your real name so we can check your contributions-I think you are bogus. And for the record, many of the officers I know at above the Colonel level are complete tools. I prefer to spend my time with NCOs//midshipmen//junior officers. You want to be a big man-sign your own damn name, give me {and others}those malaria research citations {I think you are constantly full of shit}, and stop talking to a lot of hard-working folk like dumbasses-remember I met you. You told me you did not want me to klnow the name of your blog because you didn't like me-even while we were trying to mend fences while breaking bread. I remain unimpressed with every scintilla, of every syllable, of every sentence of every paragraph that comes from your smarmy elitist, out-of-touch ass.

You have a whole lot of balls to challenge me here. My richard is turgid hoping you have some real balls to back your claims. Quite frankly, I also have a degree in mental health, and believe you may be...well, not what you claim to be-prove me wrong with something like facts instead of smart ass, anonymous, comments for a change.

And in the meantime, go to my blog and check my sitemeter-just because a lot of my audience cant comment doesn't mean they don't laugh their asses off at clueless stooges like you when you say BS like this. C'mon...you are there..aint no f'in malaria today. Be a man and respond.

Blog Editor said...

BTW-Take your time. It is hard to come up with such excrutiatingly BS subterfuge when confronted with so many actual facts.

ridgely said...

(He'll respond @ 2AM)

BL has some righteous "hits" on his blog. I am "mucho" impressed, as always!

Blog Editor said...

ATGR..much of the reason for my hits is because I do what I do for the little guys who are suffering so much by giving them a laugh and maybe a cool picture that the damn Saudis wont let them have even though they defend those offshore platforms.

I give an even bigger shout-out to my wife, who does even more/something different than my simple words by sending old DVDs/Cds/winter clothing/kind notes to small groups of troops within remote firebases in Afghanistan. My wife comes from Ft. Dix Army roots-I have more friends among the navy/marine demographic around Annapolis, where I almost was a midhipman candidate myself so many moons ago. We are both offended by LE's posts, not just today, but for the last year. Honestly, after meeting him a year ago-I learned not to expect much.

afterthegoldrush said...

God bless you and your wife!

Blog Editor said...

We pass that on to others, possibly less, how would you say it...well, OLD!!, who are beginning the same journey during a much more challenging era. We hope our candor allows people to feel they are certainly not alone, and with proper goals and support systems, families can maintain a two-parent model. Any kid in this crueler-each-day-world needs both a nurturing mother, and strong, confident father {you can even switch the adjectives if it works!}.

None of us overlook the sacrifices some of our neighbors make-one in particular had BOTH parents in the military; one deployed for a year in Afghanistan without a father, and then when the father canmme home they went a year without a mother. All so some Afghani dikhed could grow opium to further enhance our nation's growing heroin addiction, and the murderous street violenc ethat comes with it's sale on the streets.

Anonymous said...

INTERNET TOUGH GUY ALERT

Blog Editor said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Liberal Elite said...

@BL

Hmmm. Begging for a response. Do I address your concerns as if they were serious, or do I just mock you? Lets see…

Post 4:26PM:

Paragraph 1 -- Wants me to prove I'm a "big man".

What if I just don't really care?? Decline.

Paragraph 2 -- Says I have courage.

Well thanks.

Paragraph 3 -- Say AITC blog is the bomb.

Great! Mine's OK too. I have no idea how many hits I have, but I have more than 20000 responses.

Post 4:43 -- Begging me to reply.

A little lonely today?

Post 4:55 -- Disappointed in no reply… getting sick.

Sorry. I had work to do. Some of us here are gainfully employed.

Post 5:21 -- Protesting lack of response. Says going to stay up all night stewing…. Expects great things from me. Admits to still using a Rolodex

Sorry, and thanks, I guess. Too bad about that Rolodex thing.

Post 5:30 -- Was almost a contender at the NA.

Too bad (for you, not for the NA). What happened? Did you fail the MBTI test?

Post 5:30 -- Says wife is great.

Then why are you running around the world propositioning random young women?

Post 5:30 -- Says offended by my posts.. almost all of them.

Your fragility is comical. Why don't you analyze yourself with your mental health degree? …or did you specialize in studying normal people?

Post 6:13 -- Lamenting the high personal cost of war.

I can agree with all of that. What say we bring these stupid wars to a rapid close? We're wasting way too many lives over there, and not getting much in return for that noble sacrifice.

Post 3:44 -- Can't afford gas. Please don't remind that life sucks.

I guess I need to tiptoe around a whole lot of subjects then...
How about If I complain about gas prices too? Would that help?
Oh oh. the price of fuel… Oh oh. It costs me over $400 to fill the tanks on all my vehicles… And I really really wanted that 1996 Chateau Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classe…

@NAG "(He'll respond @ 2AM)"

Thanks NAG. You have what BL lacks… common sense.

Bob said...

12:37.....I have no citation but I have been told of this by someone who actually received the letter generated by this committee. My understanding is that every teacher in Wicomico County got the letter relating to casual day. I'm sure you know a teacher. Please ask them about this.

12:37 said...

No, I don't know any teachers. I do know how to spot hearsay and hyperbole when i see them, though.

Anonymous said...

@ARN

You are right. The WCBOE did have a committee for this. I received that letter and it makes me mad that they can waste so much time and money while we have to spend money out of our own pockets in order to provide our students with what is needed. If we had a BOE that was elected maybe this wouldn't be an issue. 12:08 should you need to know what an idiot looks like, proceed to the nearest mirror.

Blog Editor said...

But you are posting as anonymous, too? Or certain have phony screen names like certain people who are so pretentious they make Frazier Crane look like Larry The Cable Guy. That is why a lot of these conflagrations start.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I am posting anonymously. Difference: I'm not treating others here like assholes. The rest of you are. Props to ARN who is the only one here acting like an adult.

Blog Editor said...

Welcome to the jungle...

Anonymous said...

I'm the original 12:37 (and 1:32, and 2:31) and I did not post that last comment. Frankly though, I can't say Mr. Livingston's "Welcome to the jungle" comment surprises me. Actually, it proves my assertion that everyone here (except ARN) is acting like a child.

Anywho, I'm done in here. Have a great day everyone. It is glorious outside.

afterthegoldrush said...

noanonymousguesses and I take offense to your comment about only ARN acting like an adult.

Liberal Elite said...

@atgr "noanonymousguesses and I take offense to your comment about only ARN acting like an adult."

That's childish.

Liberal Elite said...

@BL "I may as well go big if you think ATGR's comment is childish."

It was meant to be ironic and funny... a play on the Pinocchio paradox ("My nose will be growing"). Do you want me to explain it to you?

All I got from your response is that you're totally clueless... like the wooden boy.

Anonymous said...

Like you need help making yourself look bad Livigston......

Cancer

Liberal Elite said...

@BL "BTW-LE-how is your adult daughter"

She's a professor at a highly rated college.

All of my kids are highly successful (so far)... at least according to my definition of success.

"..and it will be because she is rebelling .."

Ha! My kids did the rebelling thing as teenagers. Some people do grow up, you know....

Oh.. and I'm still happily married to a cute girl I met in high school. I have no desire to discard her, and I never gave her any cause to discard me. Think about that BL.

Blog Editor said...

Then if your life is a dream, why are you such a jerk to some of us here?? Would it frikkin' hurt you to have a kind word to say once in a while, or to address people in a civil fashion? If everything you say is true-you should be magnanmimous, not pretentious?? Think about that LE.

Liberal Elite said...

Maybe someone here brings out the worst in me...

Anonymous said...

Livingston loses his mind, then feverishly deletes his comments when the mania subsides. Or maybe Hal Chernoff told him what time it really is.

Blog Editor said...

LE-I talked with some important people in my life today who would be disappointed for the way we interact. I don't think they would be proud of me as I wasn't raised that way. I apologize to you if I am the one that brings out the worst in you-it is not my intent. I don't do what I do to bring out the worst in anybody. Obviously, I do not believe we will become friends, but I will do better to try to provide you proper respect during any debates.

I only hope that you realize that you ARE blessed, and not everybody else has those same blessings these days, and this goes beyond myself. I would hope that you possibly would take this to heart when interacting with others in various forums, as well. You have a lot of insight to offer-if done with a little more humility and respect for the other views, all of us in the blog community may finally be able to work together to accomplish something good, instead of further dividing ourselves. I wish you a Happy Easter and may your family enjoy good health. Peace.

Blog Editor said...

No 9:59. I was just raised not to be so disrespectful, and I hope that maybe you will also take to heart that many of us do what we do to bring people together, and name-calling and personal attacks aren't the way we are going to achieve that. I also hope you have a peaceful Easter, even though you obviously don't much care for me.

Two Sentz said...

Who the forget is this forgetting Livingston hater?!

Two Sentz said...

Bill if I may? LE, I think what we're saying here is that we like hearing what you have to say. What rubs us is the way it can come off as condescending for some reason. You probably don't mean it that way, but I have to agree it sometimes does.

Liberal Elite said...

@TS "... it can come off as condescending for some reason."

Thanks TS. I think that a lot of that just comes with the message. For example, how is it possible for an atheist say "Don't be so damn gullible!" without being condescending? The just-think-for-once message is condescending by its very nature. Much of what I say has that problem.

The 4 year old Heaven visitor is a case in point. There's a reason that 4 year old kids don't testify in court cases. Getting really reliable information from 4 year olds takes a season expert. Expecting that from religious parents who also stand to make a profit is just too much... How can any sane adult be so gullible as to actually believe that stuff? And how can I ever make that specific point without being condescending?


@BL "I only hope that you realize that you ARE blessed"

Thanks Bill, and yes I am. But I also live in a very flawed place and time. Some of my anger with those flaws is reflected to those who hold political views that perpetuate those flaws. Even though I've made the transition from being very poor in my younger years (I couldn't even afford subsidized school lunches in middle school) to being rather wealthy (e.g. several nice homes in various upscale neighborhoods...), my political views haven't changed much at all. As someone who really benefits from the Bush tax cuts, I fervently hope they die an ignominious death.

afterthegoldrush said...

LE,
Telling a believer that the existence of heaven or that Jesus Christ is not the savior is gullible thinking is condescending.

I acknowledge your right to be an atheist. Please acknowledge my right to be a Christian.

Liberal Elite said...

@ATGR "Please acknowledge my right to be a Christian."

I'm a strong believer in both freedom of religion and freedom from religion.

But don't tell me that you actually bought that drivel from the parents of a 4 year old. And if you actually did, then sorry, but don't be so damn gullible. That's NOT Christianity.

afterthegoldrush said...

Now see. You could have stopped typing after the period behind religion.

That last paragraph is why people don't like you.

Anonymous said...

LE, what's it like going through life as such a pessimist? Sounds bleak.