How to solve the Budget Crisis for States
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
January 21, 2009 12:31am CST
It seems like every day we hear of a state or city asking for more government money to keep running. When faced with a crisis the first cuts proposed are to Police, Fire Departments and Schools. If I were in charge I would cut some different areas.
Here ares some of my suggestions.
1. Eliminate 90% of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Keep one centralized record department. Let the Drivers Ed Teachers give the Driving test and only students in school could drive under the age of 18.
2. Car Dealerships would be allowed to issue car licenses and registrations. IF caught committing fraud they would lose the privilege and anyone who bought a car from them would have to wait until the state could process the paper work before they could take the car off the lot.
3. Eliminate the Department of Tourism. Let the resorts, hotels restaurants and attractions have a check off system much as farmers do to advertise their products.
4. Eliminate the Departments of Business Development. Let the chamber of commerce and business groups recruit new business.
5. I would pay the State Senators and Assembly men the state minimum wage that was in effect the first time they were elected. They would be paid a daily stipend equal to a room at a motel such as Super 8 and meals based on Perkins. They would receive this for every day they were in attendance in the chamber and voted. All campaign contributions would be considered taxable income and the allowable business deductions would be allowed.
These are a few of my Ideas but I would like to hear from you. What would you cut out or change at the state or local level to reduce the budget problems.
1 person likes this
1 response
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
25 Jan 09
I do not have an answer for this at the moment - it's something I would really have to think about but in our recent news it was announced that the teachers in our area would not be losing their jobs, for at least the rest of this school year, but the children would no longer be given breakfast and possibly lunch starting as soon as next month. Kind of sad when the options are cutting teacher or cutting meals for the children.
These school meals are often the ONLY real meal that these children receive in their day and while I firmly believe that the parents SHOULD be responsible for feeding their own children, many do not and if it wasn't for the breakfasts and lunches being given to these children - most of them would do without.
My son used to do acting work when he was much younger and one of the TV shows he had a part in, was filmed at a park in Los Angeles County. During the filming, which took 2 whole days - many of us parents spent or time inside the park's indoor gym and there were children in there who were playing games with adult park employees who also served these children lunch. I was talking to one of the ladies and she told me that the children were welcomed to come and spend their day at the gym every day during the summer and would be given a lunch if they wanted one - free of charge. She told me that these children would not eat if it wasn't for that program and that it was so sad. Many of these children were left home alone during the summer days with no food in the refrigerator. They would come to the park on their own and stay the whole day so they could get breakfast, lunch and snacks.
I imagine if the state is going to be making cuts to the meals - the parks are included in that cut. What a shame.
