Outdoor Liaisons

December 3, 2009

A Matter of Causes and Their Huge Effects

 

Towns, Counties, States and Citizens Fighting Over Crumbs and Leftovers

 
Whenever I experience or read about the effects of the shortfalls of budget funds needed to effectively operate/manage the various municipalities, villages, towns, counties, states and the entire USA - I have to wonder if elected officials, public servants and U.S. citizens really understand the difference between cause and effect. Those who are responsible for managing our lives and budgets are fighting over the effects of much larger causes. Can some of us name one major cause at the top of the pyramid? Yes.
 
Why do we see the leaders of towns, cities, states, school districts etc. suddenly and precipitously announce severe cutbacks in funding, layoffs and other cost-saving measures?
 
In all cases the leaders and elected officials of the various entities, organizations, school districts have a continuously decreasing amounts of money to work with. E.g., tax revenues from residents and other sources; grants, subsidies and other funding from state and federal government etc. are being severely cut-back - therefore causing an avalanche of shortfalls throughout the USA. The "fiat" money sources are no longer available (money no longer grows on trees).
 
What could be the major causes (in no particular order)?
 
 - Corrupt and greedy American Capitalism and politicos.
 
 - Those gullible, ignorant U.S. citizens who live in a "huge glass house" and who've been led to believe that the US is the leader of the free world and that our "system" is working better than any other country's. Those same citizens who've been asleep at the switch for many years and don't have a clue to what's going on in their own backyard.
 
 - The USA acts as the policeman and savior of the world and in 130 countries - while our own country is rife with corruption, crime, criminals, crumbling/deteriorating infrastructures; a sick education system in serious trouble; epidemics in cancers, serious diseases, illnesses and maladies; an expensive health care system that only the well to do can afford; while certain "middle class" citizens pay for the health care of others they can't pay for their own; and since 9/11 our own U.S. borders are completely unprotected and open while we "protect" the borders of other countries with the blood, sweat and tears of our own sons and daughters.
 
 - A country without a real product - one with more government employees than manufacturing employees. 
 
How can actions like these go unchallenged by many so-called "American citizens"?
 
The aforementioned causes may not be considered causes at all - they may also be considered effects of a much larger and single cause. I believe I know what the top cause of mankind's problems are - but can mankind even handle the truth?
 
30,000 troops = $30 billion in taxpayer funding [100,000 troops = $100 billion]. From what I understand this doesn't take into account the $billions being wasted on contract mercenaries in Iraq and Afghanistan. $billions that are sorely needed here in the USA for medical-care, for education, for rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, and for the so-called "war" on cancer epidemics etc.
 
"The only reason they're fighting us is because we're occupying they're country." - A Former Marine re Afghanistan, 10/27/09
 
"It's the poorest people of one country fighting the poorest people of another country - to benefit wealthiest people" - Unknown Soldier/officer, USA - 2006
 
Peace,

, , Frank Carbone Jr.