The Girdle Theory

It's that time of year again....when governments around the country are trying to come up with new budget proposals.  Here in our state, it's no different.  Our governor just came out with his proposed budget and already the moaning and groaning has begun.

The newspaper today was full of pros and cons of the cuts and adjustments here and there in the budget.  As in any new budget, there will be some losers and some winners.  It's an unfortunate fact of life.  What I don't "get" is the failure of people to understand that money doesn't just fall out of the sky to pay for the programs that they want funded.  That money has to come from somewhere.  So if people do NOT want taxes raised, then something has to be cut or reduced in order for money to be freed up to be available in another area.

I think we can boil all of this economic mumbo-jumbo down to what I like to call "The Girdle Effect."  It's quite simple and this is how it goes.  If you cinch or squeeze something in one area, something else is going to "pop" out in another area.  It is really simple cause-and-effect.  Every economic action is going to have an effect on something else.

When my hubby was our church treasurer and we'd have our annual budget meeting, inevitably someone would propose that we increase a line item here or there.  His response would always be, "Fine...if you vote to do that, so be it.  But then you need to tell me where we are going to decrease by a like amount to provide the funds for the increase you just voted for."

If only our federal government would follow the same principle instead of creating a budget that relies on smoke and mirrors and money that doesn't exist.  If only we all would realize that these are tough economic times and we are all going to be called on to make sacrifices, maybe there would be a chance for economic solvency in state government across the country.  And speaking as a Christian, I think that we, the Church are going to have to realize that the time may come when we need to take a more active role in helping our brothers and sisters in need.