is to cut the services that directly affect the people like schools, firemen, police force, close public parks, etc.

Whan was the last time they froze ALL hiring? When was the last time the froze ALL pay increases for other than those that directly serve the people?

We all know the pet projects, the projects of the special interests and supporters do not get affected.

Do you know that in way too many cases just because a given project was a line item in the budget it remains a line item in the budget even if the project/activity was completed? It is a way of preserving their base line of money to be spent.

Until such time as ALL non essential spending is curtailed there will always be cuts at the people's level. And of course the politicians have their own definition of essential....that is anything that benefits them, their re-election or their special interests or supporters.

How do these same cities continue to build new sports arenas? Theaters? Etc.

If you were to spend the time to review....really review their budgets....what they spent last year....compared to what they are asking for this year you would find very quickly the budgets are so padded plus contingencies you might be surprised. No, I will go so far as to say you will be shocked!!!

Why is there no talk of cutting their travel and living expense accounts? Why are there no discussions of who gets cars and all the expenses paid for them? How about the trips they take to go to Chuna to see how they make baskets (sarcasm!!)? It will never happen because it affects them!!!!

The people need to stop watching the media and demand their representatives account for the revenues recieved and live within the confines of those revenues after making deductions for teachers, police, firemen, etc, etc, etc.

We the people just don't do that and the politicians count on it.

Having been personally involved with turning around businesses that were losers into profitable entities I can almost guarantee you they are NOT approaching the budgeting process from YOUR perspective. WHy would they? Nobody demands they do so. NOBODY!!!!!!!!

btk