Just say no to spending

There is a basic financial management term I fear many who complain of Gov. Blunt’s and Mayor Funkhouser’s budget cuts have forgotten: The word “no.”

I realize delayed gratification is unpopular in our society, but for an economy to flourish there must be more money coming in than there is going out. That’s common sense.

If I don’t have the money for that new car, I might have to settle for a “beater” and live on beans and rice until I do. I might not enjoy the sacrifices, but in the end I’ll gain from them.

Our city and state must do likewise. Cut excesses. Prioritize painfully. Generate revenue. Eventually, we’ll get our luxuries back, and we’ll benefit for years to come for having sacrificed in the short term. Meanwhile, wouldn’t we be better off with level heads and thankful hearts for the blessings we do enjoy?

Repeat this to yourself when you’re tempted to complain about potholes and cuts to the zoo budget: We can’t spend money we don’t have.

And send thank-you notes to politicians who are finally willing to look ahead and, like wise parents, say no when our best interests demand it.

Lori Chally
Kansas City

Comments

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

and so long as there is no accountability even when a State Auditor finds fraud, we will never have control or justice.
How grand it is that so many fathers are unjustfully scorned based on bogus and libelous fraud by Janel Luck and Deborah Scott. Thanks ladies, hope you enjoy your phat bonuses. There is a word for these types of worthless scoundrel women C_ _ _ _.

[jack]

Ignoring is not "blind".

Part of the problem with our government is the funding is upside down. Money is most efficiently spent close to home. Spending authority order should be City, County, State, Feds. As long as the order of authority is backward, Feds first, there ain't a prayer it will ever be under control.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Lori- Palgerizing Dave Ramsey is not genius.
Many people do not have enough cash to buy a decent "beater" that will not require mechanical fixes and it is much harder to finance a $1000 car. Dave is often off base and unrealistic although the theory makes sense. As for the State of Missouri, don;t give them too much credit. Some departments are defrauding people ad Mr. Blunt is blind eye to it.

http://www.auditor.mo.gov/press/2007-59.htm