"In a crisis, beware of the danger but recognize the opportunity"

"In a crisis, beware of the danger but recognize the opportunity"

John F. Kennedy

As our current economic situation and the recent solutions implemented show we are too often blinded by our immediate needs and do not consider the long term impacts.

Bailouts are almost always a no win solution, as they never hold those being bailed out responsible for their previous errors, and they do not promote change as another bailout is just the next crisis away.

Setting such a precedent is a roadmap for disaster.

A disaster from which we may never recover.

We currently have an opportunity to make things right.

What was done or not done cannot be changed but we do have total control over what can be done.

Let’s get the bureaucracy to move.

And most of all let’s be honest.

We must not allow bailout money to be spent on exorbitant salaries and perks (golf courses, private jets etc). as currently is the case.

But we also need government to take a look in the mirror and make the changes needed.

With a federal budget deficit on its way to over $1 trillion it was good to hear that President elect Obama stated that he would bar pork-barrel projects from his stimulus package.

But much more needs to be done.

Just eight years ago the federal budget ran at a surplus and it can again but it is going to take bipartisan cooperation and some real change.

We need to change the way we do things at every level.

In an age of web hosting and immediate access why is full Congressional staffing necessary at home and in Washington?

Why do the House and Senate continue to vote themselves raises while everyone else is asked to scale back?

Why do members of government at all levels get hundreds of thousands of dollars in perks every year for things that common workers have to pay for?

And why when a good percentage of Representatives are millionaires do they need salaries at all?

Government needs to start leading by example.

In Washington and at home as well.

Last year New Yorkers had to pay over $4 dollars for gas because it was a necessity.

Gas prices are nearly half that now.

I am sure that New Yorkers would not mind paying extra taxes on gas if they new the money was going to fix existing infrastructure and not into the pockets of MTA execs and their pet projects.

Also when the budget ax comes down it should begin at the top and not with support services but with agencies like the LMDC which do little more than employ political cronies with six figure salaries.

Governmental waste, bureaucratic red tape and political patronage are some of the real dangers of this current crisis

As President Kennedy said we need to be aware of these dangers but also recognize the opportunities that we have.

Lets seize this opportunity and make some real changes.