Saturday, December 23, 2006
The grace of saving
When Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families has something to say, I pay attention. This independent group studies and lobbies the issues that are important to working people in Arkansas.
Rich Huddleston, the executive director, has not officially called on the State to set up a rainy day fund, but has come awfully close. Huddleston is right. We teach our children to save, so why should government not hang on to a few nickels for the unexpected?
Let me ‘fess up here and admit that I have changed my mind, and one reason is the large, and growing, state surplus. It would be far better to bank some of that cash than to spend it. This is especially true since some lawmakers have a hidden agenda to starve government of necessary operating funds. They believe that if you cannot kill social programs directly, get ‘em through the back door.
Of course, a careful look at some of our highways, or the Alexander center for children, or the state prisons, should tell you that there is no surplus. We have a world of serious unmet needs, and most of them are no-brainers. Remember, the state has taken the main responsibility for public education and that means spending lots of money on teacher salaries and keeping up buildings. Saving is smart.
(Broadcast December 21, 2006)
Rich Huddleston, the executive director, has not officially called on the State to set up a rainy day fund, but has come awfully close. Huddleston is right. We teach our children to save, so why should government not hang on to a few nickels for the unexpected?
Let me ‘fess up here and admit that I have changed my mind, and one reason is the large, and growing, state surplus. It would be far better to bank some of that cash than to spend it. This is especially true since some lawmakers have a hidden agenda to starve government of necessary operating funds. They believe that if you cannot kill social programs directly, get ‘em through the back door.
Of course, a careful look at some of our highways, or the Alexander center for children, or the state prisons, should tell you that there is no surplus. We have a world of serious unmet needs, and most of them are no-brainers. Remember, the state has taken the main responsibility for public education and that means spending lots of money on teacher salaries and keeping up buildings. Saving is smart.
(Broadcast December 21, 2006)
