Budget cuts. Schmudget cuts. That's all we have been hearing about since the Republicans gained back some self-esteem last November. The net amount so far is that wealthy tax cuts remain and NPR and Planned Parenthood are on the outs. The Republicans feel that wealthy Americans never listen to NPR anyway. Plus the women that they know are more concerned with botox than abortion.
Citing the obvious; the lessening of the deficit seems more political than practical. Both sides are at fault. The Dems really shouldn't be asking for funding for ballet research and the Republicans don't need to give their kid a Hummer for his high school graduation gift. Everybody and everything should be reeled in.
That's why I have decided to do my part. I need to make cuts to lower my own personal deficit. Some tough decisions appear on the horizon. No, I am not giving up my XM radio. That Flock of Seagulls continuous loop is important to me. I could cut back on wine, but I don't want to begin there. Then, what? Where to start?
Do I really need a gardener? I have been meaning to talk to him about his early morning appearances anyway. This could be the perfect time. Jorge has been with us for almost twenty years. He is like a family member to us. Except for the fact that he lives in Palmdale and we never even think of socializing with him. I began our chat about the mischievous stock market. Globalization. Cutting back. It was hard because he had his leaf blower blasting. After careful consideration, and the fact that I didn't own an edger, I decided to keep Jorge.
Did my wife really need to continue taking pottery classes? It was therapy for her. It was therapy for me too, as she was gone one night a week. But, do we really need another ceramic salad bowl? I'm thinking that my wife needs to make a sacrifice. After all, I gave up pilates. Granted it was five years ago when my cute instructor moved back to New York. After careful consideration, and the fact that my wife can easily go to rage, I decided to let her continue glazing.
Golf? Ok, I'll go back to playing city courses. I can learn to adjust to five and a half hour rounds and playing with three others that I know didn't score well on their SAT's. We have bundled everything. Phone, internet, cable television, and dry cleaning. At the end of the day that saved us $13 a month. I have instructed my wife to not use a coupon that says 30% off just because she got it in the mail. Pet treats are currently not happening much to the displeasure of our feline Sniffles. We have decided to not travel anywhere that we can't go to by car. Luckily we got our two week Italy trip out of the way earlier in the year. Garage sale? Are you out of your freakin' mind!!!!
After my own personal deficit-cutting exercise I now have a better appreciation of how hard a gig it is for our elected officials to decide what to do away with. Fewer teachers. No more tomahawk missiles. Let's hold up on super rail construction. The job of repairing over-spending ain't easy. But, it can get done. Growth can be accompanied by fixing. Not every social program has to have its plug pulled. Not every wealthy American has to give up their beach house. We can all agree that a change is needed. So; let's stop all of the bickering and get something done. We need to get this country back on its feet again. I can't play five and a half hour golf rounds forever.
