When seconds count…

Check out this article. http://www.charlotte.com/583/story/564610.html Just so we are on the same page let's review. The Local police are not doing an effective job protecting the citizens of the Dilworth area. The same citizens are scared and decide to hire their own security. The security they are hiring is the same local police that are not protecting them to begin with. Hmmm! There is so much fodder here I don't know if I can keep it brief.

Please understand this is not a slam on the local police. Most law enforcement officers are good. They really do want to do something good. What people don't understand is at its best law enforcement is reactionary. They seldom show up until after a crime is committed. There is a saying "when seconds count, the police are only minutes away." For those of you who don't understand let me explain it to you. I live in a very small town. I have called the police and asked them to respond to a situation. Now understand if I get in my truck and drive to the police station, I can be there in less than five minutes. The first officer arrived at my house in twelve minutes. For those of you that are screaming right now "Do you think the cops are just sitting around waiting on your phone call?" Well the answer is no and that is my point. I can deal with a threat right now. If an evil person kicks in my door to do harm to my family, I can stop it now. In the twelve minutes that I would have to wait on the police what could happen? In thirty seconds I could be shot and killed. In two minutes my entire family could be shot. In five minutes I could be shot and my wife and daughters kidnapped. Get the picture?

You see it is this simple. You are responsible for your safety and defense. No matter how good the police are unless they are standing right beside you they cannot stop an evil person. The residents of Dilworth should learn how to use a firearm. They should receive training in self defense. Their money would be better spent on learning to deal with the threat themselves. Even with the additional security they are hiring by the time the security arrives most likely the incident will be over.

Government decreases spending?

Someone sent me this article the other day from Market Watch about the looming recession. I realize the article is several months old, but it had some interesting points to make. However there was one point that I found hilarious. Here is a link to the article… 17 reasons America needs a Recession by Paul B. Farrell.
The one that I find hilarious is number four.

Budgeting
Force fiscal restraint back into government. America has been living way beyond its means for years: A recession will cut back revenues at all levels of government and cutbacks will encourage balanced budgeting.

Are you kidding me? Do you think for one minute, when the economy takes a dive the government will decrease spending? Our government, on no levels, has any concept of a reduction of spending. If their revenues decrease they simply raise taxes. They add fees or increase rates. The thought of decreasing spending is anathema to any government body.

In Charlotte, NC, the City's Water and Sewer department saw a decrease in revenue during a drought. They had implemented mandatory conservation of water, therefore less revenue. Do you think they decreased spending? NO! They went to the city council and asked for rate increase of 16% but only got 15%. Who would like to lay odds that they do not decrease the rate by 15% in June 2009? I would be willing to bet a month's water bill on it.

The cold hard fact is that short of a total economic collapse or revolution, our governments will never seriously decrease spending. Face it, we have moved into socialism with both parties steering us there. So Mr. Farrell keep dreaming, because recession or not our government will not decrease spending.