An Open Letter to The Auburn Board of Selectmen
Thursday February 12, 2009
Feb 12, 2009
An open letter to the Board of Selectman:
I was watching a discussion recently where it was stated that 'capital access is based on ability.'
Think about that for a second. What that means is that loans are only made to those who can repay the loans. Money is rationed amongst the rich by the rich. The poor have no say. The next generation has even less say.
In government, capital access translates into the ability of the taxpayer to pay.
Since the government is constantly borrowing, that means that government has spent beyond the ability of the taxpayer to pay.
Of course, the reverse must also be true simultaneously; the people also want more than the government can provide.
I won’t bore you with the math, but regarding your negotiations with the unions regarding budget shortfalls and insurance, I would suggest the following:
Create a town-wide self-insured health plan. Instead of taxing the people to pay money to an insurance company, create a common system of healthcare. Tax all the people to benefit all the people.
Large private businesses regularly self-insure. Why not apply the same logic to the town? Differences in benefits between unions, employees and taxpayers will be a moot point. Why should one citizen get different healthcare than another and at a different cost? Simplify! Begin to end the false divides between labor and money and between citizens and government employees.
It was the conversion of time into money that was the biggest mistake ever made, and it was made long before any of us were born.
The State and Federal government will only follow the will of the people. Do not follow them; they are trying to follow you. If you do nothing; they do nothing. If you do the wrong thing; they do the wrong thing. If you do the right thing; they will do the right thing.
Don’t create a solution that will probably fail within one budget cycle; forge the beginning of a long-term solution.
Sincerely,
Steve Consilvio
An open letter to the Board of Selectman:
I was watching a discussion recently where it was stated that 'capital access is based on ability.'
Think about that for a second. What that means is that loans are only made to those who can repay the loans. Money is rationed amongst the rich by the rich. The poor have no say. The next generation has even less say.
In government, capital access translates into the ability of the taxpayer to pay.
Since the government is constantly borrowing, that means that government has spent beyond the ability of the taxpayer to pay.
Of course, the reverse must also be true simultaneously; the people also want more than the government can provide.
I won’t bore you with the math, but regarding your negotiations with the unions regarding budget shortfalls and insurance, I would suggest the following:
Create a town-wide self-insured health plan. Instead of taxing the people to pay money to an insurance company, create a common system of healthcare. Tax all the people to benefit all the people.
Large private businesses regularly self-insure. Why not apply the same logic to the town? Differences in benefits between unions, employees and taxpayers will be a moot point. Why should one citizen get different healthcare than another and at a different cost? Simplify! Begin to end the false divides between labor and money and between citizens and government employees.
It was the conversion of time into money that was the biggest mistake ever made, and it was made long before any of us were born.
The State and Federal government will only follow the will of the people. Do not follow them; they are trying to follow you. If you do nothing; they do nothing. If you do the wrong thing; they do the wrong thing. If you do the right thing; they will do the right thing.
Don’t create a solution that will probably fail within one budget cycle; forge the beginning of a long-term solution.
Sincerely,
Steve Consilvio
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