AN ESP APPROACH TO BUDGETING

A recent comprehensive study on budgeting published by University Press of America features a three part budget plan to produce a balanced budget. The plan is called "An ESP Approach to Budgeting." The plan has little to do with Extrasensory Perception; E stands for Existence, S for Survival and P for Progressive. Simply put, rather than plan spending and hope for income to cover costs, spending is planned and expedited as income warrants.

In the first stage, E, a budget is planned with the most conservative income and only the absolutely essential costs necessary for existence are included. This is a down hill budget that would lead to future bankruptcy but it allows the enterprise to exist in hope. In the second stage. S, enough income is budgeted to cover the expenses necessary to maintain operations and survive. In the final stage, P, spending is prioritized and activities are expedited as income allows. This is an Ultra-conservative approach and is perhaps more acceptable for "out of control" government entities than for high risk, low security entrepreneurs. It discourages the "fast buck, pot of gold" dream, but it reduces the catastrophic failure syndrome.

The ESP approach may be the road to recovery for bankrupt states and local authorities across the country who are apparently stagnated in the tax/benefit dilemma. Slowly developing activities in the progressive budget stage could not only stimulate tighter financial control, it could also portray a vivid picture to the public of the correlation between taxes paid and the benefits received, giving the public a more realistic understanding of how tax monies are used.

The study suggests that a total involvement of everyone effected by the budget in the budget process produces a more effective and efficient financial operation. Skillful monitoring of the budget is essential for adjustment to unanticipated conditions and circumstances.

Notre Dame Football

Although the arrogance of fans and players have turned me off at times, I have always admired the Spirit of the Fighting Irish. Consequently, I was shocked in the last seconds of the game against Stanford when the Irish actually gave up and let Stanford walk into the end zone for a touchdown without a hand raised to stop them. They said that it was a strategy to have time to score a touchdown and tie the game into overtime.

The game was already tied. Where was that famous Fighting Irish goal line stand, or the famous Fighting Irish strip the ball and recover the fumble? Evidentally win or loose, it's how you play the game that counts is not in the Fighting Irish spirit. What a shame.

Actually I thought that the Fighting Irish had a very good season. They played one of the toughest schedules of any team and they were in the fight every second until the final whistle, except in the last game against Stanford when they just gave up. They won as many games as they lost. Not bad at all.

The Fighting Irish started down hill when a "not the best" Southern Cal team just barely beat them. With a little bit of luck it could have been the other way. Then a Navy team with the "Fighting Irish Spirit" put the nail in the coffin.

Notre Dame will have winning seasons again,but it won't be the Coach that will bring it, it will be the Fighting Irish Spirit.

WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE?

Pundits claim that Obama hasn't done anything that he has promised. He promised 1)Universal Health Care, 2) Closing of Guantanamo and the end of the torturing of prisoners, 3) Reversal of the economic down fall, 4) Lower taxes for those making 250,000 or less, 5) Withdrawal of our troops in Iraq, and 6) A conclusion to the War in Afghanistan.

We do not have a Universal Health Care Program, but concentrated action to produce such a program has been pursued 24/7 and proposals are being considered in both the House and Senate; Guantanamo has not been completely closed but key prisoners have been removed and scheduled for trial and the torturing of prisoners has been outlawed; We are still in a "mild" economic depression, but stimulus packages have been enacted and a number of banks and two automobile industries have started a recovery with one reporting a one billion profit in the last quarter; the tax forms have not yet been released to the public so no valid judgment could be made at this point; troops have been withdrawn from Iraq and more are scheduled; and serious negotiations for resolving the war in Afghanistan are underway. Obama's term of office is yet to reach the halfway point so it would be premature to make a responsible judgment of success or failure. However to conclude that Obama hasn't done anything is completely irresponsible.

WHEN IS A COMPUTER A COMPUTER?

Leading scientists warned us that computers were reaching the point of thinking for themselves and could get out of control if something wasn't done. The situation was serious enough for the White House to set up a committee to study the issue. The committee took their findings to Congress to let the law makers debate a solution and Congress was in a heated dead lock for several weeks before a religious leader proposed that before anything could be done, the Congress had to determine when a computer became a valid computer.

There was an unusual hush over the floor before a strong voice shouted, "A computer becomes a computer when it is turned on."

"You fool," retorted a Representative from the South. "A computer becomes a computer when the creator makes the blue print." A bitter war has been waged along party lines behind the scene ever since.

Meanwhile the computers became smarter and smarter and took over the Democratic Party, gaining control of both Houses of Congress in the following election. Unfortunately the Congress has still failed to determine when a computer becomes a valid computer.

THE STRAIGHT FACTS ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE

There is no way that in a capitalistic society such as ours, will a politician, up to their belt buckle in debt to the well to do, pass any kind of universal healh insurance program that will give the homeless the same benefits that will equal the benefits of the well to do.

First of all the cost would be beyond all reason, and second, the medical profession would be called upon to do more than they would possibly be able to do.

In a Capitalistic Republic, just what are members of the Republic entitled to? Perhaps the children are enitled to food, shelter, clothing ,education, and health care until they are ready to make their own way in the society; but adults are expected to provide for themselves, AND make a contribution to the society as well. Normally the parents have the responsibility to provide for their children, but under current law, all children are "a ward of the State," and consequently the State (the Government) may be responsible to provide these BASIC needs to all children. But even for children, in a Capitalistic Republic, no politician, up to their belt buckle in debt to the well to do, will pass any kind of universal program for children benefits that will give the children from poor families benefits equal to those given to the children of the well to do. If this were a Christian Democracy as so many fooishly dream that it is, universal treatment for children might be a possibility; but it isn't and it won't be.

Taking a realistic approach, even in a Capitalistic Republic, there is a moral responsibility for the Society to provide the basic needs of its members, and health care is a basic need. Perhaps the Government is responsible for a BASIC health care insurance program to the extent that it can reasonably afford. Any care beyond basic, under insurance or not, might be the personal responsibility of the members of the society. The problem may come in determining a BASIC health insurance program. Of course, there is also the problem of funding the program.

ORGANIZED RELIGION HAS CORRUPTED CHRISTIANITY

The Christian Faith is a simple philosophy, to love one another. It is a philosophy of peace and of doing for others. Much of Organized Religion has centered on correographed rituals and bilaws for membership. There are a mirad of Christian "Churches," each with special rules and regulions with each one claiming to be the "true" religion. The "Churches" have supported wars and in many cases they have promoted wars in the name of the Prince of Peace. Extremists have even murdered their neighbors for not following their particular code of morals.

Organized religion has made Churches a social club and a very important element of society. One who is not a member of a church is widely considered a person without character or morals. On the positive side, they perpetuate the name of Christ and there are members in most all of the denominations that are truly devoted to peace and love.

US SOCIALIST?

Democracy is a socialistic form of government. Capitalism is a dictatorship of the elite. It appears that our founding fathers felt that competition was key to a balanced community. Congress was organized with a House of Representatives representing the people, and the Senate representing the State with the Judiciary maintaining law and order. Traditionally there is a two party system, one representing the people and one representing capitalism with a legal system maintaining law and order. When FDR won four presidential elections in a row, Presidental terms were limited to two to maintain a balance. After eight years of unpresidented abuse of power allowed by a Congress that failed to function to maintain a balance and a Judiciary that failed to maintain law and order, perhaps members of Congress should be limited to two terms and consideration made to prevent unchecked power in the Judiciary.

With access to unlimited terms, political office has become a personal career opportunity rather than a service to the country, as it was intended. In such a case the focus of leadership centers on the welfare of the person in office rather than the welfare of the nation. Civil Service is a career opportunity to maintain stability in the government and is under the direction of the elected officials.

To make a democracy work, all citizens must participate in the political process. Power must be balanced for the welfare of all. As the population participates in the political process, the power of the people will focus on the welfare of the people. Will the country become socialistic? Probably not, for as the population becomes educated, they will most likely support a fairly regulated capitalic system as a vital force for the welfare of the people.

Will it become a perfect sociey? Probably not. As competition is the key to balance, it is also the source of conflict with winners and loosers. The struggle will go on but more loosers might more often become winners some of the time as well if power is more balanced.