When times are tight......
I heard this moth-eaten phrase recently. It was used to describe the current economic conditions that continue and show little evidence of improving. These 'tight times' are affecting people, businesses,and institutions. Few areas of life, as we know it, are unscathed at the present time. About the only folk seemingly not phased by 'tight times' are local and national politicians. These 'public servants' have forgotten that they exist in their present positions due to voters keeping them where they are.
Almost daily, I receive an email, or a letter arrives from snail mail, that represents an entity begging, pleading, or groveling for more public money. Everybody, everywhere is hurting. Most of these pleas for financial help are legitimate, which makes the whole scenario all the more heart-breaking.
But.....yes, there is a 'but' here......Public Joe and Jane have just so much money in their pockets and choices do have to be made. Do some Joes and Janes make poor financial decisions? Of course. That is human nature and is to be expected. Is every person who declines the opportunity to give more, give deeper, and more often, a 'bad' person? Of course not. But the guilt is heavy-laden and is dispensed frequently and fervently. The reality is that Joe and Jane America's financial resources are limited and that this hypothetical couple has to make difficult choices every day on how to spend their either hard-earned dollars or carefully saved resources.
So, who or what will Joe and Jane America choose to be the recipients of their 'gifted' dollars? How will they make their decisions?
There may be weeks or months when Joe and Jane have no income left over for sharing. They may be faced with medical bills or unexpected failures of an auto or home appliance. Just because their charitable support temporarily wanes does not make them horrible people. When they do have dollars to share they will have multiple choices - all richly deserving that desperately need financial undergirding. The intuitively-led institution understands this waxing and waning effect and will try to plan for those leaner periods 'when times are tight'.
The irresponsible institution's(s') spending patterns never change, regardless of the financial situations supporters face. Many organizations, including our nation's Congress, will feel the wrath of those who vote, give,or both, if responsible spending and budgeting are not in evidence, either overtly or covertly.
'We' still have the power of the pen or the ballot. Both are vehicles of choice.
Choose we will and choose we must.....when times are tight.
Ancora imparo
