NC State Budget Crisis

Lets talk about this a little....

I am definitely bothered by the recent budget cuts mandated by North Carolina's Governor Bev. Purdue. Let me explain it to anyone who hasn't kept up. If you work for the state of North Caolina you will get a 0.5% budget adjustment for the remainder of this fiscal year. Meaning if you are a 10 month employee (like teachers) it will be all adjusted (deducted) through one check in May. If you are an eleven or twelve month employee it will be adjusted over the course of two checks (May and June). I would be wrong if I didn't add that the Flexible Furlough is also a portion of this executive order as well. What is a Flexible Furlough? It is a order than says in replacement for the 0.5% pay deduction, 10 hours of flexible leave will be permitted from June 1 to December 31.

With the logistical portion out of the way...lets be real...this is a hot mess plain and simple. The average working class person like myself is being punished for the state's budget crisis. Do not get me wrong, I am all about working toward bettering our state. I am even liberal in the sense that I am all about helping those who are less fortunate. Unfortunately...my caring ways have seemed to bite me back this time. Let's see now, why is it that me a teacher is going to lose close to 235 dollars in one check just to help balance a budget? What about the people who make 100 thousand and more per year but work for private companies? They don't have to contribute to this mess? Or what about the general assembly and their expensive sessions that go over time and their expensive stiepends? And it's optional for legislators to have the adjustment? And the big officials who make more than I make in three years? Are they really going to feel the loss...something tells me she won't feel it like other people will... I guess even some teachers won't have to worry about it because they have various other sources of income...significant others, family, etc.. but what about the person who only depends on themselves?

Just when I am losing 235 dollars, I hear that the government is giving free cell phones to people who can't afford them....WHAT? WHY??? Who is going to pay that bill? I agree people need to be able to call 911 or help for emergencies, but why can't they afford a cell phone? Is working even an option for some people? I am not referring to people who SINCERELY CANNOT WORK like elderly, disabled, or abuse victims. I am however talking about the self-made victims who have made a living off doing nothind and letting the government take care of the rest. I do believe all Americans should have health care and access to food, medicine, essential needs and education. But...taking advantage of these necessities should come with the expectation of earning and eventually wanting to provide for yourself. Unfortunately for many people wanting to provide for yourself is not a likely mentality. I know there are little to no jobs now either+ Each day I see generational mentalities creating the same problems for a later date. Yet, I have to ask myself who will take care of it when the 235$ is missing and I can't pay a bill. And why am I...a average working citizen who pays taxes being punished for the weight of the won'ts and slack of poor government management.

Then I wonder...how did we get to this? Was our budget ruined from the beginning? I mean at some point in our history were we ever in good standing? Maybe I missed that moment in history...maybe I wasn't born yet? Maybe it was never a moment like that? Did Mike Easley ruin the budget that much? Did Former Governor Hunt make this mess a long time ago? Was it Former Governor James Martin? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? If the answer is ALL the people of North Carolina, THEN WHY AREN'T ALL THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA BEING REQUIRED TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES AND HELP BALANCE THE BUDGET?

All in all, I don't want anybody to lose a job or take a paycut... or start off with a paycut and then lose a job (is that next for us state employees?)...I am not a political analysis or politician. I am sure there are a lot of complexitites that go into this whole situation. All I know is that like other single adults and hard working people....every dime is accounted for in a month to month budget. Many of the state employees I know are already over worked, under-paid, and made to feel like ants in a colony. We do our assigned job with dilligence and dare not question the authority. I love my job and don't want to lose it...nor do I want to have to get a new one to afford the cost of living in North Carolina. I don't want anyone to lose a job, beause I know what living from check to check is like. You know you are one check away from enormous debt, eviction, and financial woe. I don't want any child to get sick because their parents don't have health care. I want to help others by voting for people I believe work toward the good of all people, and I don't even mind helping move money around in the budget to support areas in critical need. But I also like to help those who want to help themselves...and by default that means I want to be able to support and help myself. With the way things are going, am I still going to be able to support myself? I would like to believe that working hard still pays off in North Carolina and that everyone can be treated equally through governmental legislations and guidelines...unfortunately I guess all those type of bets are off during a recession?