Everyone's Skin is in the Game (12/16/08) - WDRB 41 Louisville - News, Weather, Sports Community

Everyone's Skin is in the Game (12/16/08)

Everyone's Skin is in the Game (12/16/08)

Anyone old enough to remember classic "Popeye" comic strips will recall that Popeye's friend, Wimpy, was always fond of suggesting "Let's you and him fight."

That seems to be the philosophy of so many people who claim to know exactly what should be cut from government and business budgets in response to our current economic woes.

As far as they're concerned the only acceptable answer is: "Cut anything, as long as it doesn't affect me."

Whether it's the firefighters, the police, union workers, non-union workers, elected officials, private business owners or just the guy who wants a pothole filled, they all seem to have one thing in common: While they know it's important that we - as a group - do some serious belt-tightening, whatever they personally do -- or want -- is just too critical to be included in any cutbacks.

Well here's a bulletin - no one and nothing is that essential. Any of us could be run down by a bus tomorrow, and the world would limp along without us. So no one should be above sharing a portion of the pain so we can all make it through until better days return.

In announcing his latest cuts, Mayor Abramson insisted that "everyone must have skin in the game." I agree. And anyone who thinks they're too important to be included in such a policy should really think again before everyone else decides to expel them from the game entirely.

What do you think? Call and let us know.

I'm Bill Lamb, and that's my...Point of View.