The financial situation across America is anything but stable. From loss of confidence on the stock market to pension reform everyone is feeling the pinch including firefighters. Cuts, reduction in services and lowered staffing numbers are bad news for departments and citizens. The Obama administration has just asked for $50 billion dollars to help avoid layoffs to firefighters, teachers and police. The problem with this approach is twofold: 1. This is deficit spending which continues to climb meaning we as a nation cannot pay down the interest on debt. At some point it will come due and hyperinflation is possible. 2. It’s does not solve the long term problem. Solving the problem this year is important for Obama because Mid-Term elections are in November. What about next year or the year after when the need is there but there is no political impetus to provide the funds? The view most popular is “cross that bridge later”, but with soaring debt the problem will likely be much worse. Another view is to take the lumps now and begin phasing in stricter budget controls in cities and towns. Neither is palatable and both will cause aches and pains. A third view, more removed from reality, is the economy will straighten out over the next 12 months returning cities and towns to freewheeling spending days. The fire service will make it through but the impact of this economy cannot be underestimated.
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Economic Woes for Firefighters Offer No Easy Solutions
