The cost of financial uncertainty

[JTsyo]

While Congress plays politics, a lot of time and effort is being wasted preparing for the unknowns. They play chicken with the US budget and it makes the situation worse. Federal agencies are now wasting money making plans for different scenarios of what could happen and how to tackle it. By taking their time and wait for the eleventh hour (not really I guess since we're almost 1/2 way into the year already) to make the deals it catches everyone off balance. The workers are worrying about furloughs and leadership is trying to prioritize programs. The inefficiencies in the system really pisses me off.

 

[GTaudiophile]

And during the process, they are hesitant to hire...a tone, that once set, has a domino effect in places like DC.

 

[sm625]

The private sector deals with this all the time. ALL the time. Every year, constant series of unknowns. We should be privatizing as many government functions as possible. That way we no longer care how the money and personnel are managed. We only care about results, and we let the competitive marketplace weed out the waste and abuse. Which it will, and does.

 

[dank69]

The private sector deals with this all the time. ALL the time. Every year, constant series of unknowns. We should be privatizing as many government functions as possible. That way we no longer care how the money and personnel are managed. We only care about results, and we let the competitive marketplace weed out the waste and abuse. Which it will, and does.

Every large corporation is loaded with inefficiencies from top to bottom, yet they still survive, and will continue to survive. Everyone knows this.

 

[JTsyo]

The private sector deals with this all the time. ALL the time. Every year, constant series of unknowns. We should be privatizing as many government functions as possible. That way we no longer care how the money and personnel are managed. We only care about results, and we let the competitive marketplace weed out the waste and abuse. Which it will, and does.

How about when the private side goes bankrupt? Then either the federal government has to step in and use tax dollars or people lose some essential service.

There's no reason for Congress to drag this out. There's some middle ground they reach anyway, while not get there quicker?

 

[Ausm]

The private sector deals with this all the time. ALL the time. Every year, constant series of unknowns. We should be privatizing as many government functions as possible. That way we no longer care how the money and personnel are managed. We only care about results, and we let the competitive marketplace weed out the waste and abuse. Which it will, and does.

Yeah that works awesome in the Phamaceutical,Big Banks,Big Insurance and healthcare industries....

 

[Gunslinger08]

While Congress plays politics, a lot of time and effort is being wasted preparing for the unknowns. They play chicken with the US budget and it makes the situation worse. Federal agencies are now wasting money making plans for different scenarios of what could happen and how to tackle it. By taking their time and wait for the eleventh hour (not really I guess since we're almost 1/2 way into the year already) to make the deals it catches everyone off balance. The workers are worrying about furloughs and leadership is trying to prioritize programs. The inefficiencies in the system really pisses me off.

Personally, I think that careful deliberation is almost always better than rushing into a decision. I'd rather Congress takes their time and makes the right decision vs. making a quick decision without full deliberation that could prove to be right or wrong.

That said, there shouldn't be a need to rush into federal government budgetary decisions. Ideally, we would have a balanced budget Constitutional amendment and a requirement for budgets to be at least 2 or 3 years out. Have provisions for emergencies, of course, but those need to be well defined. When you know that expenditures need to match projected revenues, it makes this type of stuff much simpler.

 

[chucky2]

At this point, making them match current 2-3 year out planning, and then the actual spending in those years when they occur, to forcasted the forecasted numbers is not even close to good enough. They need to be held to current revenue and remaining fiscal year projected revenue.

Hard locking Congress and the Executive to living within their revenue means is only the first of some very hard steps. Of course, doing that requires willpower and spine, something Congress and The People don't really have. So...

...Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!

 

[spacejamz]

Every large corporation is loaded with inefficiencies from top to bottom, yet they still survive, and will continue to survive. Everyone knows this.

It is in the corporation's best interest to make a profit and be as efficient as possible or they will be bankrupt and go out of business. Government agencies do not have this contraint...

Liberals do not realize this...

 

[Darwin333]

How about when the private side goes bankrupt? Then either the federal government has to step in and use tax dollars or people lose some essential service.

There's no reason for Congress to drag this out. There's some middle ground they reach anyway, while not get there quicker?

Not that I disagree with you but how about when people lose some essential service (with absolutely zero competition to pick up the slack) when a union strikes because we allow public sector unions?

 

[dank69]

It is in the corporation's best interest to make a profit and be as efficient as possible or they will be bankrupt and go out of business. Government agencies do not have this contraint...

Liberals do not realize this...

Government doesn't have to add profit into the cost passed on to you.

 

[Fern]

Unfortunately, the current climate of "financial uncertainties" is not limited to only the US govt/domestic budgetary concerns.

There are an unbelievably large amount of new regulations that have been published recently. This continues; Obamacare is but one.

The uncertain situation in Europe is another. Given the international and highly interrelated nature of business today, this situation is causing considerable concern among larger US businesses. This is not merely limited to concerns about sales forecasts to international customers, but impacts in ways not readily seen by the average person. Much of our components and raw materials etc. come from foreign suppliers. Is there uncertainty in our supply chain? E.g., if we place a large order with our overseas supplier what happens if as a result of tightening credit policy they cannot borrow the funds necessary to take our order? Will they ask that we pay in advance to finance them? Is that a problem/risk for our domestic businesses? Yes, it is.

Fern