Well, let's just say that I'm not holding my breath in anticipation of
British PM David Cameron's promised spending cuts. Deputy PM Nick Clegg, a Liberal Democrat, likely will stand in the way of any serious reform, as will the public-sector unions. Now comes word that George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer,
wants the British public to get involved by, among other things, submitting ideas online, which proves that silliness in the face of problems demanding serious thought knows no national boundaries.
On the other hand, Cameron deserves credit at least for starting a serious discussion. If his leadership combined with lessons learned from Greece help put the British people in a belt-tightening mood, then the coalition government might yet succeed in bringing fiscal prudence to the UK. It's a situation worth watching.
which proves that silliness in the face of problems demanding serious thought knows no national boundaries.
Many years ago, Bernard Sanders said he benefitted when Mayor of Burlington from suggestions submitted by low-level public employees. He said they have inside knowledge of where you can cut and are willing to share it; their department heads often lack both.
I don't think it is silly at all. Department heads have every reason to resist budget cutting. The size of your department and how much money required to run it equals power.
I know federal employees appalled by waste within their own departments, because they are also taxpayers. A whistle-blower system to report inflated budgets is a very good idea.