The Preemptive Lecture

If you've ever been a child, (and I suspect you have), you've been subjected to the preemptive lecture. This is the lecture that precedes you getting the keys to the car for the first time. It might happen every time you get the car - it depends on who you and your parents are. You also get the preemptive lecture before you go off to school, or your parents leave you alone in the house for the first time. I don't know anyone who likes being the recipient of this lecture. I'm not saying they're wrong or that they're not needed, but if you know what is going to be said, and agree with it and then have to hear it, it can be very annoying.

Well, here's something else that's annoying. Let's say you're a homeowner who religiously pays your mortgage. As a matter of fact, the mortgage is the only debt you have and your household budget balances to the point where you sometimes even have money to put away. Then along comes your boss who of course has a larger salary than you and a bigger house, but he doesn't have a budget that works and is "in debt up to his eyeballs." (To quote one of my favorite commercials of all time). He knows times are tight, and he has decided to give you some additional funds to help with what debt you have or perhaps for some additional expenses that have suddenly come your way. But as he holds the check out to you, he begins telling you how important it is that you spend this money wisely. "There should be no luxury items. I don't want to come over for dinner one night and see an addition on your house or a new swimming pool in the back yard! That's not what this money is for and I expect you to use it wisely!" After his rant, you're now annoyed for three reasons: For one, you know this money isn't for luxury items so you didn't need him to tell you this. Second, he's done such a poor job of spending his larger salary that he's in more trouble than you. And third, he handed the check to you in front of all of your associates as well as some of your customers. This last piece embarrassed you too, because none of them realize that you've actually been responsible in the past, and yet the implication is that you wouldn't be responsible for this money either.

Well, as much as I don't want to make political statements on my blog, I have to post this. This is essentially what the current administration did with state officials yesterday. The President and Vice President have been part of the federal government since this economic crisis began. No, they weren't the executives when it occurred, but they were in the majority in the legislature during this time, so they're not excused from the mess. Furthermore, the States seem to have in place more stringent measures to keep spending under control. I'm not saying the states are perfect, but yesterday, publicly, the President and Vice President gave their lecture to state officials. What's more, the president did something similar with the mayors of major cities last month. I'm not saying this shouldn't be said. I'm saying it should be said without the press present or with more tact if in public. Many of these states have been more responsible than the federal government.