From Economist.com, an example of government inability to perform basic mathematics when budgets are involved:
“The office of Chicago’s mayor, Richard Daley, has released a preliminary budget of $5.6 billion for 2008—which would leave the city with a $218m funding gap. One reason for the shortfall is the slump in the property market, which has resulted in lower-than-expected tax revenues. City councillors fear this may force Mr Daley to renege on his re-election-campaign promise to stop increasing property taxes. Alternatively the city might close the gap with a combination of spending cuts, other tax increases (on cigarettes, perhaps) and layoffs of city employees.”
Gosh,why not decide what functions government really needs to do[core functions] and reduce down to that level. One rule: if it is listed in the phone book with private companies doing it why should government do it?