Monday, May 6, 2013

Why Some States Have A Fiscal Crisis


A mayor from a large urban community took his family on a week’s vacation to a rustic cabin in a rural part of the state. On the second morning, the mayor decided to go for a jog with the family dog along a scenic nature trail.  While jogging, a coyote ran out of the woods, growled fiercely, then  attacked the mayor's dog. 
 
The mayor tries to pull the coyote off and is bitten in the hand.  While holding his bleeding hand, he reflects on one of his favorite childhood movies - "Bambi".   The mayor realizes the coyote is only doing what comes naturally.  After a few minutes, the coyote releases its hold on the dog and runs back into the woods.

The mayor carries his wounded dog back to the cabin and  calls 911 to report the incident.  An animal control officer is dispatched and captures the coyote.  The coyote is taken to a local veterinarian clinic and tested for diseases.  No diseases are found and the coyote is relocated to a less populated part of the state.

The mayor, on his own, calls another local veterinarian to examine his dog.  The dog's wounds are cleaned, the dog is given several stitches and pain pills are prescribed.

To insure he is alright, the mayor’s wife insists he go to the local hospital emergency room to get checked for any diseases and have his hand looked at.   The doctor in the ER, has blood drawn, gives the mayor four stitches, then bandages up his wounds.
 
The County Board - to be safe - decides to close the jogging trail for 90 days and asks the State Fish & Game Department to conduct a survey of the area to make sure the area is free of any other dangerous coyotes.

To prevent future coyote encounters, the County has the Sheriff's Department, in conjunction with the Public Health Office, establish a Coyote Awareness Program (CAP).

PETA hears about the relocation of the coyote to another part of the state and files a federal injunction to prevent any  future relocation of coyotes.  A trial date is currently pending with a federal judge in district court.

Veterinarian bill to test the coyote for rabies - $200. 
Cost to relocate the coyote - $750.
Veterinarian bill for examining the mayor's dog - $150.
Emergency room bill for the mayor - $1,100

Cost for the Fish & Game Department survey - $9,000.
Cost to fund the Coyote Awareness Program - $13,000 

*********************
Across the border in another state - a local township officer is out taking his morning jog with his dog.  They are in a rural area on a nature trail.  As luck would have it, a coyote jumps out of the woods and prepares to attack his dog.   The township officer pulls out a small pistol from his fanny pack and shoots the coyote before it can harm his dog.  The township officer and his dog continue their jog.  Crows soon fly in the area and eat the dead coyote. 

The costs?
Estimate $.06 for a .22 hollow point cartridge.

And this my friends helps explain why some states have a fiscal crisis and others don't.

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