INCREMENTAL PLEASURES

Some time ago - in another life -- I quit smoking for about the lebenty-seventh time - just as I did about 20 months ago.

I was living in Pgh and regretted never having been to Hawaii. So finding an over-sized empty pretzel plastic container in the garage, I began a ritual. I was going to save for the trip by taking $1 a day and placing it in the jug. To put things in perspective, cigarettes were probably about that much back then.

If I was out of town on business, upon my return I'd look at the calendar marked with x-s like a prisoner's cell wall. Then, I'd deposit an amount to make me current.

Occasionally, I'd also put in a 10-spot or a Jefferson and remove the corresponding number of dollar bills. The money was not counted until it sort of struggled to push the lid off the container. It was amazing.

As a result of this saving scheme there was enough to take a week long Boscov's Hawaiian tour of 4 islands for a party of two; and that included airfare.

My point is that possibly had I waited to pay for it in full, Lord only knows when the trip would have taken place. Maybe several years later or about the time of my second trip.

My learning on this subject was prompted by buying war bonds as a kid via weekly contributions to my grade school accounts. It was amazing to this young guy how many war bonds I purchased.

My savings account when a paperboy kept by the owner of a local newspaper delivery business went a long way to helping out with my ability to go to college many years down the road. Incremental savings plans are amazing - notwithstanding my brother's query of me, "So, what do you think Mrs. Richards did with the interest these accounts accrued?"

Recently one of the periodicals quoted some idiot in Congress who was defending earmarks: "They only cost a few billion or so - a truly insignificant amount when you're dealing with a defecit of over a trillion".

Shortly after that, my brother-in-law was kind enough to send me an E-mail about the subject of -A BILLION- a difficult number to comprehend.

it seems , in one of their many recent press releases an advertising agency put the figure in perspective:

A. A BILLION seconds ago - it was 1959.
B. A BILLION minutes ago - Jesus was alive.
C. A BILLION years ago - our ancestors were "Living in the Stone Age."
D. A BILLION days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A BILLION dollars ago was only "8 hours and 20 minutes", at the rate our government is
spending it.

The release goes on to say, "While this thought is still fresh in our brain - let's take a look at New Orleans. It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

Louisiana Senator Mary Landarieu is presently asking Congress for '250 billion dollars' to rebuild New Orleans.

It is an interesting number - but, what does it mean?

A, Well, if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman and child) -
you each get $516, 528.

B. Or, if you have one of the 188, 251 homes in N.O. - your home get's: $1,329,787.

C. Or - -- If you are a family of four . . . your family gets $2,066,012."

There is a reason that multi-million dollar lottery workers often end up broke. With that much money awarded to them, it is in such a huge amount it is extremely difficult for them to fully realize there comes an obligation to manage it in the most mature way possible.

If they do this I can pretty much guarantee you they didn't learn this old financial principle from a member of Congress. Most likely, like Congress - they assume they'll spend a little and save a lot - down the road. It doesn't happen.

There is no such thing as "incremental pleasures" for many of these folks we elected.

While the intentions of those running and winning - who are not already millionaires or billionaire - may have been admirable - when in office and faced with money distribution decisions in the amount they are required to discuss - it blinds them every bit as much as those "lucky" lottery winners.

Assuming they were formerly a local state representatives - or even a governor - they could not possibly comprehend how much money this country goes through every day. (see "E" above)

What it will take to get this message across to your representative is a real quandry.

But, if Senator Landriue's request is approved I'd encourage you to get your arse down to New Orleans as quickly as you can - and buy a home - or at least- find someone who will lend you a couple of kids.

Better move quick because that representative of yours heard about it first.