Cause and Effect - Does our Government understand this?
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A short lesson for Politicians.
Lately I have read many posts here on HP regarding Welfare Programs and the need to increase and/or extend the benefits. Most of these discussions have resulted in back and forth name calling and increased hatred between the so called liberals and conservatives. There are of course extremes in the thinking on both ends of this debate, but the truth is the need for financial assistance is increasing rapidly. This subject really made me start thinking more about the situation this country finds itself in today.
Thinking about this took me back to my college days when we were taught Cause and Effect analysis. For those not familiar with this concept, it goes like this.
"A cause is something that makes something else happen. Out of two events, it is the event that happens first. To determine the cause, ask the question "Why Did it Happen?"
"An effect is what happens as a result of the cause. Of two related events, it’s the one that happens second or last. To determine the effect, ask the question "What Happened?"
http://mrsdell.org/causeandeffect/
Well this one is fairly simple to break down. The cause is that millions of people lost their jobs and can't find another job. The effect is these same unfortunate people now are dependent on financial assistance to stay alive. It is that simple.
The sad thing is that our Politicians spend a great deal of time, some effort, and a lot of money working on the effect, but minimal, if any, effort working on the cause. Is this because there are more votes to be gained by working on the effect rather than the cause? I suspect this plays a major role in their decision making process. By fighting for and getting more increases in financial assistance they emerge as hero's in the eyes of many. If they just fixed the problem, they may only get an honorable mention, and that would soon be forgotten.
Our government talks about the "Job's Bill", and then they go to war with each other and literally nothing gets accomplished. The demands for financial assistance continue to grow. Who exactly is working on the "cause" part of this problem, which would be jobs?
We talk about repairing roads and bridges at taxpayer expense. OK, we need roads and bridges and most need repair. But to do this at taxpayer expense is really just another form of welfare. We take the same $100 dollar bill we would have given someone as financial assistance and give it to them as a paycheck. The only real benefit of this is we are getting nicer roads and safer bridges for our money. The downside is that this doesn't add another dime to the revenue we need to run this country or pay down our debt. Of course the unemployment numbers would go down, and these people would be paying payroll taxes which might be considered a plus.
We have given billions of dollars to the banking industry to bail them out of trouble. But ask any small business owner what the answer was when he asked for a loan to expand his business. Most are told "We are not loaning money to small business at this time." Just what the hell did they do with all the money they were given? If they are not going to use this money to help the economy we should be demanding they give it back.
This country is not business friendly, yet it is business, small and large, that can get us out of this economic crisis we are in now.
We need to force all of our elected representatives to take a short course in "Cause and Effect Analysis" so they start working on the "Cause" rather than the "Effect." Granted this subject will be far beyond the learning ability for some of them, but if even a few can grasp this simple concept we might put this country on the road to recovery.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this hub. As always, comments both for and against are welcome.
Mike
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The unfortunate reality of things in government, Mike, is the "cause" is so deep rooted and the effect so delayed. In the case of the collapse of the housing bubble, the cause can be attributed to actions under the Clinton Administration and a supplementing of that by a Congress unwilling to act after it became apparent to the Bush Administration that the collapse was eminent. The effect was not only a collapse housing and mortgage industry but also the trickle down to other industries and thus the loss of many jobs. So you can see that the "loss of jobs" was directly attributable by a condition created by government in the first place. The treatment is directed toward the effect by bailing out businesses with taxpayer money and futile attempts by the government to jumpstart an economy that can only be stimulated by a motivated private sector. If Washington was indeed spending money the right way, we would not need to find additional money to spend on the roads and bridges, there would be enough of it coming from the taxes already being paid through fuel purchases to cover that area. Everything about Washington today is a "Ponzi Scheme" of grand proportion. A total ripoff of the American taxpayer by elected officials. WB
Bob, I know they put that money in their own pockets, but figured if I said that someone would get upset and say I was lying. Then in my mind, we should demand the money back from the crooks that managed to put it in their own pockets. Give it back or go to jail.
Thanks for the comment.
Excellent point my friend. Lot of folks are screaming about the middle class getting squeezed out by the top. The fact is that the middle class is getting squeezed out from the top AND the bottom. The rich get richer and the poor get richer. Before moving down here, I owned a condo at 27th av. and Indian School in Phoenix where I lived for two and a half years. I've ot a bullet hole in my leg to prove it. I think you've seen it Mike. I've seen with my own eyes the the rampid abuse.
Keep up the good work dude!!
jim
If that is truly the problem, shouldn't we be able to put the politicians under arrest for high treason? Their actions (or lack thereof) are an affront to every citizen by putting this country at risk of total economic collapse. In my view this IS a treasonable act!
Wayne - I heartily agree with everything you said in your comment.
It is getting more and more obvious they are just showboating for votes, not solving problems. Your right in the the effect of bad decisions may take years to show up, but they will come to bite us in the butt.
Years ago when I worked in a Telephone Company repair department. All of the trouble reports coded NTF (No Trouble Found) were automatically printed with "I'll be back" by the computer. The assumption was that few customers took time out of their busy days to report non-existent problems on their phones. Nine time out of ten, the computer was correct. We did have to go back and really fix the problem.
Jim, the point I am trying to make is our politicians don't even know how to identify the cause of a problem, they just keep treating the symptoms. We will never get better until they learn how to do this.
geordmc - There are a number of politicians I would like to see put in jail, for treason and outright theft of taxpayer money. I doubt it will ever happen, but we can dream can't we? Thanks for the comment.
Yes, I know Mike. That's why I said excellent point. Sorry, I should have pointed out that the other was directed at something said by another commenter. I should have been more clear. Of course, we are in 100% agreement on this theme, and you did an excellent job communicating it my brother!
jim
Jim, I knew that brother, thanks for coming back.
Jim, I knew that brother, thanks for coming back.
Mike,
The flashlight graphic should be clear to even the most clueless. But then again, look who we are dealing with in Congress.
You nailed it with, "The sad thing is that our Politicians spend a great deal of time, some effort, and a lot of money working on the effect, but minimal, if any, effort working on the cause."
Government is the problem not the solution. Recycling tax payer dollars and calling it jobs creation is ridiculous to anyone with even the barest amount of common sense.
As you have illustrated very well here with "We take the same $100 dollar bill we would have given someone as financial assistance and give it to them as a paycheck", this is the cruz of the problem indeed.
I fear we are in deep doo doo if the government hacks keep insisting upon treating the effect, rather than the cause. It appears that they will continue to do this. Bandaids and more kicking the can down the road...
Unless we stop them...i.e. vote them out!! Hopefully before it's too late, if it isn't already. :-(
If I try to imagine our representatives sitting through the short course "Cause and Effect Analysis", I get a mental picture of a slobbering idiot, head bobbling, sound asleep during the entire presentation.
Not a pretty picture. I wish I could go up to Capitol Hill and knock some sense into some heads! Ugh.
Great hub Mike!! Voted up and across!
Bobbi
Bobbi - Thanks for the great comment. It is sad that many as young as high school students can see politicians are not solving problems. I for one am fed up with the artificial deadlines being placed on every issue that allows them to walk away with nothing resolved. Their constant and often repeated excuse, "Sorry, we just ran out of time." If they were told there would be no more vacations, spring breaks, or whatever they call them until the problem was solved, we would get something accomplished.
The ship is sinking but they can't patch the holes because they are scheduled for a vacation? Give me a break. This would not be tolerated in any private business I have ever worked for or owned.
Another new trend I dislike is the tendency to put temporary patches on something that needs a permanent fix. They know at the time they apply the patch the problem will soon be back to haunt us again.
I agree, most of them would not understand Cause and Effect as it would require some thinking, and may lead to solutions that would not be politically popular.
I would like to continue this with you, but unfortunately I am scheduled for vacation starting Saturday and I am out of time.
OP,
We will continue it later my friend. My brain is a tad fried now from the medication (surgery yesterday) and I am fuzzy. LoL!
Enjoy your vacation and Merry Christmas!
Bobbi
Bobbi - Have a speedy recovery. The vacation thing was kind of a joke. Small business owners rarely if ever get a vacation, unlike our elected representatives.
Hope your head clears soon, but meanwhile just enjoy your time off.
OP - The "cause" of the effect we are seeing is incompetent, career politicians that the electorate keeps sending back to Washington DC in the name of a political party. We now see the effect of that also.
The Frog
I agree with froggie the cause is politicians the effect is what is happening now!
I like the rational approach you apply here. Many are out of work. That can't be disputed. But many of them are turning down jobs because they make just as much collecting benefitsand turn down less desirable jobs. My pool of friends is shrinking over this. Many of them are on unemployment now. Not one of them has not walked away from a job offer. Granted, in Texas the hiring situation is better. If one can find work, take it. I find it appalling that an able bodied American would not do such. I thank God I have never, ever, collected unemployment and there were times in my past when I sure could have used it. For me, it was a matter of pride, which I know is a sin. I was raised to believe everyone should work, period. I hold to this believe. I feel for anyone who truly can't get a job and do not in any way begrudge them unemployment or any other assistance they need, but in reality, droves are bleeding the system due to nothing other than sheer entitlement attitudes.
FP & geordmc - Yes, it is the politicians who are not solving the problems. This will not change until we hold them accountable and demand results.
poetvix - Thanks for the comment. Even though many will tell you there are just no jobs, we all know of people who refuse jobs until their benefits run out. Constantly extending benefits only makes this problem worse, but many will disagree that this is part of the problem. Even with this in mind, creating more jobs would help the economic situation for this country. Thanks much for the comments.
I agree with what you wrote.. and in fact all of you have said it all. I think putting our politicians in jail for high treason sounds good.
This is a great HUB.
I have heard they finished the year with only a 9% approval rating, and another source said 11% approval rating. Now neither one of these numbers says much about how "we the people" feel about their performance this year. They should be going home on their vacation break with their tails between their legs, and their heads hung in shame. But most actually think they are doing a good job. That of course is after they count the gold, our gold, that they were able to put in their pockets in only one years time.
To think that many of these Politicians give a darn what happens to us is only dreaming on our part. None of these crooks deserves to be reelected, but sadly most will find their way back into their cushy chairs. No private company would put up with a performance level like this, they would have all been fired a long time ago.
There's another possibility: the cause is beyond the government's ability to affect, hence no effect. The cause isn't simply that millions of people lost their jobs, it's that those outside of government control chose to move those jobs. The government is unable to change the real cause and can only compensate by attempting to moderate the effect. We demand our leaders DO SOMETHING about the jobless rate, yet what is it we expect them to do? The only thing they can do is use public funds to start public works.
lmmartin - Excellent points, but frustrating. So what would it take to entice these business's to return their operations to US soil. Lower taxes and cheap labor? I doubt that will ever happen. Less EPA restrictions? I'm not at all sure that would be a good idea. Some would ignore even common sense regulations and once again poison our rivers and land while providing more jobs. If this would be the cure I would rather they stay in China and pollute their country.
Perhaps it has reached the point where we can't fix the problem, and our demands on our leaders are unreasonable. Sometimes things are just beyond repair and we then have the choice of doing without, or replacing them with a new thing.
I just don't think public works is the answer. Then we are just trading financial assistance dollars for payroll dollars but adding nothing to the overall economy.
I really liked the old days better. Family farms, more small business, and overall people were better off and happier.
I think anyone with a speck of dignity would rather have a job doing MUCH NEEDED work on our infrastructure than get a handout. And we'd end up with a safer, more efficient country. For that reason alone, I think public works is a much better solution than welfare. At least then, we'd be getting something for our dollars.
I agree that enticing business to return by allowing them free rein to do anything they choose is not a good choice and China is and will for many decades pay a high price for their decisions. And reducing the American worker to a dormitory-living, corporation-controlled, slave-wage-earning automaton? Never going to happen. Americans can not live on $138 monthly. Why not just go happily back to feudal days?
By the way, it's a symptom of creeping age to wax nostalgic over the "good old days." Dangerous, too. Truth is, we can't go back so we'd better find a way to make what we have now work.
lmmartin - Again your correct. Memories fade as we get older, and I suspect some of the "Good old days" were not all that great either. Come to think of it, our house was cold in the winter and hot in the summer. A/C and central heat had not been invented yet.
I agree, public works would be better than a handout, and we would at least get something for the money. I need to refresh my memory on the old WPA program. As I recall it had some downsides, but it did get the economy rolling again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Admini
Perhaps that is exactly what is needed right now to get the ball rolling again.
Thanks for coming back and kick starting my memory.
Terrific and common sense hub. What's going on in Washington now has nothing to do with problem solving, it is all about politics and the people be damned! Up and awesome.
Pop - Yes it is all smoke and mirrors rolled up into a circus sideshow. Pleasing the crowd has become the most important thing with problem solving not even part of the script.
I don't know how this one slipped by me...
Mike, THIS is why I think YOU would be the perfect person for the Department of Common Sense!!
YOU are the man!
Chris
Chris - Thanks for stopping by. I have not been writing any hubs due to a difference of opinion with the HP Police on what is copied content. It seems if they or any of the readers don't like the message, it must be copied and they take the hub down.
I will continue to read the hubs of other writers and commenting as usual.
Great to see you again.
Mike
Well what a Good Common Sense Hub you have written Old Poolman. It's Simple and Basic, and straight to the facts...Now why couldn't Congress Act Like that!
b. Malin - Thanks for stopping by and the comment. Unfortunately, common sense has long been forgotten in government. Their thinking has evolved to the point they feel money solves all problems, and the money supply is unlimited. That would be our money I am talking about.
I am writing this before reading the comments so I hope I am not repeating anyone, with one exception, I am certain everyone is saying "great Hub".
I was queued by your cause and effect analogy and application of it to our dilemma, into a reaction that I will describe here that again I don't know yet if it has already been mentioned by anyone in the comment section.
The Cause and Effect conditions could also be described as disease and symptoms. Were it portrayed as such, the treatments may be looked at kind of like this...
Chronic headaches brought on by stress, might be moderated by pain reliever, but it would not cure the cause of the headache.
Your example of the Government rebuilding the roads and bridges, as you so rightly pointed out, is not the cure. But it did make me ask myself what might be the cure?
The cure may come in the form of allowing private enterprise to purchase certain government owned stretches of road/bridges/etc. and then re-build the infrastructures and allowing tolls for its use for profit and upkeep. Just a thought.
Again great hub... now I will read the comments.
Wow great comments all around...
2 All...
At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I must say that a freshly elected "newbie" politician, with stars in his/her eyes might not be blamable, but only for the first year or so until they get their "official" legs under them. By that time they should have been "educated" about how it all works, and have either joined The Machine (bad), or became a Ron Paul clone (good).
We do not have the legal posture to have them all arrested and serve time. But we do have the wherewithal to have them impeached and thrown out (then, perhaps prosecuted criminally), for betraying their oaths of office to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States.
We have good directions that we can take and we must get the word out for all of us to move on them.
Join Movements like Jim's "The House Afire Project", like the Tea Party Movement, heck, join both.
But most of all, RUN FOR OFFICE..!
Run on a Constitutionalist platform, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent, all that matters is that people with great convictions about our Constitution's restoration and health need to replace these traitors YESTERDAY!
PLEASE, please please, run for office! Good people representing... WE THE PEOPLE are the cure..!
Merwin
CoauthorU Thanks, I like your comments. Lets start with the idea of private companies buying government owned roads and bridges. No doubt these companies would be corporations, and would be immediately hated by many for this fact alone. The other issue would be that those who now pay no taxes, thus nothing toward the cost of building and maintaining these roads and bridges, now use them for free. If these were purchased by corporations who charged tolls, the free ride would be over. Then there would be demands for the government to issue free toll cards in the form of a new entitlement. So, those who ride for free now would continue to ride for free in the future, at the expense of those of us who pay taxes of course.
I'm new to the political scene, and wonder what, besides voting them out, can be done to rid ourselves of at least a few of these crooks currently in office. It would be great if we could call for impeachment, but have no idea how this could be done.
I truly love your hubs, just keep writing.
Mike, much of the "cause" of our on-going woes in this country has about another year left in his first term. America did not get healthy because his actions stifled the private sector and basically sent it into stagnation where it remains. Business people, as you well know, are taking life one day at a time hoping they can outlast this administration and hoping there will be enough change in government to afford the opportunity to make a decent five year plan and grow the business base. Obama knows what he is doing here and that is his intent...create total unrest with the current approach to government and the economy. Once all the natives are disgusted enough, it will be much easier to shift them in other directions. His move toward fairness and his blueprint for a sustainable economy are his way of shoving the "effects" in the right direction to achieve a socialist state. Never in our history has a president needed to leave office as badly as this one does. WB
diogenes Level 7 Commenter 4 months ago
Cause. A 5 million dollar banker's and CEO's bonus. Times one million. Effect 5 billion missing from the Exchequer in the pockets of the 1% again!
Bob.