Government vs. Government

I was going to write this on one topic, but I've found 2 that show how governments are becoming self defeating. I mean they defeat the people, the politicians take care of themselves.

WIXT had a story about how cell phones and internet VOIP phones are hard to trace by 911. Of course, the reason why VOIP and mobile phones are used as the sole communications device in a residence has to do with government. Over the years, the phone lines have been a lucrative source of fees and taxes to pay for various government activities. Now that land line phones are running nearly double VOIP and some of the low-cost cell companies, people have wised up to the fact that they don't really need to be tied down by a phone wire. This means that 911, paid by the government, will be spending more money getting systems that can trace a cell tower location or read GPS data. Let's not forget, regulation is keeping telcos from offering cable TV service over their lines. That could have made it worthwhile for people to keep the hardline.

There's also the increasingly complex building complex negotiations in Syracuse. The local government has had the idea that the construction work must be done by unions at about $18 and hour. The builders say that will add $4 million to the price tag. Syracuse's solution is to pay the difference. That's right, the tax you pay out of your $7 an hour pay check will now be used to give a pay raise from $14 to $18 an hour to construction workers who more than likely do not have a residence in the area.