If I was all-powerful, I would fix the cosmos so that "governments" could only purchase what there was money in the bank to cover. Money, not credit. Balance the budget like regular folks. Don't propose new projects until there is money to fund them. Cut out the projects running in the red.
Yup, that would change a whole lot. Be very painful. From the top on down to the bottom.
"Governor, can we have a pony?" No, there is no money available for ponies. You want ponies, raise the money first. If you cannot raise the money, live without the pony. The money you raised that wasn't enough, give it back - find an equitable way to do so.
"Governor, our prisons need more money. Can we have some?" Nope, no money for you. Cut out all the stuff you can't pay for any more, like conjugal visit trailers, cable TV, stuff like that.
"Mayor, we need some cameras for our cop cars, can we have the money to pay for 'em?" Sounds like a great idea, but we don't have the money for them. You'll have to raise the money first. Try some bake sales. Or we could float a bond issue for it, but you will have to wait to see if that works and it will take time. Got any other project on the books you can give up to fund the cameras? That might do it.
(Please don't think I'm anti-law enforcement - I am most decidedly pro. But there's a lot of money going to things that are far less important than operational and/or enforcement related. That should change.)
