Why Government Officials Need To Provide Only The Best Equipment to Their Employees

I know this does not qualify as a Local Government issue and I am sorry. However I really do love this story and think it is one of the greatest governent stories of all times.  It reaffirms that government officials - local government officials provide their employees with the proper equipment so they can do their assigned jobs.

This story concerns a conversation that acutally took place between officials from the US government and the Iranian government  on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz.  An American military aircrew was flying from a base in Europe to Dubai (in the United Arab Emerates also known as UAE).

The American aircrew received radio contact from a Irainian Air Base and the conversation went like this.

Iranian Air Defense Site: "Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself."

American Aircraft: "This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace."

Iranian Air Defense Site: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'

American Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, We'll wait!'

Iranian Air Defense Site: Total Silence

... no Iranian intercept aircraft ever showed up

How Many Families Could Be Fed?

A man walking down the street stopped to look at a new car parked on the street and said "I wonder how many people could have been fed for the cost of that car."

A man standing next to him also admiring the car replied "I am not sure but I know it fed a lot of families who work at the car plant. It also fed all the people who made the tires at the tire factory and it fed the people who made all the components that are in the car.

It fed the people who work in the copper mine who mined the copper for the wires in the car and it fed the families of the truckers who hauled all the copper and steel ore." 

That's the difference between capitalism and a welfare mentality. When you buy something, you put money in the pockets of people and give them dignity for the skills they have. 

A Line In the Stand

Sometimes it's better to cross the line and suffer the consequences then to spend the rest of your life just staring at the line - and doing nothing.
 

Interesting Trivia for Local Public Officials