We are not a "Good time Charlie"

"Let the good times roll," so the saying goes.  Throw caution to the wind, borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow.

"Good time Charlies" abound in politics,

• Those who promise a pension to municipal workers tomorrow, but yet fail to fund that pension today; 
• Those who will buy you a toy streetcar with borrowed money, promising billions in economic development as a consequence; 
• Those who would put a $4.4 million glass roof on City Hall, with no business pro forma even run to ascertain how much money we will lose on the venture.
• Those who consciously invest millions in restaurants on the riverfront without a clue as to their financial viability.

Well, that's not COAST.  We know there is, ultimately, no free lunch, no easy way out.  We know that there are consequences to bad behavior. 

Those consequences finally started rolling in this week, read here, here, here and here.  There are many more to come.

Fiscal restraint is the answer: Spend no more than what you take in; promise no more than you can deliver; plan for tomorrow; don't over-burden the citizenry.

We can learn these lessons the easy way; we can learn them the hard way.  It's entirely up to us.