When I read about the balanced-budget amendment proposal, I cannot help but think of the old proverb, “Be careful about what you wish for. Your wish may be granted.” If adopted, the amendment is far more likely to produce governmental paralysis, litigation and the discovery of loopholes than it is to produce fiscal responsibility. One need look no farther than the exemptions to-and the maneuvering to evade the effect of-the tax caps in Illinois to see how such things work.
The amendment will not eliminate greed or special interests. If we want our representatives to be honest and responsible, we will have to keep track of what they are doing, communicate our watchfulness to them and vote on an informed basis. We will also have to be willing to ask for less from government for our own pet projects.
