After years of inconclusive discussion with his family about lifestyle and consumption issues, Sam B. made a radical decision.
He said to his boss, “I want you to cut my income by 10 percent. I know that things are beginning to pick up around here, and my last performance review rated me as superior, but I tell you, at home things are too good. My kids are healthy and do well in school. We have good cars, the house is in great shape from sub-basement to dome, and since we’ve privatized healthcare for our ne’er-do-well relatives, those worries are gone too. We quit smoking years ago. Everybody in the house has taken firearms training, and we’ve all got concealed carry permits so we feel physically safe. We have a family fitness program to keep the pounds off and the ol’ tickers in rhythm. But the benefits of doing that are all just too much. I’m certain that this cut is just what we need to bring some adversity into our lives — shake things up a bit! When we have to worry about uncertainty, I believe we’re sharper and pay attention more to what’s going on around us. Like the philosopher said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”.”
Sam B. stopped jabbering at that point. His boss, and also owner of the enterprise where Sam worked, didn’t hesitate. While thinking to himself that Sam’s children and spouse were certainly in for a rude surprise, the boss leapt up from his desk, shook Sam’s right hand vigorously, and happily replied, “You’ve got a deal! Effective immediately I am reducing your income by 10 percent. Good luck to you.”
Sam B. thought to himself, “I’ll bet the boss is going to add people soon. Business will grow and my income’s going to be back where it was in no time.”
He said as much to his boss, but the boss said, “I don’t think so.” While it was true that business had stabilized after the recession, demand hadn’t yet picked up enough to warrant hiring anybody. The boss was just going to hang onto the cash for a while.
Sam B. left the office a little down, but confident he’d made a sound judgment for his family. Sam called a family conference to announce his decision. He told them of his wise choice, “I see a new level of productive competition here as we each make the most efficient use of our now limited resources. I don’t believe across the board cuts to everything we do will be best. After all, the bank expects us to pay the mortgage every month and we’ve got to keep the cars so we can get around, and I can earn our smaller income.” Sam B. felt sure the family agreed.
It’s been several months now. Sam B. says that things are going to get better very soon. The whole family is meeting this month to decide where to make the big cuts. So far, they haven’t really cut anything. They have reduced their retirement contributions, and turned the sofa upside down to get the lost change. Plans are to use the credit line at the Bank of KDOT, and they’ve stopped going to the doctor.
The older kids understand that community college is the family’s financial limit. The boy’s OK with that, he was planning to leave Kansas after graduation, but Rapunzel, the older daughter, always wanted to be a school teacher. Her mother thinks hairdresser might be a better choice now. The baby’s got whooping cough.
Sam’s boss likes his improved cashflow so much he’s thinking about asking Sam to “volunteer” for a further reduction this coming year.
Dr. Mark Peterson teaches political science at the college level in Topeka.