Framing the Renaissance Square Debate

Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 7/2/09 @ 9:28 am - Filed Under Local Politics

Your brother is spending $1200/month to rent a house and you’re trying to convince him that he’s paying too much. You talk to your buddy Cliff and he says he’s got a house he’ll rent your brother that’s just as good and he says he’ll rent it for $1000/month.

You know for a fact that Cliff hasn’t had any tenants for a few years and he’d like nothing else than to finally get that place rented so it’s not a drain on his pocket every month. You figure Cliff would probably take $800/month but after all he’s your buddy and it’s not your money so why not pay the $1000/month? Besides you’re still helping your brother save $200/month. It’s a win-win right?

So did you save your brother $200/month or cost him $200/month?

Comments

8 Responses to “Framing the Renaissance Square Debate”

  1. Craig on July 2nd, 2009 9:48 am

    Is Tom Henry your brother?

  2. Shannon Neumann on July 2nd, 2009 10:15 am

    I’d say that if you and Cliff are the only people who know the price could have been lower, then as far as your brother is concerned, he’s saving money. But that doesn’t make it right. Now, if EVERYONE knows that the price could (should) have been lower, then the obvious question is why on earth would your brother go for it in the first place?

    And never mind the fact that in this case, your brother gets all of his money from you…

  3. Jeff Pruitt on July 2nd, 2009 10:23 am

    Is Tom Henry your brother?

    Maybe, he does have 17 siblings or so doesn’t he - what’s one more? But in this case the brother is actually the taxpayer and YOU are Mayor Henry.

    Now, if EVERYONE knows that the price could (should) have been lower, then the obvious question is why on earth would your brother go for it in the first place?

    Well your brother should know but is likely too busy watching Dancing with the Stars to really give a damn.

    And never mind the fact that in this case, your brother gets all of his money from you…

    Touche…

  4. Scott Greider on July 2nd, 2009 3:30 pm

    Both.

  5. Keith Cumtwa on July 2nd, 2009 4:08 pm

    This analogy has more holes than a miniature golf course.

  6. Evert Mol on July 2nd, 2009 4:53 pm

    It looks like the city is trying to screw the county and vice versa when what really matters is who’s screwing the taxpayers. All I know is I’m paying 1% of schrinking my income to both these entities and I can’t figure out what the economics are. Which is probably their intent.

    I would like to to see John Shoaff, the city council member I would trust to do an objective analysis, grind out the numbers and give us his opinion.

  7. Jeff Pruitt on July 2nd, 2009 5:43 pm

    Keith,

    Your analogy is even worse than mine. That probably took some effort

  8. Phil Marx on July 4th, 2009 12:05 am

    I’ll fill in the holes for you Keith.

    The brother doesn’t go for it, in fact he protests vigorously. But you hold power of attorney priveleges over your brother’s affairs, so it is not his decision to make.

    Acting as his power of attorney, you have a fiduciary responsibility to put his interests above your friend’s. But in this case, you just smile and lie to your brother as you tell him this is the best deal possible.

    You know your friend Cliff will buy you a steak dinner later to thank you for bringing the money his way (he always does), but I’m sure that didn’t affect your decision in any way. You were just looking out for your brother.

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