While I think books like this are silly (the quickest way to get rich in America is to screw people over – and our mayor would know all about this previously working for one of the worst predatory CC companies in the nation) I am even more surprised he gave this ‘gift’ to his fellow lawmakers on the taxpayer’s dime;
Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether has recommended some reading to the city council. Huether gave members of the City Council each a copy of the book “The Millionaire Next Door,” a book he’s given often as a gift, he said during a City Council meeting Monday. The book summarizes findings from research into the key characteristics that explain how the elite club of millionaires have become “wealthy,” according to amazon.com
Huether signed each book with the inscription, “Thank you for helping me balance ‘progress with prudence.’ “
City money was used to pay for the book, Huether said.
Um, am I missing something here? You talk about prudence, then you turnaround and buy a self-help book with my tax dollars? If you think this is such a great (personal) read, pony up. You didn’t have a problem with spending $240,000 dollars on beating a good man into the ground, so why would $100 bucks of your own dough hurt you, especially after signing a book that you didn’t write?
Hubris?! MY GOD!
Everything I need to know about the book my tax dollars help pay for can be found here.
http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-Thomas-Stanley/product-reviews/0671015206/ref=cm_cr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar
Everything I need to know about the way “honest & frugal mike” became a millionaire can be found here.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/predatory_card.html
Here is a short take from that article. And the card thay reference? None other than the card marketed by mayor hubris.
One of the fee-harvester cards featured in the NCLC report comes with a credit limit of $250. However, the consumer who signs up for this card will automatically incur a $95 program fee, a $29 account set-up fee, a $6 monthly participation fee, and a $48 annual fee — an instant debt of $178 and buying power of only $72.
The book cost $10 a copy… have you actually read it? Actually the book itself speaks more about saving and not engaging in wasteful spending. It also speaks about how the average millionaire isn’t recognizable because they are not the one out there driving in the sportscar or living in the McMansion.
I really think you are nitpicking on a daily basis to find any reason to complain about Huether. Yes we know he beat the candidate you endorsed… but that was months ago and it is time to move on. If you are seriously upset about the city spending less than a c-note on a book, then perhaps it is time to revisit your priorities as there are much bigger fish to fry here.
The fact is, if the city council actually reads the book and takes the concepts to heart, it will be a worthwhile investment. Much like having to spend $20 on a Dave Ramsey book, if it helps someone get their personal finances under control it is well worth it and is not a waste of money.
In this case it could set the tone for Huether so the city council understands the balance he speaks of. Frankly I think that is a great way to do it… Huether doesn’t come across as the iron fist type of guy (my way or the highway) and he isn’t about to waste millions of our tax dollars on personal pet projects in order to build his legacy like his predecessor.
I’m not mad about the city spending $100 on some books, I’m mad that an individual is promoting a book that he likes and using MY money to promote it. If Mike thinks this is such a great book he should have pulled the measley $100 from his own pocket and bought the book for the councilors. Did he pay a city worker to write his inscription in the books also? I think it is wonderful that he wants people to read this book, but heck, even the Gideons are not subsidized by taxpayers.
He isn’t “promoting the book”. He is hoping the city councilors will actually heed the advice within it.
Taken from another angle, if the mayor feels the city council would benefit from attending a financial conference should he pay for that out of his own pocket too? Why not… he is “promoting the conference” isn’t he?
What about if the Mayor wants the city council to review a case study on the suitable rates for parking meters – should Mike pay for the photocopies himself because he thinks it may benefit the councilmembers?
Is the only difference here the fact it is a published book? Because if so you are totally missing the point. Maybe you aren’t missing it as much as someone who clearly has not read the book but yet decides to filter book reviews by ignoring all 2, 3, 4, and 5 star reviews and ignoring the fact that the book has an average of 4 stars on Amazon… but still missing it nonetheless.
I can’t wait to see tomorrow’s post about how Mike wasted taxpayer money by taking a 63 minute lunch or why city hall can’t save money by seperating the two ply toilet paper into two rolls of single ply.
My friends go to the public libarry. Readers are leaders. I give people books all of the time. I even expense them to build a relationship. Don’t get lost in the small stuff. Keep your eye on the ball.
I guess you are missing the point. Doesn’t anyone find it ironic that the mayor would spend taxpayer money on a book that teaches you how to save money? Why not just borrow them a copy? I sure he has a few. Now that would be ‘prudent’.
I’m guessing Mike didn’t want all of the council members to have to share one copy and I doubt he has a case of the book sitting at home (but you never know) – this is the type of book you want them to have on their shelf so it remains a constant reminder.
As far as the irony involved, no I don’t find it ironic at all. People buy all types of financial management tools and books that teach them how to manage their money or save more. That is why I made the comment about Dave Ramsey (who coincidentally recommends the Millionaire Next Door book on a regular basis to his readers / listeners).
This is one of those cases where you need to spend money to save money. Kind of like buying a CFL lightbulb or a programmable thermostat. There is a certain up-front investment which in time will pay for itself (hopefully many times over). Will this book make a difference? It is doubtful, but if nothing else at least Mike is doing his best to set the tone of responsible spending.
BTW L3wis… how the heck did you copyright your toon in 1972? I’m guessing we know what year you were born huh?
i think heuther’s favorite song is “how great though art”. i also think the funny thing here is giving this to the city council when there are already a few millionaires on there already.
I can’t wait to see tomorrow’s post about how Mike wasted taxpayer money by taking a 63 minute lunch or why city hall can’t save money by seperating the two ply toilet paper into two rolls of single ply.
~cosm
That’s Bullshit and you know it cos. Just a week ago your new hero lateralled Kevin Smith and his $116,000 plus salary to become assistant director of Planning and Building Services. The current assistant, Jeff Schmitt, will continue in his current capacity both in responsibilty and salary. And Kev’s old job, and the $116,000 a year salary that goes with it, will undoubtedly go to a “honest mike” lackey. Maybe you should put in for it cos. You have all the huether ass kissin attributes that would make you perfect candidate for the job.
Bottom line? You Man Mike creates a new $116,000 plus a year job, JUST A WEEK AGO, and then gives the
council tax payer funded books on how to be frugal?
Hubris?! MY GOD!
Costner – Funny, Fruedian Slip, yes, that is my birthdate.
I understand the ‘investment’ part. But will they read the book? I have friends offer me books on loan all the time, some I read, some I turn down. That’s the point of ‘loaning’ a book. Buying a book for them is like saying “You must read this because I bought it and gave it to you.” Mike has to realize not everyone agrees with him. I wouldn’t read the book. I learned how to save money in this shitty economy. Not everyone has the same taste in literature. Some people detest self-help books (like myself).
Instead of buying them that book he should have picked them all up a copy of the pocket US Constitution.
I hear what you’re saying – and a copy of the Constitution or perhaps Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” would probably have been a better investment.
I don’t know though – I actually recieved a Dave Ramsey book from a friend as a gift and I know he handed out a few more to other friends. I didn’t perceive it as he was trying to tell me how to manage my money or that he even felt I needed help. The truth was the book helped him and he wanted to share those benefits with others.
I read the book and although I didn’t really learn anything new and didn’t change my financial philosophy, I did end up confirming much of what I already knew and felt that I was on the right track.
I in turn ended up buying three copies of the book and giving them to family members. I wasn’t trying to tell my family how to spend their money, but I figured there were common sense lessons they could benefit from whether they put all the principles into practice or not.
But lets not be naive… I’m guessing at least one or two of the council members have already read that book before Mike gave them each a copy. A couple more probably will toss it on a shelf and never get beyond the table of contents. However in the era of a council without someone like Staggers, this is exactly the type of education some of those people need.
Now had Mike bought them each a 24k gold plated piggy bank then I may have taken issue with it, but if his gesture helps them understand where he is coming from – or heck if it helps with the relationship between the Mayor and the Council (as has been a problem in previous administrations) then the investment is worthwhile.
Funny you bring up Staggers, he has a copy of the book, and guess who gave it to him . . . I even find that irony funnier, considering Kermit could have written the book.
I will agree, Mike is trying a lot harder to reach out to the council then Munson ever did, but if he thinks he can pull the same tricks that Dave did and get away with it, he is mistaken.
This seems like one of those get rich in real estate infomercials. The instructor and ‘team players’ get rich while consumers (taxpayers) get shafted.
He’s KING. It’s going to be another Munson ego problem. Next step, Home Rule Charter to be renamed Huether Rule.
Interesting in today’s news:
Bell, CA
City manager makes 785K/year and Police Chief 500K/year. Citizens are protesting. Population is 37,000.
Maywood, CA
They fired city employees and now contract. They’ve realized twice the service at half the price.
I heard about the Maywood story, but it seems too early to tell if their experiment will work. It also depends upon what their city employees were being paid in the first place – because if they were in line with Bell, CA then reducing costs by half should be pretty easy.
However, for the majority of Sioux Falls city employees, it would be very difficult if not impossible to cut the costs in half. I suppose you could half quite a bit from the parks budget, but you aren’t about to cut police or fire department costs by 50%. The only way that can happen is if the employees are departments are extremely bloated to begin with, and I honestly don’t see that being the case here in Sioux Falls.
Costner, mostly agree. I do think directors and assistant directors are paid to much. I also think many services could be contracted. Municipalities must work with unions. City employees are well protected to the point that they hardly work and spend their time testing how far they can abuse. The assistant city attorney is the best example of this.
Definitely, no police or fire reductions. In fact, cut other city employees and add to police.
“I heard about the Maywood story, but it seems too early to tell if their experiment will work.”
Have you dealt with a city employee before? ‘Some’ of them are not the sharpest knives in the drawer, but nowadays, all you have to do is pass a background check and they will hire you, who cares if you are qualitfied, they just don’t want ‘naughty’ people. I have often said we could reduce city employees by 30-40% by just hiring quality, capable people paying, them a little more and getting rid of the incompentent.
I have often said we could reduce city employees by 30-40% by just hiring quality, capable people paying, them a little more and getting rid of the incompentent.
A year or two ago I might have bought into that reasoning. Not so much anymore. If all city employees were chess pieces, ALL that needs to be replaced are some knights, bishops, and castles. The pawns are holding up their end of the bargain.
Oh, I am not a fan of the directors either.
At least directors are non-union and can be terminated.
It’s impossible to get a union employee fired. There used to be a citizen complaint procedure. Recently (Tornow), it was eliminated and city employees can be felons without losing their jobs.
The best con is assistant directors who move laterally and often into new positions without ever accomplishing anything but always getting pay raises. Kevin Smith is one example.