Many times while growing up, I would go to the store with my parents. More often than not, I would see something I wanted, and ask my parents to buy it for me. More often than not, they said no. “Why?” I asked. “Son, money doesn’t grow on trees.” That’s a phrase I’m sure many of us have heard more than once over the course of our lives. However, I have since learned that they were only half right. Money very much grows on trees: We-the-taxpayers are the trees.
I just read the article informing us that our elected public (alleged) servants support spending $59,820 for 144 new chairs to be placed in the court rooms, jury rooms, etc. I have several thoughts/questions regarding this.
How much gold/silver will be sewn into these chairs?
How long is the warranty on the built-in back massagers, and do they come with their own power supply?
What type of hydraulic system is used in the chairs to raise/lower at the push of a button in order to accommodate one’s height?
How many of these chairs are for court officers’ personal/home use? (see: jury food bills)
Surely, at a bulk-order price of $415.42 per chair, they possess at least one of items 1-3 above (item 4 is a given).
All (semi) kidding aside, as a taxpayer, I think we should be demanding to see the details of these chairs – specifically, why do they cost so much? Was the “lowest bid” accepted prior to looking in to other avenues of acquiring the chairs? For example, immediately after reading the article, I searched “office chairs” in google, clicked on one of the results, and at that site I found scores of chairs for significantly less than the unit price of the ones that the “lowest bidder” is offering. These were very, very nice chairs. Some were high-backed leather (similar to what the judges sit in), and there was no shortage of other chairs of all shapes/sizes/materials/abilities, all of which were significantly less than the price of what we-the-moneytrees are being asked to pay. Just to be sure that it would have been possible to acquire 144 of the chairs I found, I called customer service and spoke with Rhonda. She said they would certainly be able to provide that quantity, it just may take a few extra weeks depending on the quantity available at the time the order is placed.
From the moment I clicked “search” in google, to the moment I ended the call with Rhonda, less than 10 minutes had elapsed. If, at the very least, each of the elected public servants do not spend 10 minutes researching other, more cost effective ways of acquiring these chairs, and they go forward with spending $415.42 for each of the 144 new chairs, I see no scenario in which they can be deemed fit to serve we-the-moneytrees’ best interests.
One thing we should all be demanding: Every available detail of the chairs that are supposedly worth a bulk-order unit price of $415.42.
Sam Horn
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In my opinion, these chairs need to be durable and comfortable enough to sit in all day without tiring. If I were on trial I would want jurors, lawyers and judges to be comfortable. A sore rump could make for a hasty verdict. I suppose these chairs are needed and are of exceptional quality. Ever sat in a chair that an overweight person as used extensively?
Tim Mason