The Abstract Thinking of Springfield City Council

Abstract thinking is the hallmark of adolescence, according to behavior scientist Jean Piaget, as he developed his research in childhood cognitive development. Abstract thinking begins at around age 11. Children begin to imagine themselves in the shoes of other people, and to consider the long-term consequences of decisions.

According to a news report by WICS/WRSP, 'Filling Springfield street cracks delayed a second time', last year the city of Springfield hired a contractor, which in turn hired labor from outside the city and wound up paying a fine to the city. It was the lowest bid, so what's wrong with that? The fine was just the cost of doing business (CODB).

September 5, 2018 in The State Journal-Register it was reported that "Springfield City Council members unanimously voted Tuesday to strengthen an ordinance that encourages contractors to have city residents work on at least half of the hours needed for city construction projects worth more than $100,000."

Now for the abstract thinking:

Fact: Money doesn't just disappear when people are paid. The money then circulates through the economy where it wound up.

Fact: The contractor was willing to pay the fine to the city for hiring labor outside the city of Springfield. So the city got cracks filled and a $14,000 rebate.

Fact: The remunerated contract money wound up circulating somewhere else besides Springfield, so the contract was mostly a SUNK COST to the city of Springfield, of course besides the cracks being filled.

Fact: The Springfield City Council was only willing to do a HALF MEASURE to keep the remunerated contract money circulating in Springfield.

Conclusion: The contractor, whoever it is, will probably only pay a slightly higher fine, and the money that gets paid out to the workers, will leave Springfield forever, again.

To think abstractly one must at least be over the age of 11, especially when one is elected to serve the people of Springfield.