Senator Charles Schumer's appearance in the Town of Wawarsing last week highlights an interesting catch-22. Schumer was here to put pressure on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide funds for the rehabilitation of Kerhonkson's water and sewer system. As it turns out, Kerhonkson may not receive these badly needed funds — despite having been promised such — thereby leaving residents in a very difficult situation.

But, we now live in an era in which government is the problem, not the solution. And, as we keep hearing on the television, our profligate ways will only lead to our ruin. Spending is simply out of control. We need to tighten our belts. We can't keep living as if there is no tomorrow.

But no tomorrow is exactly what will come if we turn on the tap one day and nothing but brown sludge comes out of the faucet. But I guess those Kerhonkson residents should have thought of that before they plunked down their life savings on a home in a neighborhood that has water problems.

Tough luck, Kerhonkson — you might be getting a raw deal, but how is that our problem?

What we need to do is cut, cut, cut. We need to get rid of all that wasteful spending.

You can hear this sentiment expressed in Tea Party rallies all across the country. Cut my taxes! Stop providing money for things we can't afford!

So, maybe it's a good time to take a look around us and decide just which of the myriad wasteful programs we should eliminate.

The USDA has already decided that Kerhonkson is an expendable community. Perhaps we should dispense with a few other things while we're at it.

Why do we even need schools, for example? It's not like our kids are learning anything, right? Let's just shut 'em down.

Another thing we could do is privatize our fire departments.

"Hello? 911? My house is on fire!" we might say.

"No problem, sir. Will that be Visa or Mastercard?" we might someday hear.

Police? Who needs police? We have a Second Amendment, right? Get your own damn gun and defend yourself, you wimp.

Sweet music indeed to all those anti-government types, no doubt.

If all of this sounds extreme, it should. And it is herein that lays the catch-22: We can't have it both ways. We can't keep demanding that our taxes be cut, while at the same time complaining about poor government service. When we insist that "wasteful" spending be eliminated, we need to ask just which of our municipal services we should be prepared to do without. Snow removal? Road repair? Which one should go on the chopping block first?

And it appears that the deficit hawks, as they've come to be known, are having their effect. The USDA, in rigidly reinterpreting a rule that should really be more of a guideline, has made it clear that the Kerhonkson gravy train has come to a screeching halt.

Other municipalities, counties and states across the country will also have to stop asking Uncle Sam if he can spare any change. He already has his hands full making sure that Wall Street-types don't miss out on their annual bonuses.