August 27, 2010 3:33PM 

# Budget Choices 

By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) 

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A front-page *New York Times* [headline](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/us/27cuts.html?hpw) reads:

> **Struggling Cities Shut Firehouses in Budget Crisis**

Because certainly American cities spend their money on *nothing* that is less important than fire protection.

More on the Washington Monument Syndrome [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Monument_Syndrome).

##### Related Tags 

[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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