The First Thing to do When the Economy Improves

is, as this article in the Arizona Republic tells us, to give higher wages to public employees.  We wouldn't want our local budgets to get into surplus territory.  In reality, public employees, who are providing a service, should have to bid on their compensation, just as the companies that supply office furniture and paper clips must do.  Ordinarily, any purchase contract for more than a specified amount, invariably less than the yearly salary of a clerk-typist or cop, must go out for bid.  Hard to believe that employee wages are an exception to this.