OK, let’s say we’re police officers at a union meeting in Montgomery County. The County’s under a severe budgetary crisis. The powers that be have asked the union to voluntarily give up our 4.25 percent yearly increase in salary. If they’re smart, the union will ask the County for something so off-the-wall that they’ll realize that the small savings they’ll get from eliminating the cost-of-living increase wouldn’t be worth it. Hmm, what to ask for? I’ve got it! Let’s tell them that we’ll give up our raises, something that will save them a little less than $5 million this year, if they let us drive our patrol cars whenever we want for personal use! Oh man, that’s a good one…wait, they accepted? And they’re going to pay for the car’s gas and maintenance? And there’s only a 15-mile limit on driving the cars outside the county? What a deal. (Sheesh, I probably would have settled for some kick-ass tricycles.)