From a recent issue of the Rome News-Tribune:

"About 45 mourners attended a service for the oak trees, which were mistakenly cut down."

As part of a road project, GA DOT inadvertently cut down nine old growth oaks. They were quite majestic (I passed them on my daily commute) and community wishes to avoid having the trees cut delayed the project for several years.

No doubt some readers are expecting me to make a gratuitious comment about tree huggers. I won't, but you should feel free to do so.

Instead, I'm more interested in this part of the RNT article:

"GDOT has also promised to offer some sort of mitigation for the loss of the oaks ..."

But who is GDOT? Taxpayers! One of the differences between the public and private sectors is that private sector people who cause harm may be sued for damages. With goverments we get a pile of passive voice mush about "mistakes were made." Even when a government agency admits a mistake the remedy comes at additional cost to taxpayers. Yes, someone might be fired (though I have no indication of it in this instance) and, yes, there are some abuses of the tort system but public sector goofs end up costing taxpayers twice over.