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Agreed. Yet the populace has been convinced (brainwashed) into believing they need MORE for government.
And as much as the new liberals want you to believe, they cannot provide any better leadership. Neither party is completely invested in relinquishing their power.
Huh? That last bit makes me think your willing to blame Katrina completely on Pres. Bush and the Feds. Which in my mind negates everything you've written so far.
Let me start by saying I am neither repub nor dem, but a registered independant. I agree with parts of repub and dem, but disagree with how both parties have operated on the whole.
No party can provide better leadership when there are powerful forces entrenched in our government at every level with the objective of protecting their own power/influence/vested interest. They are not in service to the greater good. It will not matter which 'party' is elected when both actively collude with this force.
If that means they will squash any honest, diligent public servant we elect (regardless of party affiliation), they will do so by any means neccessary. Anyone have memory long enough to recall the smear tactics used upon John McCain during the first primary with G Dubbya? It was downright evil. McCain is a good man. And thats the platform the RNC wants you to believe now that McCain isnt running against G Dubbya. ROFL
How many are willing to admit that the individuals who have the most influence over our quality of life on a macro scale are people we will never meet, don't know what they look like, we don't even know their names?!
How many californians, suffering from outrageous price fixing of utilities at the hands of Enron, knew who was doing it to them? The ineptitude from government, as this hemmorage was going on, told me that capitalism is in control of our lives pertaining to the macro scale, not our elected officials. By and large, the republican plan to parse off it's responsibilities to private sector businesses has increased taxes, ineptitude and corruption, leaving us all with higher premiums, less accountability to the law and less realized service.
Repubs willing to admit that failure? Holding an entire population hostage via utilities? Guns for hire outside the USCMJ control? What's next? IRS tax question helpline being answered by AOL India telemarketers? LOL
Equal time for criticism of the dems= they're angry, but unlike the repubs, they have no cohesive plan that brings their party together. They're in the Kool-aid just like the rest of us, and they don't even know the flay-va. They appear, like those who were labeled in this blog, as complainers with no solutions. Half of their party thinks that they can utilize the system that turned washington into a cesspool and make it work, the other half call for sweeping reforms but have no practical idea of how to make it happen. Why? Because they cannot yet identify the "Enron" entrenched in our own government. Case in point: Elliot Spitzer is a very frustrated man. I wouldn't want his job for a million bucks!
A day after 9-11 I was at the gas station trying to fill up. A 16 yr old white boy attemped a physical assault of the gas attendant, who was NOT Arabic, but Hindu. He was visibly distraught by events, and decided to blame this Hindu for the price of gas, the attack on the WTC, the unemployment rate, and the economy at large. I interceded (yes, a woman) and prevented the fight. I shook him to his senses by asking him if he was American. I told him good Americans live by due process of the laws they created, and to ignore that is to BE a terrorist against America. I then stood between him and the Hindu and told him if he hit that guy, it's the same as hitting me.
How is this boy any different from the rest of our voters, having no clue who they are REALLY mad at? Right now there are comptroller PDF's available online to download that will tell you what NYS gov't has been doing to fix problems. Answer: there is SO much contention going on between executive/legislative/local that no one can get anything done.
A blogger a few posts back genuinely believes that that now Governor Spitzer is responsible for his property tax burden. First of all, the 60% increase happened during Pataki's watch. Second of all, the Governor in our state, regardless of party, doesn't have that jurisdiction. Those taxes are determined by local government level. Why he doesn't know that is the primary cause for why his taxes are so high. Would you agree?
The tax liability for a 90k house upstate ny is $3,600 after STAR program deduction. The taxes on a grossly over valued 300k house downstate is 16k after STAR. Why would he lie in a blog about what is a matter of public record, amongst folks who should know what the actual tax rate levied?
No sir, I don't believe we need more government. We need less layers of government, more efficiency, and more accountability. We need a government that enforces the practical laws we already have on the books, not a government that wants to micromanage the entire planet by creating more.
We need a government that assists commerce in being in compliance with the spirit of the law through creative solutions, not one that says- this is the law, you figure it out or we'll fine you (because its more profitable to set someone up for fines than it is to help them stay in compliance).
We need a government for the people, by the people, not one corrupted by outside influence money vested in protecting its own interest at the expense of you and I.
I believe the solution to this is comprehensive campaign finance reform. Remove the money from individual campaigns, put it in a general fund that is spent on public debates in the media (TV/radio/newspapers), and let the one with the best plan for governance be elected without being beholden to the money that 'got them elected'. The statesmanship and quality of solutions they have for the greater good should be what gets them elected, not the size of a war chest, or their ability to hire the best spin doctors. Voters on all levels of government are beleagured by hype and spin and smear to the extent that most are hard pressed to know what the candidates ACTUAL ideas are. The system we have inherently feeds the worst and starves the best in our current election process. Can we all agree on that? Can anyone come up with a better idea how to fix that problem? I'm listening.
The current taxation system is an elaborate shell game, shifting the tax burden to the middle class. My realized difference between net and gross income is already at the level of socialism, but none of us actually recieve the benefit of socialism. If NYr's want the quality of life level of socialism, we might as well put it to a vote and stop wasting tax dollars on piece meal govt undermining itself though destructive power play factions. If NYr's are willing to sacrafice gov't services, then taxes can be reduced in proportion to what they are willing to sacrafice. Pick one. Voters would be wise to remember they're all in this together, sink or swim.
This hatred being fostered by republican media propaganda, and the liberals pandering to it, is canibalizing America. The contempt for blue collar coming from repubs is reprehensible. The presumption of guilt relative to wealth coming from liberals is ridiculous. The way both parties undermine the others plan squanders everyones life liberty and happiness. I refuse to participate in any of it.
I also refuse to put myself in the middle of the political fray, because each one of you would rather choke me to death with blame or tax than recognize the real culprit. When We the People are willing to band together regardless of party affiliation and fully take responsibility for how we've financed monstrosity, that's when real changes will come about. Whenever y'all are ready, I'll see you at the petition site.
Until that day arrives, I am absolutely on my own. Yes sir, the federal gov't we pay for IS responsible for the common defense, which includes meaningful aid and assistance for natural disasters. I know it first hand because I used to be a federal employee in the coast guard. I trained to make sure that the day you needed me to respond to a disaster in buffalo, oswego, or rochester, that I'd provide it through interagency cooperation and preparedness. It didn't matter if your city was wealthy or not, you got the same service and preparedness, unlike poor new orleans vs wealthy santa barbara. This service was only possible through our 'communist' military system, where we got paid peanuts but all our needs were provided for by a central government.
You're welcome, it was a pleasure guarding your welfare for those years, even if you didn't know I was watching your back the whole time.
So why does he/she feel the need to complain HERE every single day...and harass people who like it here and essnetially call them stupid? If you want to complain about the way things are in Upstate NY that's totally and completely fine, and is supposed to be encouraged in our democratic form of government. But don't take your anger and frustration out on people who live here and like it and CAN see some positives in the area. Don't laugh and look down upon people who WANT to live here. That's just ignorant.
Nothing wrong with complaints, if you don't like it, stop reading it. Its not hard to turn your eyes off.
This is exactly the way I feel and was my motivation for initiating this thread. I wanted the naysayers to have a place to vent why they need to vent so much (as odd as that sounds!) LOL!
They are complaining because they are being forced out of the area they have lived and have loved. I would hope anyone would do the same.
They are complaining because they are being forced out of the area they have lived and have loved. I would hope anyone would do the same.
YES! High taxes and government being the largest employer in WNY are the reason ! Did you know that all pensions in NY are taxed at the State level EXCEPT NY State pensions? NY State pensions are tax exempt. They also get health care fro LIFE. Soes this sound like a private sector pension to you? Can your company afford this?
Hello,
I just wanted to let you know that not ALL NYS retirement plans offer free health insurance for life. My brother works for IBM (just completed 26 years), and when he retires, he will have free health insurance for life. My particular school district, however, has NEVER EVER had health insurance coverage for retirees. So, I will be required to pay upwards of $3000 year to maintain my present coverage.
It varies from district to district. I realize that my job is not exactly a Government job, but my income IS paid for by taxpayers, and my pension IS part of the NYS retirement system.
By the way, perhaps you don't realize it, but ALL NYS school teachers pay INTO the retirement system. We all contribute 3% of our income to the TRS for the first 10 years of our careers. Theoretically, that contribution by the younger teachers pays the pensions of the retired teachers much like our Social Security system. Is it perfect? Of course not, especially if there IS mismanagement, much like our Social security System.
Also, as far as our pensions being exempt from NYS taxes, THAT is much like my father's federal postal pension being exempt from federal taxes.
AND, as long as I'm explaining some things here, let me tell you this: DESPITE what magazine articles, newspaper articles, and whatever media will say, our public school system IS top rate. I have had, over my 20+ year career, many of my former students, many of whom went on to be educated at the finest Universities in the land, come back and tell me how far above their classmates they were in being prepared academically for college. One young man, while at West Point, emailed me to personally thank me for preparing him for his rigorous course of study. In fact, HE led study groups because many of his fellow cadets (and THESE young men and women are some of the best students in the land) come to him for help in what they feel were gaps in their secondary education.
So, while people bash NYS, the education system, AND their grossly overpaid teachers I really laugh at that one!!!! I began my career in the early 1980's at $12,500, while my college roomie began her career at Carrier at double that salary!!!! So, we fought the fight to bring our wages up to standard....WHILE we were pursuing the mandatory Master's degrees. And for many of us, while holding down a second job. In fact, I just STOPPED working my second job because I finally feel some wiggle room with my income. Teachers are quite adept at supplementing their incomes with a second job, be it bartending, painting, waitressing, teaching summer school, tutoring, etc. Perhaps if more people did the same, some of the financial problems that our society is experiencing could be solved.
Not to get long winded, because I didn't intend for this thread to go off track, but I do feel that people can be misinformed, or spin a small element of the truth into something terrible.
Hello,
I just wanted to let you know that not ALL NYS retirement plans offer free health insurance for life. My brother works for IBM (just completed 26 years), and when he retires, he will have free health insurance for life. My particular school district, however, has NEVER EVER had health insurance coverage for retirees. So, I will be required to pay upwards of $3000 year to maintain my present coverage.
It varies from district to district. I realize that my job is not exactly a Government job, but my income IS paid for by taxpayers, and my pension IS part of the NYS retirement system.
By the way, perhaps you don't realize it, but ALL NYS school teachers pay INTO the retirement system. We all contribute 3% of our income to the TRS for the first 10 years of our careers. Theoretically, that contribution by the younger teachers pays the pensions of the retired teachers much like our Social Security system. Is it perfect? Of course not, especially if there IS mismanagement, much like our Social security System.
Also, as far as our pensions being exempt from NYS taxes, THAT is much like my father's federal postal pension being exempt from federal taxes.
AND, as long as I'm explaining some things here, let me tell you this: DESPITE what magazine articles, newspaper articles, and whatever media will say, our public school system IS top rate. I have had, over my 20+ year career, many of my former students, many of whom went on to be educated at the finest Universities in the land, come back and tell me how far above their classmates they were in being prepared academically for college. One young man, while at West Point, emailed me to personally thank me for preparing him for his rigorous course of study. In fact, HE led study groups because many of his fellow cadets (and THESE young men and women are some of the best students in the land) come to him for help in what they feel were gaps in their secondary education.
So, while people bash NYS, the education system, AND their grossly overpaid teachers I really laugh at that one!!!! I began my career in the early 1980's at $12,500, while my college roomie began her career at Carrier at double that salary!!!! So, we fought the fight to bring our wages up to standard....WHILE we were pursuing the mandatory Master's degrees. And for many of us, while holding down a second job. In fact, I just STOPPED working my second job because I finally feel some wiggle room with my income. Teachers are quite adept at supplementing their incomes with a second job, be it bartending, painting, waitressing, teaching summer school, tutoring, etc. Perhaps if more people did the same, some of the financial problems that our society is experiencing could be solved.
Not to get long winded, because I didn't intend for this thread to go off track, but I do feel that people can be misinformed, or spin a small element of the truth into something terrible.
By the way, I pay $3500 on my $110,000 house.
I know times are tough, but I don't understand what sort of lifestyles people are living if they need a second job because they don't make enough teaching in NYS. I could understand possibly in NYC or something, but the rest of the state, a teacher should make plenty to live.
Maybe that is the real problem. I mean, there are so many people who make alot less than a teacher makes.
Can someone explain to me why I got a red dot with a comment more or less calling me a troll? I just can't win anymore it seems. I post threads saying "I love NY" or "I love NJ" and I get slammed with red dots. I do just the opposite and get slammed. I defend both states from the naysayers and get slammed. I wish those with personal vendettas against me would STOP! This has to end already!
I know times are tough, but I don't understand what sort of lifestyles people are living if they need a second job because they don't make enough teaching in NYS. I could understand possibly in NYC or something, but the rest of the state, a teacher should make plenty to live.
Maybe that is the real problem. I mean, there are so many people who make alot less than a teacher makes.
I am part of the support staff in an upstate public school and I can tell you why the teachers who do work a second job do: because they can. They have the entire summer off and I know a lot of them work at restaurants, in landscaping, real estate,tutoring and the like. There are as many who spend the summer off with their families (especially the ones with spouses who work all year)....and I may get the wrath, but most of the teachers in our district, with the exception of the single younger ones who are eyeball deep in college loans, are doing quite well for themselves.....2nd jobs just pad the bank IMO
I like you answer to our boards most famous "naysayer".
I am a retired teacher and I think the person you responded to thinks all you have to do is show up and go home.
The pensions are based on what you earn, and upstate you don't earn a lot -- so pensions in better paid districts are much higher... also, many older retired teachers NEVER had a paid health plan. Many of them are still around, paying the insurance... Mine is not that hot and you lose it when you turn 65 [Medicare kicks in]. The naysayer also sounded like we pay no taxes after retirement. We pay federal taxes. We also pay state sales tax ( if you are honest) for items bought from out of state. And my taxes ( minus STAR) are less than $2K and my house is about what yours is.
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I just can't win anymore it seems. I post threads saying "I love NY" or "I love NJ" and I get slammed with red dots. I do just the opposite and get slammed. I defend both states from the naysayers and get slammed. I wish those with personal vendettas against me would STOP! 
This has to end already! 
