C.T.Well, back from the New Year celebration, so, it is time to get back to business. Recently, I posted an article called Provocateuring, Critical Thinking, and Fred Thompson. It was a response and analysis of how the author made his judgments about reviews conservatives gave other conservatives, how he drew his conclusion to support Rudy Giuliani, and his confused and almost hypocritical opinion of Fred Thompson supporters. I believe I was as fair as possible trying not to let my support of Fred Thompson get in the way of the point I was trying to make. Understandably, it crept in. But, it is very difficult not to let logic flow into an argument when you feel the opposing person is relying strictly on opinion and baseless facts. Here are some fine of examples of all that glitters is usually not gold.
First assumption, "First, if we are to believe you, Rudy's plethora of accomplishments as mayor are to be ignored because the city he runs is in YOUR OPINION too much like a nanny state. Do you have any idea how ironic it is to call the center of the world's CAPITALISM, the home of the biggest and most successful market, the place where every pure capitalist wants to end up, too much like a nanny state? "
Now, New York is indeed the center of capitalism. But there is only one link between the CAPITALISM, that goes on in places like Wall Street and the local city government. It is the that tax base Wall Street provides to fund the over bloated government. I remembered an article that I read from the CATO Institute, an "obscure website with Libertarian biased," as I am sure the author will refer to it.
The institute did a study of Mayor Bloomberg and the problems with New York city and its overburdened city government. Much of the statistical analysis drew back as far as the early days of Giuliani's administration.
Between FY94 and FY04, New York’s general fund spending increased 53 percent. [1]
New York City’s gross debt increased from $26.1 billion in FY93 to $47.8 billion in FY03, an 83 percent jump. [1]
In 2002, New York’s debt of $5,083 per person was more than double the 14-city average of $2,262. [1]
Take note of the dates, according to Figure 1, on page 3 of the document from FY 94 to FY 2001, the majority of Giuliani's term in office. The budget of New York increased from around $31 billion to $41 billion. There were only two years reflecting a balance between Gross Debt and General Funding Expenditures was 1996-98. These numbers represent a trend on carrying massive debt even long before the 9-11 tragedy.
Giuliani and tax reform. The former mayor often portrays himself as a "tax cutting" Republican. While this is essentially true, he is no "tax reforming" Republican.
"New York not only imposes traditional local taxes, such as property taxes,it also imposes taxes that are usually the preserve of state governments. New York City has a property tax, a sales tax, a personal income tax, a corporate income tax, and an unincorporated business tax." [1]
New York's taxes are 79 percent higher than in other large cities, though only 17 percent higher than in Philadelphia, the next most heavily taxed city; using our approach, New York taxes are 352 percent above those in other big cities,and 240 percent above Philadelphia's. [2] (City Journal Article from Spring 2000)
This average has not changed, in fact, it has only gotten worse under Mayor Bloomberg. Giuliani did nothing to eliminate taxes, did nothing to control the city's outrageous spending, and did nothing to assist the average New Yorker with their debt load. Yeah, sounds like a fiscal conservative to me.
Mr Volpe's next question was, "How is NYC too much like a nanny state, and more importantly how is it anymore of a nanny state than the entire United States?" Well, please sit back and enjoy the ride. First, take into account the high tax rates, the insane government spending on nothing, the debt per capita , and these examples and you have a Nanny State that doesn't give you much back.
The City of New York has a notoriously expensive and inflexible workforce. The city has 224,000 municipal workers, including 90,000 in the public schools and 46,000 in police and fire services. [1]
New York City compensation costs including wages, benefits, and pensions were $24.4 billion in FY04, which represents half of the city’s $47.8 billion budget. [1]
The city’s Department of Corrections is also ripe for reforms. Between FY92 and FY02,the average daily inmate population in the city well by 35 percent. But over the same period, expenditures increased by 16 percent. [1]
The number of New York City residents on welfare (Temporary Assistancefor Needy Families) has been cut in half since 1996. The share of the city’s population on welfare has fallen from a high of 16 percent to about 5 percent today.[1]
but,
From FY96 to FY03, Department of Social Services expenditures fell from $7.3 billion to $6.1 billion. But a new administration for Children’s Services was created in FY97, and its budget soared from $1.4 billion the first year to $2.3 billion by FY03. Total social services spending increased from $7.9 billion in FY96 to $9.3 billion in FY03. [1]
Medicaid spending accounted for 31 percent of personal health care spending in New York in 1998 compared to 16 percent nationwide. [1]
New York City’s Medicaid costs are expected to increase 49 percent between FY 2000 and FY05. [1]
Do I really need to go on?
Forget my disagreements with the Mayor on the 2nd Amendment and abortion, his fiscal policies are egregious. Although, I must give Giuliani credit on cleaning the city up. But again how does that prove to me he is a great candidate for President, or even a leader? (hint, hint, Attorney General) Economics, tax burdens, government graft, debt, fiscal responsibility, etc. are just some of the problems we are facing as a country. Giuliani, as mayor, did nothing that really addressed these issues in New York. How am I to conclude that he would not fore go them as President? Looking at the big picture I can understand why Mr. Volpe did not mention anything about the Mayor's fiscal policies.
Finally, I could pontificate about all of the other inane comments that were passed off as logic, but that would take about three or four more posts. Remember, use your resources, think through your candidate, and do some educated voting. You can't go wrong.
C.T.
P.S. Happy New Year and remember a new year means new beginnings. Use this chance wisely.
[1] Cato Institute, Budget Reforms to Solve New York City’s High-Tax Crisis, Aug. 17Th, 2004
[2] City Journal, Taxopolis, Spring 2000
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment