RochesterConservative.com

By Charlie Eames

It is true that history repeats itself. Over two hundred years ago our Founding Fathers were ruled by a distant and detached government. This government was run by people that cared nothing about the colonies or her citizens. They passed oppressive laws and levied burdensome taxes upon the people.

As the American Philosopher and Poet, George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The citizens of Upstate are now enduring these exact same conditions. We have no representation and no power. Albany in general and the Assembly in particular are controlled by New York City. The Speaker of the Assembly has proven time and time again that he has no regards for the needs or the will of the people of Upstate New York. Over the years the Speaker has refused to allow the General Assembly to vote or even discuss Initiative and Referendum. I&R is only one example of the cold callousness of the State Government. More recent events show the attitudes of Albany and the treatment of Upstate will only get worse.

GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE STATE OF NEW YORK:

Regional issues are being taken over by the State. While a policy may be proper for one segment of the State, it can be irrelevant at best or harmful in the worse case for people of another section of the State. These issues include but are not limited to: The Wicks Law, The Scaffold Law, The Taylor Law, Upstate Farming Issues, and NYC Rent Control. Due to the imbalance of population in New York, Upstate can not influence the outcome of the internal concerns of New York City. New York City, however, can and does set policy for Upstate. The local Upstate leaders are being usurped by those who have no right or consequence of meddling in the Upstate condition.

Medicaid and Social Programs are some of the largest drains on the Upstate economy. The federal government decrees that every state maintains a basic level of Medicaid. There are also 27 optional coverage plans available. New York signed up for them all and has no Residency Requirement. The result of this is that New York with the third largest population in the U. S. pays more for Medicaid than the two more populated states combined. Charity and short term assistance are to be commended, but destroying the economy of New York in the process should be condemned.

Unfunded Mandates are passed to the local entities against the wishes of the people. This unjust practice has been inflicted upon the people of Upstate for years. 2008 has proven to contain the most flagrant abuse of the Upstate people to date. Many counties report that eighty percent of their budgets are controlled by the State with no concern as to how the counties will pay for these demands.

On Friday, March 28, 2008 a conference call was held for County Managers and executives. All across New York the State is pushing higher demands on the counties. Westchester County already has some of the highest property taxes in the nation and will have to raise property taxes again.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has said this budget increases spending at a greater rate than the rate of inflation. The new budget relies too heavily on increasing taxes and fees in New York, additional borrowing, and projected incomes that may never materialize.

Back Door Borrowing is a method to circumvent The New York State Constitution. According to the New York Constitution, all State borrowing must be approved by the people of New York. In the 1960’s, the people refused to allow State borrowing. Instead of complying with the wishes of the people, New York set up quasi-governmental entities called Authorities. There are now 860 Authorities in New York. New York has one of the largest State debts in the Nation. To quote the Comptroller’s website, “Authorities operate largely without government oversight and with limited public scrutiny. State Comptroller DiNapoli has warned of public authorities’ huge debt burden – now at more than $129 billion.

The New York State Thruway was supposed to be a toll road until it was paid in full. The construction bond for the Thruway was paid in full in 1997. The toll not only remains but has been increased. The Thruway claims to not use any tax dollars, yet New York’s tax demands continue to be the highest in the nation. New York receives federal funds every year to maintain the Thruway but still needs a toll. The last increase was 25% in May, 2005 just two days before the US Senate approved $16.8 Billion dollars for New York roads and bridges. In 2006 there was a 2.9 Billion dollar bond act in New York for roads and bridges. Despite protests from Governor Paterson, Comptroller DiNapoli, many legislators, and the people of New York, the Thruway authority voted in April, 2008 to increase the poll yet again with plans for another incremental increase in 2009. New York continues to maintain and increase the toll, while most areas of the United States have no tolls and lower overall taxes.

The State has recommended that many local entities be combined or dissolved. This consolidation would erase many towns, townships, and Tioga County. Many of these entities have been around since before the 1800′s. NOW we are told we can’t afford them. What has changed? Is Tioga County suddenly the cause of the state ills? What has changed is the growth at the state level. We now have 860 Authorities in NY. Merge them! NY now has one of, if not the highest ratio of government employees to citizens in the nation.

The Upstate Chair of the Empire State Development Corporation was an effort by Governor Eliot Spitzer to address the issues and conditions in Upstate New York. Daniel Gundersen was appointed to be the Upstate Chair of the agency. One year later Governor David Paterson is eliminating the Upstate Economic Czar and merging the position back under Downstate control. This return to the previously failed structure is a reminder to the people of Upstate to “Know your place!”

CHOICES FOR THE PEOPLE OF UPSTATE NEW YORK:

The State of New York has repeatedly demonstrated they have neither the desire, nor the capability of providing justice for the Upstate region. As Upstate New Yorkers we can surrender our rights, pride, dignity, freedom, and future to the Oppressors from New York City. We can turn our backs on our heritage and turn off the dreams and visions of our ancestors. Whether our bloodlines descend from the Revolutionary War or from the legal immigrants that followed, this is not the life they risked so much to provide for us. The only ones that deserve to be treated as lower class citizens are those who allow it. Our ancestors deserve better descendents. Our Founding Fathers and War heroes deserve better homage and tributes. Our State deserves better guardians. We deserve better lives. Our children deserve a better future.

We can and should stand up and defend what is rightfully ours. The problem is how to defend your rights in America when those rights have been nullified. If the citizens of Upstate were to unite and remove every Democratic Assembly Member it would do no good. The Speaker of the Assembly has the majority of the House well within New York Cities Sphere of Influence. The Speaker does not respect nor care about the people of Upstate.

In the year 2007 there was a plan by then Governor Eliot Spitzer to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. The outcry and outrage was heard all across the State. County Clerks stood up to the Governor and Albany and refused to comply. In shows of unity County Legislatures voted to stand with the County Clerks. The plan was eventually dropped. The Governor stated “The support just isn’t there at this time.”

The Illegal License issue set precedence for the people of Upstate. It demonstrated that we can win if we stand together. When the State Government in Albany fails to perform its duties for the good of the people, it falls upon the Counties, and Cities to perform those duties. The people of Upstate should encourage, support and assist their local governments in these efforts.

The County Managers and Upstate Mayors should NOT be required to create hardships for their people to fulfill Albany’s obligations. As with the Licenses for Illegals Counties and Cities should band together and refuse to accept Albany’s incompetence. The unfunded mandates should be sent back to Albany for revision!

The Local Entities should not only stand to represent fiscal responsibility for the people of Upstate, but should have the added incentive that New York State wanted to eliminate these same local positions.

On December 16, 1773 The Sons of Liberty took symbolic action against unjust taxes being levied by distant and uncaring leaders. This act was the Boston Tea Party. The Tea Party created a short term loss of tea, incited years of war, and gave birth to decades of freedom, growth, and prosperity.

Most other States in the nation have disproved the need for tolls and a Thruway Authority. Those States also enjoy an overall lower tax rate than New York. The ever present and increasing toll is causing more damage than benefit and should be dissolved. This will not happen unless the people of New York demand it. There should be a boycott against the Thruway Authority. Not only by the people of New York, but major interstate trucking companies as well. If the major trucking companies boycott the Thruway, it not only cuts off New York, but New England as well. There is no doubt that the neighbors to the East will have something to say about the Toll increase.

There is no valid reason Upstate New Yorkers should be denied the basic American rights. Boycotting the Thruway will be a temporary inconvenience that could inspire long term improvement and savings. If taking the Thruway is necessary, then do not use EZ Pass. Swipe a magnet on the Toll Ticket’s black stripe. This will erase the information and disable the automated accounting system. Make the Thruway as cumbersome for the State as it is expensive for the people.
New York City and her elected State officials have been abusing their political power at the expense of Upstate for too long. Despite the City’s weighted vote the City is in a precarious position. Most people think we need the City more than she needs us. The City thinks of Upstate as nothing but “Hick Farmers” and that is our strength. With a little short term pain, we could reap a crop of long term gain. New York City is predominately an overpopulated island. The City may have the money of Wall Street but they can’t eat money. How many days could the City survive if food from the Upstate farms stopped flowing into the City? Despite her wealth New York City is extremely vulnerable. What would happen to the City if Upstate started to boycott New York City? Could New York City survive if Upstate were to enact a siege on the roads and bridges leading into the City?

It must be remembered that we consider New York City to be a vital part of the United States. All we are asking is that we be given the same consideration. This is not a call for a revolution. This is a petition to our elected Upstate leaders to flex the few political and financial muscles available in our self-defense. We should not think of the City as an enemy but damage done is damage done regardless of where it comes from.

A split of NY would actually be mutually beneficial to NYC as well as the people of Upstate. The NYC controlled State forces their programs onto the people of Upstate. The people of Upstate can not afford the programs so the State takes 10 Billion dollars from NYC to help prop up these programs. Even with the 10 Billion, there is still a massive shortfall making taxes in Upstate among the highest in the nation. By splitting the state, NYC and Upstate could both enact the philosophies best suited to their environment.

The primary purpose of any government in the United States is to “Promote the General Welfare.” This does not mean putting honest, hard working people ON welfare! The citizens of Upstate have been patient for too long. We have tried to negotiate in good faith only to have the years of empty broken election promises. The citizens of Upstate New York should not be chastised for their resentment of mistreatment. The fault lies with those responsible for the deplorable conditions that have led to this situation. This must be resolved in the proper channels. Otherwise the citizens of Upstate will have no recourse but to demand their rights of Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.