What happens in Colorado might not stay in Colorado. It might come to New York. People in a group of counties in Northern Colorado are trying to form a new state. They want their counties to secede from Colorado, because urban (ie: Denver) representatives ignore concerns of rural folks. This movement boasts some clout. Upstate […]
What happens in Colorado might not stay in Colorado. It might come to New York.
People in a group of counties in Northern Colorado are trying to form a new state. They want their counties to secede from Colorado, because urban (ie: Denver) representatives ignore concerns of rural folks. This movement boasts some clout.
Upstate New York has seen several similar movements over the years. They went nowhere. However, if the Colorado movement ever succeeds, my guess is that it will light a fire under those in the Empire State.
Not to mention secession movements in other states. A lot of downstate Illinois folks would love to secede from crime-infested, corrupt Chicago. As would many Michigan citizens love to dump Detroit.
Good idea for upstate New York? Absolutely.
Upstate has zippo power in the state legislature. Because reps from downstate (the New York City area and Long Island) dominate Albany. This has been true for decades. It is growing worse, because Upstate is losing population while downstate gains residents and voters. This means Upstate gradually sends fewer reps to snout through the hog trough in Albany.
There are lots of New York City people who would be happy to split the state in two. They complain the city has to subsidize Upstate. Wherever that is.
That is not sarcasm. Because it is the essence of the argument for seceding. Too many downstaters know nothing about Upstate. They know sweet nothing about its history. Or its cities. Or its towns. Or its farming. Or its festivals. Or, its problems.
Too few downstaters know that Upstate’s cities have bled population. Have lost businesses, lost tax base. Have struggled to avoid bankruptcy.
Downstate residents are well represented in Albany, with their politicians exhibiting the same ignorance of Upstate. That’s why they have created monstrous bureaucracies in Albany. It is why they have no qualms about smacking Upstaters with outrageous taxes and regulations. I suspect if you quizzed all the downstate reps, few of them could name 10 upstate cities.
Could a West New York work as a state? Sure. It would likely work better than Albany does for Upstate now.
First, it would have a much smaller bureaucracy. That would be a plus. Second, its taxes and regulations would be more sympathetic to the needs of Upstate. Why? Because upstate voters would force the issues. That’s the way representative government is supposed to work. As it is now, upstate voters can force zip. And influence zip.
Albany simply does a poor job of serving Upstate. Its sludge of corruption, mostly from downstate, makes matters worse.
The time may be ripe for secession movements like these to go before voters in various states. The concept of a fixed number of states is not set in stone. And the problem of citizens in one part of a state getting shafted by those in another part is a genuine issue.
A sign of a country’s health is its ability to flex, to adapt to changing times. If the state split, it might well re-invigorate both parts. Especially Upstate. Wherever that is.
From Tom...as in Morgan.
Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com