Why the State is Declining

A few lines from a song capture New York state’s dilemma. From the musical named “1776”: “Does anybody care? Is anybody there?”

The state has declined for years. Especially Upstate. You know that. Your dog knows that. Our population declines. We are aging faster than any other state. Why? Our young people abandon the state. They look out for themselves. By moving to greener pastures. It is what people have always done, from Ireland to Italy to Poland to Cuba.

Why do they move? They pay more taxes here (a lot more) and less taxes where they move. If they own property here, look out! Businesses pay a lot more taxes here. And businesses face more whacky lawsuits here. Because our politicians keep it easy to sue. Many of our legislators are lawyers. They protect fellow attorneys who make fortunes suing. They then get kickbacks from the law firms who list them as partners. And they get fat contributions from the lawyers they protect. Cozy. Destructive. Corrupt.

Businesses move away. Or refuse to expand here. Or avoid the state in the first place. Why? In addition to the lawsuits, taxes are too high. Regulations too many and too stupid. New York flies a banner in Albany: “We talk a good game. But you’re not welcome here.”

Consider this. When so many young people move, and so many gutsy entrepreneurs leave, who remains? The oldies. The more cautious. Is anybody there? Yup. Us oldies. Does anybody care? Well, we care for what we’ve got. We hang on for dear life.

Meanwhile, what does Gov. Cuomo come up with to spur economic growth? Casinos. He wants a referendum for seven casinos, four of them Upstate. This is economic development? We lose thousands of young, thousands of entrepreneurs — and we replace them with blackjack dealers? This is really bold, governor. Binghamton, you want thousands of jobs from fracking and its offshoots? Tough. How about more guys to handle valet parking at your new casino?

Just try to make suggestions that could improve the state’s business climate and see how far you get. Suggest we slash the number of state workers. Recommend that we close some ridiculous departments. Suggest we cut state taxes. Propose we make a bonfire of state regulations. Recommend that we sell some state assets. Suggest we smother government so that private enterprise can grow.

Do this and the governor will scoff at you. And you will find scarcely a state politician from either party who will genuinely support you. They are all in on the corruption, in ways small and large. They are comfy.

And yet, the above is what the Russians did after they felled communism. Reagan did it. Kennedy did it. Hong Kong did it. New Zealand did it. Maggie Thatcher did it. So did Chile. And China. And Cuba is now finally doing it.

The formula is as simple as frying eggs. Reduce the role of government. Reduce state-worker payrolls. As you lower the cost of government, take fewer taxes from the people. And, from their businesses. In other words, get government the hell out of the way of the people.

Now you can dismiss this as conservative clap trap. Or you can look at economic history. Heavy taxes and heavy regulation have never stimulated an economy. But reducing them and lightening the hand of government always has.

Ah, but does anyone listen? Those who move away do. They listen to the music from elsewhere. The music known as smaller government.

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 new TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com