Wouldn't it be nice if our politicians would actually come up with plans and solutions, rather than simply search for "photo ops" and opportunities to spout more empty rhetoric.
Of course, every one would like to pay less or no taxes, get optimum services, and have everything done that needs to be done.
Every time any Mayor or Governor decides to cut the budget, some special interest group or another protests and complains that this cut will be bad.
For example, teachers unions will always protest when a proposed budget cuts will require something that adversely impacts teachers, such as layoffs, attrition, benefit cuts, etc.
Recently, the Teachers Union in New York City has been advertising that the Mayor should not be discussing which teachers should be laid off and should be working so that none are.
They equate the fact that Mayor Blumberg has recommended against higher taxes for the wealthy, with depriving children of the education that they deserve.
Blumberg's reasoning, on the other hand, is that increasing taxes on the wealthy would cause some sort of exodus from the city, and would hurt the city economically in may ways.
The Union even brings up the recent difficulty and less than stellar snow removal effort during the Blizzard at the end of December 2010, as a way of stating that the Mayor is not up to even that job.
While there is more than enough blame to go around, and certainly students need and deserve the best possible educational opportunity, the reality is that teachers receive benefits far beyond most private sector employees, and that cost creates a huge economic burden on the city's finances.
Remember that Michael Blumberg is one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States, and prior to the snow fiasco, had one of the best favorable ratings of any politician.
While we all understand the union's defense of its members, the debate should be about those teachers who are under performing, and if those teachers costs were eliminated, huge dollars would come off the city's costs.
Instead, the union masks the fact that it has been defending the present negotiated policy of laying off the most recent hires first, regardless of merit.
The children, who deserve a great education, end up being pawns between fiscal responsibility, politics and planning.
Couldn't that time and effort be better spent? In Long Island, the school budget process is equally absurd, where voters are asked to vote up or down a budget, which is rarely understood.
Does anyone really believe that school boards could not more effectively and efficiently spend money on education? That is why Long Island's real estate taxes are getting out of control! Politicians calling themselves Tea Party members state that they are standing up for the taxpayer by demanding less spending and lower taxes.
They even say that this will lead to reducing deficits in the long run.
I urge you to do the math, and see that not only doesn't their math generally add up, but they don't propose a thorough plan, but rather tell people what they already know - that we pay too much tax and don't get what we should for that.
It is not enough to merely be angry.
Isn't it about time that we create a system that works by coming up with a thought out plan, making government more responsible and responsive, and far more fiscally strong?
Of course, every one would like to pay less or no taxes, get optimum services, and have everything done that needs to be done.
Every time any Mayor or Governor decides to cut the budget, some special interest group or another protests and complains that this cut will be bad.
For example, teachers unions will always protest when a proposed budget cuts will require something that adversely impacts teachers, such as layoffs, attrition, benefit cuts, etc.
Recently, the Teachers Union in New York City has been advertising that the Mayor should not be discussing which teachers should be laid off and should be working so that none are.
They equate the fact that Mayor Blumberg has recommended against higher taxes for the wealthy, with depriving children of the education that they deserve.
Blumberg's reasoning, on the other hand, is that increasing taxes on the wealthy would cause some sort of exodus from the city, and would hurt the city economically in may ways.
The Union even brings up the recent difficulty and less than stellar snow removal effort during the Blizzard at the end of December 2010, as a way of stating that the Mayor is not up to even that job.
While there is more than enough blame to go around, and certainly students need and deserve the best possible educational opportunity, the reality is that teachers receive benefits far beyond most private sector employees, and that cost creates a huge economic burden on the city's finances.
Remember that Michael Blumberg is one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States, and prior to the snow fiasco, had one of the best favorable ratings of any politician.
While we all understand the union's defense of its members, the debate should be about those teachers who are under performing, and if those teachers costs were eliminated, huge dollars would come off the city's costs.
Instead, the union masks the fact that it has been defending the present negotiated policy of laying off the most recent hires first, regardless of merit.
The children, who deserve a great education, end up being pawns between fiscal responsibility, politics and planning.
Couldn't that time and effort be better spent? In Long Island, the school budget process is equally absurd, where voters are asked to vote up or down a budget, which is rarely understood.
Does anyone really believe that school boards could not more effectively and efficiently spend money on education? That is why Long Island's real estate taxes are getting out of control! Politicians calling themselves Tea Party members state that they are standing up for the taxpayer by demanding less spending and lower taxes.
They even say that this will lead to reducing deficits in the long run.
I urge you to do the math, and see that not only doesn't their math generally add up, but they don't propose a thorough plan, but rather tell people what they already know - that we pay too much tax and don't get what we should for that.
It is not enough to merely be angry.
Isn't it about time that we create a system that works by coming up with a thought out plan, making government more responsible and responsive, and far more fiscally strong?