Here & There Column 4-13-10

Making A Change In Albany

Folks, we have to step up to the plate and make changes to the dysfunction, corruption and partisanship that defines our state government in Albany.
Legislators still don't get the message as they continue to day in and day out play the old game of politics while the folks back home are left to struggle with more job more job losses, crumbling infrastructure and skyrocketing property taxes that are driving people of all ages from their homes and from this state.
It's time our state legislators start paying attention to cuts in the education system, unemployment and most importantly excessive taxation and adding fees for too many things.
Albany should not be about being elected as a party line person but our politicians should be going to the state capital to represent their constituents in the manner that will benefit them most.
Even some of our unions are calling Gov. David Paterson's proposed budget and the New York State Senate plan as not acceptable.
We agree that shortchanging school districts and local governments will do nothing more but place added burden on the local taxpayer who just can't afford additional local taxes as are now being proposed by local municipalities and school districts.
State legislators are saying that the biggest problem is how to manage the deficit the state finds itself in and there are many saying that the state should never be in this condition in the first place if the corruption and partisanship was done away with and government was run like a business should be.
Folks have lost all faith in government because politicians just don't do anything right anymore. Increase spending is not the answer to this economic climate we are now faced with.
The average Joe we talk to say that all the Albany politicians care about is holding onto their seats and the perks that go with it.
If our state politicians were in the corporate world and grossly mismanaged their businesses the way they have mismanaged our state, they would be the ones on the unemployment rolls.
The financial mess the state now finds itself in did not just happen yesterday, it has been going on for years and years because our state politicians have failed the folks back home.
The local taxpayer can no longer afford irresponsible. dysfunctional and partisanship government.
Albany and all government needs creative thinkers who can construct new ideas, can think outside the box and become problem solvers.
It's up to us voters to make sure we elect those who will represent our interests.