Comments on: Fare Hike Four to Paterson: Not So Fast

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:57:47 +0000

"TWU & WFP where are you?"

Pursuing a retirement at age 50 or younger after 20 years of work or less, to the detriment and exclusion of anything else.

It's time to give up the idea that producers of public services will support the interests of consumers of public services in a place with close to the highest state and local tax burden as a share of income in the United States. They'll destroy us if they can, as long as those retired and with seniority can live elsewhere, and in NYC they can.

When other generations were in charge one could count on a conscience, but not this one.

Just remember two kinds of people are getting richer: the executives who sit on each other's boards and set each other's pay, and today's senior citizens, particularly retired public employees, who control various legislative bodies in the post-democracy era. Everyone else is getting poorer. And it is a matter of power and greed in both cases, not free choice and exchange.

When the economy is up, the privileged grab more, and when it is down everyone else is sacrificed due "circumstances beyond our control.

That the TWU was willing to agree to have all its members pay something for health insurance, like everyone else, rather than screw the newbie is frankly better than I expected of them.

By: Eric McClure

Eric McClure — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:07:54 +0000

Uh, Carl, it's called the "Show Me State," not the "Tell Me State." Moron.

By: Glenn McAnanama

Glenn McAnanama — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:44:32 +0000

I personally helped many people call their state senator's offices to support the Ravitch plan...I hope it helped.

The real language these guys speak is power politics. The Working Families Party or new Democratic forces need just run primaries across the board against these jokers.

The old machines look really bad in the light of day. A new merit based system needs to rise up to fight it. All it takes is about 10-15k votes to knock out a sitting Senator in a primary. Half that for an Assembly district.

TWU & WFP where are you?

By: herenthere

herenthere — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:27:47 +0000

I think we need to have some letter writing/email/fax campaign to the State Senate if things turn for the worse. Of course, seeing how the Fare Hike Four are still acting even after many of their district's voters protested their actions (especially Diaz and Monserrate), I doubt it'll make a difference to those two.

By: herenthere

herenthere — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:27:15 +0000

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:21:12 +0000

And these clowns think they're endearing themselves to the public... and sadly, they probably are. And of course they don't care about the region's economy--they've only just begun sucking it dry. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

By: Glenn McAnanama

Glenn McAnanama — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:02:01 +0000

Shall I attempt a translation of NY State Senatese to English? "Vetting Process" - Holding the nominee hostage until there is some selfish quid pro quo arranged with the governor. "Oversight" - Ignore 99.9% of everything the administration does until you want score a few quick political points, then shamelessly run away from any responsibility from your own actions (or inactions). "Accountability" - Everyone in state government (and city for that matter) should do exactly what I want, even sleazy, shady deals that ignore the average voter/taxpayer's needs, however ALL of my own actions are above reproach. This is why it's strange and confusing to a state senator that someone ELSE might be in favor Oversight & Accountability, because that would mean that person might want something...obviously couldn't just be good public policy unless it relates to power politics somehow...