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Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association

March 2000                                                                                                                                                     Volume 5, Number 2

As usual is always welcome. With it comes attention to other matters than high heating costs, dangerous driving conditions and heavy clothing. There are other constants as in Al Capp’s cartoons some time ago, "Lil Abner", where this little character went around with this gray cloud over his head labeled "conscience". He couldn’t seem to lose it no matter how he tried. Perhaps some day there may be those who wake up and discover there is a right and wrong way to do things.


Read and Learn

What is an educational institution doing in the transportation business? Why do many colleges and businesses contract out building cleaning services? Why do the same groups do the same for food services? Competent business managers are quick to discover the results obtained are better than that provided in house and at less expense.

Many city school districts annually issue a request for bids (RFB) from the major bus companies which specialize in moving people. In response to student requests, many secondary school cafeterias now offer the fast food option. Additionally, many business administrators bid out cleaning services as a less expensive and reliable way to keep buildings clean.

Concerns about employment by current workers in the district will surface whenever changes affect them. Contractors, however, will need experienced individuals and those usually are from employees.

How many times have we heard this in movies and on the TV? A dangerous criminal or a deranged person is confronted by a police officer. It can be stirring drama. In real life, the criminal with the gun is obvious. Yet in another sense, the vast majority of people who go out every day to earn an honest living have been subtly put upon by forces not to their best interests or to that of our Nation. Not a direct confrontation by a criminal but rather by those who do not live by the same rules as most of us but attempt to gain an unwarranted advantage. They seek unearned rewards and positions of power by intrigue and subterfuge. Law breaking is axiomatic if thought to be undetected. We are the oldest democracy in the world, our U. S. Constitution is our guide. Today, unfortunately when power politics overplays its hand to a degree not anticipated by our fore bears, a warning sign should be erected sky high for all to see.

Apathy is our worst enemy. We have the ability and fortitude to remedy almost any serious matter. But we must know our enemy.

When any good operating system gets into the wrong hands, nothing good can come of it. This includes political parties, agencies, bureaus, Depts, school boards and public officials.

All taxing agencies are corrupt by their very nature because they view more and more revenue from all sources as success in their limited view of right and wrong. In the old days Robin Hood was looked upon as a hero for robbing the rich, thus depriving the Monarch of his lion’s share. Two wrongs however, do not make a right.

To all greedy taxing agencies we say, "put down the gun".

Ask only what’s necessary to carry on. Nothing more.

America currently is enjoying an unprecedented period of economic growth with selective industries spawning affluent employees. Many of the individuals are young entrepreneurs who own, organize, manage, and assume business risks. There are numerous examples of start-up companies in the greater capital district.

Simultaneously, downsizing is occurring as companies merge with others. Some are purchased by foreign interest or domestic firms, or succumb to the use of data processing services to address consumer needs. The above, such as the scarcity of bank offices and tellers has forced many of these skilled employees into early retirement or to seek other areas of employment.

An interesting statistic provided by the news media is that five million Americans are currently millionaires. Extrapolating the 1990 census data, the present population in the USA is around 265 million. This means that one of each 53 persons is financially affluent. Conversely, there is a larger number who are not. Food pantries continually issue urgent appeals to feed the needy. Government is providing funds to address oppressive fuel costs. Care for the homeless is a moral and political issue, while seniors are weighted down by the high costs of medical care.

Economic good times are followed by bad. High commodity prices lead to inflation and its adverse effect on consumer purchasing power. Unwise added taxation and its long term cost is hard on the less than affluent population. For example, the millionaire will file an income tax long form and take a deduction for state and local taxes while many others cannot. Pity these unfortunate homeowners or renters, "STAR" not withstanding.

Does the East Greenbush Central School District truly need to keep up with the suburban county "Jones"? Modest alterations and remediation as needed on a 27 year old building may be required. However, many residents in the district live in older homes which are continually kept in good repair in order to provide for their needs. The school board is to be faulted for not using its power to stop this unwarranted excursion into the taxpayers’ pockets and for not addressing the cited needs in a timely fashion.

Buying things you do not need to save money is a financial disaster.

See where you money goes. Some may be justified. You figure it out.

Base Salaries

The newly elected mayor of Cohoes has started out on the right foot. First of all he took a $13,000 cut in salary. He is in the process of reducing the payroll by getting rid of unnecessary workers. He promised to hire no more at this time. He intends to come in with a practical budget to counter waste and inefficiency. He has discovered over $400,000 in unpaid bills. He has contacted Carl McCall, NYS Comptroller, to put into effect a smart audit program.

The mayor is a good example to follow. Ask any normal taxpayer (excluding the in-crowd) and they will tell you Mr. John McDonald, mayor of Cohoes, should remain very popular. If he opposes the very high municipal and school taxes he will put others to shame. Can you see the mayors of Troy and Albany or other local yokels taking a pay cut?

All elected and appointed people should stick to a prudent, responsible agenda. After all, they are supposed to be public servants.

The February 11, 2000 issue of The Wall Street Journal discusses the merits of home schooling and cites the results obtained. Nationally, home schooling is growing and apparently out numbers the 400,000 students attending charter schools by a 2 to 1 margin. Also, rapidly growing are the charter schools and the use of school vouchers.

Home schoolers have bettered the national averages on standardized tests and are actively sought after by college recruiters. The article indicated that these students came from families with incomes lower than the national median. It also contradicted the notion that students are rural whites. The parents of the home schooled have more education when compared with the norm in the USA.

The options available to educate our children are changing. In addition to the parochial, private, and public schools, we now add charter, home, and vouchers. The reader should recognize that change may foster competition and bring about better results. In each environment, qualified teachers are required, desirable curriculums used, and a greater success on standardized tests must be demonstrated.

As enrollments increase in charter, parochial, private, and home schooling, it decreases in the public sector. PLAN AHEAD!

Our industrious NY Senate is now proposing to increase tuition assistance for families up to an income of $80,000. An estimate of $1,130 a year in savings to those in the $75,000 bracket. In truth, a family with an average income of $32,000 or less, will be paying taxes to subsidize a family with over twice their income. Average families in the lower brackets do not have available to them expert tax advice as do state legislators ($79,000 plus) and their associates, educators and friends.

The middle class pays the freight, in other words. This involves not only state and federal income taxes but also all local charges, fees, sales taxes (8%) but January taxes and outlandish school taxes for homeowners.

If this were not true, most families could better manage their own affairs including heating costs and not bother with government interference. Throwing the doggy a bone is an insult. Government is the problem in the first place.

The vast middle class are industrious, productive citizens not indigent beggars. They resent being categorized as paupers and having their legitimate grievances ignored. Forget about grants to special interests. To our politicians we say – Do your job and listen to normal citizens who make the wheels go round.

US Representative Michael McNulty (D) and Maurice Hinchey (D) are headed for Cuba on a five day "Fact Finding" mission for, we assume, publicity reasons to bamboozle the American people into lifting our embargo against communist Cuba. We have home grown liberals and socialists who are attempting to place the blame on the American people for the starving conditions caused by the failed communist regime. Have our adventurers forgotten that it was the same Castro that allowed the former Soviet Union to put into place atomic missiles 90 miles from our shores? Do our members of congress "on tour" recall that Lee Harvey Oswald spent considerable time in communist Cuba prior to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy?

In 1993, it was newly elected President Clinton together with far out liberals including McNulty who passed Clinton’s economic plan that signed the death knell of our Watervliet Arsenal, the Plattsburgh Air Force Base, and Griffiths Air Force Base in Rome, NY. Our national defense systems have been on the decline ever since.

Can our sojourners, Mike and Maurice, explain the recent arrest of Mariano Faget, a Cuban spy suspect caught by the FBI recently? In the TU Feb 19, "FBI assistant special agent Paul Mallett said during a news conference in Miami that Faget’s alleged espionage could compromise national security and that additional arrests were expected in the continuing probe."

Should we place any credence on our weeping willow clergy and homegrown socialists who want to "aid" our friend and neighbor?

Let’s allow Elian to remain here. Him we can trust.

1. If we can’t teach ‘em anything, let’s make it easier for them. We’ll lower passing grades to 55%. That’ll make us look good. Besides we need the money. Educators Lament
   
2. If you think fuel oil and petroleum product prices are going up – wait till you get a look at your next school tax bill. Worried homeowner
   
3. If you came across President Clinton struggling for his life in the raging waters of a flooded steam and you had a choice between saving him or taking a Pulitzer price winning picture, what shutter speed would you use? Retired
   
4. In a book entitled Slick Willie authored by Floyd G. Brown, page 71 - "in 1980 Hillary Clinton was chairman of the New World Federation, where she authorized grants to organizations that backed the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Sandanistas." A True Patriot

The people still do not want Columbia Turnpike widened. Let your voices be heard.
Clinton Heights Resident

Dollar Bill Bradley says "Algore is untrustworthy". Whatever gave him that notion?
Sand Lake Resident

The controversy in the U.S. House about a minister or a priest for the chaplain can easily be settled. How about the Rev. Al Sharpton?
Rensselaer City Resident

Pretty soon we may have two swimming pools. Now all the people have to do is set aside several million dollars to settle liability claims in case someone is seriously injured or drowned. Insurance may not cover it.
East Greenbush Resident

We suggest that Hillary and Billary and Algore be first to receive the anthrax vaccine
Schodack Resident