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Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association

January 2001                                                                                                                                                     Volume 6, Number 1

To all of our readers for a happy and prosperous new year. We in the RCTA will continue to use good common sense in fostering what we consider the best information for those who care about our country, its remarkable past, our present, its future and our young citizens. We feel that this is a worthy goal. The invitation is out for all of good will to join us.

The seemingly never ending controversy about school vouchers continues. On Monday, December 11, 2000, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court declared that the Cleveland, Ohio scholarship program for low-income children in failing public schools was a violation of the Constitution Establishment Clause. This action may send 4,000 students back to the undesirable public school from which they escaped.

According to the Wall Street Journal, December 12, 2000, there is a distinct possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will enter into the fray. Currently the powerful teachers unions won in two federal courts based upon a church versus state ruling. With a new president and more than 60 percent of those in a public poll in favor of vouchers, those that now savor victory may soon taste defeat. If it happens, voucher dollars will increase in size up to the amount spent to educate those attending public schools.

This one cannot be glossed over as unimportant, as so many others have. A new state law goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2001 called "the safe schools against violence Education Act". It calls for protections against criminal acts against children. One particular provision is for school employees to be fingerprinted and checked for criminal records. Is there any normal thinking person who would object to such a law? The East Greenbush School Superintendent does not seem to be too happy about it. In a statement to the TU Nov 15, Mr. Brewer said, "current employees are grandfathered in. One quandry school officials are investigating is how the new law affects student teachers and even volunteers who come into the building on a daily basis to work with children. That part is still unclear. At $75 per person we have no funds for that at this time", he said. Is this not an unusual position for a school official to take in regard to the safety of children? When it comes to spending prodigious amounts of the public’s money for every imaginable project to ingratiate our educators with the public, no expense is spared. However, when an important law of a practical nature is initiated, there are excuses and attempts to evade. The recent disclosure that three employees of the Hoosick Falls School District were convicted felons, shows the danger of treating this situation lightly. The obligation for payment of the $75 fee should be the employee’s requirement and not used as an excuse for delaying or avoiding the law. Further, covering a possible past criminal record by "grandfathering" has no validity. Even Hillary wouldn’t dare touch that one.

People have a right to own property and conduct their affairs without the intrusion of government. How does this square with town building permit requirements?

The Town of Schodack requires building permits for new homes, garages, additions, renovations, replacing furnaces, central air conditioning systems, fences, replacing roofs, siding and windows, swimming pools, decks and porches, fireplaces and wood stoves, sheds and gazebos, chimneys, plumbing extensions and site developments. There are additional permits required for home businesses, signs, tree harvesting, septic repair, well installation, and so on. Other towns have similar permit requirements.

It seems as there is little that a homeowner can do to modify or improve his home without approval of town officials. It is also expensive, as each permit requires a minimum of a $15 fee and time off from work for the visit to the town hall to obtain the permit and accommodate at least two site visits by building inspectors. There is also time and expense involved with preparing site plans and building plans to support the permit application. The building department does not have evening or weekend hours.

Now, the logic of permitting is obvious. It is to assure that new constructions meet code and are safe for their uses and are not fire hazards. Admirable goals but liberty minded folk would concede that the property owner would assure that his modifications are safe without big brother looking over his shoulder. More insidious reasons for permitting are aesthetic and architectural review, both of which should be avoided.

Complicating this is that Schodack, and other towns as well, do not have a clear written schedule of what modifications need a permit. A call to the Schodack Building Department asking for clarification elicited the response that "if in doubt, call the building department, we are here to help you". This seems a little backward. It would be more logical that absent a specific requirement for a permit, one would assume that a permit is not required.

Excessive building regulation and permitting is clearly bad for individual freedom.

In these new and changing times we surely could use again, a national moral compass, that an Abe Lincoln would be. And how many of you would jump at the chance to consider yourselves on a par with Abe’s actions and thoughts. And believe that those same actions and thoughts brought an about-face in our nation, turning it from slavery, to a new and just direction of freedom and justice for "all", which is yet, considered the cornerstone of our belief in America. Oh, that we could just reach back across the ages and bring some of Abe’s truths forward to shore up these troubled times……… Well maybe we can. Recently I stumbled across a small slip of paper, probably a hundred years old, upon which are printed these words: "Ten cannots" followed by these lines. –

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift"
"You cannot help small men by tearing down big men"
"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong"
"You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer"
"You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich"
"You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income"
"You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred"
"You cannot establish security on borrowed money"
"You cannot build characterand courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence"
"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves"

By Abraham Lincoln

How far we have fallen from Abe’s ideals as we wrestle one another in the pit of socialism! And isn’t it too bad that Al and Hillary don’t think a little more like "Honest Abe".

From the US Postal Service. Our Christmas cards this year came embellished with the above cancellation. Seems only yesterday we still knew that Christmas was the day we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. We now have a government bent on secularization of all aspects of our lives. Apparently the post office couldn't even wish us a Happy Holiday because Holiday’s first meaning is a Holy Day. To use the word Who in an attempt to discredit the real meaning of Christmas is an insult to the millions of Christian people in the country.

The recent presidential election problem, which was created by the Fourth Estate (the media), was inexcusable. Their zeal in declaring a winner of the election twice served no discernable positive purpose. Apologies, after the fact, will not erase the damage that occurred to either the loser or the winner. It will not refund the staggering costs associated with the numerous recounts nor salve the sounds for those who claim they were disenfranchised.

Likened to a voice in the wind, this writer offers the following suggestions: EST states will open their polls at 9 am, CST states at 8 am, MST states at 7 am, and PST states at 6 am so that all election venues open and close at the same times. Those who make a concerted effort to get out the vote should make sure that the voter fully understands the process. Finally, additional Federal legislation could standardize the process and its tabulation of results. As the election of a president is a federal exercise, there would be no infringement on States Rights. The Electoral College should remain sacrosanct.

Throughout the capital region we see strong opposition to industrial and commercial ventures. Examples are the proposed electric generating plants in Athens, Glenville, and Glenmont; the newspaper recycling plant in Rensselaer; the cement plant in Hudson; the chip factory in North Greenbush; warehouse development in Schodack; various gravel quarries; and retail development throughout the area.

In a recent discussion of a comprehensive plan public questionnaire asking which type of commercial development is supported, "manufacturing" was deliberately omitted as a choice. When pressured, "clean manufacturing" was reconsidered, with the emphasis on "clean". As if anyone favors "dirty manufacturing". Of course opposition to used car lots, promotional signage, and public view of commercial activity is well known.

The opponents of commercial and industrial ventures always put forth seemingly good arguments: It will change our way of life, we moved here to be in the country, it will pollute, it will create too many demands on our infrastructure, it will obstruct our viewscape, there are better ways of doing it, it is not needed, it will reduce our property values, and so on. Underlying it all is the simple fact that opponents just clearly do not want commercial and industrial entities in their neighborhoods.

Unfortunately we all consume and consumed items must be manufactured somewhere, somehow transferred to the consumer, and ultimately disposed of when consumption is done. They do not fall out of the sky into our laps. The truth is, manufacturing, distribution, and disposal are needed and desired. Opponents to these activities have an obligation to state where this activity should take place if not in their neighborhoods. Only then can a reasoned discussion on land use regulations take place.

This seems like a simple enough question with a simple answer. How then can Congressional Democrats and Republicans both talk of a tax cut and mean two totally different things.

Under the Republican meaning, tax cuts are cuts in the amount taxpayers pay. Obviously only taxpayers can receive tax cuts. Under the Democrat meaning, tax cuts are cuts in the amount of revenue the government collects. They can be given to anyone that meets their political criteria, even those that pay no taxes. Under this logic, the ones that pay the least amount of taxes, or none at all, are most deserving of a tax cut because they are least able to pay. Those that pay the most tax are least deserving of a cut because they are most able to pay.

What then is a targeted tax cut? A targeted tax cut is not actually a tax but a spending cut in disguise. The government will pay you to do certain things that it wants you to do. For instance, if you enroll in an accredited college the government will pay some of your expenses but if you buy some books and tools and learn on your own it will not pay for any part of your expenses.

You decide what a tax cut is. We believe that if the government has too much money it should be given back to those that pay it. No strings attached, plain and simple.

Hillary says she is not going to carry out her senatorial duties as either a Democrat or a Republican. Do we suspect she will operate as a Socialist? A good cohort would be Bernie Sanders HR, VT, an avowed Socialist.
Nassau Resident

The refuse transfer station (E. Greenbush Town Dump) problem has raised some questions. Was there a public hearing on this matter? Is the punch card system the best way to improve things? Why was the serious budget deficit allowed to go on for so long?
East Greenbush Resident

At the time of the terrorist attack on the American Marines barracks in Lebanon, the media attempted to blame President Reagan. At the time of the bombing of the USS Cole, the media is completely silent. Clinton is off the hook again.
Sand Lake Resident

Why is such a fancy, expensive railroad station needed? Very high ceilings, copper dome, elaborate stained glass windows, etc. Looks more like a cathedral.
Rensselaer Resident

After this present presidential election, Americans can again have a sense of pride and not be ashamed of our officials.
E. Nassau Resident

The cost of county government is not going down by any means, as our two political parties continue to tangle.
Troy Resident

A strange looking individual entered the Schodack polling place with a new registration card, signed the book, went to the machine and tried by hand to close the curtain. A poll watcher showed her how to throw the lever over and close the curtain. She turned and in aloud voice said.
How do you vota that democrata?
Schodack poll worker

RCTA
PO Box 145
East Greenbush, NY 12061


Back issues of the Taxpayers News are available at:
www.capitalpost.com/rc/rcta.html

Bumper sticker reads, "This is a Bumper Sticker".
North Greenbush Resident

Getting rid of Donna Shalala, Janet Reno, and Madelyn Halfbright alone is worth the victory.
Castleton Resident

What happened to the Clinton prosperity? The Clinton administration is taking credit for it. Now let them take credit for the current downturn.
Schodack Resident

¶ ¶ Coming Attractions ¶ ¶

• RCTA is interested in articles about tax concerns or problems in all of the county. Please, if you choose, write a succinct article for submission to: The Editor at the above address.
• Members of goodwill solicited.

The undersigned hereby wishes to join the Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association (RCTA). Annual dues of $10 are due on acceptance of this application.

Name:_____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

City: ___________________ Zip Code: __________

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