When you refuse to call a spade a spade; when you wont give jack his jacket, or Jim his gym-shoes; when you keep trying to defend the antics of a drowning brood; when you depend on others for jobs; when you are willing to grovel for your livelihood; when membership in select groups come with big perquisities; when you suspend your independence in thinking and analyzing; when you refuse to speak the truth, or even critique your friends and/or colleagues (especially when they are wrong); when you are simply a "coward"/ always afraid of some shit; when you owe too many people big favors; when your head is way up other people’s butts; when you refuse to sacrifice for a cause, ideal or a principle; then your objectivity flies out the window, and your morality is convenient and selective-lacking any philosophical and / or religious underpinnings. And before you even know it, your knees are bruised because you have become another Monica-Lewinsky for the (s)elected officials. Go look in the mirror.
Category: News and Opinion
The Grapevine #4
|As most of you know by now, this is my bi-weekly column where I bring readers up to date on things being said out there in the trenches and in the grassroots. I also try to cover events and happenings that won’t make it to mainstream media. Every now and again rumors will sneak into the mix, but for the most part I try my best to be as close to the truth as possible. Some people have asked me where I get my stuff, given that most elected officials in Brooklyn offer me no aid or comfort; far less information. I always tell them that after 33 years around Brooklyn’s politics, I have developed enough sources to get things right most times. I do have many many friends here. Plus, I do try to think, chew gum and walk straight at the same time. What has been amazing is the fact that I am seldom challenged on the veracity of my info. I must be doing something right; especially when I scoop the mainstream media at times.
The Winners: Where New York’s Money Goes
|If you read my prior posts, you know that in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 New York City residents paid an estimated $149.19 for every $1,000 of their personal income in state and local taxes, either directly or through the businesses they work in or patronize, and that the residents of the rest of New York State (the part outside New York City) paid $128.03. This compares with a national average of $104.09. And, you know that nearly the entire difference was accounted for by higher local taxes, since New York’s state taxes, at $62.12 per $1,000 of personal income, were just slightly higher than the national average of $60.83 per $1,000 (and New York State income tax payments by residents of Connecticut and New Jersey in part offsets that difference). This is an overview of where that additional money goes.
The Winners: Where New York’s Money Goes
|If you read my prior posts, you know that in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 New York City residents paid an estimated $149.19 for every $1,000 of their personal income in state and local taxes, either directly or through the businesses they work in or patronize, and that the residents of the rest of New York State (the part outside New York City) paid $128.03. This compares with a national average of $104.09. And, you know that nearly the entire difference was accounted for by higher local taxes, since New York’s state taxes, at $62.12 per $1,000 of personal income, were just slightly higher than the national average of $60.83 per $1,000 (and New York State income tax payments by residents of Connecticut and New Jersey in part offsets that difference). This is an overview of where that additional money goes.
The Winners: Where New York’s Money Goes
|If you read my prior posts, you know that in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 New York City residents paid an estimated $149.19 for every $1,000 of their personal income in state and local taxes, either directly or through the businesses they work in or patronize, and that the residents of the rest of New York State (the part outside New York City) paid $128.03. This compares with a national average of $104.09. And, you know that nearly the entire difference was accounted for by higher local taxes, since New York’s state taxes, at $62.12 per $1,000 of personal income, were just slightly higher than the national average of $60.83 per $1,000 (and New York State income tax payments by residents of Connecticut and New Jersey in part offsets that difference). This is an overview of where that additional money goes.
The Winners: Where New York’s Money Goes
|If you read my prior posts, you know that in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 New York City residents paid an estimated $149.19 for every $1,000 of their personal income in state and local taxes, either directly or through the businesses they work in or patronize, and that the residents of the rest of New York State (the part outside New York City) paid $128.03. This compares with a national average of $104.09. And, you know that nearly the entire difference was accounted for by higher local taxes, since New York’s state taxes, at $62.12 per $1,000 of personal income, were just slightly higher than the national average of $60.83 per $1,000 (and New York State income tax payments by residents of Connecticut and New Jersey in part offsets that difference). This is an overview of where that additional money goes.
Behind Some Cinderella Stories Awful Truths Are Hidden
|Most USA-born folks don’t know that the World Cup Soccer Finals and the Olympic Games (both quadrennial), are the sporting events most watched by people of this planet. Many of them think that such distinctions would go to baseball (World Series) and basketball (NBA Finals); so it wasn’t surprising to find many of my USA-born friends asking rather silly questions, about the event currently being hosted in Germany. But that’s okay; many of us foreign-born folks understand the narcissism and we do empathize. Right here in these dis-united states, there is a different world beyond New York City. Just go south and west of the Potomac. And, oh yes, there surely is a different world east of the Atlantic Ocean and west of the Pacific too. Sometimes we tend to miss these lil truths while living in New York. Sometimes; especially when we want too.
Socialized Medicine? Get Real, It’s Already Here
|On another topic, Rock Hackshaw asked my opinion of government-funded healthcare, ie. "socialized medicine." I responded by sending him an essay on health care finance I wrote a few years back during the recession, and he said I should post it here. It’s long, but he seems to think it’s worth the read.
A spreadsheet backing up my assertions, produced some years ago, is attached. The government share of health care spending is surely higher today. Note also that when I make the case that, directly or indirectly, the federal state and local governments are already paying for most healthcare in any event, I included the share of private insurance that is purchased on behalf of public employees, but not the share purchased on behalf of public employee retirees, which I have no way to measure. Add another few percent to the share of healthcare already funded by tax dollars, even as many are uninsured and get nothing despite paying taxes.
Socialized Medicine? Get Real, It’s Already Here
|On another topic, Rock Hackshaw asked my opinion of government-funded healthcare, ie. "socialized medicine." I responded by sending him an essay on health care finance I wrote a few years back during the recession, and he said I should post it here. It’s long, but he seems to think it’s worth the read.
A spreadsheet backing up my assertions, produced some years ago, is attached. The government share of health care spending is surely higher today. Note also that when I make the case that, directly or indirectly, the federal state and local governments are already paying for most healthcare in any event, I included the share of private insurance that is purchased on behalf of public employees, but not the share purchased on behalf of public employee retirees, which I have no way to measure. Add another few percent to the share of healthcare already funded by tax dollars, even as many are uninsured and get nothing despite paying taxes.
Socialized Medicine? Get Real, It’s Already Here
|On another topic, Rock Hackshaw asked my opinion of government-funded healthcare, ie. "socialized medicine." I responded by sending him an essay on health care finance I wrote a few years back during the recession, and he said I should post it here. It’s long, but he seems to think it’s worth the read.
A spreadsheet backing up my assertions, produced some years ago, is attached. The government share of health care spending is surely higher today. Note also that when I make the case that, directly or indirectly, the federal state and local governments are already paying for most healthcare in any event, I included the share of private insurance that is purchased on behalf of public employees, but not the share purchased on behalf of public employee retirees, which I have no way to measure. Add another few percent to the share of healthcare already funded by tax dollars, even as many are uninsured and get nothing despite paying taxes.