“Green Acres” and budget makers
While reading about the state budget in The Buffalo News today, I kept thinking of the show “Green Acres” with the struggle between Upstate and Downstate, the rustic vs. the city life and all its glitter. This line in the article especially reminded me of the show:
One tax idea killed was an Assembly Democratic plan to raise income taxes on millionaires.
Cue “Green Acres’” theme song:
I just adore a penthouse view. Darlin’, I love ya, but give me Park Avenue…(dada—dadada)…The chores! (dada—dadada) The stores! (dada-dadada) Fresh air! (dada—dadada) Times Square!
Think the leaders aren’t that tied to the city? Check out this line from the article:
Talks were also stalled as officials awaited the arrival of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, who had transportation problems getting up to Albany.
Maybe he thought “New York is where I’d rather stay. I get allergic smelling hay!”
Here’s what really highlights the priorities our leaders have (emphasis mine):
Stephen Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties, pointed to a plan by the governor to end the state’s payments of half of welfare costs in counties — started during the Great Depression. The deal now calls for counties to pay 51 percent, or about $20 million more.
Meanwhile, Paterson has ordered cuts in state operations and local assistance of 2 percent, with the exception of education, Medicaid and welfare. The 2 percent reduction will affect everything from not-for-profits, homeless shelters, foster care programs and housing projects and will total more than $250 million in cuts.
Got that? No way will they raise income tax on millionaires, but they will cut funding for the homeless, foster kids and the poor.
Where’s Eddie Albert when you need him?
Eddie Albert was a very progressive man, and I’m quite sure he would be in favor of the tax increase on millionaires. He was always fighting for what we would consider today to be progressive causes, helping little people and the environment. Please read his obituary here.
Thanks for that link, Paige. I knew Albert was progressive but I didn’t realize the breadth of it. The sex education video was really ahead of its time, and his patriotism and Bronze Star is also something not many people know about it.
The character portrayed by Albert, Oliver Wendell Douglas, in the mid-1960s, was interested in organic farming, making the voice of the people heard, and taking care of those less fortunate than him through civic acts and charity. (He also ate a lot of “hotscakes”.)