Out of Touch With Reality

Hi Everyone:

I might be wrong (most probably not), but aren't we still in a recession? Not just any old recession but the great recession? With unemployment now topping 10% in this country and most companies still reeling from lower consumer spending, this recession has a ways to go before the economy becomes healthy again. I say these things because in and around Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties you wouldn't know that we are still in a recession. Now what am I talking about?

I am totally amazed and extremely bewildered about what some of the towns, villages and cities in the above counties, located in New York state, have submitted for their annual budgets. Some of the budgets for their next fiscal year appear, no make that absolutely are out of touch with reality. I have read reports of property tax increases of up to 18%?! While the majority of people are tightening their belts and spending less due to either the higher costs of almost everything or a lay off in the family which translates into less weekly income; there are a lot of municipalities who are increasing their spending, not decreasing. What the hell!!!!!!!!!!!

When economic times are good, municipalities spend our hard earned money like there is no tomorrow. Local governments grew and grew and grew with no end in sight and the end result were property tax increases that never ended. There were always people who rightfully complained about the tax increases but their voices went unheard when the increases were approved and implemented anyway. Now when economic times are hard, very hard, there are unbelievably, municipalities who are spending money, (again our money), like there is no recession. To them it is damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead no matter what. The elected officials have stated every so called reason under the sun as to why the property taxes need to be increased. What I didn't read was about was their cutting costs or saving money any way they could. They don't like layoffs because it is political suicide. Local governments are out of touch with reality and have been for so long that a lot of people seem to be immune to it and don't speak up in any way including voting out the bums who just don't get it. In my area, I was amazed to see the majority of elected officials re-elected again last month. If they didn't get it prior to the elections, what makes people believe that they get it now. Well it is apparent that those same idiots don't get it and are going down that same path of higher property taxes.

New York state has a long standing problem of forcing its residents out of the state to any place with much lower taxes. I'm sure a lot of you have read about NYS's budget problems which seem to be endless, but the problem really starts at the local level and those elected morons seem to have no conscience to the pain they inflict by raising taxes, both financially and physically. I say physically because there are numerous people who cut back on their medications and food so they are able to pay their taxes and remain in their homes.

As I have stated so many, many times before in my blog, politicians just don't seem to have any common sense what so ever and they don't seem to care. If they weren't voted out of office last month what are we to do? Move out of state I guess!

When will this insanity of higher taxes end? Will politicians ever hear the voices of their constituents? Or will this stupidity continue adinfinitum?

Common Sense rules and higher property taxes drool!

Til next