As of tomorrow, New York City will ban smoking in public parks beaches and other public areas. While the main tenet of this blog is that State and local governments should have broad powers while the Federal government is limited to those powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution, this act of the New York City Council and Mayor Bloomberg are an overreach of its powers. I admit that I enjoy smokeless bars, but such a broad prohibition of a legal substance is an abuse of process. I am not a smoker, but I have to support their right to smoke. It was only 90 years ago that this country tried to prohibit a commonly used substance. That didn't work out very well and I cannot see this ending much better.
But this is only one example of the progressive agenda rampaging through New York City. The issue is that as New York City pursues this agenda, it clearly becomes less and less competitive as a state. Almost every source indicates that people are moving out of New York because it is unaffordable to live here.
Some in the Federal government are trying to apply this progressive agenda to the rest of the country. In my opinion, this is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing on a larger scale expecting different results. The greatness of this Country has also come from the recognition that we are a country of different states, with different people wanting different things.
- Publius
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Government run amock!
Dear readers,
welcome to the new Federalist Papers. I look forward to exploring today's important issues with you. I will primarily seek to explore the role of the Federal government in the United States. I will also explore its interaction with the state and local governments.
I will approach the subject by commenting on the more important issues in current events. For purposes of full disclosure, I will begin by stating that I am a Republican. I will however, attempt to be as fair and open as my personal opinion will allow me. I am a Republican because of very strongly held beliefs, not vice versa. I am an attorney and a graduate of SUNY Albany and Fordham University School of Law. I am an immigrant from Eastern Europe.
The most significant issues facing the United States are issues faced by the majority of the civilized world. We are facing a debt crisis that is approaching that of many European countries like Greece and Spain. It is easy to see what the effects are of an out of control debt crisis. If we do not act to control our debt crisis, we will face those same problems.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner has informed the Congress that if they do not act soon, the United States will default on some of its debt obligations. The consequences would potentially be dire - Mr. Geitner suggests that we would likely see a double dip recession. I do not doubt that defaulting on our debt must be avoided. However, any increase in the national debt ceiling must be accompanied by a significant plan to reduce debt over the next 10 years. That means, at the very least, a significant cut in spending.
The cuts in spending however must be accompanied by a change in the tax system. It needs to be simplified and we must cut the number of subsidies that we give out. These changes will not be easy. Outside of spending cuts, more radical changes should wait until the country recovers from the recession. More precisely, we must avoid any additional taxes on small and large business at the present to encourage spending in the United States by the private sector.
However, no one party must try to accomplish this goal. Unlike the first 2 years of President Obama's presidency, we must work together as a country. Cooler heads must prevail over fear mongering from political pundits. The system must change to preserve our most precious rights.
- Publius
welcome to the new Federalist Papers. I look forward to exploring today's important issues with you. I will primarily seek to explore the role of the Federal government in the United States. I will also explore its interaction with the state and local governments.
I will approach the subject by commenting on the more important issues in current events. For purposes of full disclosure, I will begin by stating that I am a Republican. I will however, attempt to be as fair and open as my personal opinion will allow me. I am a Republican because of very strongly held beliefs, not vice versa. I am an attorney and a graduate of SUNY Albany and Fordham University School of Law. I am an immigrant from Eastern Europe.
The most significant issues facing the United States are issues faced by the majority of the civilized world. We are facing a debt crisis that is approaching that of many European countries like Greece and Spain. It is easy to see what the effects are of an out of control debt crisis. If we do not act to control our debt crisis, we will face those same problems.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner has informed the Congress that if they do not act soon, the United States will default on some of its debt obligations. The consequences would potentially be dire - Mr. Geitner suggests that we would likely see a double dip recession. I do not doubt that defaulting on our debt must be avoided. However, any increase in the national debt ceiling must be accompanied by a significant plan to reduce debt over the next 10 years. That means, at the very least, a significant cut in spending.
The cuts in spending however must be accompanied by a change in the tax system. It needs to be simplified and we must cut the number of subsidies that we give out. These changes will not be easy. Outside of spending cuts, more radical changes should wait until the country recovers from the recession. More precisely, we must avoid any additional taxes on small and large business at the present to encourage spending in the United States by the private sector.
However, no one party must try to accomplish this goal. Unlike the first 2 years of President Obama's presidency, we must work together as a country. Cooler heads must prevail over fear mongering from political pundits. The system must change to preserve our most precious rights.
- Publius
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