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Discussion Membership
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A New York change of mind
There are two reasons New York State government's yardstick used to measure how to solve social ills hurts more than it helps: First, well-intentioned impatience to quickly help people in need has led to policies and programs that cover up problems rather than solve them; second, while doing that, it puts a drag on the economic engine that is the only source of revenue by which such problems can be solved. Government's minimal purpose is to check the interactions between its citizens. Beyond that, if a citizen is so disadvantaged not to earn enough to pay for necessary services, government has typically assumed to itself the task of redistributing wealth from other, more fortunate citizens to those who are disadvantaged. Compassion is fine, but in misplaced impatience, government redistributes wealth over the long term rather than retrain needy citizens to take other, compatible, available jobs that might earn enough to pay for those services. Redistribution increases drag on the economic engine of the state to the point that businesses longer wish to locate in the state, in-state businesses move out, and individual citizens flee to escape high taxation. That shrinks the pool of funds to redistribute. Government then institutes programs like empire zones to cut the drag. More to the point, rather than solve the problem, redistribution masks it. After redistribution, the recipient is still unable to earn enough to pay for necessary services. Direct redistribution also foments class warfare. Government often overlooks how important are jobs and the business that create them. Business and government, together, partner to fill social needs. Business generates revenue by which employees can pay for required services. Government monitors the process. Carried to the extreme, if there were no government, resources would still get to citizens, but if there were no business, government would have no resources to invest. Government has reached the point of diminishing returns, but it has yet to realize it, and yet to act. If New York government decides to change the yardstick, it will encourage a business-friendly environment that will improve people's opportunity to work, moderate regulation and taxation, and reduce the need for government-provided social services.
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