OK ... here's the first tidbit about me. I'm an "evil" New Yorker. From Brooklyn (where I was born), to Queens, to Long Island, and now Manhattan. I've lived else, but through and through I feel like a New Yorker. As I explain to my wife, on way too many occasions, while we are poor for Manhattan-ites, we are obviously not poor in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes I think everyone, the poor, the rich, the middle (I feel middle-ish), need to step back and reflect on their respective situation.
I'm not going to get on a pulpit and preach the plight of the rich and try to convince everyone that wealthy people are getting a raw deal. The selfish side of me would love to make that argument. Tax me less. Please tax me less. Who wouldn't say that? Hell, who wouldn't ask the phone company or the power company to leave them off the rolls. But obviously, we all want our phones and our electricity.
And to the middle class... I think we need to accept that it's tough. Stop complaining about it. I mentioned in an earlier post that I was a middle child. I guess I'm used to the plight of the middle. Overlooked. Under appreciated. Honestly, get over it!
Alas, to the have-nots, the target of today's rant. I'll preface with this. I do wish I could help you all out. My wife asks me why I get so sad when I pass someone homeless or disabled on the street. Why I tend to pull a dollar, or two, or ten from my wallet and fork it over. I believe that most people are good. Most people want to help.
But, to the lower class, put your hand back in your pocket!!! Now!!! If you happened to catch the local news here in New York recently, you've probably seen protests by New Yorkers against the budget cuts at both the state and city level. Citizens pleading to the mayor, don't cut this entitlement program. Don't cut that entitlement program. News flash to the poor: there is no endless pot of money that the government, and the wealthy, and the middle class, and the corporations, etc. are keeping secret. I'm not going to deny that you can increase the cash available by raising taxes. That's a different point for a different post (and I will get there ... for sure). However, at this moment, you need to look at what you have and spend appropriately. Dare I make a politically incorrect comment, of which I'm sure I will make many from here on in. One of the reasons the poor are poor, or the poor stay poor, is for the most part they don't seem to get fiscal responsibility. If you make "N" dollars you shouldn't spend more than "N" dollars. While a society raised on credit seems to think differently, there is a reason we make our local governments balance their budgets. Living within your means is a necessity, not an option.
So far all the New Yorkers out their angry about cuts to various social services please open your eyes and realize this ... New York is out of cash!!!
Then again, Mayor Bloomberg, if you wouldn't mind sir, I'm sure you AMEX can cover the difference.
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