| Libertarian Party of NY -- Press Release -- Libertarians Respond To Pataki's S-O-S |
Reduced choice for New Yorkers, expanded state power, and self-serving rhetoric to excuse away over-the-cliff spending were the most obvious problems Libertarians found with Pataki's address. LPNY Treasurer Werner Hetzner observed that while Pataki was up-beat, "it was the kind of reassuring speech former Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth L. Lay might have given to stockholders just before the collapse. Of course NYS is not Enron. Enron would not be bankrupt if it could just keep raising prices like NY can keep raising taxes. Enron could still be sitting pretty if, like NY, it could keep borrowing to cover deficits or sell its assets to its own Authorities and call it revenue."
According to the Manhattan Institute's E.J. McMahon, adjusted for inflaton, spending during Pataki?s previous fiscal years in office has risen almost twice as fast as it did in Cuomo?s last eight years. "Real state spending in New York has risen 54 percent over the past two decades," McMahon writes. "About one-third of the total dollar increase occurred under Pataki....state funds spending will rise in fiscal 2003-04 and 2004-05 by a total of 10 percent?more than twice the projected inflation rate for that period."
Mr. Hetzner offers his own analysis: "What's a $6 billion deficit among friends when future generations foot the bill? Who really cares when you can pour money into government schools and call it reform? So what if government medical programs break the bank and health insurance laws drives up costs? Are government pensions too generous? No problem. Someone will find something new to tax or something old to tax more. Besides, as long it includes the word 'environment' we'll always vote for another bond act.
"The LP questions the value of legislated initiatives and reforms. Where is the accountability Mr. Pataki speaks of? Where has it been? If local schools are an example of "government by and for the people", then we must accept the notion that, we, the people, actually want schools that fail to perform competently. On the other hand, if we must pay for a money pit we obviously don't want, does that not make us accountable to government?
"Free people, not obedient people, make a better society. A free market more accurately reflects the wishes of free people than government edicts. The market adjusts to the choices of free people. All they need to do is choose. People need not attend board meetings, plead with management, or send political contributions to elect a different CEO for better values. Competition does the trick. What can be more liberating than choice?"
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