It is not an isolated issue, but rather is consistent with the culture of our times: the generation now in charge, the best off in American history, taking more for itself and leaving less for those who come after, and insiders with deals grabbing more and more at the expense of everyone else.
You see the same choices over and over, not just in NYC labor contracts and NY State pension policy. Everywhere.
And you see post after post here on Room 8, the Daily Politics, etc., tons of press releases and news stories on mere $millions, sometimes handfulls of $millions, used by elected officials for their personal business. Along with a mere $200 million in pork, $300 million for the NY share of federal pork. That's petty cash.
These decisions, and the debts and the shrinking number of people getting more and more public health care money, and Social Security, and the school aid and STAR formulae, other similar decisions, affect our lives to the tune of $billions and $billions.
I can tell you this -- the only way I would ever do work for the public sector in NY again is as a consultant. I wouldn't want to face the insult of working for 15% less than those hired earlier, and being forced to pay dues to DC 37 for the privilege.
When I worked at City Planning, the only thing I ever got out of that fine organization was the annual Chistmas Party. Every year I would announce that I was going to go downstairs and try to eat the dues. Not a healthy attitude in an obesity epidemic!
It is not an isolated issue, but rather is consistent with the culture of our times: the generation now in charge, the best off in American history, taking more for itself and leaving less for those who come after, and insiders with deals grabbing more and more at the expense of everyone else.
You see the same choices over and over, not just in NYC labor contracts and NY State pension policy. Everywhere.
And you see post after post here on Room 8, the Daily Politics, etc., tons of press releases and news stories on mere $millions, sometimes handfulls of $millions, used by elected officials for their personal business. Along with a mere $200 million in pork, $300 million for the NY share of federal pork. That's petty cash.
These decisions, and the debts and the shrinking number of people getting more and more public health care money, and Social Security, and the school aid and STAR formulae, other similar decisions, affect our lives to the tune of $billions and $billions.
I can tell you this -- the only way I would ever do work for the public sector in NY again is as a consultant. I wouldn't want to face the insult of working for 15% less than those hired earlier, and being forced to pay dues to DC 37 for the privilege.
When I worked at City Planning, the only thing I ever got out of that fine organization was the annual Chistmas Party. Every year I would announce that I was going to go downstairs and try to eat the dues. Not a healthy attitude in an obesity epidemic!