Tuesday Links

I'm with Nokilissa too.

Jebby: are you for real? NYC has such a generous social-service sector. I travel often to countries like Malaysia, where one gets a reality check. The folks in our projects live like kings compared to folks there, yet one never sees the type of thuggery that one does here.

How about this for an idea: crime is not a failure of society, but a failure of the criminals in question to integrate themselves into society, and a failure on their part to take advantage of opportunities here.

Posted by: benson at November 18, 2008 9:32 AM

Getting back to the issue at hand, I would like to take a quick survery of the social services that NYC offers:

-600,000 folks in public housing,8% of the population;

-New York State spends more on medicaid than Florida and Texas (both of which have similiar levels of population) COMBINED.

-roughly 800,000 units of housing under rent-control, roughly 25% of all housing units in the city.

-NYC spends something like $14,000 per student in its public grammar schools, more than any other entity in the nation.

-low or no-cost children's health insurance for the working poor, as seen in the avertisements plastered all over the subways.

-a heavily-subsidized mass-transit system.

-subsidized child-care for the working poor.

All of this comes at the expense of a heavy tax burden, with marginal tax rates (federal+state+city) of 40% or higher kicking in at MIDDLE-CLASS income levels.

Tell me, Jebby, where is the "failure of society"? How much do we have to spend before we are not considered a "failure"?

If I sound upset, it is because I am. I am tired of being heavily taxed to pay for these services, and then being told by folks like you that we are a "failure" because some thug won't get off his ass and work, but instead decides to pull out a pistol and rob an immigrant store-owner.

Posted by: benson at November 18, 2008 9:53 AM

ROTW uses the same language as the unscrupulous "block-buster" real-estate agents who operated so effectively in NYC during the "white flight" days of the 60's. They peddled fear, and bought homes on the cheap from those who fled. He fails to understand that this is a different era. He may be trying to do the same thing, as there are runmours that he is a real estate agent. Pay no attention to him.

Nokilissa: I wouldn't pin your hopes on Obama to do something about crime (full disclosure: I didn't vote for him). As DIBS pointed out, crime is a local issue, and must be solved at that level. I think that Bloomberg understands that NYC will unravel again if crime gets out of control. If he doesn't, then I echo the call for the return of Giuliani.

Finally, I also agree with you that any crime is a tragedy. We all started out as bright-eyed babes, as a mother's son or daughter, and it is sad to see any human potential fall by the wayside.

Posted by: benson at November 18, 2008 10:25 AM

Polemecist;

Thanks. You really want these programs kicked upstairs to the federal level,where they will be further removed from accountability????

Today's WSJ editorial page points out that despite Mayor Bloomberg's call for austerity, he is ducking the hard choices. Specifically, they point out that the city's payroll has grown from 270,000 to 310,000 during the past YEAR.

Posted by: benson at November 18, 2008 3:47 PM