Politics As Usual = Exploitation

Although New Yorkers are among the highest taxed in the country the state remains among the most indebted.Democrats and Republicans cause this to happen. Libertarians had no part in this. Just as on the national level, Republican and Democrat governments overused the common treasury to bankrupt the state and its municipalities. What can not be paid will not be paid. Triage is in our future. Who will decide how to distribute losses in the fight for what is left? Will it be We, the People? Will it the "three men in a room" at the state capital? Or will it be a 'fiscal control board'?

New York City and Erie County are not the only examples of the Tragedy Of The Commons where democracy has failed and treasuries emptied. The Tragedy has also struck Buffalo, Syracuse, Fulton and other municipalities. Indeed, local governments have little to say about the state laws that rule them. Mandates have been imposed on them by the state. Counties, towns, cities, school districts are forced to obey. Their elected local governing bodies are essentially a powerless sham. People are unaware that when they vote for their school board their vote means very little because that school board answers to state laws not to district voters. Click here if you want to find out more.

Because elected governments have overused the common treasury unelected ''fiscal control boards" replace local governments all over the state. Who appoints/controls 'control boards'?

“We could be heading for a real catastrophe for local governments in New York, especially if there’s an unexpected collapse in Europe or if this country goes into another recession,’’ one of the state’s leading fiscal experts told The Post.

http://nypost.com/2012/08/06/tate-takeover/

There is growing speculation that New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli are reviewing proposals that would create what has been termed a “Super Control Board” with the power to oversee the finances of counties, cities and towns on the verge of bankruptcy including:

The New York State Financial Control Board still overseeing NYC.

Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority (ECFSA)

Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority

Nassau County Interim Finance Authority

But that's not all! Appointed overseers may assume power in Fulton; Fishkill; Syracuse; Rockland County; Monroe County; Suffolk County; Ramapo; St. Lawrence; Poughkeepsie; Franklin County; Genesee Falls; Village of Islandia; Niagara Falls; Town of Colonie, and more.

But The Tragedy is not limited to municipalities. School districts face a similar fate. A current list of fiscal troubles can be found here:

That's not all! Public Authorities have been created to skirt state constitution borrowing limits. These legislated creations also have serious debt issues.The Public Authorities Control Board (PACB) was created in 1976 in response to the growing amount of Public Authority Debt.

The Tragedy Of The Commons spreads. Governments created these problems. There are many ways governments create tragedy. State legislated mandates are most often blamed as the main culprits. Isn't it time to reassess your assumptions about the value of government by observing the consequences? If the Libertarian Party had nothing to do with The Tragedy which political parties do?

Libertarians want to limit government mandates.

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