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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT Graduation Address Part 2  By John F. Bailey June 29, 2018:

Everybody had a chance to stretch? Are you afraid of your future?

You have every right to be afraid. The older people you’re dealing with in power hate you because you have your lives ahead of you and I believe you are well aware of what’s going on today. But it’s no longer material for the late night comedians. The laughs get stuck in your throat, don’t they?

Back to The Guardians’ theme.

If you read the papers, or at least watch the late night comedians, you should grasp the serious problems of leadership America has right now.  The courts have been turned conservative. Hating of people who are not white is now in fashion. A generation of bad gringos at the top of America and in the Republican Party and in the Democratic Party have allowed this new neo-Nazi, anti-immigrant, anti people-without –a-lot-of-money to throw their weight around and seize power. They have wielded it irresponsibly damaging American tradition perhaps forever.

The Guardians in my generation have failed you. I never expected the horror of the Supreme Court rulings we have seen the last 18 months. The total irrationality of the Supreme Court (a corporation is a person? Please).

What the new conservative Supreme Court has proved is you can rationalize anything you want if you do not visualize the consequences of what you are ruling. (Again there is that devil’s word: rationalization.)

I never thought the bankers who bankrolled Mr. Trump were as stupid as they were when they bankrolled and forgave him time after time. If you, my future guardians default with a bank, you will lose it all. It is only the people who owe billions who get granted extensions unlimited.Banks have no mercy.

Now it is not easy to be a Guardian today.

But your mission is out there, should you choose to grasp it.

How many here know Plato’s definition of the Guardian?

Where is Socrates when you need him?

This is Socrates speaking  in Book 9 of The Republic, in which Socrates explains what it takes to be a Guardian, the Philospher King and how a Philospher King would address a supporter of injustice:

“…the supporter of justice makes answer that he should ever so speak and act as to give the man within him in some way or other the most complete mastery over the entire human creature. He should watch over the many-headed monster like a good husbandman, fostering and cultivating the gentle qualities, and preventing the wild ones from growing; he should be making the lion-heart his ally, and in common care of all should be uniting the several parts with another and with himself.”

“Come now and let us gently reason with the unjust, who is not intentionally in error. ‘Sweet sir,’ we will say to him, “what think you of things esteemed noble and ignoble? Is not the noble that which subjects the beast to the man, or rather  to the god in man? And the ignoble that which subjects man to the beast?” He can hardly avoid saying Yes – can he now?” But if he agree so far, we may ask him to answer another question:

“Then how would a man profit if received gold and silver on the condition that he was to enslave the noblest part of him to the worst? Who can imagine that a man who sold his son or daughter into slavery for money, especially if he sold them into the hands of fierce and evil men, would be the gainer, however large might be the sum which he received? And will anyone say that he is not a miserable caitiff  who remorselessly sells his own divine being to that which is most godless and detestable?”

Socrates notes “Why are mean employments and manual arts a reproach? Only because they imply a natural weakness of the higher principle; the individual is unable to control the creatures within him, but has to court them, and his great study is how to flatter them. Being desirous of placing him under a rule like that of the best, we say that he ought to be the servant of the best, in whom the divine rules..not to the injury of the servant, but because everyone had better be ruled by divine wisdom dwelling within him; or if this be impossible, then by an external authority, in order that we may be all, as far as possible, under the same government, friends and equals.”

“…the law is the ally of the whole city; and is seen also in the authority which we exercise over children, and the refusal to let them be free until we have established in them a principle analogus to the constitution of a State, and by cultivation of this higher element have set up in their hearts a guardian and ruler like our ow, and when this is done they may go their ways.”

“He will look at the city which is within him, and take heed that no disorder occur in it, as might arise either from superfluity or from want; and upon this principle he will regulate his property and gain and spend according to his means.”

Socrates set out this challenge to the youth of his day 450 years before the birth of Christ.

Now, graduates you are America’s last hope to set things right with America to hold the irresponsible and selfish leaders of today accountable for the desperate situation America faces today.

I am not exaggerating.

We’re leaving it all up to you…You Decide What You’re Going to do…Whether you’re  Going to Save America or are we Through?

You have to be the best you can be—championing  justice and human rights America once held dear that now in the new age of sophistry—have been trashed as weakening America. For God’s sake, immigrants built this country.

You students who are from all kinds of ethnic backgrounds you’re the real Americans and it is time to go to the pathetic local political organizations and become active, questioning, challenging and demanding truth, justice and the American Way.

It is your turn at the plate. And you’re in a big spot.

You doctors to be out there—challenge the corporate barons who run health today. Set up your own hospitals. Create clinics that care. Demand lower prescription prices, shun opiates. You know the issues–read the Hippocratic Oath take it to heart.

Lawyers-to-be represent the unrepresented. You’ll love yourself when you get home at night.

You writers out there start a website like mine and use your energy make money with it. You’re far smarter than me.

You business majors out there: bring a new ethic to business: helping people feel they can be part of a business team again.

You psychology and social workers out there: be independent and minister to neighborhoods like dedicated clergy—recreate your professions.

Teachers-to-be: it is time to take back the teaching profession from the bureaucracies and not be intimidated by the new teaching technique rage of the day.  Demand professionalism from your colleagues in an effective way. Never lose your enthusiasm to help to want to make a difference. It’s why good teachers are so happy. Every day they do good.

Artists—create art, photography that reaches the soul when someone looks at it.

Playwrights, Directors Producers aspirants: create stories that exalt human dignity and not assault it, something my generation has done all too well.

Journalists-to-be—do not be afraid of the powerful. You are the persons they fear the most. And this bit of advice every leader, spokesperson, elected official and employed government professional fears you and won’t or can’t tell you the truth. And after a few months they won’t return your calls.  And you have to study like hell to find the truth to get it out there.

Contractors, architects—dedicate yourselves to building what America needs affordable housing on a grand scale that is energy efficient and is not dependent on banks’ largesse to finance that. How do we do that? You will find a way.

Dream your dreams and rescue America in the process.

It’s up to all of you the new Guardians to bring America Back to what we once were before

We have messed your America up for you real good.

And now you like generations before have the challenge the forefathers had: Create us again with your courage, hope, and the courage to be at your best – always.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for you.

Just a little pressure on you.

Pressure is tough, but it makes you a better person.

Go get them, kids.

 

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE 2. By John F. Bailey. June 26, 2018:

Frankly, I’m puzzled.

How can you budget millions more in sales taxes than you got in previous years. That’s what the County Legislators did in passing the 2015,2016, and 2017 budgets of the Astorino administration.

The same ones they are criticizing now.

The deficits piled up by exuberant overoptimistic “dartboard” budgeting of expected sales taxes may be what lead to the handwringing of the current posse of County Legislators screaming about budget deficits, and chasing down higher taxes next year.

Since Westchester County sales taxes are going gangbusters this year, up 5 POINT 9 percent in 5 months, you would think White Plains would show more life in its economy. But you would also think the county should be in greater shape going into the 2019 budget. After all people living outside White Plains have internet, too. (The internet is used as a premier reason the White Plains economy is not thriving and swarming with millennials.)

The latest New York State Office of Taxation and Finance numbers show Westchester County with $213,100,782 in sales tax dollars through May, compared to $201,204, 154 in 2016 through May.

That is a thumping growth rate of 5.9% (6%) in five months. While the new County Administration is pleading poverty, laying ground for tax increases for 2019, they seem to ignore the $15 Million plus more in sales taxes they got last year, (WPCNR is the only media that has pointed this surplus in sales taxes from 2016) and now at this rate of growth  they may get another $24 Million more this year.

The rub is that overestimating sales tax revenues has been a convenient  tool shaping the previous Astorino budgets in 2015,2016,and 2017–all rubberstamped by the Democrat County Legislature majority.

In 2015, the county budgeted $528,169,000 in sales tax revenues, even though for the previous year, the county received $503.8 Million in sales tax. The county predicted a $528,169,000 sales tax handle, a 4.8% increase which they had never gotten previously. How much did they actually get in sales tax revenues in 2015: $499,527,981– a $28,641,019 deficit from the budgeted sales tax. The legislators approved that budget, even given the fact that when budget approval time came, they could see based on October sales tax receipts they were nowhere close.

In White Plains, the city charter prohibits the city from budgeting more sales taxes in the new budget than were received in the previous year. The county has no such prohibition. Perhaps legislation should be enacted to stop this kind of wildly optimistic pie-in-the-sky budgeting.

The same Astorinoesque optimism on sales tax happened in 2016 and 2017.

In 2016, the sales taxes received by the county was $505,878,099, yet the county had budgeted for 2016, $525,769,000. Another pollyanna dart throw that created a $19,890,901 deficit.

In 2017. The Democrat controlled legislature did it again. They got lucky. They budget The actual 2017 sales tax receipts were $525,513,104 , they had budgeted $517,559,000, and they benefited with a $7,954,104. Sometimes the blind squirrel finds the nuts.

Yet we still hear hand wringing  from the Democratic legislators about the big deficit the county is facing. The Democrats own this budget deficit on the sales tax overestimations based on God knows what.

Are you counting?  The deficit created by sales tax over estimates is $41 Million, over the last three years even when the 2017 surplus is subtracted.

The county now is generating fantastic growth and the deficit county legislators talk about without showing dollar for dollar where the deficit is coming from, is troubling. The county is in the money. But due to their irresponsibility the last three years which they approved, it’s not having the effect it should have.

The surplus from the 2017 sales tax windfall $17 Million, should plug one hole that was supposed to be filled by the ill-fated Robert Astorino airport lease deal. Now there’s no need to do any deal — if it wasn’t for the over estimation of sales taxes in 2015 and 2016. How did they make up for that? That’s what the current Budget Director, who also prepared the 2015-2016 and 2017 budgets needs to explain in depth.

What does it mean for the taxpayer, boom for the county and not so great a recovery for you.

If the county needs to fund the CSEA settlement that would be an increase in the budget say 15% to cover that, they have been without a contract for 8 years, assuming around 2% a year, the county budget would go up around $300 Million dollars topping $2.1 Billion.

The sales tax increases are not going to cover that.

Then there is the new debt  $50 Million debt  (I think it’s $50 Million) for Playland the county is going to assume if they go ahead as proposed with the Nick Singer Standard Amusements group, thus increasing the debt service on Playland, when the original Standard Amusements deal was going to pay the existing Playland debt service.

Now, we await the whole Playland denouement, depending of  course on Mr. Singer giving the county more money in the Playland deal. There is no indication that the county has met with Mr. Singer to bargain up the Standard Amusements payment at the time of this writing. Time for those secret meetings to start!

There is the redlight camera revenue operation the county just sent up to Albany asking for permission to “redlight camera” Westchester.

Then of course there are all the Democrat-friendly organizations and non-profits to keep happy with increased grants, county support.

If my County Property Tax increase goes up 15% it will only be $400 on top of the $2,400 I pay now. But if all the Democrats friends and relations have to be rewarded, it may be more than that.

So why not start discussions  on the budget and sweet talk the public now?

Please, county legislators, put out power points on the specific deficits caused by the Astorino administration that have to be made up.The deficits  have never been articulated in a specific matter, along the lines of “we have a deficit of $25 Million caused by Mr. Astorino borrowing for this, or not spending this” then the public would understand.

However, this is the same Democrat controlled legislature that approved all of Mr. Astorino’s budgets 7 of the last 8 years. They even approved the 2018 budget–the deficit drenched budget, according to them.

The Democratic Legislature owns this budget and it should be discussed as soon as possible to clarify the problems,admit their financial inability to count, and stop blaming the previous administration for budget policies they approved.

In fact the Astorino Budget Director is still the Budget Director under the new administration. He should be explaining what was bad about the Astorino Budget that he protested to no avail.

The truth shall set you free. But you always pay for ignoring the truth.