Questionable Priorities of SC legislators:
Pull the trigger on Sullivan County's poverty with same indignation as protecting its citizen's gun rights
by Ruby Pixman
In a rare show of solidarity, the Sullivan County Legislature recently voted unanimously for the repeal of the new restrictive gun law enacted in Albany after the Newtown Connecticut school massacre known as the SAFE Act.
Although the Legislature's vote had no legal state standing, it was a political home run for the legislators, drawing much praise from local residents, particularly the vocal hundred or two that rallied in front of the county office building before the legislature's vote.
Yet despite the spirited outpouring of support to overturn the SAFE Act, the county's most dire problems remain.
In a recent report from the respected Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sullivan County was again named the second worst in the state when it comes to its ability to deliver vital health services. Hunger and homelessness are also high on the problem list in this largely impoverished county.
Wouldn't it be nice if they got together, for a change, to start finally acting to resolve these issues too?
County office-holders have long held that they are inhibited from providing smart, innovative services to address the health, hunger, and homelessness issues, largely due to budget constraints from state mandates that force the county to provide particular Medicaid and welfare entitlements that are targeted for the needy. This has left little discretionary spending within the county budget, officials say.
Yet, do you really think that if the county were freed from its present mandates, the terrible circumstances of the neediest of county residents would be addressed at all?
Speaking of jobs, the lack of them continues to be the number one issue across the nation, New York State and Sullivan County. For, without jobs, respective governments can't collect the revenues needed to fulfill their obligations to their related communities.
Would county officials be willing to provide the barely adequate funds, or would they rather back proposals that give aid and comfort to various favored private enterprises in the hopes that they would produce jobs?
The same conservative dogma that lead to that unanimous vote to repeal the SAFE Act has in fact prevented Sullivan County government from living up to its responsibilities to resolve the local hunger, homelessness, health, and unemployment issues.
In other words, screw the poor in Sullivan County.
Just like government should not interfere with its citizen's gun rights, in terms of vital social services, conservatives argue the answer to our problems would be solved by the free market place and through fiscal austerity.
In other words, the government should do close to nothing. Let those impoverished people fend for themselves and instead get rid of those pesky taxes and regulations that have prevented the private sector from growing.
Back in Sullivan County, the legislature was able to organize a pro-gun rally and stand up symbolically to those evil politicians in Albany who want to take away peoples' guns.
Yes, the county legislature proved its meddle by organizing around claimed state tyranny in regard to the 2nd Amendment, but so far, joblessness, hunger, homelessness, and poor health conditions remain.
After decades of callous disregard, now's the time for the County Legislature to finally attack joblessness, homelessness, hunger, and poverty with the same fervor as those involving gun ownership.
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An interesting article by an obviously ill informed, but well intentioned individual. The Legislature voted to repeal NY SAFE because it is an obvious and blatant assault on the 2nd Amendment, and for that reason alone. Certainly the "outside conservative groups" did have an effect on the vote, but I would hope that our Legislators would have more altruistic motives when they do vote.
Ms. Pixman's article goes on to criticize those same legislators for not doing more to alleviate the poverty within the County. I pose to her; How should they do that? Should they raise our taxes (again)? We are already living in the highest taxed State in the Union. How much more should we, the working citizens, be willing to pay to support people that have no intention of ever seeking a job as long as government will provide. I suggest Ms. Pixman should run for office, and then perhaps she can fill her wish list of things government should provide, which I am certain is lengthy.
As long as NY State, and Sullivan County are being taxed at the present rate business will cease to grow. Less business equals less jobs. Less jobs equal more people not working. We are in a never ending cycle as long as government keeps reaching into the pocket of the producers to provide for the non-producers. We are rapidly entering that area where the entire economy will fall into the abyss, and Ms. Pixman chooses to criticize responsible people for doing their civic duty, standing for the Constitution.
MOLON LABE
Liberty Oathkeepers
Sullivan and Orange Counties (NY)
John Mahoney
845 292 3609
Liberty Oathkeepers
Sullivan and Orange Counties (NY)
John Mahoney
845 292 3609
Instead of complaining about the poverty in Sullivan County, why not vote in fracking - MW
Personally, I think it's awful that our legislature overturned the SAFE act. That mentality is part of Sullivan County's inherent problems. I do, however, agree that Sullivan's other problems are dire, and many unsolvable. - CF
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