New York Renovator

I don’t know what it is with me, lol. I’ve been on a “political and economic” rag for a while. Honestly, the economy STINKS, people! Stupid government policies and manipulations (and corporate welfare and corporate tax breaks) are really hurting the average home owner. Here in New York, it’s hit us hard. So I flipped when I saw this headline at my local online newspaper:

State Legislature Passes $1B in Cuts

Wooohoo! Now, $1 billion is a lot of money to us, but not to New York State, which has a budget of $122 billion this year. Nonetheless, I think it is the first time in a very long time (what is it, 100 years now?!) that New York has passed spending cuts! Of course, they are going to cut “services” and “programs,” but not necessarily salaries. Oh well. At least it’s a start. Now, if they’d only lower the stinking taxes…

I saw an interesting news article at CNN, Is Your Job Recession-Proof? Here in Upstate New York, most people can (and have) answered that question with a resounding “no.” We’ve seen not only a massive exodus of people leave the state, but a massive exodus of jobs. New York State is perhaps the most hostile for business, or we’re a close second to California. Excessively high taxation, high and stringent regulation, penalties for non-union and non-corporation businesses, and an extremely high cost of living are the main causes. It’s been building to a climax for nearly 30 years now, and the poor frog in the pan is almost cooked through.

However, there are some temporarily recession-proof jobs in the state. But they are all all government jobs. And government jobs are paid for by taxpayers in the private sector. When you have a decreasing population, a remaining population with fewer jobs and lower wages, and a high cost of living, the schism between cushy government jobs and the working people is overwhelming and totally unsustainable.

So it is with this knowledge that I read the CNN article. Their list of recession-proof jobs is as follows:

1. Education –we’ll need more teachers, says CNN; we’ll get only more administrators, says Mrs. Mecomber. Education jobs are 100% funded by taxpayers.

2. Energy sector –oil, gas, and geothermal industry, and more engineers. Taxpayers pay for research and some corporations get government support/bail-outs.

3. Environmental sector –engineers and scientists for research into “green” technology. Again, research is heavily funded by taxpayers.

4. Health Care –nurses, technicians, etc. Health care is already bankrolled by the states; should it go national, expect a collapse of the economy, not a boost. Like P.J. O’Rourke said, “f you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free.”

5. Security –border patrols, police, Homeland “Security” jobs, etc. These are 100% taxpayer-funded jobs.

Now, there are a lot of jobs in the private sector that belong in that list. But by and large, education, environment, health care, and security are mainstays of governmental jobs. I do not see how on earth that jobs can continue to grow in the government, with wages and perks going higher and higher, while the taxpayers are suffering job losses and extremely high cost of living. Taxes are continually going up, and taxpayers are going under. You’d think that there would be a clarion call for government to shrink in size, and build a new policy toward encouraging small business. Nope. Everything is going to China or India, except government jobs. Oh wait– some government jobs are going there, too, because fewer and fewer taxpayers are able to support the great big behemoth that is U.S. government and all its bureaucracies (not to mention all the perks, pork and taxpayer-funded cruises).

I don’t see how this kind of economy can sustain itself in a capitalist economic system. Of course, I don’t think many in government want a capitalist system anymore. Doesn’t this type of economy they are pushing on us look a lot like fascism?

Thanks to Attempts at Sustainable Living for the CNN news story.

This news story is a little old (from March) but the story behind the news is not old. It asks the modern question, “Who owns your property?”

From the Watertown Daily News

MORRISTOWN — The town is making a statewide appeal for help in prosecuting Amish men for building homes without permits. Ten members of the conservative religious group have been charged in the clash between building codes and religious tenets that shun modernization.

The ordeal began in July 2006, when Andy Miller, Dumont Road, was charged with building a house without a permit. His case was repeatedly delayed because he did not have an attorney, and an agreement to issue a permit was reached in January 2007. The town eventually declined, however, because Mr. Miller would not allow code enforcement officer L. Kay Davis to inspect his home, as agreed upon.

The small town is paying through the nose– due to translation problems (the Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch), lack of legal help, and more. Oh boo hoo. I really have little sympathy for the state in this case. Why? Because the state is merely using their overbearing laws to punish the Amish. The Amish guy does not want electric or plumbing in his home– but the state is going to force him to do so, anyway? And at the cost of the homeowner? And then continue to charge him exorbitant taxes so that he may continue to “keep” his land?

This is ridiculous. Essentially, it is not the property owner who owns his land. For all intents and purposes, when you get a piece of paper saying the land is yours, but then you are forced to 1) pay high taxes every year or be evicted, 2) get permission and PAY for that permission to do just about anything on your property (here in NY, you can’t even cut down trees or build a fence without government permission), and 3) allow inspectors to come through your property when they want to— who would you say REALLY owns the land?

Property ownership is a farce in the country! And the sad thing is, we have sold out our own rights under us, by allowing it to happen! Grrr!

I’m surprised! I took the opportunity to take that Bills IQ test that I have seen on a few blogs recently. I scored an 80%, which was a shocker to me. I am deeply in debt (see what old houses do to you?!), but probably the reason I scored so high is that I am well aware that I am deeply in debt, lol. I do have some equity built up on the house– when we bought the house, they only way to go was up, lol! But high taxation and the high cost of living in New York State has reduced our investment, so we are in need of some kind of debt consolidation or debt help program or plan.

The quiz is very easy, and very quick. Try it yourself, you may be surprised. I learned that although I am frugal, I do need to work more toward savings. I’ve put all my apples into the house (equity) and my children. Once we reduce our debt, we will really be doing well. I think most New Yorkers are suffering terribly from the lousy economy up here, and are in severe need of debt relief.

Well, try out the quiz, see how you rate!

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been a little under the weather this week, or what. I’ve had all my days mixed up. I even missed an appointment Wednesday because I thought it was still Tuesday, and today is Friday but I keep thinking it’s Saturday! :-p

The kids and I have been spending a little time outside, trying to pull up weeds in between rainy downpours. It’s been the rainiest July that I can remember in a few years. It’s only been scorching hot for two spells this month. I like it cool, so I’m not complaining! Our dry June has kept the mosquitoes and black flies down a little, so I am grateful for that.

We visited the famous Nichols Pond Park yesterday. I plan to have the post on my travel blog by next week. What, you’ve never heard of Nichols Pond?? lol. That’s where Samuel de Champlain (French explorer and founder of Quebec) got the brainy idea to provoke the Oneida Indians, in their village that was here. Happened in 1615. It was the first time the Indians had heard a gun shot. Champlain and his buddies the Huron Indians from Canada killed a few Oneidas, too. The Oneidas never forgot, and it’s part of the reason why the New York Indians (the Iroquois, of which the Oneidas belonged) fought the French so fiercely during the French and Indian war in 1754.

We wandered the park quite a bit– it was a wonderful place to explore! There’s a large open grassy area, and there’s a deeply-wooded swampy area. This was the location of the large Oneida Indian village, 400 years ago.

July is the month that New York State hums in floral beauty. Everything is in bloom and is so lush and verdant. Walking in the cool woods is especially delightful.

Today, it’s a little bit of garden work. I’ve had to leave most of the gardening to the kids this year. It’s been so painful to bend over. I miss it– I love gardening so much that I even enjoy weeding! My new grape vine is growing so beautifully– I have to get a trellis built up around it or it will tear down the measly wire fencing it’s currently attached to.

This is rather disturbing. It’s a mindless, meaningless USB gadget. Don’t we have ENOUGH gadgets clogging up the world yet?

This time it’s a little LED message board. It can be programmed to display any message and even bother you with audio. It’s touted as a way to “leave a message” when, perhaps, you are away from your computer for a while. Helloo?? Energy crisis? Do we really need to waste energy for something so trifling? What’s next, USB-powered handcrafted jewelry with neon lights? If you have to leave a message while you’re away, why not just write a note on paper?

Here’s the video, see for yourself.

The reason why such clutter is becoming more aggravating to me is because my area in New York State is the target of a proposed behemoth power line transmission path. A company wants to invoke eminent domain to slice through our towns so they can install a 200-mile path of power lines to New York City. They say that NYC is running out of power, and Upstate towns must bear the burden. Boy, that steams me like nothing else! Grrrr.