Remember This: The High Cost of “Free”

A Rapid Lesson in Socialism

In only a handful of days, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has given us an up-close and personal view of how socialism goes about things. As recently as five years ago, much of what is taking place would have been seen as cuckoo crazy. In a world where about two-thirds of all 18-29 year-olds have a favorable view of socialism, my confidence that what is happening in the Big Apple will be viewed as craziness is less than it ever has been. You decide if you support the Mayor’s approach to things.

Sticker Shock at City Hall

Let’s start with the budget. Say, the budget you inherited called for spending of five billion dollars. Do you think you could advance a reasonable agenda for less than $127 billion? That is increasing spending by more than 25 times of that five billion number. Let these numbers sink in.

Tax Math and Political Reality

Years ago, I sat in meetings where public officials were trying to figure out how to pay for something. For the liberals in the room, it was simple. If taxing at x rate produced y revenue, then increasing the tax rate by 25 percent meant a 25 percent increase in revenue. At the time (it was a Democratic Administration), I remarked that surely everyone understood that increasing or decreasing the rate of taxing something had an impact. Eyes glazed over.

Who Pays the Bill?

Guess how Mayor Mandani is planning to cover the increase in spending? Option one was to have the state impose whopping increases on the wealthy. No socialist likes to address what we commonly refer to as facts. The top one percent earn 22-24 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI). They also pay at least 40 percent of the taxes. These are numbers.

The Middle Class Gets the Tab

Governor Hochul has thus far declined to support the increase sought by the Mayor. What to do? Mandani is threatening to impose a 9.5 percent tax increase that would impact more than three million homes among working and middle-class residents. In a city that already has rent control, you can predict there will be negative consequences.

Cuts on Paper, Consequences in Reality

Perish the thought of it ever being a good idea to slash spending. Mamdani claims to have identified $1.7 billion in spending cuts. Most who have reviewed the particulars agree this is basically horse excrement. However, those cuts do include slashing $22 million from the police department, along with canceling a plan to hire 5000 new officers. Raise your hand if you agree that cutting spending on law enforcement in NYC is a good idea.

Dogma Versus Common Sense

How about the impact of imposing dogma over simple common sense, not to mention genuine respect for human life? In early January, it was announced that there would be no more removals of individuals from homeless encampments. Seems among socialists, we are supposed to respect life choices, including homelessness. You will recall that this winter found New York City hit by significant snowstorms and severe cold. At least 19 homeless people died. The policy of removal has been reinstituted.

Government and Religion

9-11 saw many people in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn dying at the hands of Muslim extremists. How do you think most residents there would feel about using City trucks to blare out loudspeaker reminders of the call for Islamic prayer at 4:45 in the morning? Can you envision the outrage should the same resources be used to remind Catholics to pray the Rosary? In the socialist world, the government decides on the proper relationship between church and state.

The Myth of “Free”

Shockingly, free food, free buses, etc., all turn out to be more a utopian dream than a good idea in reality. Who knew? Things in the old Soviet Union and the communist world worked so very well. Said no one. Ever.

While we are on the topic, can we please pass legislation that forbids the government from saying it delivers anything for “free?” It is not free. It is paid for by using the tax dollars of hard-working Americans. “Paid for by others” is the truth.

The Cost of Central Control

Here is reality. Socialism overpromises and vastly underdelivers. Plus, it costs a whole lot to witness the failure.

Remember This

Remember this: At the end of the day, the choice is clear. On the one hand, individual freedom comes with largely taking responsibility for the outcomes in your life. On the other hand, socialism assumes ownership and control as to what is best for you. Without apology, I am on the individual freedom team.