wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Ben Thompson from NYC metro area December 17, 2008 - 10:06AM

  Don't complain, NYC. Higher taxes are patriotic; just ask Joe Biden.

  Your governor, in a time of no confidence in anyone of authority, anywhere, is about to appoint the total lightweight Caroline Kennedy as your next Senator. Just what the doctor ordered.

  When will you lefties understand: this is what government is all about.

  The best route to happiness is to rely on yourself and be beholden to nobody.

  
  
• [2] Alex from Queens December 17, 2008 - 10:10AM

  Tax the soda all you want, I'll just buy it out of state.

  
  
• [3] Judy Richardson from Brooklyn December 17, 2008 - 10:12AM

  Taxing the rich is the only way out. They may kvetch, but they won't move! Where would they move to that would be this much fun? Why is the Governor so opposed to that?

  
  
• [4] Nicole from Brooklyn December 17, 2008 - 10:12AM

  Bloomberg said it best, his friends love NY and won't move just because they have to pay a little bit more in taxes. Paterson is being ridiculous and completely unfair. Has he switched political parties?

  
  
• [5] stu in nyc December 17, 2008 - 10:14AM

  Call me crazy or illogical, but I would rather drive to NJ and pay the toll (and buy cheaper gas) than pay a tax on sugared soda. Our country is the home of Coca Cola and Pepsi, and to tax it is un-American.

  
  
• [6] Cynthia from Brooklyn, NY December 17, 2008 - 10:14AM

  These are seriously difficult times economically, so the governor is proposing tax all those things - music, food, movies, etc. - that might remotely relieve the stress. Does that make sense to you??

  
  
• [7] Robert from NYC December 17, 2008 - 10:14AM

  How would it affect me? Well, I'm on a very tight budget of SSDI ONLY, ONLY!!! Try to live on that! And as far as the idea that WE ALL have to "chip in" has gone way too far because we all can't. How dare they ask us to give up something, HOW DARE THEY!!! That's all we do to make up for these cheaters and thieves who have stashed away millions or billions and can live just fine, yet we who have paid our taxes all the way through our lives have to "chip in". WE HAVE CHIPPED IN. It really is time for "we the people" to get up off our duffs and get these people out of office and find people who really do represent us, the people. It's time for a REAL CHANGE.

  
  
• [8] Charles from Bklyn December 17, 2008 - 10:18AM

  After many years of the wealthy gaining the disporportionate benefit of New York's revitialization, putting the largest burden on the middle class again is outrageous.

  
  
• [9] RIVA ROSENFIELD from PARK SLOPE December 17, 2008 - 10:19AM

  I AGREE WITH DAN KANTOR COMPLETELY ABOUT TAXING MILLIONARES TOO. I JUST WROTE TO GOV. PATERSON ABOUT THE UNFAIRNESS OF HIS BUDGET.

  
  
• [10] "nickle and dime" tax plan supporter from Brooklyn, NY December 17, 2008 - 10:19AM

  I think it's a great plan to add a tax to frivolous purchases. I don't buy any of these items/services, so it's a great plan for me. Even if I did they're still luxuries, if you can afford mp3's, taxi rides, soda, cable/satellite TV, massages (besides physical therapy), you can afford to pay the tax on it.

  You can't argue that any of these items are essential, everything is a luxury.

  
  
• [11] NWP from Greenwich December 17, 2008 - 10:20AM

  Patterson has a deal with the legislature. He announces that we have to cut off both arms and both legs. Then the legislature will announce that we have to double the income tax.

  People panic. The result will be that what happens is unctious if announced now but after the above choices doesn't sound THAT bad.

  ALL contracts with public employees were won because they threatened to vote out the politicians. They are ALL overcompensated in the long run. Let them get the same deal as in the private sector. Retire at 65 with no medical and your 401.

  It was reasonable to give these benefits when the current pay was low. Today they earn market rates for a 180 day year less days off.

  UNFAIR!

  
  
• [12] Robert from NYC December 17, 2008 - 10:23AM

  hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha throw a shoe, I love it!! Oh god we're all sick.

  
  
• [13] Robert from NYC December 17, 2008 - 10:30AM

  Maybe they're going to send him to Bagdad for punishment? (the shoe guy that is)

  
  
• [14] Liz from Westchester December 17, 2008 - 10:41AM

  Brian,

  I would love to hear a conversation about the closing of the Pheasant farm in the NYS budget. The NY Times reported that the $750K farm funded by our taxes to raise pheasants for the lone purpose of releasing into the wild for hunters to shoot will be closed. The fact that this was a state run organization is appaling. And on top of that they're going to slaughter the birds and send the carcases to food pantries! What other unnecessary organizations do we pay for?

  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/nyregion/16pheasant.html?scp=1&sq=pheasant&st=cse

  
  
• [15] SB from brooklyn December 17, 2008 - 10:41AM

  Ms. Wylde:

  If the wealthy no longer have the income, they won't have to pay the wealth tax. It's for the people who are *making* the income--to give back to the city and people who helped them make it, and to pay for the services (subways, sanitation, health care) that help them earn those salaries.

  People charged increased subway taxes ("fares")or sales taxes on basics have to pay them *regardless* of the decline in their incomes!!!

  That's the point, Ms. Wylde.

  If those people *lose* those jobs, they won't pay the higher income tax. If they're looking for similarly high-paying jobs in their fields, the odds on finding them--and keeping their kids in the schools they still love, and keeping the arts available, and being able to maintain the community they have--are much higher if they stay and pay a slightly higher tax when they do find those jobs.

  Oh, and if the "talent" you mention is in "high finance," well, given the economic situation we're in and what got us here, aren't there much greater questions about just how talented these high-paid financiers are???

  Perhaps we should have some domestic or sanitation workers getting increased salaries with some of the taxes paid on the remaining high-income people make the decisions on the priorities of the changing economy.

  
  
• [16] J. T. from New York, NY December 17, 2008 - 10:42AM

  Another argument for not paying tax on downloads, originally, was to help stimulate the growth of E-Commerce. That may no longer be a valid argument. iTunes is well established now making this a tax that makes sense.

  
  
• [17] hjs from 11211 December 17, 2008 - 10:45AM

  and diet soda is a poison that we should not be put into our bodies

  
  
• [18] Emma from D.C. (transplanted New Yorker) December 17, 2008 - 10:57AM

  I'm a grad student living on my own and i have a tiny fridge so freezing space is limited can you talk more about how to dividing recipes or cooking for one without eating the same meal over and over. It's a real problem for us singletons and something that there's not much advice for.

  Thanks.

  
  
• [19] jane from hudson valley, NY December 17, 2008 - 10:59AM

  IHOP is pretty good and often has tasty food that is less costly than cooking at home