A budget that reflects NY

Governor Paterson is drawing heavy fire for his new budget — and rightly so. (See the Press-Republican’s take here.) It manages to serve up a fair amount of bloat, while at the same time dishing out some serious pain.

But the truth is that this budget reflects pretty accurately the American sense of entitlement.

We all want tons of government — everything from healthcare to job creation — but we’re indignant at the idea of paying for it.

In the early going, Governor Paterson rolled out an austerity budget (no tax increases, serious cuts to government services, a fairly tough line with public employee unions), but his poll numbers tanked.

With public opinion ratings under 30%, and the unions and hospitals hitting him from both flanks, it’s hard to see how he could have taken a tougher line with Democratic leaders in the Assembly and the Senate.

There’s an old saying that in a democracy the people get the government they deserve.

The truth is that this budget, ugly as it is, reflects New Yorkers’ lingering appeteite for a free lunch.

Tags: nysbudget