Why do we need new license plates?

Here is a little something you may not be aware of.

An additional fee adopted in this year's state budget that is bound to cause a lot of road rage.

Starting in April 2010, all drivers in New York will be required to buy brand new license plates at $25 a set, regardless of whether they're driving a new car or not.

That's $10 more than the current price. If you want to keep your same license plate number, it will cost you another $20, making the total $45.

This particular fee begs the question, "Why? Why do we need new plates?"

According to the New York State DMV, this new plate purchase requirement is necessary for safety because “the reflectivity on many of the license plates issued in 2001 has worn out.”

It’s a safety issue…Good answer! Of course it’s also laughable.

Now for all of us who were not born yesterday, keep in mind that there are over 12 million registered drivers in the state, and the State Department of Motor Vehicles estimates this new fee will bring in $129 million.

Safety issue…I think not!

Just another way of the State placing their hands in our wallets and pocket books to remove what little money is left in here? You got it!

By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, license and registration fees went up 25% this past September.

Surprised? You really shouldn’t be.

Our New York State legislature is the most dysfunctional in the nation because, it systematically excludes rank-and-file lawmakers and the public from that process more than any other State legislature. Also, bills receive little debate in committee. They reach the floor only with leadership approval, and once they get there they are adopted without exception, or even our legislators having read them.

Is it any wonder then that…..

We also have the highest income and property taxes in the nation, with businesses, big and small, paying about 40% of our property tax burden.

Our State’s Medicaid program is the most expensive in the nation. Its cost is set by state policy and New York spends more than any State in per person, hospital, drug, and long-term and home health Medicaid cost.

We also have the most costly, per pupil, education system in the nation with our State Legislature dictating its cost (of funding).

I could go on...and on...and on...and on, but to what end?

Until the voters of this state (and nation for that matter) own up to our responsibility as citizens and finally recognize that these turkeys who are running around the State House in Albany work for us and not the other way around, we are doomed to continue to receive the type of elected government representation we deserve.

Think of it this way - If our New York State government were a McDonalds, the Governor would be the store manager, the State Senate would be working the counter taking orders and the State Legislature would be at the deep fry making french fries and flipping burgers but in the end, we would be utlimately responsible as we own the business!

Peter J. Mahon