Why does New York need Libertarianism?

Well let me tell you about my experiences. Throughout my early life I tried to start businesses. Most failed, in part because I wasn't good at what I was doing, or because others did it more efficiently. But alot of the time, laws got in the way. It seemed to me that laws existed which made it extremely difficult for someone with no money to get a foothold. Meanwhile, established businesses and government monopolies had an unfair legislative advantage. If all this seems complicated and abstract, let me give some examples.

Eight years ago I bought a pickup truck in order to expand my small landscaping and pond business, which until then I had been running out of a toyota corolla, and if the tree couldn't fit, a bicycle. Unfortunately the dealer HAD to issue me commercial plates with the sale. Not knowing anything, I parked the truck at home every night. Needless to say, the city targeted that truck like blood in a shark tank. In two weeks, I collected over $300 worth of tickets, because I was parking on the street overnight. Now my parents had a driveway. But what if they didn't? What about someone, alone, who tries to start out? The law assumes that anyone who has a business must also be able to afford off street parking, possibly before even making the first cent, which only serves as another nonmarket barrier to new business.

Next, I tried working as a tutor. I thought nothing about stapling signs on telephone poles, with tear offs at the bottom. What's the harm? Apparently alot, in the eyes of the city. Not only do they rip off the signs, but, according to an anonymous caller, the city can also fine individuals, the figure at the time being $75 per sign. Geez welcome to the neighborhood.

There's cash value in trash. The city sells many recyclable items for cash after garbage collection. All my life I and friends have salvaged interesting items from the trash: antique tables, aquariums, TVs, plants, computers. It was exciting to learn that recyclers actually pay cash for metal. You've probably seen people pushing carts around full of bicycle parts, old pipes, and siding. Many others pick up cans and bottles for the refund. This seemed to me another great way to earn extra income, especially for someone out of work, or who has no startup cash, or doesn't speak english. It turns out that it's all illegal. The city, in its infinite greed, has decided that every item tossed on the street or abandoned on the curb is city property. If you pick something out of a neighbor's trash, the city considers that to be STEALING. If you use a car or truck, they can and will impound it.

Now why do I care? Compared to many others, I had opportunities. I have a college degree, speak english, and I'm a citizen. And part of the time I was trying small businesses, I also had a job teaching public school. Now what about someone who had NO money, or doesn't speak english, or moved here as a refugee? What about a native New Yorker with a family who suddenly gets laid off? It must be unimaginably difficult, as it is. The city needs not get in the way and make it harder. In many parts of the world, a motivated person can survive by "hustling." He or she can take the family car or van and run it as a taxi. He or she can put up a table on a busy street and sell something. He or she can start a home business and place ads on the street. In New York, once the financial capital of the world, a person in dire straits has very few options other than begging. Not only does it rob people of dignity, but it brings us all down, ethically, and economically.

But this is only part of the story. Civil rights are waning in New York City. Despite the NYPD's celebrated program of CPR, or "Courtesy, Professionalism, and Respect," the Department continues to deliver one outrageous mishap after another, adding to a cemetary of unarmed victims shot in botched investigations or mistaken identity. Once known as a capital of social progress, peaceful demonstrations can no longer occur in New York City. Dozens of arbitrary excuses come from City Hall whenever a protest march is deemed inconvenient. I'm sure I read the first amendment correctly. If this weren't enough, protesters have often been arrested, detained without access to lawyers, and had their personal property confiscated or destroyed...... with no recourse. Friends and family continue to tell me stories, each one more incredible than the last. I watch television reports of protests quashed in Asia, and in the Middle East, to where we are supposedly exporting freedom, then switch to local news and see an increasingly frightening similarity.

Then there are the "little things." Innocent civilians are frequently detained by police under what are known as "terry stops" in which a police may conduct a pat-down for "suspicious behavior." Sadly there exists no specific litmus test for what constitutes "suspicious," and officers are left to interpret the rules arbitrarily. All too often, suspicion is based on some form of demographic profiling, rather than any specific behavior. During the detainment, and I speak from experience here, it is not unusual for the police officer to use a disrespectful tone, make unsubstantiated accusations, and threats. All of this leads to a growing sense of mistrust between civilians and law enforcement. Furthermore, the excessive number of nuisance or "quality of life" laws on the books creates more unnecessary and often unpleasant interactions between police and civilians. Sadly, many parents teach their children fear of, rather than confidence in, the police.

Many libertarian ideas, I realize, can create fear. Truly, freedom can be a frightening thing. Be aware, however of the slippery slope of what comedian Bill Maher has called "mission creep," or the ever widening definition of what government feels is within it's role. Acceptance of one unnecessary restriction can lead to a second law, then a third. Many cities, particularly in Europe, have experimented with expanded personal freedom without any dramatic negative social implications.

The recent economic news has also created alot of fear. Many of us, as well, are beneficiaries of government waste. I certainly believe it would be unethical not to honor existing labor contracts or to significantly change the rules under which standing employees work. However, the recent fiscal crisis forces us to reexamine whether or not we can continue to offer the same packages to new hires. Every budget cut announcement brings out rallying citizens demanding that there be no cuts in service, no layoffs, and no tax increase. Do any of the math. It's asking the impossible. People are very generous when they handle other people's money. And so it goes in the city budget. By implementing financial incentives to cut waste, it will be possible to create an army of penny pinchers. In fact, to just use the school system as an example, I believe it would be cheaper and more effective to pay individual employees more, and spend significantly less on supplies, with the understanding that the autonomy is on the employees to economize and purchase as few or as many as needed, with whatever portion of their salary they wish to devote. The same can be done for many city agencies.

With regard to the notion of options for citizens, they really do help all parties. The US Postal Service employees perhaps felt threatened as deregulations permitted the growth of competitors such as UPS and Fedex. However, these companies have helped USPS to stay competitive in quality, service and price. I believe the same could be true for city run monopolies if competition is permitted as well.