Eliot's wife is trying to grapple with the brain drain afflicting upstate NY. She cites statistics about the loss of young people during a period from 1990 to 2002 (or there about). Quite simply, youthful New Yorker's leave upstate for opportunities elsewhere. It should be no secret why or any magic to change.
As one of these numbers that stayed, it comes as no revelation. While I've produced nothing along the lines of the 'best minds of my generation', I've been howling about this affect for years. As one of those who stayed and started a business and raised a family, I'd urge all young people to beat a path elsewhere . . .
There is no incentive to stay in upstate NY. High taxes, burdensome business regulation and local hostilities to growth (sprawl) are some of the numerous reasons why we don't have opportunity here anymore. Silda's hubby did nothing but inflate the budget and it looks like we'll be watching that state pension fund run down to Mohegan Sun for the next twenty-five years.
No amount of economic shuffling and horse trading will create a platform for prosperity as long as we are attached to Gotham. That is where the money is from and usually where it goes. The control comes from there and clowns like Joe Bruno will always sign on to the corporate welfare that Tech valley seems to be attracting as long as we continue the decimation of opportunity with an overladen ship of state. I suppose its not nice to criticize the empathetic spouse of a newly elected rich kid. But this middle class one who went to state schools feels his time and efforts have increased the communities lot tens time fold by staying. Leaving for the Free State Project won't be the case for remorse. A lifetime of memories, family and friends will.
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