What Is the Rationale for Statehood?

There are two key reasons for this action: 1) Economics; 2) Democracy. These factors are discussed in detail elsewhere on this site, but the issues can be crystalized in a few sentences. New York State is forced to implement a tax code that balances two wildly disparate economies: Upstate NY and New York City. New York City is forced to endure a budget process which, basically, redistributes wealth from the half of the population that lives and works in the City, to the half dispersed amoung hundreds of small cities, towns and villages. These disparaties are unfair to both sides.

Resolve the problem at the voting booth? Not as long as both constituencies have oppossing interests and both constituencies are nearly evenly balanced in numbers. The separation of the two political entities will make it possible for both to find rational solutions for themselves. We have recently witnessed the absurd spectacle of New York City, economic engine of the world, going hat-in-hand to Albany to beg for changes in the CITY TAX CODE(!!!) needed to address a fiscal crisis. No one is well served by that state of affairs.