Is New York City America?

It would appear that a far left progressive running under the cry of tax the rich and give to everyone else has won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor and hence by default the general election I suspect. Reports suggest his victory was not only due to his playing up his inter-racial marriage, but more to his Robin Hood approach appealing to voters largely made up of minority immigrants which are the majority of voters in NYC, many of whom need interpreters at the polling place.

Immigrants are not the issue, if it weren’t for immigrants most of us wouldn’t be here.

What is wrong is the message that somehow the goal is no longer taking advantage of opportunity and the advantages America offers over wherever you came from, but rather to simply take from whomever did achieve success before you. Politicians playing that game and voters supporting it are sending America in a downward direction. You cannot sustain that method of defeating inequality as opposed to encouraging the qualities that past generations displayed when going from nothing to building this Country.

What is also sad is that voters believe the promises as if they could be achieved and had no consequences in the process. Consider the many programs already in place at federal and state levels; programs in place for decades. If the the answer is simply more government programs, shouldn’t we have achieved success by now?

America is changing, the real test will be whether the immigrants of today are up to the challenge of succeeding in a society based on individual responsibility and achievement that applied during most of the first two centuries of our existence. Our politics sadly seem to suggest otherwise. Something has gone wrong.

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As a footnote, we seem to forget that the wealthy are generally quite responsible with their money, giving back in ways far more efficient than adding to the coffers of government. You don’t hear much about this from candidates pandering to low information voters.

Bloomberg Philanthropies

In addition to the philanthropic activities sponsored by Bloomberg LP, founder Michael R. Bloomberg has pledged to donate the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of his individual and Foundation giving, and in 2012 distributed $370 million across five areas of focus: public health, environment, government innovation, education and the arts. Michael Bloomberg has also donated $1.1 billion to his alma mater, The Johns Hopkins University.