For the last several months, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the true extent of the economic crisis we face at both the state and national level. (Without much success, I might add.) It truly is a mess of staggering proportions. I certainly don’t envy the jobs of either our esteemed Governor or the President of this great country. There is no easy answer. No measure will be without cost, and no plan will be without opposition.

I’m willing to take the wait-and-see approach with the federal stimulus package. For now, anyway. But I’m afraid I can’t do the same for Governor Paterson’s proposals. They would just be too devastating for our local economy.

My frustration stems from the fact that the governor seems so set on balancing the state budget, that he seems to blatantly ignore the fact his efforts may very well send us deeper into the depths of economic depression. His goals seem almost contrary to those of our president.

This has been hammered home to me more than ever in the last few weeks. Whether it is sitting in school board meetings, listening to radio ads about Camp Pharsalia or having countless conversations with friends and colleagues, I’ve had my questions about the potential impact of the governor’s proposals answered over and over again