Cowardice and Sloth Attracts Amazon to New York

Eli,

My favorite part from this story on Amazon's choice of New York as one of its new headquarters:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended the deal, arguing that New York has to offer incentives because of its comparatively high taxes. At 6.5 percent, New York’s corporate income-tax rate is only modestly higher than Virginia’s 6 percent, according to the Tax Foundation. But other business and individual taxes are higher in New York.

“It’s not a level playing field to begin with,” Mr. Cuomo said in an interview Tuesday. “All things being equal, if we do nothing, they’re going to Texas.”

If taxes are too high to attract Amazon, I'm guessing they are too high for everyone. And if that's the case I'm not sure why Amazon deserves to be subsidized by everyone else. Usually the response to that question is as inane as Cuomo's.

Kevin Williamson had this take, which I totally agree with

If New York City can only hope to attract a firm like Amazon by essentially bribing (in an entirely legal fashion!) its shareholders, then what does that say about New York City? A New York City with excellent schools, a first-rate mass-transit system, a sensible tax and regulatory environment, and better public sanitation might not have to pay off corporate shareholders — no, that kind of New York City would have the confidence to say: “This is New York. Lots of people want to be here. You’re welcome to join us, and we’ll provide the best municipal services we can, but don’t act like you’re doing us a favor. We were a big deal before you came along, guys.” But fixing the schools and subways is hard work, and doing it economically is even harder. You know what isn’t hard work? Giving somebody else’s money to a third party from whom you want something. That isn’t leadership. It’s cowardice and sloth.

Many (not me) bemoan the partisanship and tribalism of our current politics (I think it's healthy and normal) so many are probably applauding the cowardice and sloth of politicians on both sides that bribe companies to come to their communities rather than engaging in the hard work of government.

Bill