I live in New York.

When I tell people that, they usually assume I mean the New York City.  I don’t, so I have to tell them there is another part of the world that has that name.

New York State, that is how it is referred to, is really in two part: downstate and upstate.  This was explained to me when I moved to the state.  Downstate is New York City; upstate is everything else.

Downstate folks think they are the best part of the state, and upstate folks know that this is wrong.  Downstate is famous, upstate obscure.

Downstate has many famous sights and cultural centers as well as an excellent view of New Jersey.

While it is expensive to live in downstate, there are many things that are inexpensive.  In fact, that view of New Jersey is quite free.  This is compensated by the New York City income tax.  (The city of Yonkers also has an income tax but no view of New Jersey.)

This is not to say that living in upstate is free.  No, it is the near unanimous opinion of all state legislators that most taxes are set at a level that is entirely too low.  This removal of money from the people who rightly possess it is not done for selfish reasons.  It is done to stimulate the economy, attract businesses to the area, and to encourage those taxed to spend in a judicious manner what little money they have left.  If folks had too much money, they might waste it by buying a different set of politicians.  This must never be.  Unemployed politicians are a bad thing.  Just as one.

The upstate region is not without its cultural and educational assets.  For example, Syracuse has a fine basketball university.  Buffalo has rust and a professional football team that was not quite good enough to lose five Super Bowl in a row.  There is also the falls at Niagara Falls surrounded by lots of chemical plants.  Upstate it the world’s most famous small city:  Love Canal.

You can see New York is a diverse place.  Come for a visit, but don’t forget to pay the tax.