Shock and More! NYS Governor Paladino?

Well, shiver me timbers, and NYC's skyscrapers, too; Republican Carl Paladino won the NY Primary. Now, he's going to face-off against Democrat, Andrew Cuomo, for New York State Governor in the November election.

I'd like to sit here and say, "No way! Paladino can't win," but I said that about the primary and he proved me wrong. So, now, I'm forced to entertain the idea, "what if he does win?" What if Paladino does become the next Governor of New York? How will it affect me?

First of all, I live in New York City. As I discussed in my recent article, "Paladino's Running with Class for NY Governor," Paladino has already made some derogatory remarks about NYC. This makes me wonder what will happen to the City's budget if Paladino becomes Governor. New York City has had a lot of difficulty getting money out of Albany as it is, even though its residents contribute high taxes. We put the money in, but then we can't get it back for services we desperately need. With Paladino at the helm, I fear NYC's budget woes would increase.

Another issue that concerns me about Paladino's platform is his plan for Medicaid. According to his website, "Paladino for the People", Paladino intends to cut Medicaid by twenty billion dollars in his first year of office. This issue does not only affect New York City but the entire state. Many seniors, children, and disabled persons depend upon Medicaid for healthcare. Paladino's plan of cutting Medicaid makes no mention of how these vulnerable populations will receive medical treatment. We already have too many people in New York who cannot afford medical insurance and aren't able to visit doctors. We need more health insurance in New York, not less.

Cutting taxes by 10% is another plan stated on "Paladino for the People". I'm all for cutting taxes. However, Paladino does not say how he'll recoup the tax money to provide services. If he doesn't recoup the tax money, will New Yorkers have to live with less?

Paladino also plans to cut spending and the size of government by 20% in his first year, according to his website. When asked in a NY1 interview if he was going to put government workers out of work, he said, "Yes, we are." "The state workforce is expected to total 196,292 in 2009-10," according to Governor Paterson's Executive Budget. 20% of 196,292 is 39,258 workers. Will these 39,258 workers receive unemployment benefits out of the 10% less taxes New Yorkers will be paying? How will such a large amount of people find work in New York's poor job market? I know qualified, educated people in New York City who have been looking for work for over a year.

There are a few aspects of Paladino's plan that would be beneficial to New York City such as his desire to clean up Albany and create jobs in the private sector. They would be beneficial to the entire state. There's one aspect of Paladino that I like. His outspoken straightforwardness makes him seem sincere.

However, it's what he's sincere about that worries me. Paladino is against a woman's right to choose abortion, he's for welfare prison dorms, he's against Manhattan, and he has made racist remarks, according to the Huffington Post. NY1's interview also pointed out that Paladino is against gay marriage and gun control. I would be disappointed, no, disgusted to have a person with these views as my Governor and I think it would be a setback for the state of New York.

Paladino called Cuomo out to debates in his post-primary speech. I can't wait to hear Andrew Cuomo make it clear to all of New York that Paladino can't win.