New York politics & government
Subtitle: competition and compassion
By: Sarah F. Liebschutz with Robert W. Bailey ... [et al.].
Series: Politics and governments of the American states
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Lincoln
Language: eng
Number of pages: 234
Subjects: New York (State) -- Politics and government
Other titles: New York politics and government
Description: Two values often at odds with each other - competition and compassion - dominate New York's political culture. Since the eighteenth century New York has been known for its economic leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities. Its nickname, "the Empire State," reflects the state's continuing role as a national and international center of industry and commerce. Yet New York's political culture, as Daniel J. Elazar has noted, is paradoxically both individualistic and moralistic.

Compassion is extended not only toward those unable to compete in the marketplace but also toward the numerous interest groups and institutions - labor, business, nonprofit agencies - that depend on the state's largesse for their own well-being. This distinctive political blend can produce inconsistent yet complementary public policies, such as providing tax incentives for economic development alongside liberal Medicaid benefits.

In this excellent overview of New York politics, five distinguished scholars explore the state's paradoxical political culture, examining its local, regional, and national components through the years.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [179]-220) and index.