‘World War IV’

The New York Sun’s front-page editorial of April 11 is the best-written news of the day [“Sharon in Texas,” April 11, 2005]. You called the war between the free world democracies and the Islamic dictatorships and kleptocrats a world war. Let us take this one step further: This is the Fourth World War. The Third World War was the Cold War – that was won by the democracies.

Our problem is that we are fighting WW IV with one hand tied behind our back – and worse. It is our dependence on oil from the Islamic dictatorships that funds our enemies from our own pockets and keeps them in business. As long as this is not recognized, our chance of winning is not so good.

PINCAS JAWETZ
Manhattan

‘Festival Called Propaganda’

Re: “Cuban Film Festival Called Propaganda,” Meghan Clyne, Page 1, April 11, 2005. I have worked in the film industry for over 25 years and proudly serve on the advisory board of this festival, which has done only good things and has wisely stayed out of the political arena. Several years ago, while curating a special section on Cuban cinema for the Hamptons International Film Festival, I visited Havana. It was a wonderful experience.

To begin with, some of the best art that I’ve seen in my travels around the world, I saw hanging in Havana government offices, drawn on outside walls, and in other places of business. In fact, Cuba’s love of art is everywhere in Havana and so is their love of film. I’ve witnessed hundreds of people lining up to see an old Woody Allen film, and attended screenings in hot, dank theaters where the electricity regularly fails and the auditorium is plunged into a stygian gloom as the audience patiently files out and waits outside until power is restored.

In Havana, what we take for granted in New York – seeing a film – is an act that requires great perseverance and fortitude. The people in Havana struggle each day for a small bit of satisfaction. True, it may be hard to find a pizzeria or a bottle of aspirins but Cubans and travelers take this as a challenge, and as a visitor, I did too.

You did a great disservice to the Havana Film Festival in New York’s executive director Carole Rosenberg, who happens to be a great New Yorker – and American, and a genuine heroine – as well as a lover of fine film.

JEREMIAH NEWTON
Manhattan

‘Captain Pataki’

The editorial in the April 11, 2005, New York Sun brought some needed perspective on the legislature’s real accomplishment in the passage of a nearly complete, on time state budget [“Captain Pataki”]. You were right in several respects, particularly the growth of the budget, which again is too large to be sustained.

But, as to its completeness, it should be remembered that many on-time budgets in the past had supplementary budget bills passed later in the session, and no one then thought those budgets were late, so, to be fair, congratulations are, in fact, due to legislators and the governor for breaking a 20-year cycle of late budgets.

For our part, the National Federation of Independent Business was also pleased that we could report to our small business members that New York not only responded to the call for reform by passing a budget on time, but also by including some tax relief for small corporations, a top NFIB initiative.

Now, with the budget done, we’re working with legislators on other ways to strengthen the economy. We hope that they approach this with the same urgency that they brought to the ontime budget, because in many respects it is just as important, if not more so.

New York never fully participates in the nation’s economic expansions, because it costs so much more to be in business here. The results are less investment and employment, increasing population losses, and lower tax revenue to pay for a growing need for services – you could call it “the upstate paradigm,” but it is seen in all parts of the state.

For a government as committed as ours to a breadth of services and social safety net no state can match, it is beyond foolish to forego any wealth or job creation in periods of national growth. All we need to do is move New York into the mainstream when it comes to Workers’ Compensation, tort liability, and health insurance. Were we to reduce these costs to the national averages, New York would see growth and maybe even an end to deficits.

In what has turned out to be an auspicious beginning, 2005 might also be the year this legislature achieves meaningful economic reform. Small business looks forward to working with them on the next steps.

MARK ALESSE
State Director
National Federation of Independent Business
Albany, N.Y.

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