A Brief Tribute by Doug Draper
“I know this society should strive for something better than what we are in our worst moments.” – Former New York State Governor Mario Cuomo, from a 1989 speech he delivered at the College of St. Rose in Albany New York, addressing his long-time opposition to the death penalty.
Former New York State Governor Mario Como
Mario Cuomo, a son of Italian immigrants and a three-term governor of New York State from 1983 to 1994 whose progressive values and inspiring oratory made him, in the minds of many of the left side of the political spectrum, one of the best presidents America never had, died this January 1st, 2015 at age 82.
Cuomo, I must add as an environment reporter for a daily newspaper in Ontario during the years he was governor, was also a great friend of people on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border who were concerned about the threat industrial chemicals was posing to drinking water and wildlife in our Great Lakes and major connecting channels like the Niagara River.He and senior staff in the state government at the time, including a then director of the state’s Department of Environment conservation John Spagnoli, helped find and apply the resources necessary to address major sources of pollution on the New York side of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. Cuomo also gave his blessing to a binational agreement to cut pollution to the river by more than 50 per cent within 10 years.
Most of all, I think Mario Cuomo will be remembered as an unrepentant believer in the idea that government, when it runs fairly, honestly and efficiently, can be a tremendous force for good. He went on making the case and working for the common good at a time when more Conservative voices like Ronald Reagan and his disciples on both sides of the border, including Mike Harris in Ontario, took a stance that won over many aging baby boomers, by the way, that government is the enemy and that public sector services should be peddled off in fire sales to the private sector to as great an extent as possible.
In that spirit, I leave yon with a short excerpt from one of the books Mario Cuomo wrote in the years following his time in elected office – a 1995 book called ‘Reason to Believe’ where in one segment he takes on the anti-government rhetoric of then U.S. Republican Congressional House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
“Attempting to highlight what he describes as his ‘radically different vision of America,’ Speaker Newt Gingrich has contended that Democrats believe ‘the government is the source of all goodness’ and ‘cannot imagine good things being done by the private sector’.
“That’s just more political hyperbole. Democrats do not believe either of those two absurd tenets. Goodness stems from many things – including private businesses, families, neighbourhoods, churches and synagogues, not to mention the wonders of nature itself. Where we disagree with the speaker fundamentally is on the question of whether good things can also be done by government – filling in gaps left by the free market and thus strengthening our economy ad holding our society together.”
“Newt Gingrich operates as if he sees all virtue in the private sector and none in government If he practices what he preaches, ad if his house ever catches fire, he shouldn’t call 911 or look for a public fire hydrant: he should contact an entrepreneur interest in selling water for profit.”
These days and for far too many years now, most Democrats in his country, with the exception of a very few like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, talk like that anymore. Nor do Republicans or Conservatives and most Liberals and NDP representatives on the Canadian side of the border for that matter.
(Niagara At Large invites you to join in the conversation by sharing your views on the content of this post below. For reasons of transparency and promoting civil dialogue, NAL only posts comments from individuals who share their first and last name with their views.)
Niagara At Large 
Once again Mr. Draper you speak ‘volumes’ in a brief but concise manner. Former Governor Cuomo (RIP) and his ilk are much missed on both sides of the 49th parallel. Over the years we have seen many great leaders like Mario Cuomo. Hopefully we shall see new leaders who have had the good sense to read, listen and follow this fine example. Thank you again for your fine words and sentiments.
LikeLike
Doug
Yes there were Great American and this giant Mario Cuomo was among the greatest……. and now it seems the greed and corruption of the Corporate “Right” has literally taken over …Here is something I wrote almost twenty years ago………. seemingly in the dark ages
The American Empire
Great Empires have existed over the centuries, grandiose empires structured by the elite in their never ending greed, the need to conquer and the need to control, as all Empires they fell to the wayside steeped in corruption and decay.
The American Empire was born out of man’s will to forge a better life as immigrants flooded in from oppressed lands far and wide bringing with them their initiative and skill.
The entrepreneurial spirit flourish as small business sprung up, grew and became the driving force behind the American Industrial Revolution. Colleges and Universities, aided by the steady flow of Immigrants combined technology and ingenuity with the American Dream and America became the Industrial Giant of the modern world.
Factories geared to mass-produce automobiles, trains, planes, ships and appliances sprung up all over the country and prosperity reigned supreme. This ability to mass-produce was the instrument that in reality tilted the scales in favor of the allies during the great world wars of the twentieth century. What has happened since?
Those same Universities became the breading ground for the economics of this century. Economics that spread the doctrine of “opportunity costs”, “economy of scale” and a host of other catchy phrases that is transforming the Industrial structure of America away from Manufacturing to a Service orientated society. Now when you look at labels invariably it is manufactured in China, Taiwan or any of a group of Southeastern countries where the standard of living is appalling due to cheap labor and political corruption. This is the reality of the Global Economy and mankind’s unrelenting greed, fostered by the bottom line economics of our enlightened society, the right wing “Think Tanks”.
America became an Empire due to innovation, hard work and it’s Industrial capability but each day we see this chipped away as more and more of that capability is shipped overseas to bolster the bottom line of American companies with no regard for the American Dream. Empty factories and for sale signs is the evidence of the corrosion, of the decay that is eating away at the foundation of this proud country. Will it turn around? No I don’t think so for the fastest growing economy in the world is China and “the sleeping giant has been awakened”. I think the “Catch word” here Economists is “America beware you have shot yourself in the foot”.
Joseph A. Somers
LikeLike