What would you do with $1,800?

That’s how much extra money you would have in your pocket if you were an "average" American. By living here in New York you are missing out on this extra spending money because of state and local taxes that total $5,260 per capita, which is a crippling 53% above the national average.

Realize that "per capita" means this is $1,800 for each and every person in your family. A family of four would have $7,200 extra to spend were they to live in someplace "average". It’s no wonder people move away to greener pastures. It’s disheartening to think this $7,200 could be yours each and every year were you no longer a New Yorker.

Those living elsewhere take their tax savings for granted. Most New Yorkers, on the other hand, struggle to make ends meet. They pinch pennies, cut coupons, and go wanting in order to save $1,800 - let alone $7,200 - for their families. This $7,200 could be the difference between poverty and comfort.

With $7,200 in hand a family could buy a new car to take the kids to their soccer games. They could take the kids on the dream vacation they’ve always wanted. They could renovate their home. They could invest in their futures. They could buy healthier choices of food. They could afford good health care for the family. The potential is limitless as $7,200 can go a long ways.

Think about the extraordinary impact this extra money would have on the state economy. There would be approximately 19,000,000 New Yorkers with an extra $1,800 in hand. The politicos and economists always looking for that little something to ignite the flame of economic development would have what they’ve always wanted. Consumers would actually be able to buy things. People would want to live in New York rather than leave it. Businesses would gladly set up shop in our borders. There would be real job growth.

Simply put, by cutting taxes to relatively normal levels, New York State would instantly transform from one of the most-tired and slowest-growing of the states to its old self…a land of wonder, value, and prosperity rightfully known as the Empire State.

It may be wishful thinking, a fanciful daydream, to believe that Albany could get its act together and return this hard-earned money to every man, woman, and child in New York. The gluttonous political machine would have to cut wasteful services, institute cost saving action plans and slash unfunded mandates. Somehow Albany would have to learn how to operate as efficiently as an "average" state.

You know what? I’ll take "average" any day and I’ll bet you would, too.

$1,800….is it really too much to ask for?