George Washington Plunkit Analysis
George Washington Plunkitt, was one of the powers of Tammany Hall in the late 19th century. Plunkitt was born in a shantytown called Nanny Goat Hill and died wealthy and renowned. Tammany Hall, the name of a civic society, controlled the Democratic Party in New York city. They knew how to get power and hold on to it by getting people to vote for their candidates. Political power leads to personal wealth. Tammany governed NY from 1854 to 1934. The New Deal reforms of welfare and public housing socialized the benefits that had come from the patrons of Tammany Hall. The `Introduction' by Arthur Mann is faulty. Mann claims "no room for machines" any good history book will tell how churches or other organizations controlled or influenced
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Did Plunkitt's business benefit from this? Every public improvement benefits some business, directly or indirectly. Else we would have dirt roads and no sewers as in many rural areas today. The problem comes from unneeded improvements ("graft jobs") where tax money is spent to benefit the few. Plunkitt explains what is usually censored in the press, or distorted for special interests. Politics is a regular business that needs experienced people. Plunkitt seldom discusses political issues but only the benefits of government. Plunkitt complains that New York is taxed to provide benefits to the rest of the state. Each political party cooperates with the other. Civil Service was created to undermine the political parties and their organizations. It makes them dependent on corporate support to this day. Municipal ownership of utilities would benefit a city . Plunkitt compares a political organization to churches; both need money to exist. A candidate for office needs money for campaign expenses. That still goes on even if a candidate gets the money from others.A successful politician, like a saloon owner, does not drink. Political bosses prevent turmoil and squabbles. They are opposed by those who wish to gain their power. High taxes on saloon keepers creates lower-cost competition from "bucket-shops"
Did Plunkitt's business benefit from this? Every public improvement benefits some business, directly or indirectly. Else we would have dirt roads and no sewers as in many rural areas today. The problem comes from unneeded improvements ("graft jobs") where tax money is spent to benefit the few. Plunkitt explains what is usually censored in the press, or distorted for special interests. Politics is a regular business that needs experienced people. Plunkitt seldom discusses political issues but only the benefits of government. Plunkitt complains that New York is taxed to provide benefits to the rest of the state. Each political party cooperates with the other. Civil Service was created to undermine the political parties and their organizations. It makes them dependent on corporate support to this day. Municipal ownership of utilities would benefit a city . Plunkitt compares a political organization to churches; both need money to exist. A candidate for office needs money for campaign expenses. That still goes on even if a candidate gets the money from others.A successful politician, like a saloon owner, does not drink. Political bosses prevent turmoil and squabbles. They are opposed by those who wish to gain their power. High taxes on saloon keepers creates lower-cost competition from "bucket-shops"