George Orwell, who wrote the great novel,”1984” and understood the power government wields when it effectively bends the meaning of words to serve its own nefarious purposes, would have laughed at the so-called “Mobility Tax” that’s being proposed to bail out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. What a ridiculous misnomer. Orwell called it “Newspeak.”

But I’ll let another George comment on this. This is an excerpt from a commentary by County Legislator George Oros, R-Cortlandt, who sees the “Mobilty Tax” for what it really is.

When I first heard of the proposed New York State “Mobility Tax ”, I thought, boy that name – “Mobility Tax” – might confuse some folks more than dropping the line “I’ve got to see a man about a horse”.  One constituent asked if the proposed “Mobility Tax” was a special fund to assist those with disabilities.  It is typical of government these days.  It’s not taxes but “revenue enhancers”; students don’t flunk tests they experience “negative gain in test scores”.  In today’s government vernacular, the sinking of the Titanic would be labeled a “sub-optimal” voyage.  It’s about the spin not the substance; the style not the results.  It is also about the lack of transparency and openness.

It is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

Oros, who told me he is a frustrated columnist, did a pretty good job on torpedoing the idea of the “Mobility Tax,” which in actuality is a payroll tax on businesses, local governments, school districts and nonprofit organizations such as hospitals.

In the cause of closing the MTA’s yawning budget gap, it will suck $1.5 billion out of the economy. At 0.333 percent, it only sounds like a paltry tax on payrolls. But it’s not. It’s a job killer and another incentive for companies to move out of New York.

The tax would extend to counties north of New York City—many of which are not big users of MTA services.

As it stands, according to Oros, the MTA already receives millions and millions of dollars in fees and taxes from the lower counties such as Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess.

Oros said Westchester alone paid $113 million in sales and mortgages taxes in 2007. The total payments to the MTA “is about $150 for every man, woman and child in the county…that’s before you pay your fare, if you use MTA,” he said.

Wrote Oros: “These New York City politicians think the suburbs are a huge piggy bank that can be turned over and shaken every time New York City has a financial problem. Well you city slickers, the piggy bank is empty.”

This is just another reason why I resent it when politicians and government bureaucrats say they run things like corporate CEOs. They do nothing of the sort. When government screws up and has a budget shortfall, its incompetent leaders don’t get fired by a board of directors. They just raise taxes, or create new taxes.

The “Mobility Tax” is as Orwellian as destroying a village in order to save it.