--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: New York State is upside down and…" description: "\"New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/andrew-cuomo-6936_albany_new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwa_1423688.png" --- # New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes… ![“New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfortunately, it's a national disgrace. Sometimes, the corruption in Albany could even make Boss Tweed blush.” quote by Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/andrew-cuomo-6936_albany_new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwa_1423688.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/andrew-cuomo-6936_albany_new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwa_1423688.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/andrew-cuomo-6936_albany_new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwa_1423688.png) > “New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfortunately, it's a national disgrace. Sometimes, the corruption in Albany could even make Boss Tweed blush.” [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes New York's current governance, noting high taxes, poor performance, and corruption compared to its past reputation. **In simple terms:** New York is failing due to taxes and corruption. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and reform. Themes government taxation performance corruption reform Mood frustrated concerned Type political critical When to use this quote - budget planning - public administration - anti‑corruption initiatives - citizen advocacy Key Concepts public policy fiscal responsibility ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - What policies could lower taxes while maintaining services? - How can citizens effectively demand reform? A Different Perspective Improving outcomes requires more than criticism; structural changes are needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albany/) [Backwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backwards/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Boss Tweed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss-tweed-217843/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Corruption Albany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption-albany-5050083/) [Disgrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgrace/) [Disgrace Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgrace-corruption-5050084/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [One time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-time/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [State government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-government/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Tweed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tweed/) [Upside down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upside-down/) [York State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-state/) ## Related quotes > [Thanks to guys like Boss Tweed, famous for saying, 'I don't give a damn who does the voting, as long as I do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/thanks-to-guys-like-boss-tweed-famous-for-saying-i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Most of the corruption in Albany is legal corruption, not illegal bribery. It comes from campaigns being funded by millionaires and corporations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/most-of-the-corruption-in-albany-is-legal-corruption-not-illegal/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [I know how bad Albany is. I know it better than most. I understand why people are angry. I'm angry. The question is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-know-how-bad-albany-is-i-know-it-better-than-most-i-understand-why/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [There is no dispute that Albany needs to be changed. There is no dispute that the current situation in Albany is untenable. Nobody knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/there-is-no-dispute-that-albany-needs-to-be-changed-there-is-no/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I've been not only articulating the dissatisfaction with Albany, I've been acting on it. I've been very aggressive in bringing public integrity cases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-ve-been-not-only-articulating-the-dissatisfaction-with-albany-i-ve/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [If there's a silver bullet in the battle to recapture Albany, it is the re-engagement of our citizens. This capital has become a physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/if-there-s-a-silver-bullet-in-the-battle-to-recapture-albany-it-is/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [The Declaration of Independence says when government fails, the people have the right to replace it. Well, New York State government has failed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/the-declaration-of-independence-says-when-government-fails-the-people/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwards-high-taxes-and-low/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I remember my father checking on a mountain kid who hadn't been coming to school. My father had this beautiful Harris tweed overcoat. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/i-remember-my-father-checking-on-a-mountain-kid-who-hadn-t-been/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [I speak as your native guide to the mysterious tribe called the English. Dress code is everything. You can be a card-carrying Nazi, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-lette/i-speak-as-your-native-guide-to-the-mysterious-tribe-called-the/) [Kathy Lette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-lette/) > [I've been really into boyfriend blazers, I like mixing tweeds with floral fabrics. The masculine and feminine look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-ve-been-really-into-boyfriend-blazers-i-like-mixing-tweeds-with/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) > [Science is an intellectual dead end, you know? It's a lot of little guys in tweed suits cutting up frogs on foundation grants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/science-is-an-intellectual-dead-end-you-know-it-s-a-lot-of-little/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [ \[On John Tunnard:\] One day a marvelous man in a highly elaborate tweed coat walked into the gallery. He looked a little like Groucho… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-guggenheim/on-john-tunnard-one-day-a-marvelous-man-in-a-highly-elaborate-tweed/) [Peggy Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-guggenheim/) > [Harris Tweed as been around since before the Industrial Revolution when it was a handmade cloth from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-farr/harris-tweed-as-been-around-since-before-the-industrial-revolution/) [Hilary Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-farr/) > [“Well, the only reason we’re friends is because you can rock a tweed suit,” she informed, tone mock serious. “So if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/well-the-only-reason-we-re-friends-is-because-you-can-rock-a-tweed/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) ## More by Andrew Cuomo > [There was never a war on poverty. Maybe there was a skirmish on poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/there-was-never-a-war-on-poverty-maybe-there-was-a-skirmish-on-poverty/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [What made Manhattan Manhattan was the underground infrastructure, that engineering marvel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/what-made-manhattan-manhattan-was-the-underground-infrastructure-that/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/their-problem-is-not-me-and-the-democrats-their-problem-is-themselves/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwards-high-taxes-and-low/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I'm a Queens boy at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-m-a-queens-boy-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [People who assume I want to run for elected office may be dealing from a bad assumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/people-who-assume-i-want-to-run-for-elected-office-may-be-dealing/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I'm governor of New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-m-governor-of-new-york/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [The essential job of government is to facilitate, not frustrate, job development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/the-essential-job-of-government-is-to-facilitate-not-frustrate-job/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [People go into politics because they want the affirmation, and they want the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/people-go-into-politics-because-they-want-the-affirmation-and-they/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I think naturally my orientation is from my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-think-naturally-my-orientation-is-from-my-father/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I don't think bonuses are always bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-don-t-think-bonuses-are-always-bad/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I respect the state workers and I respect their unions, but we simply can't afford to pay benefits and pensions that are out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-respect-the-state-workers-and-i-respect-their-unions-but-we-simply/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [You can be a lender who wants to compete and have a better product, but you just can't get to the students. The schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/you-can-be-a-lender-who-wants-to-compete-and-have-a-better-product/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I'm very big on focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-m-very-big-on-focus/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I believe global warming and climate change are real threats to our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-believe-global-warming-and-climate-change-are-real-threats-to-our/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) [Explore all 96 Andrew Cuomo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) ## More Albany quotes > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/my-first-job-was-scooping-ice-cream-at-friendly-s-in-albany-new-york/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [So, the next film won't necessarily be modern-day Albany, Georgia but we're grateful for the films we've made (with Sherwood). The church is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kendrick/so-the-next-film-won-t-necessarily-be-modern-day-albany-georgia-but/) [Alex Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kendrick/) > [For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people. Gays and lesbians stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/for-many-years-now-i-have-been-an-outspoken-supporter-of-civil-and/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [We made four feature films with Sherwood Baptist. The wonderful thing was the church (members) volunteered. It was an awesome atmosphere of attitudes. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kendrick/we-made-four-feature-films-with-sherwood-baptist-the-wonderful-thing/) [Alex Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kendrick/) > [Anybody who suggests that I run for governor is no friend of mine. It's a terrible position, and besides, it requires living in Albany,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/anybody-who-suggests-that-i-run-for-governor-is-no-friend-of-mine-it/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [ I had an amazing advantage: a grandmother \[Polly Noonan, an influential confidante of the mayor of Albany\] who loved politics. She taught me not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/i-had-an-amazing-advantage-a-grandmother-polly-noonan-an-influential/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [My father was a local radio celebrity in the Albany area while I was growing up. That was his dream when he was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-weeks/my-father-was-a-local-radio-celebrity-in-the-albany-area-while-i-was/) [Jonathan Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-weeks/) > [If there's a silver bullet in the battle to recapture Albany, it is the re-engagement of our citizens. This capital has become a physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/if-there-s-a-silver-bullet-in-the-battle-to-recapture-albany-it-is/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I think, to be honest, sort of emanated from the initial work of somebody else instead of SCLC. If you take Albany; I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-think-to-be-honest-sort-of-emanated-from-the-initial-work-of/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I'm not part of the friends-and-family club; I'm not part of the pay-to-play club; I'm not looking to get re-elected. I'm not looking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/i-m-not-part-of-the-friends-and-family-club-i-m-not-part-of-the-pay/) [Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/) > [A woman has, first of all, her duties in their own home, and there are many women particularly when they're young, who can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/a-woman-has-first-of-all-her-duties-in-their-own-home-and-there-are/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [One aspect of our site that I really appreciate is how I put up as much information as I've been able to keep track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/one-aspect-of-our-site-that-i-really-appreciate-is-how-i-put-up-as/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [If you don't like the President, it costs you 90 bucks to fly to Washington to picket. If you don't like the governor, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/if-you-don-t-like-the-president-it-costs-you-90-bucks-to-fly-to/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I have gone to Albany constantly in my capacity as budget director, because I don't think the way the transit authority works with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-gone-to-albany-constantly-in-my-capacity-as-budget-director/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 31 Albany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albany/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfortunately, it's a national disgrace. 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