Strengths vs. Weaknesses: A Citizen's Duty

The New York Post ran an article on Monday about a letter I wrote to Governor David Paterson about his choice of a lieutenant governor. As a citizen, I felt it was my duty to point out a few things that I knew about the man he appointed, which included his strengths and weaknesses.

I decided this would be a good lesson in objective assessment for my readers at Trump University. It’s always important to be circumspect when it comes to business, politics, and just about everything. I had carefully thought about the pros and cons before writing my letter, and realized that Richard Ravitch wasn’t a good choice--and for some very good reasons.

My father had dealt with Mr. Ravitch and came to the conclusion that he was ineffective and couldn’t get the best contracts because he was a poor negotiator. I have noticed the same thing in observing his performance over several decades. He prefers to appease everyone versus making a good deal. Considering the economic situation we are facing, this is not the most effective approach nor does it instill much confidence that things might be worked out. Our governor needs someone who is able to deal from a position of strength and who will be able to provide tangible and positive results.

I gave many examples of how his image of being a “Mr. Fix-It” is incorrect, and those examples were given in the spirit of concern. I am not competing with Mr. Ravitch in any sense, but I do have the well being of our state and our economy in mind. Sometimes you have to speak up and point out what is obvious, even if it’s obvious only to you. That is a citizen’s duty--especially when our great state is in such serious trouble!