If you wanted to entice a certain population, let's say, just for the sake of argument, illegal immigrants, to travel some distance to your city, how would you go about it? New York City Mayor Eric Adams seems to have hit on one way to do that: hand out free, pre-loaded debit cards.

Democrat NYC Mayor Eric Adams claims giving prepaid debit cards to illegal aliens is "a real win" and "a smart way to bring down the cost" pic.twitter.com/jJTnMKf2yS

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 1, 2024

It's hard to think of a more ridiculous and almost schizophrenic policy; Mayor Adams is simultaneously offering fancy hotel rooms and free cash to what he terms "migrants'—what anyone sane terms "illegal aliens"—while bemoaning the load these people place on his city's resources. 

Look up "Cognitive Dissonance" in the dictionary, and you'll find Hizzoner's photo.

See Related: NYC Plans to House Migrants in 'Luxury' Building With Indoor Pool, Marble Bathrooms 

Eric Adams Does 'Stunning Turnaround' on Sanctuary City Laws As Greg Abbott's Plan Comes to Fruition

In the video above, Mayor Adams makes the rather astonishing claim that New York City is saving $600,000 a month by giving illegal aliens pre-paid debit cards that can be used at bodegas, supermarkets, and convenience stores. Yes, you read that right; he claims New York City is saving money by doing this, which begs the question, "Saving as compared to what?"

The proper amount to be spent on these "migrants," as Mayor Adams terms them, is zero. It's hard to see any argument for making these people, who broke our laws by entering the United States, effectively wards of the state and a burden on the taxpayers. In what moral universe is the regular taxpayer in New York City responsible for supporting people who remain in defiance of immigration law?

No wonder people are fleeing New York in droves.

Meanwhile, the Governor of New York seems to have a different take on the problem. Sort of.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says New Yorkers need relief from illegal immigration as her administration opens welfare programs to undocumented immigrants. 

While previously touting immigrants filling jobs, Hochul now says the 175,000 arrivals since 2022 have overwhelmed resources. 

Gov. Hochul said, “We have been so affected. I mean, 175,000 migrants who came here.”

“They came here for a better life, they came here for a job but our city and its resources are absolutely overwhelmed,” she continued. 

“Hochul added, “We need a break. I’m working to get people jobs. They’re here, I’m going to make them work and get them jobs. But until then, we need some relief at the border.”

Where does Gov. Hochul expect that relief to come from? More of our tax dollars, courtesy of Washington, D.C. and Biden:

At the same time, Hochul has sought a billion-dollar bailout from Biden to provide jobs, healthcare, housing and transit to undocumented immigrants using taxpayer funds.

In her epic novel "Atlas Shrugged," author Ayn Rand—who grew up in the Soviet Union and was well aware of the dangers of overbearing government—described the final moments of New York City after years of decline:

The plane was above the peaks of the skyscrapers when suddenly, with the abruptness of a shudder, as if the ground had parted to engulf it, the city disappeared from the face of the earth. It took them a moment to realize that the panic had reached the power stations— and that the lights of New York had gone out.

And later:

She turned to Gait. He was watching her face, as if he had been following her thoughts. She saw the reflection of her smile in his. "It's the end," she said. "It's the beginning," he answered.

Will it take a major collapse to bring the government - and the voters - of places like New York City back to some semblance of sanity and good sense? I'd hate to think so but I'm afraid it might.