It's Our Own Fault

[Capt Howard]

If you're upset about the NYS budget, and tax increases in general, we only have ourselves to blame. Everyone of us who keep voting for incumbents gives the politicians the impression we approve of their actions, or that we are a bunch of mindless sheep who lack the will to take action against them.

There are two things we can do; 1. Insist on term limits (fat chance of that happening), or, 2. Don't vote for incumbents after they serve their second term. That is the only way you are going to clean house in Albany and get any substantive change in the status quo. The only language politicians understand is loss of their jobs.

[Enough]

No…….

You have to take away the true financial influence that corrupts them! People will NOT just stop voting for someone after there 2nd term.

If you truly want to end the madness you need TRUE campaign finance reform. It’s the financial incentive that corrupts their decision-making ability.

Go follow the steps and take a look at Stachowski or Thompson.. http://www.sunlightny.com/snl1/faces/app/index.jsp

It’s no wonder they voted “YES” for the budget, you would have too! Look at all the organizations that donated huge sums of money to their campaigns! It’s all the same people that benefited from the budget!

If you TRULY want to come up with an effective way to reform politics you MUST take away the money!!!!

Implement a “Salary Cap” on how much money Politicians are allowed to collect! Pass legislation that says no candidate is allowed to spend or collect over a certain dollar figure! There’s no excuse why someone like Masiello or Giambra should still have such a strong political influence on local elections today, but they do!!!

Take a look at the above website and see who EXACTLY is financing these campaigns! Not just the UNIONS but companies and individuals as well. Why does someone like Louis Ciminelli have such a financial stake in giving money to ALL these politicians???? Get organized AND CALL THESE PEOPLE OUT! Write emails, letters, faxes and make phone calls and ask these people “Why did you give $2,500 to Antoine Thompson”? Let these people know that WE KNOW who they are giving their money too! Make sure they feel uncomfortable! Right now, they think nobody is paying attention! Make sure they know we ARE paying attention and who they give all their money to makes a difference in all our lives!

[mikenold]

Both of you have some good ideas. Here is one more. Vote for the best person available. If he or she does not represent you when they are there, vote them out on the next term, don't wait for the second. If the politicians have the idea that they will not keep their "gravy" job if they do not do their constituents bidding, they will start to listen to what the constituents have to say.

[Enough]

Both of you have some good ideas. Here is one more. Vote for the best person available. If he or she does not represent you when they are there, vote them out on the next term, don't wait for the second. If the politicians have the idea that they will not keep their "gravy" job if they do not do their constituents bidding, they will start to listen to what the constituents have to say.

See, that's the problem......

There is NO BEST PERSON! Even if a person has the best of intentions when they decide to run they are tempted and corrupted before the election even happens.

Elections take MONEY, LOTS OF MONEY!

Do your homework and look who's giving that money! It isn't SUWNY! It isn't Buffalo Pundit, it isn't JO, It isn't you or me! It's NYSUT, CSEA, and every other special interest we are trying to fight!

You have 2 choice, either OUT-SPEND them! (Good luck with that)!

Or cut them off at the knees and take away the financial influence! There's no reason a person running for Erie County Executive needs $5 million!!!!!

In order for a Colllins, Slaughter, Brown, Marinelli to run for a position it takes a LOT OF MONEY! That's a lot of promises to a lot of people before they even take office!

Put a salary cap on it! MAKE THEM change the law! Call them out and force them to put an ammendment on the ballot! Support candidates that will fight for a true finance reform bill!

[4achange]

Here is another change that absolutly needs to take place
The process of political gerrymandering!
After every census, each one of the scum politicians has their districts re -drawn to favor themselves with the most amount of party affiliated voters.
They then spend millions of "pork" member item dollars within the district to basically buy themselves re -election.
A prime example is "smart solutions " Mr Pickle Volker himself.
He covers 3 different counties with his gerrymandered area. He does absolutly NOTHING for any of them except hand out money and claim what a great job he is doing. He is 100% a prime example of why we are spinniing down the toilet. He has had 36 years to drive this state into the ground. How? Through gerrymandering!
We need to completely redraw districts and make each and every politician answer to the citizens who live within them.

[FMD]

Too bad this wasnt brought up 10years ago.

Today, in NYS, and California, I FIRMLY believe that state wide political seats are no longer done via voting, but instead are chosen. The politicians spend the money to have a 'vote' but that vote doesnt mean anything. Reason being, is that the idea here is to bankrupt the people, remove as many rights, and destroy as much of america as possible, with the least amount of resistance.

So far it has worked like a charm, because my fellow citizens are too arrogent and wake up to the reality that voting, doesnt do ****!

[Capt Howard]

So far everyone has valid points as to what the problems are. Now, let's see if we can find solutions.

One solution to the money problem is public financing of candidates: no private money.

Gerrymandering can be overcome by setting up fixed geographical districts based on physical square mile area. Population would not play a role in representation. Thus ends gerrymandering. Popular vote within the geographical area elects the representative of that area. No redrawing of districting lines once set.

Lobbyists: No lobbyist should be allowed to meet one on one with an elected official. Lobbying should be done in a committee style atmosphere. That might end "under the table" deals.

Just a few ideas for discussion. The big problem will be media coverage. It seems like they pick our representatives for us through biased coverage. In today's world elections are all about perception, not fact.

[FREEDOM ONE]

How true, we Whigs call that "synthetic" versus "organic" representation. We need to get organic or "real".

[knowsitall]

I guess I only have two questions: who benefitted from this budget? Not the unions, they're saying they got screwed big time.
Second: how do you have public funding for elections when there isn't enough money for hospitals, schools and prisons? Where do you get the money? Who gets the money? What if 50 people want to run for a seat? who's in? who's out? Where do you draw the line?

[Enough]

I guess I only have two questions: who benefitted from this budget? Not the unions, they're saying they got screwed big time.
Second: how do you have public funding for elections when there isn't enough money for hospitals, schools and prisons? Where do you get the money? Who gets the money? What if 50 people want to run for a seat? who's in? who's out? Where do you draw the line?

You don't.....

You place a "salary cap" on elections. This allows MORE people to have a fair opportunity to run.

[a citizen]

You don't.....

You place a "salary cap" on elections. This allows MORE people to have a fair opportunity to run.

But it restricts freedom of speach.

[Enough]

But it restricts freedom of speach.

Bull!

You can talk all you want!

[FREEDOM ONE]

Too bad this wasnt brought up 10years ago.

Today, in NYS, and California, I FIRMLY believe that state wide political seats are no longer done via voting, but instead are chosen. The politicians spend the money to have a 'vote' but that vote doesnt mean anything. Reason being, is that the idea here is to bankrupt the people, remove as many rights, and destroy as much of america as possible, with the least amount of resistance.

So far it has worked like a charm, because my fellow citizens are too arrogent and wake up to the reality that voting, doesnt do ****!

Imagine FMD, if you can, a "people's movement", socially openminded and very inclusive, yet fiscally conservative, and firmly supportive of states rights.

Ghandi did it, peacefully, using mass numbers. It can happen, but only if you, I and 100 million other patriots beleive. By the ballot. The way is supposed to work.

Which is why a guys with way too little time on his hands helps start a grass roots movement.