Subject: Re: Fw: Schwarzenegger for NYC Mayor?/Vote "No"
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 22:47:31 -0500
To:        <slitkin@msn.com>,
From:     Bob Armstrong <bob@cosy.com>
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 21:12:59 -0500, BARBARA SLITKIN wrote:
>=A0This made it much clearer for me- maybe you too?
>=A0----- Original Message -----
>=A0From: "NormanS" <normans@escape.com>
>=A0To: "NYC Direct Action Network" <dan@lists.riseup.nett>

 Much of what is said here is simply false . It is only the
 rulers , such as Denny Farrel , of the Democrat monopoly who
 gain by the current disenfranchisement of every other group . 

 Specifically false are the following :

> > This scheme ...  would diminish the influence=A0and political
>=A0>=A0gains made by African Americans, Hispanics, Asians,=
 immigrants,
> > labor and=A0other=A0progressive forces.

 The Only group advantaged by the current system are the=
 professional
 politicians . 

> > Further, it would allow wealthy celebrity=A0candidates an even
>=A0>=A0greater advantage in a city where billionaires rule.

 Ridiculous .
 Remember this proposal was largely motivated by Lenora Fulani ,=
 
  http://www.speaking.com/speakers/lenorafulani.html ,
 who's main thrust is "Black political independence" .

 One hard to find detail , which I mention in my comments
 in the NYC Voter Guide linked below , is that the threshold for=
 ballot
 access will be 900 petition signatures for any group as opposed=
 to 900
 for major parties and 2700 for third parties and independents .=
 
 It is the current system which is biased towards Daddy Bigbucks=
 .

> > Arnold Schwarzenegger=A0would have more than a fighting chance=
 to
> > become NYC Mayor if this=A0proposal is=A0passed.
 
 So ?  What's the problem , that he's not a professional=
 politician ?
 He has the money to do a Bloomberg or a Corzine anyway .

> > third and minor parties would also be impacted=A0negatively
>=A0>=A0since party designations would become obsolete in the=
 electoral arena.
>=A0> Parties=A0of the left and the right--Working Families,=
 Socialist Workers,
> > Green,=A0Conservative, Right-to-Life, etc.--would no longer be=
 able to run
> > candidates=A0under their party names.

 Simply FALSE .  Party labels are optional and certainly=
 Libertarians 
 will provide their identification .
 
>=A0>=A0Also, since only the top two vote-getters in the September=
 primary would
>=A0> be on=A0the November ballot, third parties would no longer be=
 able to run
> > candidates in=A0the general election.

 This is true . The real action would likely be in the September=
 round .
 But That would be far more competitive . You would actually get=
 debates .

>=A0>=A0Further, passage of Question #3 would end fusion politics.=
 Fusion is
>=A0>=A0a system of=A0cross endorsements, where one party endorses a=
 candidate of
> > another party.

 False .  Labels are not eliminated .

>=A0>=A0Of course, the current party-based electoral system is far=
 from perfect
>=A0> and=A0third parties and independent progressive blocs are at a=
 clear
>=A0>=A0disadvantage.

 RIGHT !

> > proportional=A0representation. Under such a system each party=
 receives a
> > certain number=A0of=A0seats in a legislative body based on the=
 number of
> > votes it received=A0overall.
> > Proportional representation was ended specifically=A0because
>=A0>=A0of the presence of Communists in the Council.
>=A0>=A0But that's another debate, and another political struggle. 

 Interesting history I did not know .  Proportional=
 representation replaces
 district locality with city-wide aggregation . So there is a=
 trade off .

 Instant runoff elections are another possibility .
 But those Are other debates .

 
 Unless you believe in the Democrat Establishment monopoly which=
 leaves 
 1.3 million of us with no choice , vote YES . 

--=A0
=A0Bob Armstrong -- http://CoSy.com -- 212-285-1864
Restore our Right to Relax :
=A0http://ny.lp.org/cgi-bin/petition.cgi?Against_the_Smoking_Ban

=A0Vote against your incumbent . If you believe in individual=
 Liberty

=A0And vote For open primaries . My commentary in the voters guide=
 :
http://nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2003/ballot_pr=
oposal/statements_3_pro.htm#armstrong

Computing Environment : =A0http://CoSy.com/CoSy/
A WTC vision : http://CoSy.com/CoSy/ConicAllConnect/

Liberty : http://CoSy.com/Liberty.htm
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A02003/11/03 9:56:58 PM