Subject: Re: Fw: Schwarzenegger for NYC Mayor?/Vote "No" Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 09:33:28 -0500 To: "Mr. Melody \(R\)" From: Bob Armstrong On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 00:04:05 -0800 (PST), Mr. Melody \(R\) wrote: >=A0Do you really trust Bloomberg that much you think he'd be= behind this if it wasn't for personal gain? What about what he= did to the teachers' class size proposal? That's an ad hominem argument . I hate the bastard for his= tyrannical suppression of my right to relax with a cigar . But= that doesn't change the issue . Word is he is did this to repay= Lenora Fulani for the support of the Independent party . Did you read my comments in the voteguide linked in my sig ? Think about it yourself . You know the current system is a= monopoly . The threshold for participation will uniformly be 900 signatures= . That seems very reasonable to me . >=A0Bob Armstrong =A0wrote: On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 21:12:59= -0500, BARBARA SLITKIN wrote: >=A0>=A0This made it much clearer for me- maybe you too? >=A0>=A0----- Original Message ----- >=A0>=A0From: "NormanS" >=A0>=A0To: "NYC Direct Action Network" > >=A0Much of what is said here is simply false . It is only the >=A0rulers , such as Denny Farrel , of the Democrat monopoly who >=A0gain by the current disenfranchisement of every other group . > >=A0Specifically false are the following : > >=A0>=A0>=A0This scheme ... would diminish the influence=A0and political >=A0>=A0>=A0gains made by African Americans, Hispanics, Asians,= immigrants, >=A0>=A0>=A0labor and=A0other=A0progressive forces. > >=A0The Only group advantaged by the current system are the= professional >=A0politicians . > >=A0>=A0>=A0Further, it would allow wealt! hy =A0celebrity=A0candidates an= even >=A0>=A0>=A0greater advantage in a city where billionaires rule. > >=A0Ridiculous . >=A0Remember this proposal was largely motivated by Lenora Fulani= , >=A0http://www.speaking.com/speakers/lenorafulani.html , >=A0who's main thrust is "Black political independence" . > >=A0One hard to find detail , which I mention in my comments >=A0in the NYC Voter Guide linked below , is that the threshold for= ballot >=A0access will be 900 petition signatures for any group as opposed= to 900 >=A0for major parties and 2700 for third parties and independents= . >=A0It is the current system which is biased towards Daddy Bigbucks= . > >=A0>=A0>=A0Arnold Schwarzenegger=A0would have more than a fighting= chance to >=A0>=A0>=A0become NYC Mayor if this=A0proposal is=A0passed. > >=A0So ? What's the problem , that he's not a professional= politician ? >=A0He has the money to do a Bloomberg or a Corzine anyway . > >=A0>=A0>=A0third and minor parties ! would =A0also be= impacted=A0negatively >=A0>=A0>=A0since party designations would become obsolete in the= electoral arena. >=A0>=A0>=A0Parties=A0of the left and the right--Working Families,= Socialist Workers, >=A0>=A0>=A0Green,=A0Conservative, Right-to-Life, etc.--would no longer= be able to run >=A0>=A0>=A0candidates=A0under their party names. > >=A0Simply FALSE . Party labels are optional and certainly= Libertarians >=A0will provide their identification . > >=A0>=A0>=A0Also, since only the top two vote-getters in the September= primary would >=A0>=A0>=A0be on=A0the November ballot, third parties would no longer be= able to run >=A0>=A0>=A0candidates in=A0the general election. > >=A0This is true . The real action would likely be in the September= round . >=A0But That would be far more competitive . You would actually get= debates . > >=A0>=A0>=A0Further, passage of Question #3 would end fusion politics.= Fusion =A0is >=A0>=A0>=A0a system of=A0cross endorsements, where one party endorses a= candidate of >=A0>=A0>=A0another party. > >=A0False . Labels are not eliminated . > >=A0>=A0>=A0Of course, the current party-based electoral system is far= from perfect >=A0>=A0>=A0and=A0third parties and independent progressive blocs are at= a clear >=A0>=A0>=A0disadvantage. > >=A0RIGHT ! > >=A0>=A0>=A0proportional=A0representation. Under such a system each party= receives a >=A0>=A0>=A0certain number=A0of=A0seats in a legislative body based on the= number of >=A0>=A0>=A0votes it received=A0overall. >=A0>=A0>=A0Proportional representation was ended specifically=A0because >=A0>=A0>=A0of the presence of Communists in the Council. >=A0>=A0>=A0But that's another debate, and another political struggle. > >=A0Interesting history I did not know . Proportional= representation replaces >=A0district locality with city-wide =A0aggregation . So there is a= trade off . > >=A0Instant runoff elections are another possibility . >=A0But those Are other debates . > > >=A0Unless you believe in the Democrat Establishment monopoly which= leaves >=A01.3 million of us with no choice , vote YES . > >=A0--=A0 >=A0=A0Bob Armstrong -- http://CoSy.com -- 212-285-1864 >=A0Restore our Right to Relax : >=A0=A0http://ny.lp.org/cgi-bin/petition.cgi?Against_the_Smoking_Ban > >=A0=A0Vote against your incumbent . If you believe in individual= Liberty > >=A0=A0And vote For open primaries . My commentary in the voters= guide : >=A0http://nyccfb.info/debates_vg/voter_guides/general_2003/ballot_= proposal/statements_3_pro.htm#armstrong > >=A0Computing Environment : =A0http://CoSy.com/CoSy/ >=A0A WTC vision : http://CoSy.com/CoSy/ConicAllConnect/ > >=A0Liberty : http://CoSy.com/Liberty.htm >=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A02003/11/03 9:56:58 =A0PM > > > >=A0Do you Yahoo!? >=A0Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard --=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 . =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=A02003/11/04 9:24:28 AM