Why did so many serious Democrats vote against Governor Cuomo?
Has he asked that question seriously?
Does he care?
In short, the answer is because many don't see him as a legitimate reformer. They don't see him fighting for us. They do see him squarely in the middle of all that's wrong with New York State and its government.
If there's one issue where his position (or lack thereof!) stands out, it's fracking.
There's no good reason for the State to support fracking. Individual residents and land holders might make money. There may be some temporary jobs. Rich people will make a lot of money.
I don't know how much of a risk fracking is. I do know that if it is a risk, it is a danger to one of our most precious resources and one of the few natural resources with which this State is blessed, in this era of drought through the South and the West: our drinking water.
If the Governor had wished to side with the people of New York State, he could have clearly opposed fracking. The fact that he hasn't telegraphs an intent to remove restrictions in part or whole after the election.
There are other issues, too: taxation, education, clean government, elections.
But fracking is visible and seems pretty clear cut to everyone except those who stand to profit from it.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Teachout wins today
Teachout wins today.
If she wins the primary, then she wins today.
If Cuomo wins the primary and shifts leftward as a result of the pressure from Teachout and her supporters, then she wins today.
If Cuomo wins the primary and continues his same-old, same-old silly solutions gimmicky policies, then Teachout can point to the people who voted for him and tell them they were short sighted for not supporting her. And, in a kind of Pyrrhic victory, she wins today.
If she wins the primary, then she wins today.
If Cuomo wins the primary and shifts leftward as a result of the pressure from Teachout and her supporters, then she wins today.
If Cuomo wins the primary and continues his same-old, same-old silly solutions gimmicky policies, then Teachout can point to the people who voted for him and tell them they were short sighted for not supporting her. And, in a kind of Pyrrhic victory, she wins today.
Monday, September 8, 2014
For Teachout or against Cuomo?
People support Zephyr Teachout because they like her approach: liberal, fresh, open, not part of the Albany political swamp.
But it's hard to argue that much of her support probably is equaled by frustration with Governor Cuomo.
In short:
He has failed to implement meaningful tax reform. The "cap" is a short sighted, poorly implemented, doomed-to-fail attempt at slowing the increase in property taxes. The only way to deal with this is head-on: the State has to accept more fiscal responsibility for local governments, especially schools.
He has not done anything meaningful to improve elections in the State. We have three viable models for how to elections better: Clean Money, Clean Elections (Maine, Arizona); primary balloting (California, Louisiana); email voting (Oregon). We ought to be doing all three. Or improving on them. Instead, he made a half-hearted attempt at public financing before throwing his hands up in defeat.
He hasn't done anything to fix corruption in this State. Do I believe that his actions with regards to the Moreland Commission are criminal? Facts aren't in, but no, I do not think what he did was criminal (to be fair, Preet Bharara disagrees and appears to be much more knowledgeable). But I do think he acted in line with the general political sleaze and corruption in Albany: protecting his allies and donors and trying to claim credit for the opposite of what he really did.
Why would I support any of that?
I've heard many say that Teachout is unelectable. Some seem to think she isn't experienced enough, others that she is too liberal.
Right now, the only people we have in New York with the "appropriate level" of experience are part of this same corrupt milieu. It may be, in fact, that we have to turn outside the establishment to find someone willing to do the necessary things.
As to being too liberal-- New York is one of the most liberal states in the Union. How does that argument even get made?
Do I think Teachout is likely to win tomorrow? Probably not.
Do I feel like I'm wasting my vote by voting for her? Definitely not.
I'm using my vote to send a message to the Governor and others in Albany: enough of the same-old, same-old. It's time to fix the State instead of continuing down the paths that have not worked so far.
But it's hard to argue that much of her support probably is equaled by frustration with Governor Cuomo.
In short:
He has failed to implement meaningful tax reform. The "cap" is a short sighted, poorly implemented, doomed-to-fail attempt at slowing the increase in property taxes. The only way to deal with this is head-on: the State has to accept more fiscal responsibility for local governments, especially schools.
He has not done anything meaningful to improve elections in the State. We have three viable models for how to elections better: Clean Money, Clean Elections (Maine, Arizona); primary balloting (California, Louisiana); email voting (Oregon). We ought to be doing all three. Or improving on them. Instead, he made a half-hearted attempt at public financing before throwing his hands up in defeat.
He hasn't done anything to fix corruption in this State. Do I believe that his actions with regards to the Moreland Commission are criminal? Facts aren't in, but no, I do not think what he did was criminal (to be fair, Preet Bharara disagrees and appears to be much more knowledgeable). But I do think he acted in line with the general political sleaze and corruption in Albany: protecting his allies and donors and trying to claim credit for the opposite of what he really did.
Why would I support any of that?
I've heard many say that Teachout is unelectable. Some seem to think she isn't experienced enough, others that she is too liberal.
Right now, the only people we have in New York with the "appropriate level" of experience are part of this same corrupt milieu. It may be, in fact, that we have to turn outside the establishment to find someone willing to do the necessary things.
As to being too liberal-- New York is one of the most liberal states in the Union. How does that argument even get made?
Do I think Teachout is likely to win tomorrow? Probably not.
Do I feel like I'm wasting my vote by voting for her? Definitely not.
I'm using my vote to send a message to the Governor and others in Albany: enough of the same-old, same-old. It's time to fix the State instead of continuing down the paths that have not worked so far.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Teachout and ready to roll?
I was speaking with a neighbor about the upcoming primary for Governor in the State of New York.
She expressed an interest in Zephyr Teachout's candidacy-- especially when I told her I intended to vote for Teachout.
But she hesitated-- is Teachout ready to run the State of New York?
I admitted, as a supporter, it's a question that concerned me as well.
She shrugged and said that Teachout seemed bright and ready to hire good people to handle the administrative issues. I agreed that's probably the case.
I think, though, that if the Governor wanted to raise this issue, he should have done so in one of his many debates that were televised state-wide throughout the primary campaign.
Oh, wait, maybe...
She expressed an interest in Zephyr Teachout's candidacy-- especially when I told her I intended to vote for Teachout.
But she hesitated-- is Teachout ready to run the State of New York?
I admitted, as a supporter, it's a question that concerned me as well.
She shrugged and said that Teachout seemed bright and ready to hire good people to handle the administrative issues. I agreed that's probably the case.
I think, though, that if the Governor wanted to raise this issue, he should have done so in one of his many debates that were televised state-wide throughout the primary campaign.
Oh, wait, maybe...
Why Teachout?
I will give Governor Cuomo respect for what he's accomplished. Specifically, I laud his support and pushing for marriage equality.
But for the rest of the issues which most progressives and liberals consider important, he has not been successful. For most of them, he has failed to lead.
He has not banned hydraulic fracturing to retrieve natural gas in New York State. My guess is that, if re-elected, he will move quickly to allow companies to begin doing this.
He has done precious little to improve the educational system in the State.
He has done nothing to improve elections (like clean money or nonpartisan redistricting) or reduce corruption in politics (some, including the US Attorney, seem to be arguing that he has participated in it himself).
His "tax cap" is a silly gimmick. To reduce property taxes, we need to shift the cost of our schools from local property tax payers to the State income tax.
He has done little or nothing to make the State tax code more progressive.
He claims an economic turn around; but that is in the midst of the worst economic decline in two generations.
If you think these issues are important to New York State and are a registered Democrat in the State, then you need to consider voting for Zephyr Teachout in Tuesday's primary.
But for the rest of the issues which most progressives and liberals consider important, he has not been successful. For most of them, he has failed to lead.
He has not banned hydraulic fracturing to retrieve natural gas in New York State. My guess is that, if re-elected, he will move quickly to allow companies to begin doing this.
He has done precious little to improve the educational system in the State.
He has done nothing to improve elections (like clean money or nonpartisan redistricting) or reduce corruption in politics (some, including the US Attorney, seem to be arguing that he has participated in it himself).
His "tax cap" is a silly gimmick. To reduce property taxes, we need to shift the cost of our schools from local property tax payers to the State income tax.
He has done little or nothing to make the State tax code more progressive.
He claims an economic turn around; but that is in the midst of the worst economic decline in two generations.
If you think these issues are important to New York State and are a registered Democrat in the State, then you need to consider voting for Zephyr Teachout in Tuesday's primary.
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