No, it's not the celebrated 1948 film noir... or *is* it???.....
The New York City Independence Party, which represents the nearly one million independent voters in the City, has endorsed Adolfo Carrion for Mayor in 2013 (see NYC independent strategist Jacqueline Salit's delightful and passionate introduction before the NYC IP City-wide County Committee here), released a comprehensive political reform package last week in the wake of the current political scandals (which apparently has moved Gov Cuomo to "Call for 'Open Primaries'") in New York, and which according the the IPNYC "expose structural weaknesses in the system that need to be addressed, but not in ways that entrench the powerful and preclude a more nonpartisan process."
Nonpartisan municipal elections, or open primaries at the state level, is a central tenent of the reform package and IP General Counsel Harry Kresky made a very succinct case in his recent amNewYork oped: Kresky: Nonpartisan voting would make NYC elections fairer: "But if you eliminate the "gateway," then no "gatekeeper" can charge a candidate to pass through it. That's what nonpartisan municipal elections would do."
The New York City Independence Party Political Reform Package - The Antidote to Corruption is Democracy (PRESS RELEASE NYC Independence Party) From the release:
The Independence Party (IP) was first created in 1994 to bring political reform to New York. Unlike other minor parties, its purpose was not to influence the electoral process on the basis of ideology, but rather to influence the political process itself; to make it more open, less partisan and less corruptible. For nearly 20 years, the Independence Party built on that vision, using fusion and the appeal of political independence to push nonpartisan reforms.
Over the last few weeks, it has become evident that such reform is desperately needed. The current political scandals expose structural weaknesses in the system that need to be addressed, but not in ways that entrench the powerful and preclude a more nonpartisan process....The reform agenda includes: 1) Nonpartisan Elections and Fusion, 2) Initiative and Referendum, 3) Term Limits for State Legislators, 4) Voter Mobility, 5) Nonpartisan Administration of Elections, 6) Campaign Finance Reform, 7) Nonpartisan Redistricting Reform, 8) Full Public Hearings on All Reforms. For the full statement go here.
And if you are one of the million, let us know!
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See you in the streets!!
NH
2 comments:
Chicago has non-partisan elections for all city office, and a few months ago, a political scientist published objective research, showing more corruption convictions from Chicago on a per-capita basis than any other big city in the nation. Another city high in corruption with non-partisan city elections is Detroit. When it is alleged that non-partisan city elections reduce corruption, one wants to see some evidence.
First, I would like to say that I have a lot of respect for Richard Winger and his Ballot Access News. Many years ago, he volunteered me (as only a self ordained democracy activist) much useful information about ballot access issues.
However because "corruption" is defined by the state, those who agree that the U.S.has a very, very, limited democracy would naturally support democracy issues over corruption issues.
Those who feel they lack the power to make the rules will always tend to lack moral obligations to those rules.
The traditional power of jury nullification gives the people the power to corrupt the CRIMINAL laws! However, both our "founding fathers," and modern day New Hampshire, have found it acceptable and perhaps even praise worthy.
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