Everyday people complain about how bad things are yet on Staten Island where we have over 200,000 voters and only about 75,000 voted last Tuesday.
So the next time you want to complain first ask yourself if you were one of the 125,000 Staten Island Registered voters who didn’t vote.
Just if you weren’t paying attention
Bloomberg spent over $100 million and got 557,000 votes. That’s about $175 a vote.
Alex Zablocki spent $17,000 and got 157,000 votes. That’s about $9.25 a vote.
But here’s the real shame.
Alex filed 30,000 signatures to get on the ballot while Bloomberg only filed 21,000.
But Alex was excluded from all the debates because his campaign didn’t raise enough money.
And you still think we don’t need campaign finance reform.
By the way these candidates keep building up their campaign war chests with millions and wind up spending it on lawyers when they get caught.
Great system we have here.
We should require that 90% of all excess funds be either set aside for community projects or returned after each election.
But we know that will never happen.
So why don’t we try this.
Ban the use of campaign funds for legal costs.
Any excess campaign funds after an election must be used to repay any matching funds that were received.
And here’s an easy one.
We give the candidates one week to take down all their signs.
We ask organizations to set up sign collections after the week grace period.
We then charge their campaigns $10 a sign that is turned in.
We set up collection sites and reimburse the organizations for the signs they collect.
We would probably raise enough money to stock a food pantry every year.
We know none of these will ever be implemented but we will keep trying.
Dennis
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
IT'S NOT ONLY IF YOU VOTE.... IT'S HOW YOU VOTE THAT COUNTS
So now that we have come to the end of campaigns that have been going on forever.
The candidates will pull out all of their dirt tricks over the next 24 hours in a last ditch effort to sway our decisions.
And then it will be up to us to decide.
Unfortunately many of us will not even bother.
Some will look at the polls and decide their candidate doesn’t have a chance so they will not bother to vote.
Others will think just the opposite and feel that their candidate is so far ahead that their vote is not necessary
What’s worse is that many of us will just enter the voting both and just vote straight down our party line.
This has become standard practice with many Americans.
It has also contributed to the current state of our nation as well as the condition of our states and cities.
On Staten Island decisions will be made for the City Council and Borough President and city wide we will be deciding on a mayor.
Decisions such as these will be being made all over the country.
But again many will not vote and others will be selecting candidates for no other reason than the fact that they are on the same party line as their choice for president.
This is the real problem facing America today.
We need to be more involved and voting is just a part of that responsibility.
We need to know who we are voting for and we are not going to get that information from advertisements, lawn signs or mailings.
Have you ever once gotten information from any candidates stating what promises they didn’t deliver on?
I haven’t
So on Election Day do us all a favor.
Take a little time and put some thought into what candidates you are selecting.
They will have a job for the next few years.
Let’s make sure that they will work to assure that we can say the same.
I have said it before and I will say it again “We need representatives not politicians” at every level of government.
On Election Day we can make a difference.
Let’s see if we will.
Dennis
The candidates will pull out all of their dirt tricks over the next 24 hours in a last ditch effort to sway our decisions.
And then it will be up to us to decide.
Unfortunately many of us will not even bother.
Some will look at the polls and decide their candidate doesn’t have a chance so they will not bother to vote.
Others will think just the opposite and feel that their candidate is so far ahead that their vote is not necessary
What’s worse is that many of us will just enter the voting both and just vote straight down our party line.
This has become standard practice with many Americans.
It has also contributed to the current state of our nation as well as the condition of our states and cities.
On Staten Island decisions will be made for the City Council and Borough President and city wide we will be deciding on a mayor.
Decisions such as these will be being made all over the country.
But again many will not vote and others will be selecting candidates for no other reason than the fact that they are on the same party line as their choice for president.
This is the real problem facing America today.
We need to be more involved and voting is just a part of that responsibility.
We need to know who we are voting for and we are not going to get that information from advertisements, lawn signs or mailings.
Have you ever once gotten information from any candidates stating what promises they didn’t deliver on?
I haven’t
So on Election Day do us all a favor.
Take a little time and put some thought into what candidates you are selecting.
They will have a job for the next few years.
Let’s make sure that they will work to assure that we can say the same.
I have said it before and I will say it again “We need representatives not politicians” at every level of government.
On Election Day we can make a difference.
Let’s see if we will.
Dennis
Saturday, October 31, 2009
ONCE AGAIN CALLING FOR A POLITICAL PRE-NUP
The Washington Post has reported that more than 30 lawmakers and a few staff members were under scrutiny, including nearly half the members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.
The sad part of this story is that any of these Representatives if indicted will be able to use campaign funds to pay their legal fees.
So taxpayers not only pay their salaries but also have to foot the bill for their legal costs when they get caught stealing from the public.
Is that why you contribute to campaigns?
And it is not only at the Federal level.
The Associated Press has reported that former NY State Senate Leader Joe Bruno has already spent $633,000 in campaign funds on criminal lawyers.
Question: When is the madness going to stop?
Answer: Only when we hold these elected officials responsible for their actions.
We once again call for a political pre-nup which we would ask each candidate to sign.
This pre-nup would state that if they are forced from their positions due to illegal or improper behavior they will give up any claim to any pensions or benefits that they may be entitled to. And they agree to pay back any monies that may have been illegally gained without dispute. We could also add that they would agree not to use any campaign funds for legal defense.
See post below from 7/13/08 when we first requested this.
It's Time For A Political Pre-Nup
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43838
We are still looking for at least one candidate to voluntarily sign one but we are not too optimistic.
A great commentary on our political process.
We would love to have the media ask any of the candidates on the record if they would be willing to do this.
In the meantime we would at least like someone to introduce some legitimate campaign finance legislation which would prohibit the use of campaign funds for legal expenses. It should also limit the amount a candidate can carry over after the election.
Wouldn’t you agree it’s time has come.
Names Leaked in House Ethics Probes
http://news.aol.com/article/congressional-ethics-probe-targets/744598?icid=main|main|dl4|link4|http://news.aol.com/article/congressional-ethics-probe-targets/744598
The sad part of this story is that any of these Representatives if indicted will be able to use campaign funds to pay their legal fees.
So taxpayers not only pay their salaries but also have to foot the bill for their legal costs when they get caught stealing from the public.
Is that why you contribute to campaigns?
And it is not only at the Federal level.
The Associated Press has reported that former NY State Senate Leader Joe Bruno has already spent $633,000 in campaign funds on criminal lawyers.
Question: When is the madness going to stop?
Answer: Only when we hold these elected officials responsible for their actions.
We once again call for a political pre-nup which we would ask each candidate to sign.
This pre-nup would state that if they are forced from their positions due to illegal or improper behavior they will give up any claim to any pensions or benefits that they may be entitled to. And they agree to pay back any monies that may have been illegally gained without dispute. We could also add that they would agree not to use any campaign funds for legal defense.
See post below from 7/13/08 when we first requested this.
It's Time For A Political Pre-Nup
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43838
We are still looking for at least one candidate to voluntarily sign one but we are not too optimistic.
A great commentary on our political process.
We would love to have the media ask any of the candidates on the record if they would be willing to do this.
In the meantime we would at least like someone to introduce some legitimate campaign finance legislation which would prohibit the use of campaign funds for legal expenses. It should also limit the amount a candidate can carry over after the election.
Wouldn’t you agree it’s time has come.
Names Leaked in House Ethics Probes
http://news.aol.com/article/congressional-ethics-probe-targets/744598?icid=main|main|dl4|link4|http://news.aol.com/article/congressional-ethics-probe-targets/744598
Sunday, October 25, 2009
PUTTING "US" BACK INTO USA
Each year we have candidates running for office promising what they are going to do for “us”.
They constantly state that they are running “for us” and will “work for us”
I am going to take a page out of Bill Clinton’s playbook and ask how do they define “us”?
Because the entire political process seems to have very little to do with “us”.
This includes the candidates, the media and the elected officials once they take office.
Here are a few examples
In New York they asked “us” in a referendum if we wanted term limits.
We said yes.
But “they” said to hell with “us” and did away with them any way.
In Congress the majority of Representatives back the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009.
But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who doesn’t represent any of “us” is holding the bill hostage and refuses to put it up for a vote even though there are enough votes to pass it.
Now how is that representing “us”?
And the media is even worse.
The Obama administration refuses to even acknowledge the Fox Network because “they” don’t agree with the administration’s policies.
MSNBC and CNN reports are almost always pro administration.
These are supposed to be news networks and are supposed to be reporting facts not opinions.
Are we not entitled to the facts?
Aren’t we smart enough to form our own opinions?
Again I ask what about “us”?
The same can be said of almost any newspaper or radio outlet.
What ever happened to “all the news that’s fit to print” or “we report you decide”?
If they really cared about “us” these would be more than just catch phrases.
Well it is time that we demand that they all start representing “us”
And we are made up of many races, many religions, many political opinions and many life styles.
And they have been elected to represent “us”
And we can begin with Nancy Pelosi.
We need to let her know that her house is in California and not Washington DC.
And while she may control that one she does not control the one on Capital Hill.
And until we change the name of it to the House of Nancy Pelosi or the House of Bohner it is still the House of Representatives.
And they better start representing “us”…all of “us” and not just their personal agendas.
And this goes for all our elected officials from the President on down to our local representatives.
And to all the media outlets as well.
As the old adage goes “there is no I in team” and the last time I looked there is no I in USA either.
But there is an “US”
And if they don’t start listing to “us” and representing “us” we will find someone who will.
And we will put the “US” back into USA.
They constantly state that they are running “for us” and will “work for us”
I am going to take a page out of Bill Clinton’s playbook and ask how do they define “us”?
Because the entire political process seems to have very little to do with “us”.
This includes the candidates, the media and the elected officials once they take office.
Here are a few examples
In New York they asked “us” in a referendum if we wanted term limits.
We said yes.
But “they” said to hell with “us” and did away with them any way.
In Congress the majority of Representatives back the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009.
But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who doesn’t represent any of “us” is holding the bill hostage and refuses to put it up for a vote even though there are enough votes to pass it.
Now how is that representing “us”?
And the media is even worse.
The Obama administration refuses to even acknowledge the Fox Network because “they” don’t agree with the administration’s policies.
MSNBC and CNN reports are almost always pro administration.
These are supposed to be news networks and are supposed to be reporting facts not opinions.
Are we not entitled to the facts?
Aren’t we smart enough to form our own opinions?
Again I ask what about “us”?
The same can be said of almost any newspaper or radio outlet.
What ever happened to “all the news that’s fit to print” or “we report you decide”?
If they really cared about “us” these would be more than just catch phrases.
Well it is time that we demand that they all start representing “us”
And we are made up of many races, many religions, many political opinions and many life styles.
And they have been elected to represent “us”
And we can begin with Nancy Pelosi.
We need to let her know that her house is in California and not Washington DC.
And while she may control that one she does not control the one on Capital Hill.
And until we change the name of it to the House of Nancy Pelosi or the House of Bohner it is still the House of Representatives.
And they better start representing “us”…all of “us” and not just their personal agendas.
And this goes for all our elected officials from the President on down to our local representatives.
And to all the media outlets as well.
As the old adage goes “there is no I in team” and the last time I looked there is no I in USA either.
But there is an “US”
And if they don’t start listing to “us” and representing “us” we will find someone who will.
And we will put the “US” back into USA.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
NANCY PELOSI HOLDS THE ZADROGA BILL HOSTAGE
Just a heads up of what is going on with your leadership in Washington.
Even though there are enough votes committed Speaker of the House Pelosi will not allow the Zadroga bill to be put up for a vote until the Health Care Bill is resolved.
How too faced can you be?
If Health Care is so important why would you deny it to those who got sick risking their lives saving victims of the worst attack in the history of America?
Call your Representative and demand that they do not allow this to continue.
They are playing political Russian roulette with the lives of our loved ones while pushing their own agendas.
We need to stand up and be heard.
Too many have died already while Congress begins to look more and more like the NYS Senate.
You cannot continue to remain silent.
Also join the rally on Saturday
Coalition of 9/11 Organizations Press Conference 10/24/09
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=49882
Even though there are enough votes committed Speaker of the House Pelosi will not allow the Zadroga bill to be put up for a vote until the Health Care Bill is resolved.
How too faced can you be?
If Health Care is so important why would you deny it to those who got sick risking their lives saving victims of the worst attack in the history of America?
Call your Representative and demand that they do not allow this to continue.
They are playing political Russian roulette with the lives of our loved ones while pushing their own agendas.
We need to stand up and be heard.
Too many have died already while Congress begins to look more and more like the NYS Senate.
You cannot continue to remain silent.
Also join the rally on Saturday
Coalition of 9/11 Organizations Press Conference 10/24/09
http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=49882
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY
To All
Got this E-Update from the LMDC today
Eight and a half years later.
At a cost of over $300 Million (do you know how many sick victims could have been treated with this money?)
Corruption, kickbacks and under the table deals.
The improper removal of victims’ remains
The death of 2 NYC firefighters
And we are supposed to be happy that they are finally getting this done.
This building will always stand as an example of all that has been wrong at Ground Zero.
But we keep on dumping millions into the LMDC and LMCCC
Some things never change
Dear Community Member,
Yesterday, the NYC Department of Buildings issued permits to demolish the remaining 26 floors of the former Deutsche Bank Building at 130 Liberty Street. The General Contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, and its subcontractor, LVI/Mizzochi, are now mobilizing the equipment necessary for the work to begin. Demolition is expected to begin Monday, November 2nd.
Got this E-Update from the LMDC today
Eight and a half years later.
At a cost of over $300 Million (do you know how many sick victims could have been treated with this money?)
Corruption, kickbacks and under the table deals.
The improper removal of victims’ remains
The death of 2 NYC firefighters
And we are supposed to be happy that they are finally getting this done.
This building will always stand as an example of all that has been wrong at Ground Zero.
But we keep on dumping millions into the LMDC and LMCCC
Some things never change
Dear Community Member,
Yesterday, the NYC Department of Buildings issued permits to demolish the remaining 26 floors of the former Deutsche Bank Building at 130 Liberty Street. The General Contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, and its subcontractor, LVI/Mizzochi, are now mobilizing the equipment necessary for the work to begin. Demolition is expected to begin Monday, November 2nd.
MAYBE IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE
As our country tries to recover from one of the worst economic downturns in its history many people are living day to day.
Foreclosures are still near all time highs.
Unemployment numbers are staggering.
Retirement is no longer a possibility for many.
Everyone is just trying to survive.
Well not everyone.
As it appears that our candidates are recession proof.
While the country’s economy crashed and burned last year’s presidential candidates raised more money than ever before.
And it’s not just at the top.
Just this week two fundraising events pulled in over $5 million for the Democratic Party in New York alone.
Similar events are doing the same for the Republicans and all the other parties all across the nation.
We may not have money for health care or for our schools but we continue to fork over the bucks to any Tom, Dick or Mary running for office.
And what do they do with this money?
They fill our mailboxes with campaign literature telling us all the great things they have done if they are in office or promising the great things that they will do if they get into office.
They fill the airways with ads (fact checking optional) bashing their opponents
If truth in advertising applied 90% of them would be in jail.
On the other hand they wouldn’t because they can also use these same campaign funds to hire the best lawyers to keep them out.
One of our esteemed Congressmen has spent over $500,000 of campaign funds to pay for legal fees over the past year.
And I am sure that one of our NYS Senators will be doing the same over the next few months.
Is this what you really want to do with your money?
Campaign reform is a joke and there is nothing we can do about big business and their pay to play policies.
There is also nothing we can do about the lobbyists who continue to buy and sell elected officials like they were penny stocks.
But there is something we can do at least at our level.
The next time you are thinking about writing a check out for a campaign maybe think about giving at least part of it to a local charity.
The next time you are going to spend hundreds of dollars to attend a campaign dinner think about going to an event like the Poor Peoples Dinner or a fundraiser for a local not for profit instead.
The next time you are going to spend hundreds of dollars for a handshake or a photo op with a candidate think about the sick first responders that these same people continue to ignore and write a check to the Fealgood Foundation or some other organization that is actually doing some good.
The bottom line is that if an elected official has done a good job his record should speak for itself.
And if it doesn’t vote for the other guy.
There is no reason why these candidates should be allowed to build up millions in campaign war chests for future elections while some of us can’t even afford to put food on the table.
The process has gotten so bad that we allow candidates to collect matching funds even after they have dropped out of races.
So until if and when we actually get some campaign finance reform in place maybe we can do our part by redistributing the campaign wealth.
They say “you get what you pay for” and if history shows us anything it is that we have gotten very little return on our investments when it comes to campaign contributions.
Maybe it is time for a change.
Foreclosures are still near all time highs.
Unemployment numbers are staggering.
Retirement is no longer a possibility for many.
Everyone is just trying to survive.
Well not everyone.
As it appears that our candidates are recession proof.
While the country’s economy crashed and burned last year’s presidential candidates raised more money than ever before.
And it’s not just at the top.
Just this week two fundraising events pulled in over $5 million for the Democratic Party in New York alone.
Similar events are doing the same for the Republicans and all the other parties all across the nation.
We may not have money for health care or for our schools but we continue to fork over the bucks to any Tom, Dick or Mary running for office.
And what do they do with this money?
They fill our mailboxes with campaign literature telling us all the great things they have done if they are in office or promising the great things that they will do if they get into office.
They fill the airways with ads (fact checking optional) bashing their opponents
If truth in advertising applied 90% of them would be in jail.
On the other hand they wouldn’t because they can also use these same campaign funds to hire the best lawyers to keep them out.
One of our esteemed Congressmen has spent over $500,000 of campaign funds to pay for legal fees over the past year.
And I am sure that one of our NYS Senators will be doing the same over the next few months.
Is this what you really want to do with your money?
Campaign reform is a joke and there is nothing we can do about big business and their pay to play policies.
There is also nothing we can do about the lobbyists who continue to buy and sell elected officials like they were penny stocks.
But there is something we can do at least at our level.
The next time you are thinking about writing a check out for a campaign maybe think about giving at least part of it to a local charity.
The next time you are going to spend hundreds of dollars to attend a campaign dinner think about going to an event like the Poor Peoples Dinner or a fundraiser for a local not for profit instead.
The next time you are going to spend hundreds of dollars for a handshake or a photo op with a candidate think about the sick first responders that these same people continue to ignore and write a check to the Fealgood Foundation or some other organization that is actually doing some good.
The bottom line is that if an elected official has done a good job his record should speak for itself.
And if it doesn’t vote for the other guy.
There is no reason why these candidates should be allowed to build up millions in campaign war chests for future elections while some of us can’t even afford to put food on the table.
The process has gotten so bad that we allow candidates to collect matching funds even after they have dropped out of races.
So until if and when we actually get some campaign finance reform in place maybe we can do our part by redistributing the campaign wealth.
They say “you get what you pay for” and if history shows us anything it is that we have gotten very little return on our investments when it comes to campaign contributions.
Maybe it is time for a change.
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