4 ms·

> Regardless of whether it is cost effective to do so or not, each and every one of the beneficiaries from such corruption should be investigated and prosecute

> Regardless of whether it is cost effective to do so or not, each and every one of the beneficiaries from such corruption should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible under the law, no matter how expensive it gets, to set a precedent so others might think twice in the future. I think you underestimate the extent of corruption in New York state government. New Yorkers unfortunately can't do anything about it, because a combination of state laws have ceded electoral power to a handful of local pay-to-play clubs[0] which determine which candidates are permitted to run (unopposed) in elections. [0] Each district is controlled by a local club; membership in these starts around $1000/year, and these clubs are responsible for deciding when a local candidate receives a primary challenge. If the clubs don't approve a challenge, then the primary election is cancelled.

twunde 7y ago
1) I don't know whether NY is any more corrupt than other states, I'd imagine other states that are largely controlled by party machines have similar levels of corruption. If you look at historical political machines (Tammany Hall, Kansas City), it seems that there used to be more corruption. 2) While many districts are controlled by local party machines, they are not invincible. It's still possible to get on a democratic primary ballot without the support of Dem machine, you just need to get the required number of signatures by registered Dems and file the paperwork (funnily enough, in some areas the local Rep party will help with this. NY's rule allowing candidates to run on multiple parties helps with this).
- chimeracoder 7y ago
  > If you look at historical political machines (Tammany Hall, Kansas City), it seems that there used to be more corruption. Tammany Hall still exists. My own local Democratic club, for example, literally compares itself to Tammany Hall. > It's still possible to get on a democratic primary ballot without the support of Dem machine, you just need to get the required number of signatures by registered Dems and file the paperwork The laws around which signatures are considered valid are absurdly stringent, to the point of disenfranchising actual registered Democrats, with the intention of making right-to-ballot petitions infeasible in most districts. > NY's rule allowing candidates to run on multiple parties helps with this. Fusion voting is a way for major parties to exert control over third parties, not a way for voters registered with a party to exert political pressure against the party establishment.

twunde 7y ago

1) I don't know whether NY is any more corrupt than other states, I'd imagine other states that are largely controlled by party machines have similar levels of corruption. If you look at historical political machines (Tammany Hall, Kansas City), it seems that there used to be more corruption. 2) While many districts are controlled by local party machines, they are not invincible. It's still possible to get on a democratic primary ballot without the support of Dem machine, you just need to get the required number of signatures by registered Dems and file the paperwork (funnily enough, in some areas the local Rep party will help with this. NY's rule allowing candidates to run on multiple parties helps with this).

chimeracoder 7y ago
> If you look at historical political machines (Tammany Hall, Kansas City), it seems that there used to be more corruption. Tammany Hall still exists. My own local Democratic club, for example, literally compares itself to Tammany Hall. > It's still possible to get on a democratic primary ballot without the support of Dem machine, you just need to get the required number of signatures by registered Dems and file the paperwork The laws around which signatures are considered valid are absurdly stringent, to the point of disenfranchising actual registered Democrats, with the intention of making right-to-ballot petitions infeasible in most districts. > NY's rule allowing candidates to run on multiple parties helps with this. Fusion voting is a way for major parties to exert control over third parties, not a way for voters registered with a party to exert political pressure against the party establishment.