3 ms·

The soda ban was invalidated, but the city is trying to appeal that ruling: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/12/nyregion/judge-invalidates-bloombergs-soda-ban.htm

The soda ban was invalidated, but the city is trying to appeal that ruling: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/12/nyregion/judge-invalidates-bloombergs-soda-ban.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/12/nyregion/judge-invalidates... Also, Bloomberg is still in office because he was able to change the term limits, which New Yorkers were against. It's hard to beat a politician with a personal net worth of $27 billion.

nickff 14y ago
There doesn't seem to be much evidence to support the view that personal wealth can be used to 'buy' an election, or even substantially improve one's results: http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaign-spending-influence-the-election-a-freakonomics-quorum/ http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaig... personal note: I do not support the abolition of term limits or the imposition of soda taxes; but I do not think he is in power simply because he is wealthy.
- mtalantikite 14y ago
  I don't know, nothing in that article seems to confirm or deny the hypothesis. Most of the blurbs summarize to "money doesn't directly win you an election, but you sure as hell better have a lot of it". He certainly isn't in power simply because he's wealthy, but having a bottomless war chest and a large media empire makes it much easier.
  - Zimahl 14y ago
    You need money and time to run in an election. When you are rich you have one and the ability to get the other. That still doesn't explain that if the people of New York are so against his policies why he can make them happen. I'll assume that New York is just like any other city and the mayor can't just do something because they want to. Don't they have city councilmen? Aren't they beholden to the masses? Can't they be elected out if the people don't like what is being passed? As for term limits, if he can get re-elected what does that matter? The people are still voting him in! In any case it's still the fault of the people of New York.
    - mtalantikite 14y ago
      Sure, there is a city council, and of course they can lose elections. Unfortunately people aren't that involved with local politics, in a city where the democratic nominee is likely to win. In the 2009 general election for mayor voter turnout was 18.4% here in NYC. Bloomberg only won that third term by 4.4 points. Overall you're right, New Yorkers don't hate Bloomberg, he's done quite a bit that lots of people like. I certainly don't hate him, but I do have many problems with him.

nickff 14y ago

There doesn't seem to be much evidence to support the view that personal wealth can be used to 'buy' an election, or even substantially improve one's results: http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaign-spending-influence-the-election-a-freakonomics-quorum/ http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/01/17/how-much-does-campaig... personal note: I do not support the abolition of term limits or the imposition of soda taxes; but I do not think he is in power simply because he is wealthy.

mtalantikite 14y ago
I don't know, nothing in that article seems to confirm or deny the hypothesis. Most of the blurbs summarize to "money doesn't directly win you an election, but you sure as hell better have a lot of it". He certainly isn't in power simply because he's wealthy, but having a bottomless war chest and a large media empire makes it much easier.
- Zimahl 14y ago
  You need money and time to run in an election. When you are rich you have one and the ability to get the other. That still doesn't explain that if the people of New York are so against his policies why he can make them happen. I'll assume that New York is just like any other city and the mayor can't just do something because they want to. Don't they have city councilmen? Aren't they beholden to the masses? Can't they be elected out if the people don't like what is being passed? As for term limits, if he can get re-elected what does that matter? The people are still voting him in! In any case it's still the fault of the people of New York.
  - mtalantikite 14y ago
    Sure, there is a city council, and of course they can lose elections. Unfortunately people aren't that involved with local politics, in a city where the democratic nominee is likely to win. In the 2009 general election for mayor voter turnout was 18.4% here in NYC. Bloomberg only won that third term by 4.4 points. Overall you're right, New Yorkers don't hate Bloomberg, he's done quite a bit that lots of people like. I certainly don't hate him, but I do have many problems with him.