The dingo ate your democracy
If democracy is your baby then “the dingo ate your baby.” From the Public Defender sham to the unFAIR Plan to Zero Tolerance (anyone else chilled by something with “zero” and “tolerance” in close proximity to each other?), some leaders and policies in our area are eroding the public’s right for community involvement and open government. And it’s not like they’re doing it secretly and subtly. No, they’re doing it in front of the media, full steam ahead, changing seating capacity notices with full knowledge that the sign was documented just days prior. Photographers, protesters and Democratic leaders are tossed out and sometimes arrested for voicing dissent or simply just being there. Guess this is Monroe County’s version of “Shock and Awe.”
Ever notice how none of these issues affect the wealthy in large part? The Public Defender represents those who cannot afford counsel, the unFAIR Plan doesn’t affect those in cushy private schools, and trust fund babies are hardly the target of Zero Tolerance. This is a class and race battle and the GOP is leading the attack. Should we avert our gaze?
We can sit and blame MCDC Chairman Joe Morelle for failing to find a candidate to oppose Maggie Brooks but in the end Morelle couldn’t force people to run. If democracy is your baby, get out there and defend it.
The dingos are always circling, always hungry…”The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.”
– Edmund Burke, letter, April 3, 1777, to the Sheriffs of Bristol
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I think it is time we stop bringing up this irrelevant piece of information in an illogical argument:
You see, whether there was a candidate running against Maggie, or not, what the Rethuglicans are doing is abhorrent and undemocratic. It would be abhorrent and undemocratic if there was a candidate running against Maggie, and it would be abhorrent and undemocratic if there was no candidate running against Maggie. This style of governing is not what the citizens of Monroe County deserve, and I think it is high time we blame the people who are governing this way, and not Joe Morelle or the MCDC.
I also would like to see this situation framed more as Minarik/Brooks against the citizens of Monroe County, and not as Republicans vs Democrats — all citizens of Monroe County lose, regardless of their party affiliation.
Paige, you missed the point. I said “in the end Morelle couldn’t force people to run.” By that, I meant it is up to us to fight against Minarik/Brooks.
By getting out there and defending democracy, I meant against Minarik/Brooks. I thought it was clear. Guess not. We’re in agreement here.
Paige - the only reason I brought it up again in the other thread, is that I (and many others I’ve spoken to) believe that if the ‘07 elections hadn’t been mismanaged, the events of the past couple weeks would never have taken place.
I agree with you that Lyin’ Maggie and Minarek’s minions are at best showing utter contempt for the citizens of Monroe County.
In fact, neither you, nor the people you spoke to, nor I, know for sure what Minarik/Brooks would have done had there been a Democratic candidate for County Exec. It is all speculation.
So let’s drop that already and continue with legitimate criticisms of the local Rethuglicans.
I agree wholeheartedly the issue of the Public Defender, and unFAIR as well, and probably the next issue that the local Rethuglicans push, is both a class war and a race war. Just keep focusing on that.
Some legitimate criticism of the local Republicans is that if they have an opportunity to sock it to those they preside over…they will. I chose the word “preside” for a reason.
We need a Democratic candidate hothouse, ready to spring forth new candidates like it’s springtime.
no amount of protesting and criticism is going to change their behaviors. we have to beat them at the polls to do this. and I don’t think Joe is the one to lead us to that. Hopefully a sound beating on election day will be the end of Minarik like happened to him on the state level.
but whatever, you get your wish. I’m done here.
no amount of protesting and criticism is going to change their behaviors. we have to beat them at the polls to do this. and I don’t think Joe is the one to lead us to that. Hopefully a sound beating on election day will be the end of Minarik like happened to him on the state level.
I didn’t realize that this place was so full of MCDC trolls, but whatever, you get your wish. I’m done here.
The next issue is the MCC Presidency, and it has gotten a little more public today. Here is a link to today’s e-Business Journal story. This is a huge issue for the community as a whole, because Smith, the GOP choice, has no Ph.D and is a lawyer, not an educator, by training. Rembember the choice of Bob King as SUNY Chancellor, and how well that turned out? Community Colleges are serious educational institutions, and thrive when they are treated as such. That serious mission begins at the top…if the Presdiency is devalued by the appointment of a political hack, the entire insitution, and its ability to educate and serve our community, are debased.
Here is the RBJ link:
http://www.rbj.net/fullarticle.cfm?sdid=71670
It’s my wish that you keep on commenting. I like your passion!
The RBJ “story” reads like a press release.
This website does so many great things - allows people to air views and discuss news that might slip by otherwise, allows us to learn the facts and formulate arguments, and provides information to other news media and politicians that read and increase publicity. But we can do more - one thing we should learn to do is to help create candidates. If Morelle and MCDC can’t do it, why not start outselves. Crash the Gates! People’s candidates, or netroots candidates, or grassroots candidates - whatever you want to call them - should not be discounted. We’ve lost our creativity and our idealism if we think that the only way to run is to be a well funded party insider. Look at Obama (and I don’t care who you favor) or so many of the elections in the last congressional cycle. Look at Massa. So why don’t we start generating a list of positions which will be opening up - Leg seats where there will be an election coming up and there’s a Republican who’s got it, or the candidate is term limited, town political positions, etc. Then let’s think of the folks we know, and start making lists of who the candidates could be - not necessarily the best known, but good people. Then let’s get them known - start grassroots, and work on it. Let’s find a way to create a progressive PAC in Monroe County or Western New York. There are so many smart people here - we can do this. And the Repubs are giving us all the help we need, as they follow Minarik over a cliff, one step at a time.
dfaROCHESTER has been supporting candidates who overwise might not have had any organized support. And to put in a plug for our upcoming training, let me inform you that Democracy for America is bringing its Training Academy to Rochester on May 3 & 4.
Suited for candidates, campaign managers, volunteer coordinators and activists in general who simply want the skills to help get progressives elected. You can RSVP and watch for me details to come at:
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=26467
While on this topic, it is best to start small. Who are the people who react and organize on the election district level? Those are the people who are known and who could easily make the leap to running for office.
And while I’m at it, I’ll make a plug for joining your town Democratic committee. You’ll get your very own election district to petition in and you’ll get to know your neighbors and who might make a great candidate.
Bill Smith as president of MCC makes perfect sense and is the perfect reward for his time in the legislature
The fact that he was never an educator or an administrator simply reveals again that the Republicans want this for him as a reward and that the job isn’t actually meant for someone who is qualified.
Appointing an unqualified individual to an important public institution as political payback - think we’ll ever be saying, “Heckuva job, Billy”?
Hep– I doubt there’s any MCDC trolls here. We pissed them all off when we didn’t give a standing ovation to their “Clean It For Beaver” campaign video last fall.
I’m no fan of Morelle’s, and I could give you a list a mile long to explain why, if I thought it was constructive. He does bring some benefit (e.g. fundraising ability), so the question becomes– do the benefits outweigh the liabilities?
And, is it more constructive to go after him rather than the GOP, who is thoroughly crapping on everything I believe in, nationally and locally? All I know is, if someone wants to replace him, I want to see some organized, realistic, plans on how they will do better.