Public Access Politics

New York is one of just a handful of states that allow fusion voting.  Under fusion voting, a candidate for a given office can be nominated by a number of parties.  Cross-endorsement allows third parties to have more influence over those major party candidates who seek their formal support, but, in this way, it also functions as just another means by which the major parties co-opt third party groups and rob them of their political independence.  Not infrequently, it happens that Democrats and Republicans cross-endorse the same candidate – in which case, unless there is a viable third party candidate in the race, the general election is transformed into a mere formality or a farce.  It is obviously also possible, however, that a coalition of third party groups could cross endorse their own candidate to oppose an incumbent Democrat or Republican who might otherwise run unopposed.  Just such a plan appears to be in the works in Suffolk County on Long Island.  At On the Wilder Side, Kimberly Wilder relays a message from a local public access television producer who's taking the initiative to take the county government back from the party bosses.  Excerpt:

Disgruntled democrats and disgruntled republicans, both women and men, who are willing to wage a coalition of primaries in the 2011 upcoming election for 19 elected seats at the Suffolk County legislature. Zabby will help you run a primary campaign on Public Access Television to defeat the hand-picked choices of the Republican Party bosses and the Democratic Party bosses.

Disgruntled third party enthusiasts (Conservative Party, Independence Party and Working Families Party), tired of the way party bosses encourage cross-endorsements of the same old democrats and republicans? Then you too can run primaries for your line against the same.

Together, we will fight the extended history of corruption, cronyism (pay to play), corporate welfare, tax evasion, fraud, local bank bailouts,  and business as usual behind closed doors.  Once in office, the new coalition can enforce the law, to start. Also, we can use home rule to self-determine and customize law in our own local neighborhoods on social, economic, ecological and political issues independent of burdensome General Law — one size fits all state law.

We will stand up, assume power and secure local governing authority to fight the corporatocracy and plutocracy operating against us. We have a natural right to good self-governance. There can be no hope, no change without action. Those now in office are derelict in their duties and responsibilities to oversee and enforce the law. The incumbent politicos avoid transparency and accountability. The Suffolk County Legislature holds meetings during the day, which circumvents the Open Meetings Law (Section 100)*  They are afraid to have the public witness their deliberations and decisions in the making of public policy.

We, the coalition of good democrats and republicans, can run primaries by getting petitions signed in June to obtain ballot access.

Read the rest for more details.