Thanks for your fine coverage of the broken state political system. Yet two more elected officials do the perp walk. We are not surprised, but we are disgusted.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara laments the corruption of "tawdry graft" and calls upon leaders "to change a pervasive culture of 'show-me-the-money.' " Fred LeBrun points to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who promised to clean up Albany but hasn't touched the "pay-to-play" system. In the first days after the charges were revealed, Governor Cuomo called for "better people running for office."
He can make that happen: Public financing of elections is a fact in New York City, Maine, Connecticut and Arizona and costs $2 to $5 per voter. Public financing allows people of modest means and good ideas who are not beholden to big money interests to have the resources to run for office. Legislators who participate don't have to spend their time soliciting big donors. Public financing gives voters a louder voice in determining who runs and who wins and will address the understandable public cynicism that makes New York among the lowest in voter turnout.
The power of big money is why we have no sane green energy policy to address global climate change. It's why we, alone among all industrial democracies, do not have universal single-payer health care. It's why, despite the vast majority support, Congress will probably not pass an assault weapons ban, universal background checks, or other common-sense measures to address the public health crisis of gun violence. The big money interests have bought these policies.
Public financing will lessen the ability of big money interests to buy our public policy. This is the most important, over-riding issue in America today.
Susan F. Weber
Albany