Buffalo Rising Online

what good is a referendum going to do for NYS. Look what it has done to California with its mandatory spending for school, illegal immigrants, mandatory spending, buracracy....California is insolvent and bankrupt and outrageously expensive.

Californias special interests (hispanic illegal and legal immigrants and their social services that feed them, unions of all forms, bloated government, the entertainment industry that is over 60% jewish and wants to protect immorality, pornography, beastiality, homosexuality, violence, art that worships crucifixes in urine, etc). That state is a mess!

You think a referendum is going to be good for NYS. Its the downstate communists and socialists. Everyone knows the NYTs is owned by jews and is a jewish business and so are most of the financial industry that provides most of the revenue to NYS not to mention the various government unions like teachers. We will find up with one referendum after another that places mandatory spending on education and mandatory spending in other areas while nys laws are rewritten for either the banks for the jewish interests.

There are only four changes NYS needs: 1) parity of representation between upstate and downstate. 2) balanced budget and deficits that can only be financed for 30 years and cannot be rolled over into new debt. 3) the allowance for government consolidation of services. We should allow counties to merge and we should allow metrogovernments to be a viable option 4) school choice and school vouchers. end the public school monopoly and break the teachers union.

beastiality

In short, referendums just give another avenue to the power lobbies that mold and shape the public.

You think the public can change local government, then explain the teachers union control over school boards, explain Makowski and Masiello got elected, etc.

Referendums ARENT the answer. Constitutional amendments limiting taxes and unfunded mandates

Constitutional amendments limiting borrowing/debt

Constitutional amendments limiting services to US citizens and limiting services to parents whose children attend school and get passing grades.

Constitutional amendments supporting balanced budgets....

now thats what the constitutional conference should be about.

In short, beastiality

PaulB - why don't you take a chill pill. I don;t see any remark that are anti-semitic. Are you Jewish?

I still don't understand how a person that lives in Hollywood spends soooo much time monitoring a Buffalo website.

Please explain to me, I am really curious.

its not anti-semetism and racism.

The teachers union does not constitute the majority of NYS but they have the power to block the tax cap, charter schools etc.

The jewish lobby and their busines/political interests...jews are not the majority of NYS but they manage to control both the downstate and upstate agenda. There is no upstate representation in the Governor, Lt Governor, Assembly or Senate leadership.

These are facts!

"we dont necessarily have the best track record in electing leaders. i fear what hacks might be writing a new constitution."

exactly....and it what does get rewritten wont be for the minority of people that live in upstate.....thats for sure!

It will be rewritten by the downstate power brokers and elites...everyone knows who they are downstate....everyone knows who controls albany

But weiner, you said in earlier posts that so many "minorities" have power and run things and that you are against this. By that rationale, why should upstate new yorkers have a say in the constitution since we only make up a minority of the state population? Are we to pick and choose which micro or macro minorities get representation and which do not?

1. Anyone who can't see that buffaloweiner/Chris69's comments are antisemitic is simply blind. Commenting on a story which has nothing to do with religion whatsoever, he claims that the media and the banks are controlled by Jews and that our laws are rewritten to benefit "jewish interests." These are classic examples of antisemitic slurs. It's textbook antisemitism.

2. A story with one of these antisemitic or racist comments is bound to get more attention than most other stories posted on BRO. It seems fair to say that these comments generate pageviews -- and money -- for BRO. By allowing someone like buffaloweiner to repeatedly post racist and antisemitic garbage, BRO leaves itself open to the charge that they're willing to tolerate hate -- and even give it a place to express itself -- in exchange for money.

I really wish Carl would put some of that energy into renovationg the Greystone! There are bricks falling off the back. Another Jersey stable situtation?

On the contrary, when a religion is used to dominate a business, politics via political lobbies, foreign policy through a relatship with a forign nation, to cover up spying (rosenberg, franklin, pollard, etc), to open define policy on borders for immigration, to define speech, to dilute sovereignty (ie free trade), to promote foreign wars (ie Israeli security), etc....

then it is just as fair to say that such policies are from a specific group of people

it is just as fair to say catholics are pro immigration as it is to cite the above for jews

the above are not judiac or religious...but espoused by the group....

what is it that people are free to discuss jewish injustices but banned from discussing jewish businesses, politics, or lobbies!

Hate...is a communist method to control free speech. Its not secret that must of the post war jewish community is from Eastern Europe and subject to communism where any dissent was labelled as a mental illnes, where people were forcefully medicated, institutionalized, imprisoned or sent to siberia.

Will hate speech be the jewish contribution to silencing free speech in our nation? Will hate speech be the jewish exportation of criminalizing free speech, particularly in an attempt to silence any politically incorrect or unwanted focus on the jewish community?

After crashing our dollar in mandatory spending, exporting our industry in global trade, opening our borders to global immigration, ... will the next exploitation of the jewish intelligentsia be criiminalizing free speech and free thought!

the jews are turning our children into homos!

Wow what a great idea instead of just bitching about how screwed up and messed up Albany and NYS is, lets actually do something about it! I wonder if there are any opportunities for us regular citizens to get involved in this valiant effort! Thank you Carl!

Palladino and Gallisano are slimy cowards. Gallisano is a bully who never could get the job done by winning anything. They resort to suzz tactics, they are behind the scene manipulators who can not get it done on their own, they are sh&*t bums. Con men who rally a buzz and then hide behind this cloak of "public interest".

Gallisano never had any interest in anyone but his own ego. Sure he invented a new way to pay people but at what cost? Is Paychex similar to the lending activities of other companies who are predatory lenders?

Pantless suits deserve and flock to eachother!

Brett,

I'll admit that I'm no expert on how websites make money, and I'll be happy to be corrected if I'm wrong. But I think that the more page views a site generates, the more ad money it can make. If this is true, then it stands to reason that BRO makes better money by posting stories that generate lots of comments -- since the story stays alive and people read it repeatedly over the course of days -- rather than a story that is quickly forgotten.

One way to generate those page views is with controversy. That suggests to me that BRO has a financial stake in allowing controversial statements -- which tend to generate very active comment threads -- even when those statements are beyond the pale of decency.

And sure, this is a blog, but it's also a business. It seems odd that a business owner would allow someone to come into their place and start raving about antisemitic conspiracy theories and not ask them to leave.

BRO should just give buffaloweiner his own page. His comments are so jaw droppingly dumb it's entertaining.

LOL, {deleted- flaming}

California standards....the entire state is insolvent, business are fleeing to the mountain states, Schwarzzenegger cant even cut the budget because of referendums to the state constitution that require spending....

its no secret what two states have the highest ethnic concentration of a certain religion, the highest illegal immigrantation, the highest welfare and social service taxes, the highest property and school taxes, the greatest buracracy, the most fascist forms of politically correct speach and are majority dysfunctional hippy socialist communists ...also happen to be the two states that are insolvent.

{deleted- flaming}

"orlanmon NY State Constitution - Government of the people, by the Unions/Special Interest Lobby Groups, for the Unions/Special Interest Lobby Groups, shall not perish from the Albany NY.... "

Thats all I have been saying....I just embellished one or two steps further

Just a quick point or two:

On the referendum: This referendum, as it stands, would be a one-time deal. NYS law does not allow for statewide referendums initiated by citizens - as is the case in states like California and Florida - and is why Paladino is asking Legislators to vote for one - we would just be voting for the chance to change the constitution.

On the Convention: If NYS citizens voted in favor of the Constitutional Convention, it would afford all New Yorkers a chance to mold a new document in the spirit of self-governance. We would essentially be giving ourselves a clean slate and could institutionalize change making the state more equitable. An example in the Upstate/Downstate debate: Currently, research is being done on the effects of legislative structure at the state level. I won't bore you with the details, but essentially, New Yorkers could change the composition of our legislature (assembly and senate) to include one chamber based on population (the assembly) and one chamber based on geography (the senate). Currently, both our legislative chambers are population-based - granting a clear upper hand to the lower-ten counties (Putnam/Westchester to Suffolk) that currently dominate policymaking in the state. Such a change would force greater compromise on policies that favor either side of the state - a benefit for Western New York and Upstate as a whole - also, gerrymandering of Senate districts would disappear...

I think the idea of allowing referndums is a sound idea. Having lived in the State of Maine for several years I have seen referendums be used as constructive tools that allow the public to speak on important issues. Referendums create debate, discussion, and provide for a truly democratic process. It forces the populace to become educated on issues and neutralizes the well funded lobbyists. Risky? - perhaps - but I will take the risk over relying on our current representatives to hear my voice.

Brett --

Solid comment.

Another question -- can an IP address be banned, or just a particular username?

Maine has a strong christian and protestant heritage of town meetings. It does not have the exploitative and monied communists/socialists that California and NY and Florida have...

While a referendum stays in the hands of the people in Maine,...it would quickly be taken over by the communist unions and lobbies and interest groups in NY as it has in California. The specific groups in California would teach them how if those in NY couldnt figure it out.

You will take the chance...shall we give you an example...ok. The Senecas said they would never use the sovereignty of their Seneca Niagara Casino to unfairly compete with private sector businesses. They were only interested in running a casino. Then they branched into buffets and restaurants, then they branched into entertainment (theater, comedy, music, etc), then they branched into parking garages, then hotels, then golf courses and spas. Funny, I thought all those non-casino businesses would be fairly competing with their tax paying private sector busineses. In other words at the very least, the non-casino businesses could be seneca owned but they should be paying taxes just like the private sector.

Colin...how niaive...IP addesses come from ethernet cards and ethernet cards can be replaced or exchanged cheaply . Still trying to control speech just like a fascist communist.

BuffWeiner, you are talking to a guy that has a black icon, defends affirmative action like a black panther, argues with any white person that hints at having alternative views concerning race.

All along Colin is white, or at least he claims he is. He is a radical liberal.

Why waste your time, this person is clearly disturbed.

How can one be a facist/communist? Aren't those on the opposite sides of political philosophy?

JohnMarko

you are a flaming liberal - get in your suburu hatchback and drive down to Bidwell Pkwy and picket the demolition of the atwater house.

Good Points JohnMarko. The key would be to getting those good people elected to the convention. Reforms like abolishing home rule (your first point - regional governments, not the individual fiefdoms we have now) and establishing a referendum and recall system would undoubtedly be debated. It's a great concept - direct democracy is a hot topic in Political Science right now. And indeed, home rule (each municipality having its own government and services) has been a detriment to progress in Western New York...

JohnMarko - I agree completely. We need to end the tyranny of the Republicans and return the country to the people. We need to get beyond the system of classification by wealth and move to a system where wealth is distributed by need. This is truly liberal thinking for America. The currently liberal mindset is far too lenient on the oppressors of America, those being our corrupt politicians, greedy rich, and stingy business executives.

Bring the government back to the people to let them decide how they would like to be served. Let the people re-evaluate their personal condition and require the government to respond accordingly. The wealthy are the overwhelming minority in America and New York, yet they make all decisions for the rest of us, it is time to take back control and let us all get our fair share.

A valid recall system would allow us to remove politicians any time that the majority of us didn't agree with their policies. This would create a system that is accountable to the masses, not the few.

You can see the republican mentality of bullying and coercion in the comments on this board. I don't believe that the democrats are that much better, but they definitely aren't as bad as the republicans. People like Buffaloweiner and Gaustad are reacting to their perceived loss of status, but this is status that was taken unjustly in the first place. Let them wallow in their own worry while the more enlightened take this country to a new level of equality and justice for all.

Wow- 95% of this post epitomizes what holds Buffalo back! Talkin' Proud!

Fool be me. I thought Buffaloweiner was Jewish! Turns out my dyslexia emerged from the dark cave I had it hidden in. My Jewish friends with the same last name spell it Wiener. My mistake!

To BuffaloWeiner: Yes, it is possible for special interests to seize control of the referendum process and attempt to push their agenda through. It happened in Maine when the Indians wanted to change the State Constitution to allow IIndian casinos. You know what happened? The voters shot it down and you will likely never see a casiono in Miane becuase of it.

For those who support the abolition of home rule - your are mistaken. It is one thing to share services (e.g police, public works) and consolidate scholl districts. It is wholly another to give up your right to control zoning and land use ordinances. Consolidating villages is probably appropriate but to dissolve jurisdictiional boundaries the like of the City of Buffalo - what's the advantage? I would feel even less connected to my government.

Dear BacktoBuffalo, actually the way it has been handled successfully elsewhere in the country is a balance of consolidation into a metro form of government with independent municipal service districts.

as an example...its cost effective for purchasing, auditing, accounting, etc to handled at the metro level but if a municipal service district lets say doesnt want public schools and chooses instead school choice/school vouchers or say they want garbage service for the entire district....that municipal service district would simply opt out.

It basically allows a form of metro government to exist while municipal service districts replace city, town and village government with a bare skeleton to manage services voted on that the community wants.

Quijibo...is pure and simple a marxist.

Herr Buffaloweiner, do you really have nothing better to do that troll? I believe Fox News is on. Why don't you go watch that some more?

sonyactivism....that is exactly what is so dangerous about adding a referendum process to the NYS constitution.

No referendum is ever going to restrain the downstate tax and spend, patronage burocrats.

Look at the plan to convert Buffalo School System to Charter Schools and for the city of Buffalo to license charters. Teachers union stopped it.

On the chance that a referendum supporting reform or supporting upstate does get passed...you can bet it will either be impotent or followed by multiple additional referendums to counter it. The result will be one stop forward and 3 steps back.

Better for a constitutional convention to actually have a platform like:

guarranteed proportional representation in the executive and legislative branch

independent local control for local institutions like the power, sewar, water, bridge authorities and the GBNRTC/NFTA

mandatory balanced budgets and tax caps

rules for government consolidations and de-incorporated municipal service districts

opt outs for upstate from unfunded mandates and burocratic mandates

these are more powerful than referendums and their less likely to be castrated by liberal downstate communists

A hit to this day...that just explains the manipulation and exploitation of the jewish community that 1% of the population could have "The greatest story ever told" about moses during Easter on a national TV broadcast

but the "King of Kings" which is the story of Jesus Christ can be blocked from airing on a national TV broadcast during Easter.

Only the jews could coopt the christian community into abandoning Jesus Christ on Easter for Moses on Passover....but its no different than the covert war that jews have waged against christians since the two religions separated.

but hey that is just the opinion of the few....

There's a lot of stupidity being thrown around this thread. My favorite example is the use of terms like "fascist communist," "radical liberal," "monied communist," etc.

If someone knows where BW went to college. please let me know. I have a son going off to school next year and need to know where not to send him.