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Calling all New Yorkers!

holbritter

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With the voting for a NY Constitutional Convention closing in, I have to ask for some insight. I've been looking into the pros and cons of this, but I keep finding concentration on one issue that the writer might be for or against and what I think is a little 'dooms day' predictions. Right now I'm leaning towards a no vote, simply because I don't see any improvement that could be made that would be worth the risk of opening the whole thing up for personal political agendas.

Pros? Cons?
 
A Pro? States need to make their own way. Because they need some protection from the lunatics running DC right now. Legalization of marijuana being just 1 big current issue that comes to mind.

A Con? New York City! In a battle between upstate and downstate, the NYC interests will prevail. BUT the flip side is why have upstate people voting on how NYC should be run? Upstate and downstate NY are as different as day and night. And also there will be the usual 'split the state up' rhetoric. It's a tricky situation.
 
A Pro? States need to make their own way. Because they need some protection from the lunatics running DC right now. Legalization of marijuana being just 1 big current issue that comes to mind.

A Con? New York City! In a battle between upstate and downstate, the NYC interests will prevail. BUT the flip side is why have upstate people voting on how NYC should be run? Upstate and downstate NY are as different as day and night. And also there will be the usual 'split the state up' rhetoric. It's a tricky situation.

There's just that pesky US constitution in your way
 
With the voting for a NY Constitutional Convention closing in, I have to ask for some insight. I've been looking into the pros and cons of this, but I keep finding concentration on one issue that the writer might be for or against and what I think is a little 'dooms day' predictions. Right now I'm leaning towards a no vote, simply because I don't see any improvement that could be made that would be worth the risk of opening the whole thing up for personal political agendas.

Pros? Cons?

I sympathesize with the NO vote. It's like the Patriot Act. Nobody knew what was in that legislation, but it was pre-written, I think 1100 pages and ready to go just needing an excuse. Now we are screwed daily by that insane legislation. Is something like that in the wings for NY and its' Constitutional Convention?
/
 
There's just that pesky US constitution in your way

Hard to tell with the GOP in charge in DC and with the Cons on the USSC. Cons/Republicans love preach about states rights and all that. But when it comes to social conservative issues they would like to set-up cameras in your bedroom. And even though pot should be a state issue it's a big social con no, no.
 
Hard to tell with the GOP in charge in DC and with the Cons on the USSC. Cons/Republicans love preach about states rights and all that. But when it comes to social conservative issues they would like to set-up cameras in your bedroom. And even though pot should be a state issue it's a big social con no, no.

States rights where it is warranted but I don't think stripping to federal govt of certain powers so people can do drugs is covered by that
 
States rights where it is warranted but I don't think stripping to federal govt of certain powers so people can do drugs is covered by that

I'm not going to discuss legalizing pot in this thread, that's completely off-topic. Persoanlly I do't care one way or the other, I was just using it as an example.

My point is with the dysfunction in Congress and this current Admin, and social cons in charge in DC, NYS might want to ensure and protect some things like legalizing pot (if that's want they want ), abortion rights, clean air and water, etc before the Social Cons in DC weaken or eliminate them.
 
I'm not going to discuss legalizing pot in this thread, that's completely off-topic. Persoanlly I do't care one way or the other, I was just using it as an example.

My point is with the dysfunction in Congress and this current Admin, and social cons in charge in DC, NYS might want to ensure and protect some things like legalizing pot (if that's want they want ), abortion rights, clean air and water, etc before the Social Cons in DC weaken or eliminate them.

Again as long as there is the federal govt with the constitution it's doesn't matter what NY puts in their state constitution they can't supersede the federal govt
 
Again as long as there is the federal govt with the constitution it's doesn't matter what NY puts in their state constitution they can't supersede the federal govt

Yeah it can on certain issues, like clean air and water. And I'm not even mentioning what could happen if the USSC gets involved.
 
I sympathesize with the NO vote. It's like the Patriot Act. Nobody knew what was in that legislation, but it was pre-written, I think 1100 pages and ready to go just needing an excuse. Now we are screwed daily by that insane legislation. Is something like that in the wings for NY and its' Constitutional Convention?
/

Not sure. I wish I could see what is being thought about bringing up. The link Kal'stang posted led me to this, which has more information:

Home | The New York State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse

I'm going to start reading :)
 
Yeah it can on certain issues, like clean air and water. And I'm not even mentioning what could happen if the USSC gets involved.

Yes on certain issues, marijuana legalization/decriminalization is not one of them however.
 
A Pro? States need to make their own way. Because they need some protection from the lunatics running DC right now. Legalization of marijuana being just 1 big current issue that comes to mind.

A Con? New York City! In a battle between upstate and downstate, the NYC interests will prevail. BUT the flip side is why have upstate people voting on how NYC should be run? Upstate and downstate NY are as different as day and night. And also there will be the usual 'split the state up' rhetoric. It's a tricky situation.

New York's already a progressive state I don't see where a constitutional convention would offer significant protections against Washington.

As to pot it's de facto legal here already. Possession is parking ticket level offense if the police actually choose to enforce the law which they largely don't - outside of stop-and-frisk in NYC that is.

A constitutional convention would allow for the possibility of beefing up the state legislature and diminishing the power of the governor - something I'd be for. As well it might give NYC a measure of independence from Albany.
 
New York's already a progressive state I don't see where a constitutional convention would offer significant protections against Washington.

As to pot it's de facto legal here already. Possession is parking ticket level offense if the police actually choose to enforce the law which they largely don't - outside of stop-and-frisk in NYC that is.

A constitutional convention would allow for the possibility of beefing up the state legislature and diminishing the power of the governor - something I'd be for. As well it might give NYC a measure of independence from Albany.

They do have independence from Albany for the most part. They are like a state within a state with their own taxes, laws, etc.
 
They do have independence from Albany for the most part. They are like a state within a state with their own taxes, laws, etc.

Yes the city has it's own taxes but they must be approved by Albany. The city cannot just raise or institute new taxes. That's something that's pretty much bothered every mayor during my lifetime - which goes back to the Wagner administration though Lindsay is the first mayor I really remember.

As well Albany must approve rent regulations, can increase retiree benefits for retired city employees (and not fund them) and can unilaterally kill taxes - like the commuter tax. Albany has lots of power of the city and the city really doesn't like it.
 
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