‘Publicly financed fair elections’

There is a near-universal agreement among Americans that our society focuses on the wrong priorities. Americans want strong families and communities, good jobs that pay a living wage, a healthy and protected environment, quality health care and education for all. But the unaccountable power of giant corporations, a minority of very wealthy individuals, special interests and controlling government dominate our elections, making these basic needs difficult to achieve.

Most Americans also prefer to live in a world that puts people ahead of profits, spiritual values ahead of financial values, and international cooperation ahead of international domination and war. Regardless of party affiliation, they want a politics based not on greed and power, but on principles, real solutions to real problems, and that is accountable and serves the common good.

To achieve these essential needs, we must have fair elections. Fair elections are an essential feature of democracy that will lead to good government and liberate our creative potential as a nation.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has supported the election reforms known as “Fair Elections.”

Sadly, Dean Skelos, leader of the Republican conference in the New York State Senate, has refused to let the bill come to the floor.

Hopefully, Republican state senators will review the importance of the Fair Elections bill and support it.

Tula Tsalis
Warwick