Democracy In Albany

Before you start laughing at Mr Welser look at his background a little closer.  He is a hard working individual who didn't go to law school, wasn't a lobbyist and doesn't know how to dish out the polished bullshit that is fed to us on a daily basis by these smiling jackals who are getting us into wars and stealing our hard earned taxes and wrecking our economy.

He is running his own real estate brokerage business and before that ran his family's dairy farm in a small town called Evens Mills, a small little town in Jefferson County. This gives him a far better insight into what it actually takes to be a productive member of our economy then some kiss ass who worked for Hillary who never had to figure out how to comply with a government regulation while trying to make ends meet.  It makes his far better qualified that Plug Power Idiot Boy who "ran his business" with public subsidizes and still managed to lose millions running a company that still cant make a buck.  

My mother says that the Welser's are "lovely hard working people" and had his sister in girl scouts.  When you earn someone's respect in a small town like Evens Mills- where everyone literally knows each other it says more than any endorsement ran in the Times Union based on political allegiances.  

If he can't even put up a decent announcement of his candidacy on his own website, what does this say about his ability to communicate in a job that is all about communication?  More importantly, what does this say about his ability to stand up to the DC sharks who eat guys like him for a snack?

Sure he can do the job. Thats why there is staff.  Do you really think that Gillibrand doesnt rely heavily on her Washington Staff?

Its time to elect someone who will do what is right for our country and for our district.   Is it this guy? Is it Steck?  Who knows at this point.

There is no way this campaign, on its face, can be taken seriously.  The only thing it's good for is a laugh.  However, I will admit that while this is the only thing the Wesler campaign does well, it has done so better than any other comedic entity has done in the past.  I have never laughed so hard in my life, and I don't expect to ever again.

I oppose this candidacy on principle:  the principle that I just can't have a Representative who doesn't have enough attention to detail to present himself in such a manner; the principle that since the majority of the people of the 21st District are able to write a complete sentence, they should be represented by any other man, woman, or chimpanzee who can as well.

And yet, as hilarious as this is, the more I look at it, I am filled with a great sadness: that some voters will look at this and cry out that it's exactly what they've been waiting for.  Arguments against representative democracy just a got a little bit stronger thanks to Art Wesler.

So let's please, PLEASE, just forget this whole thing happened.  Because this is just unbelievable.

Representative Democracy works when people who are capable of understanding the concerns of the average people stand for election.  Is it unreasonable to believe that someone who has had to struggle keeping a family farm going while putting his daughters through college would have a better clue on the economic effects of government regulations than some lawyer who works in government, another candidate who worked for a rotten lying politician,  or some one who can only run a business with government subsidizes?

Which of the announced candidates has run their own business and knows what it actually means to have to comply with all the rules and regulations that are so easily passed? Which of the announced candidates understands what it means to have to pay the taxes and fees which our "Representatives" are so fold of passing?  Which of the candidates understands the mechanics of the real estate mess that is engulfing our country? Which candidate knows how hard it is to run a business where when the cash is gone there is no more?

Its easy to say that someone who doesn't present themselves with the spit and polish we are used to is unqualified for office. But what has the Spit and Polish types gotten us? Unwise and short sighted fiscal policies that have devalued our dollar.  The continuation of a war that has cost us trillions and social engineering which over the past several decades has destroyed our once proud nation.  

What Welser needs is to hire someone to translate his thoughts and beliefs into something that the cynical population can understand. What he also needs is to do is outline, in plain language, exactly what he stands for and his vision.  I bet that if he is smart enough to do this then he will give the rest of the field a run for their money. Or should I say their supporters money.

Alfred, I'll say it flat out:  it's crystal clear that Mr. Wesler, while undoubtedly a nice, down home fella from the county, is completely unqualified for Congress.  And a lot of the statements you make in rebuttal to me are wrong as well.

It is not in any way unreasonable to believe a that the head of a family has greater knowledge than a lawyer or a bureaucrat from an appropriate agency on the economic effects of regulation.  You are mistaking personal experience with professional expertise.  There are plenty of politicians and bureaucrats, elected and appointed, who are working hard to reduce that strain on American families.  But experiencing the strain first hand does not in and of itself qualifiy one to run for Congress; a little bit of experience in local government and an ability to express oneself with the eloquence required of a representative is good enough for me.

Which of the candidates have run a busi....have you been paying attention?  That's Gary Mittelman's claim to fame!  Not that I support him, but how can you condemn him for being unable to run a business without government subsidies and in the next paragraph claim he doesn't know how to comply with government regulations?  You should realize that the energy industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the nation.  

As an aside, you, like Mr. Wesler, don't seem to understand completely how some things work either: Congressmen aren't responsible for a lot of the fees that are always hiked.  Those are usually administrative agencies that raise the fees.  The only link between the agency and the legislature is the enabling legislation that the legislature passed that created the agency, defining its purpose and duties.  In fact, when agencies make rules and regulations, the process for doing so often requires public notice and comment, and thus can be a far more open process than a legislature's passage of a law.

But, getting back to my main point...spit and polish?  The Wesler campaign needs a hell of a lot more than just a shoeshine.  I've read the whole thing, man, and my prognosis is that the man needs to take a class on the mechanics of the English language, more than a few civics courses, and should perhaps consider attending a few sessions with a doctor of psychology.

And what of your point that the other candidates haven't done a day's worth of "honest hard work?"  I've been trying to be civil, but get off your high horse, man.  If you're rights are ever trampled upon by a greedy corporation, a paranoid neighbor, or an overzealous police officer, you'll quickly find yourself having a lot of appreciation for a hardworking civil rights attornery like Phil Steck.  Alfred, we are a nation of laws and rights; like it or not, and regardless of their reputation for being the target of really good jokes, you need lawyers for that.

In the end, though, it's your decision.  If this Alfred Wesler actually gets himself on the ballot, it's your vote to waste.  I doubt he will get on the ballot; after an e-mail conversation with him on whether or not he's actually running (I like to ask candidates questions myself) it appears he has very little knowledge of the election law requirements in the first place, and this campaign will be remembered as it rightfully should:

While in the middle of typing an alternate response my attorney called to discuss some governmental application he is working on for a project I am getting ready to start. He asked a bunch of seemingly unrelated questions and when I told him to simply drop the paperwork off so I could read through it he implied that I shouldn't attempt to fill it out and said "when you see this you are going to say 'you are fucking kidding me."  A quarter hour billable call where my attorney tells me that I am not going to be able to figure out what I am supposed to do and when I see it I am going to respond with "you are fucking kidding me."

So now I have to spend my afternoon generating paperwork.  

I am well aware of how the government works. We elect sweet talking jackals. They sign short sighted legislation into place setting up and empowering unaccountable bureaucracies that, through fiat, impose regulations and fees upon all of us.

As a result the cost of doing business in the United States has risen so much that our own  passports cant be produced in the United States and are now going to be made partially in Taiwan and we have to hire an attorney to fill out fucking paperwork.

I don't understand how things work? To quote my attorney " are you fucking kidding me?"  I understand perfectly well how the whole rotten deal works. I am just really tired of it.

Are you one of those people who think that only lawyers are qualified to represent us?

Had I had less paperwork to fill out and more time I would ask you exactly what qualifications an attorney that specializes in a very small niche has to represent my interests.

To which my answer is a resounding no.  There are plenty of representatives who are not lawyers.  My representative in the county legislature is a farmer.  But he's educated himself to understand how the law works, how to read the law, and the process by which the laws are amended through legislation.  I really don't think it's too much to ask that a candidate has a thorough understanding and knowledge of laws if the job they are applying for involves making them.

Also, while your very brief overview of how government works may be applicable to a few bum lawmakers and bureaucrats, I would say your synopsis is more cynical than it is comprehensive.  Every square inch of our government is accountable, so long as an engaged citizenry takes the time to account for its actions.  The legislatures post their session calendars online; the agencies post their rulemaking proposals with public notice for the comment period.

The problem is that all too often people end up choosing cynicism and blame over hope and action.  If we are to be a government of the people, then the people have to take some of responsibility, do they not?

Once again, I wish you had posted your initial response.  But you did get a chance to ask me what qualifies an attorney who "specializes in a very small nicehe" to represent you.  Well, that attorney knows all the laws, because in order to call him or herself an attorney they had to pass a grueling bar exam.  That, and specializing in civil rights and labor laws is rather applicable to you as a citizen in a civil society who lives by the fruits of their labor.  So in that case, someone like Phil Steck is extremely qualified to represent you.  And he won't make a complete fool of himself (like Artie Wesler has) in the process.

Every square inch of our government is accountable?

Ah, yes, the word game.  Accountable.

Sure theoretically every square inch of our government is accountable.  But just not to the citizens which it is supposed to serve. It is accountable to a bureaucratic construct that exists within the theoretical world defined by words and sub paragraphs.  A world constructed by lawyers enamored by the belief that laws guide and that people can be  made or forced to adhere.

Reality is far different from the theoretical perfect and orderly world. This is one of the reasons why I would prefer someone other than an attorney be elected to represent me.

An Attorney is trained to create order through the use of words and phrases. CPLR classifies everything. Everything is in its place. Nice and neat. There is one law that attorneys do not understand, however, it is the Law of Unintended Consequences.  

Reality is far messier and attorneys generally do not have the training or the temperament to realize that their constructs of words will not hold up when confronted by a people who are used to being sovereign their own right. A people who will run their lives as they see fit. A people who let their own morals and their own common sense be their guide.

The Congress, which is dominated by attorneys, has tried to legislate morality on a national level. The programs have failed miserably.  They have tried to institute social engineering. Those programs have failed miserably. They have tried to expand federal control over the economy. Those programs have failed.  

Why should we elect someone who will continue the mindset that passing a law will fix a problem?  Steck has the same training and probably mind set that has already made a terrible mess out of everything.

And an attorney who specializes in civil rights does not have a firm grasp on the full body of the law. No offense to Mr. Steck but he wont be doing any real estate closings for me in the near future and I certainly wouldn't recommend him to handle any criminal defense, no matter how polite he is.

Sound Politic:  you said it "flat out: it's crystal clear that Mr. Wesler, while undoubtedly a nice, down home fella from the county, is completely unqualified for Congress."

Completely unqualified for Congress? Really?  Did New York State pass some rule or provision that would disqualify him?  According to the qualifications outlined in the United States Constitution a candidate for the House of Representatives must be 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years and a resident of the state that send him to Congress.  Which provision does Mr Wesler violate?