In New York State, you have to register in a political party to be eligible to vote in primaries. You can’t vote in a Democratic primary, for example, if you are not a registered Democrat. The same is true with Republicans and all minor parties.
That said, in most parts of New York State, 15-25% of all voters choose to not register in a party. They may choose not to enroll in a party, as they don’t want to publicly identify with one side or another, or they do not feel comfortable with either party’s platform.
So where do the the voters who choose not to register in a party, aka blanks live? To answer that question, we take a look at Google Maps, using LATFOR voter registration data. Due to the limitations of Google Maps, we only included data at the municipal level, but it gives you a definate feel for enrollment patterns in different parts of state.
Next week we will take a look at actual “swing” voters on a state-wide basis at the MCD level. Swing voters are different from “blank” voters, as they are voters who choose to vote cross-lines, such a voting for a Democrat for President, then choosing to vote for a Republican for State Senate, and a Democrat for State Assembly. “Blank” voters might be enrolled in a party, but they may always consistently vote for Democrats and Republicans.
Reviewing these maps, you will note that the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County have the highest percentage of blank voters in the electorate. Suburban areas also tend to have greater number of blank voters, compared to urban centers and rural areas.
So how has the number of blank voters changed in the state from 2006 through 2010? It varies widely based on region of state, but in general partisan enrollment is up in the state, except in some rural portions of the state that used to be more heavily Republican.
2006-2010 Municipalities with Decreases in Blank Enrollment.
Last October I went for a hike up Lyon Mountain. The first 3/4 of a mile you can drive up to the parking lot, then from there, it’s a two mile hike to the summit, or about 3 miles if you take the new trail.
The old trail, following an old woods road is eroded and rough in places, but it well traveled as it much shorter. The new trail, being so twisty is not as well traveled, but it is far less steep and tends to be less wet in the spring time.
Heading up from the parking area, the first part of the trail follows the old trails route, before swinging left near a registration kiosk.
It was very colorful along the new trail as all the maples where at about peak color going up the mountain.
I decided to switch over from the new trail to the old trail, once I reached the point where the trails reached their closest point at the midpoint up the mountain.
As you get about 2/3rds the way up the mountain, you can look back and see Lake Chazy.
The old trail certainly is eroded and in rough sape in some parts. You can understand why they re-routed it.
Ah, finally see the fire tower.
Hazy day, but there’s Lake Chazy and the farms along it.
Wind turbines of the Chazy Highlands…
Lyon Mountain is a popular hike, as seen by all the hikers on the ledge.
I try to be careful with saving money every week, and putting a little away for a goal. I contribute to my pension plan and a little bit my Roth IRA every week to save towards retirement. That’s fine, but I also like to save a lot more money into my boring old savings account for more immediate goals — within the next couple of years.
The problem is I really don’t have another goal. I am kind of saving for nothing, or actually one of many choices that I really don’t have a solid figure on what I want to do with the money. It also has grown tougher to save money these days, as the interest rates are so low that money doesn’t really grow much in the bank.
Idea 1: Save Money to Move Out of NY State.
I am not a big fan of New York State by any means. I think it’s policies are so dracionian, and it’s urban dominance means that Upstate will forever be governed by absentee landlords from New York City, who develop policies in wine bars high above the strip in trendy Manhattan.
I don’t like the Sullivan Act. I don’t like the burn ban. I don’t liek the Adirondack Park Agency, or just the state’s official dislike of all rural areas. I don’t like the fact the state increasingly nickling and diming working folks just to feed the beast.
But, hey I like the Adirondacks, Catskills, Greens, Taconics, and other amazing places being so close to home. The recession makes it hard to find a job elsewheres, and the reality is any place I would go would certainly involve a massive cut in salary, benefits, and a relearning of how to live.
But some day I do want to move out of state, on to some rural land, have animals, do a little hobby farming, play in the mud, shoot some guns, and burn things. I really dislike state’s open burn ban. But for now, the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park works well enough for me.
Idea 2: Go Back to College.
I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to college. But it’s so dang expensive. And I really don’t want to sit in class all day, and learn stuff I am not really interested in or could better learn on my own. I struggled through 6 years of college, in and out of school and at work to get my bachelors degree, and I am less then excited about the whole thing.
I would like to go back to school to study GIS map making, and turn my hobby into actually marketable skills. Doing that would allow me to make more money, but more importantly have more flexiability in where I live, so I can live in rural area not run by citidiots.
Idea 3: Sled.
I have been thinking about getting a snowmobile at the end of winter season for next year. Not something brand new, but something decently reliable that I could use to access the deep back country in winter. It might also be fun for camping in the winter, as I could strap a backpack on with gear.
But it’s also an expensive hobby to say least. Plus, even if I got a snowmobile in the spring time, I would have to store it until the winter before I could really use it for much better. But I figure an end of season special would probably save some real money.
Idea 4: Fix Up My Truck.
I got to fix the bumper on my truck. It annoys the fuck out me, to put it the way I see it. The way it is bent — the particular angle — is so ugly. Yet, do I want to just fix the parts that are damaged or do I want to get a real bumper for my truck? I know they make heavy duty off-road bumpers.
Which got me thinking — if I replace the rear bumper, shouldn’t I also replace the front bumper with a real bumper, so it at least matches? Or should I wait until I do something stupid and damage it?
Likewise, I want to jack my truck up. It would be fun to ride up higher, would add at least “visual” value to the truck, and make me like it better. Although, maybe I would eventually get tired of jacked up truck. But should I wait until the first set of tires are worn out, before going for the jacked up routine? I don’t know.
Many Possibilities.
I continue to chew over my choices and possibilities. Moving out of NY State — to a nicer state with more sane policies — continues to be a priority of mine, but that has to be balanced by my good paying job that pays the bills, and the proximity to the great Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
Then there are all the toys I could spend my money on. But toys require gasoline, which sure is expensive these days. Certainly having more money in the bank account makes it grow faster. But I also got to have fun, and have an excuse for saving money. So I don’t know.
Ever since I got Big Red, I’ve wanted to get a lift kit to jack it up a few inches. Not super high, but something with a few more inches ground clearance, better road views, and just a higher ride.
Not super high, but a few inches above where it is now. Simply said it rides much too low, and I think it would be fun to be a few degrees higher in the air.
Okay, maybe not that high. But I think it would be fun to jack up my truck. I work hard for a living, and should be able to get the toys I want. And it would be fun to e up high.
The reality is, I am probably not going back to college net year. If can I save up my pennies for the 6 months or so, I can pay for the lift kit, installation, rims, tires, and possibly “real” bumpers for the truck, to replace those awful tissue paper ones. That would be fun in my book.
The other day I was scrubbing down my kitchen for mildew. My apartment and my kitchen has perputual mildew problems, requiring a heavy bleach treatment from time to time. Due to bleach and mildew, the refigerator and stove are starting to rust. The kitchen is always damp due apartment having faulty design, and probably because my neighbor keeps her unit well air conditioned in the summer and well heated in the winter.
So is life. My apartment is pretty awful, but it is relatively cheap, it’s on the bus line, within walking distance to the library and the town park. There is a bike trail/segegrated sidewalk around the Bethlehem High School, which makes for safe walking at night, which I almost do every night. I’ve never bothered to get home internet here, or spend much time at home, because this rather miserable awful apartment, really isn’t as much a home, as much a place to “stay” in the city.
I tell myself, as awful as it may seem at times especially compared to some of places my friends and colleagues live in, it’s okay. The money I’ve saved on this dumpy old apartment was enough to buy a very nice pickup truck, and keep the tank full enough, and cooler full of cold beer for almost every weekend trips to Adirondacks or somewheres else up in woods. In many ways, I consider the woods to be my home.
I like camping out a lot. While it may not like being have roots in a place one can really call home, it’s good enough for now. Up at camp, I can have campfires, play with fire, burn camp trash, drink beer, see some beautiful landscapes, and have a good time. I can be in the country around country-folk (most of people who go to woods), even if I continue to keep my place in Delmar as my mail address, and place I crash at night after work.
At some point I will find a real place to call home, outside of the stupidity known as New York State. A career I actually find respectable. A real place in cou ntry, not a place I go to hide out in woods during the weekends, as an escape from my urban place. A place where I can have animals, maybe do a little hobby farming, heat with wood, and have fires to burn my trash. Maybe have a four-wheeler and play in the dirt out back. A place without stupid restrictions on gun control, or where all the public lands are tied up by red tape and stupid policies persued as part of environmentalist agenda.
Some times, living in New York State, in the suburbs, working for the government makes me kind of bitter. I know there are so many better options, but I sure like that secure job, and the public lands in NY State aren’t half bad. Certainly, the Adirondack Park, despite all it’s limitations and restrictions has not totally yet been destroyed by the activist-types, trying to keep man away from his woods.
I was looking at the coal company advertisements that the “Quit Coal” project put up. Basically, those advertisements criticize “aggressive” regulations put forward by the government, and policies pursued by Congress to control air pollution. Not surprisingly, the folks that worked in corporations did not want to be told how to run their business, much less do something that would put uncertainty in their business.
Some will say that coal companies were actively spreading lies and falsehoods. Or did they actually believe in what they were advertising — a statement of belief of reality as it appeared to a coal power plant operator? Certainly many of the pollution control technologies of early 1970s were not to the point where well tested or even scaled up. A coal power plant operator, who always operated their plant one way, did not want to deal with the risk of changing operating methods and technologies.
Some will claim that coal-fired power plant operators were mostly motivated by greed. Yet, if you look at historically, did the clean air equipment on power plants actually cost that much — especially compared to existing revenue? Most upgrades to power plants were covered by small increases in electric rates, granted by public service commissions. If anything, more pollution controls meant more employees, and more opportunities for companies to profit because now operated more complex power plants in a regulated market that fixed their profit above cost.
In retrospect, the coal power industry is run by people who believe their mission — to provide inexpensive electricity, using proven technologies. These people who are resistant to change, because they don’t always understand what it will mean in the future.
The lessons of coal advertising is three fold:
Most people don’t actively lie due to moral conscience, nor do the corporations that represent the aggregation of people lie due to threat to litigation
People and corporations that make them up are highly resistant to change, because they fear the unknown and potential costs of unknown, even if the costs really don’t prove to be significant over the long run.
Government has an important role in setting emissions and efficiency standards, to force corporations, which represent large aggregations of people, to take calculated risks to improve their environmental preformance.
