ONE PARTY SYSTEM
Plains, Ga The Carter Center today announced that former President Jimmy Carter will be heading up a team of international observers to monitor municipal elections in Ithaca, New York. In the past, Mr. Carter has travelled to areas of the world long dominated by political strongmen and reputedly corrupt governments. A spokesperson for the Carter Center, however, confirmed that November will be the first occasion the ex-President has monitored results for a U.S. election.
Located in the Finger Lakes region an hour away from Syracuse, Ithaca has long been cited as an example of failed democracy right here in the Founder's backyard. Though surrounded by communities with strong conservative Republican constituencies, Ithaca has bucked national trends and, has been unwaveringly in the liberal Democratic column since the late 1960's, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by area political observers.
"The national press calls upstate New York a red zone. Now, that's a joke. Ithaca is more red than Minsk. Isn't it well known that the former Soviet Union had a one party system? Well, it seems to me that them there Commuinists aren't the only one party system around." Calvin Beiderhoffer of the Freeville Courier Standard, told this reporter in a coffee shop interview.
"It's about time someone looked into that. We all figured out that they locked the Republicans in on Election night."
Mr. Beiderhoffer, who sported a shiny VFW pin on the strap of his overall jeans, stroked his beard stubble thoughtfully.
Recent polls show that 39% of Ithacans report listening to the radio program
Democracy Now on a regular basis while a staggering 54%, when surveyed, indicate that they pick up the Sunday New York Times every week.
The statement released by the Carter Center concludes that, "Despite reports that tend to verify that individual Ithacans are committed to the democratic process, the indications are that a viable democracy has not evolved in that municipality. This is not a problem with hanging chads, voters who don't understand the ballot form, or ballots being tossed in the garbage. This is more serious. In Ithaca the problem is that there is no second column whatsoever to choose from."
Comments invited at: ezrakidder@gmail.com - Peace, Ezra at 4:17 AM
