On Mon, 2004-10-11 at 14:23, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Travis Pahl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 12:29:09 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Travis Pahl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in part: > >> > >> >> >Too bad it still is being 'phased out'. NYC despite any claims that > >> >> >it is being phased out is still a rent control city. > >> > >> >> No, actually the proportion of rental units subject to rent control > (the > >changing a proper noun is quite a bit different than changing the > >definition of a noun. In other words changing 6th ave to avenue of > >Americas really does not change anything. Annoying sure, but not > >really that important it is just a name. But 'rent controlled' is not > >just a name. It means something. > > Then how does one know whether you refer to rent control specifically, or > to all rent regulation in NY, including stabilization? Just because you > use words in a way that invites confusion (such as with your lack of > capitalization where needed) is no reason to think your vagueness is an > advantage.
Indeed, such vagueness is often a disadvantage. I used my opponent's vagueness on a minimum wage issue locally to win over (to my knowledge) a few dozen people to opposition to an expansion of state minimum wage laws. He argued that "we shouldn't classify workers". I used the state's existing specific laws and terms to demonstrate the fallacy of his position. I pointed out (during the debate) that the existing laws (which he supported) classified workers into many categories already. Further, in the minds of many sway-able voters, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the existing government usages and classifications tends to assure them you actually know something about the issue as opposed to generalizations. > The federal inheritance tax has been limited to the point where it is now > feasible to abolish it entirely. Proposals to eliminate it would not have > been taken so seriously back when it applied more broadly. The Capital Gains Tax is headed generally in that same direction. > >That may be true. That is why it is important to put politicians in > >office that do not ask such questions > > What you're asking for is impossible where there's even a vestige of > democracy. Why the hell would voters elect politicians FOR THE REASON THAT > they'll ignore the voters' wishes on most major issues of policy? I've asked them. The answer was suprising at first though only because I never expected it even while I suspected it. A while back we had Helen Chenoweth here in Idaho. She served, IIRC, 2 terms in the House. Yet I've not talked to a single person that "admits" to liking her, or her positions, or her votes ... and didn't vote for her. It may well be a local phenomenon. She was very .. shall we say 'outspoken'. The 'press' loved to lambaste her as a right-wing militia loving nutcase. Pretty much everyone I've talked to about here really disliked/hated her. yet even those who did, voted for her. Why? The answer I suspected was that they knew exactly what they were getting. It was clear that her positions were *hers* and that she spoke what she believed. That was the impression she gave. And that is the answer I get back. There was no equivocation on where she stood. She made it clear and voters here at last, loved that even though they disagreed with her. Perhaps it also was the case that they knew she couldn't really do much, being about a quarter of one percent of the vote in the House; or maybe just maybe, it was the fact that she stood here grounds and we all knew it. Likely a combination. Why is she not in office now, you may ask? If everyone loved to vote for her? She wanted to only serve a term or two, and did just that. > I mean, > we know voters vote for all sorts of reasons, but I can't conceive of a > plurality getting together to deliberately elect someone to ignore them > from then on!! How about a majority, as we had here? ;) I know, it is really odd, bordering on inconceivable. But it happened here. That entire scenario is what launched me into analyzing these things. Cheers, Bill _______________________________________________ Libnw mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://immosys.com/mailman/listinfo/libnw http://immosys.com/mailman//pipermail/libnw
