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The
Whole Story
To
the Editor:
Kudos
to Metroland for its coverage of all the candidates
in the New York gubernatorial race [“If a Third Party Candidate
Says Something in the Forest . . .,” Oct. 7; “Everyone Was
Heard,” Newsfront, Oct. 21; and “Party of Seven?,” Comment,
Oct. 21].
Far too often, papers ignore candidates not included in the
Demo- publican duopoly, even when they provide real answers
to dilemmas facing our state. In a healthy democracy, the
role of the press is to function as the surrogate of the citizen,
to investigate and inform regardless of who such reporting
might offend. In the modern era, large news organizations
become essentially mouthpieces of the government and the two
corporate parties in exchange for influence and access. Indeed,
after the gubernatorial debate, these so-called agenda setters
ignored the very real proposals put forward by Mr. Hawkins
to close our budget gap, such as the stock transfer tax, and
to create jobs with that money via a large “green” public
jobs program. They prefer to maintain access to the Republicans
and Democrats, and so leave out alternatives
This election cycle, Metroland has helped keep the
Capital District informed that yes, there were other candidates
campaigning for governor, and that they should be taken just
as seriously as Cuomo or Paladino. I hope Metroland
maintains this position in the future, and covers equally
all candidates and parties on the ballot. Making this a regular
feature of news reporting, and not a novelty on the occasions
an independent or non-corporate candidate is deemed to have
something interested to say by the media, will help the public
remain informed and help build our democracy from two parties
with one agenda into a truly multi-party system with a well-informed
and participatory electorate.
Peter
LaVenia
Co-Chair, Green Party of New York State
Albany
Clarification
In
our Oct. 14 Newsfront “Beating Bullies,” we neglected to properly
credit Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson as a co-sponsor of
the anti-discrimination forum at Skidmore College. Our apologies.
Metroland
welcomes typed, double-spaced letters addressed to the editor.
Metroland reserves the right to edit letters for length
or clarity; 300 words is the preferred maximum. You must include
your name, address and day and evening telephone numbers.
We will not publish letters that cannot be verified, nor those
that are anonymous, illegible, irresponsible or factually
inaccurate.
Send
to:
Letters, Metroland
419 Madison Ave., Albany, NY 12210
e-mail:
metroland@metroland.net
fax:
463-3726
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