Downstate v Upstate: The Debate for the State
Kathy Hochul (D) and Lee Zeldin (R) squared off for the future of the state
Last night was the night. Lee Zeldin (R) and Kathy Hochul (D) had their one and only debate in the governor’s race for the state of New York. Fourteen days before election day, 4 days before early voting begins, we received more of the same from the democrat. Kathy Hochul (D) appeared cocky yet unprepared with her constant talking point repetitions and attempts to change the conversation.
Step by step, let’s break down the debate.
Public Safety
The debate began with a conversation regarding public safety. Hochul (D) tried to convince viewers that more gun control would make New York City’s subways safer. I’m pretty sure guns were not used to push individuals onto the rail trails. Just ask the victims on December 13, 2021, Jan. 16, 2022, January 27, 2022, July 29, 2022, June 5, 2022, June 25, 2022, October 24, 2022, October 17, 2022, and October 21, 2022 how they ended up on the subway tracks. No, Kathy Hochul (D), stop lying and tell the truth. People are pushing people onto subway tracks. Period. Let’s move on. There’s nothing more to be said.
Following the conversation on crime, Lee Zeldin (R) was said to be a climate, election, and covid denier by his opponent. Out of nowhere. Kathy Hochul (D) was not provoked to give her opinion. She was nervous and poorly prepared. She was given democratic party talking lines and stuck to the script.
Overtime Pay for Farmworkers
Did you know that in New York, farmworkers weren’t paid overtime until they hit 60 hours of work in a week? While I agree that that seems a bit excessive, you have to put their working times into perspective. From October/November through April/May, there is no work for a farmhand. It’s an off-season and they are laid off. Alternately, they work from April/May through October/November with the expectation that they will make use of all growing time to produce the greatest profit. The more they work, the more money they make for the off-season. Because New York has such a short growing season, we make use of long days and double down. Long days make for long weeks. Our ancestors didn’t b*th and neither should we. That being said, a farmworker's overtime pay typically kicks in at 60 hours a week.
Kathy Hochul (D) bowed to her supporters and implemented a 40-hour workweek with mandatory overtime pay. But who’s paying for it? Farms aren’t producing more so they aren’t making more which means they can’t pay more. Kathy Hochul’s (D) solution is to use taxpayer money to pay overtime fees to compensate for the loss of income to a farm. Our money is being used to pay employees of a private company… all in the name of ‘fairness’.
Abortion
Things got spicy when the topic shifted to abortion. As if supporting late-term abortion wasn’t enough, Kathy Hochul (D) took it one step further and stated she supported abortion up until 6 months. That’s 30 weeks. 30 WEEKS!!! As a former employee in a Neonatal ICU, I can assure you a baby can be born at 25/26 weeks, fight its way through and go home on what should have been its actual birthday. Kathy Hochul (D) wants women to be able to kill their baby 5 weeks after it could survive with medical intervention.
While I agree that a necessary abortion should be accessible to any woman in need, there still needs to be regulations put in place based on science. Not THE science we’re told to believe but rather the science of real academics interested in finding the truth in life.
Lee Zeldin (R) didn’t shy away from his position of pro-life but instead spoke to the people of New York. The people whose lives are affected by policies we’ve never had a chance to voice our opinion on. If Lee Zeldin (R) wins the governorship, there is zero chance of abortion being overturned. Roe v Wade has been codified into the state constitution. A governor cannot make changes to the constitution, only the legislature can. Currently, in NY, we have 106 Democrats and 43 Republicans in the Assembly and 43 Democrats and 20 Republicans in the Senate. That’s what we call a super-majority. If Lee Zeldin (R) becomes governor, you will not lose abortion access.
Cannabis
The legalization of marijuana was a short topic of discussion with both candidates disagreeing on the process. As most elders in the conservative party feel about marijuana, so does Lee Zeldin (R). His position is that legalization has exposed minors to smoke and possible second-hand effects which has the potential to alter the mind of a minor. There’s room to negotiate accessibility without reverting to the criminalization of cannabis. Rather than using the moment to show bipartisanship, Kathy Hochul (D) took the time to tout the financial gains of legalizing a product that was already prevalent in the underworld. Legalization has led to stricter quality controls and may play a part in limiting exposure to fentanyl in altered street weed. Safety should be applauded and advertised as an alternative. Hochul (D) brushed the use of marijuana off as an aspect of society that’s always been there and that the state should just impose exorbitant taxes on dispensaries. It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.
Gun-Control
Another topic that was important to follow was that of gun control and constitutional concealed carry in the state of New York. On June 23, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled on the case brought forth by the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc regarding the constitutionality of the Safe Act passed under the Cuomo administration. Under the Safe Act, it became illegal to possess a pistol without a license inside or outside of the home. In New York City, the probability of being approved for a concealed carry permit was zero to none. The city has become a ‘gun-free zone’ without the approval of the people. For an individual to receive a concealed carry permit, they must prove that “proper cause exists” by demonstrating “a special need for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general community.” In other words, if your neighbor can’t have it then neither should you.
The ruling in June stated that the Safe Act violated the Second and Fourteenth Amendments giving individuals the constitutional right to bear arms and self-defense. The NYS Constitution was amended in 1913 to clarify that a license to carry should not be dependent on an individual's employment or location of possession. The text of the Second Amendment does not draw a distinction between home and public possession regarding the right to keep and bear arms. The Court ruled that the State of New York violated constitutional rights and returned the matter to the State legislature to amend the Safe Act laws.
Rather than abiding by the ruling, Kathy Hochul (D) called for a special session that resulted in more stringent restrictions and complained that the Supreme Court took away her ‘right’ as governor to protect citizens from gun violence. The right belongs to the people, not to Kathy Hochul (D). Changes to the Safe Act included only allowing individuals to conceal carry in institutions that have a visible posting of approval, as well as the need to include an individual’s three (3) most recent social media accounts for background check purposes. These changes were recently halted by a federal judge who stated these changes were unconstitutional. Hochul’s (D) administration appealed and it’s making its way through the courts.
It's no surprise that Lee Zeldin (R) believes implementation of laws should be based on their constitutionality and plans to enforce those beliefs regarding New York gun laws. Being raised by a father who was a New York State Trooper and Private Investigator, Lee Zeldin (R) has a unique understanding of the importance of self-defense for law-abiding citizens.
Covid Vaccine Mandate
The final topic of the night was the most anticipated by parents: Covid vaccine mandates. In an attempt to pander to undecided voters, Kathy Hochul (D) stated she would not mandate vaccines for school children at this time. Let that sink in... At this time is NOT a definitive no. It can change at any point. Who knows, she could change her mind the minute the election is over. While correct that the legislature passes laws and regulations regarding vaccine mandates and schedules, she glossed over the fact that the NYS Legislature has a Democratic super-majority that is almost certain to “follow the science” of the CDC.
Lee Zeldin (R) took the position that vaccines should never be mandatory. The courts of New York appear to agree when they ruled yesterday, October 25, 2022, that all individuals who lost jobs due to the vaccine mandate in NYC under Mayor Bill DeBlasio (D) must be reinstated into their positions with back pay. It’s to be seen if Kathy Hochul’s (D) administration will appeal although we all know it’s coming.
The more the government has control over the day-to-day decisions we make, the fewer freedoms we have. The more taxes are increased, the less financial freedom we have to make purchases we feel are best for ourselves. The decision on November 8th is important. Elections are important. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain when life goes down the sh*tter. Be a good person, vote!