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One conservative New York City right wing rag is horrified, thinking that this cash infusion from Golisano might actually even the playing field. It is afraid that the usual money that flows into the coffers of the entrenched parties (mainly the Republicans) will have a countervailing force. It is afraid that Golisano's money, strategically given to key Democratic candidates, will mean the turnover of the state Senate to the Democrats.
LET'S REMEMBER that the good side of Eliot Spitzer was determined to see a Democratic Senate. He would find the candidates and the money and the result would be that a blue New York would finally have a blue Senate.
Along with the shooting star burnout of Spitzer, reform is off the table. Even David Paterson, the conciliatory governor, has been signaling in a number of ways that he intends to make love, not war, with the Republicans.
These same Republicans are poised to lose the Senate. This horrifies the big Kahunas of Albany. They are so scared that the money has been pouring into the war chests of the new Republican chief, Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre, who took the departing Joe Bruno's place as the best friend of the entrenched interests and lobbyists in Albany.
Meanwhile, across the legislative party line, Malcolm Smith of New York City, the Senate minority leader who might be the new Senate majority leader, seems mute.
ENTER GOLISANO and his money.
He says he'll start with $5 million and he'll give it to those who agree with him on the issues like responsible, democratic government and fiscal sanity. Not too much to ask, but even some reformers think that those who infuse big money aren't playing by the rules.
What rules? The informal rules of Albany are that the big business interests, as well as some of the labor unions, like things just the way they are. They've been loading the system for years. They heartily approve of a disgusting, degenerate system in which the fading Republicans ask a giant computer to draw them districts where they can't lose.
We are talking of a democracy, New York state, which has been corrupted by a cynical classical approach, "To the winner go the spoils." As our kids are sent to "fight for democracy," we maintain a cynical corruption of the system that means voters don't have an equal chance.
AT LEAST one Upstate columnist piously intones that Golisano is using his money unfairly. Hey, there are times when you have to fight fire with fire.
I like the fact that Golisano sees things the way they are. He helped found the Independence Party. He put millions of his own dollars into shaking things up. He is one billionaire who would like to leave things better than he found them. He knows, incredibly, that you can't take your money with you.
Life is a finite game. When the last ball fired in the pinball machine is gone, the game is over. In case you missed it, that is a metaphor for life.
HEY, I think the guy is great.
Some of the same liberals who are now decrying the entrance of Golisano and his money into the political fray couldn't wait to get on the bandwagon and declare New York, with its three men in a room, hopelessly broken. They practically tore their hair out, crying copious crocodile tears about the state of things.
But now, as Golisano takes off where Spitzer left off in the name of real reform, the same folks are crying the blues. What is with these people? The whole gang - reformers, neo-liberals, and conservatives alike - is scared to death. Too bad.
I like and respect Golisano and I hope he won't let the insiders spook him.
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Sunday Freeman columnist Alan Chartock is a professor emeritus at the State University of New York, publisher of the Legislative Gazette and president and CEO of the WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network.
