The scandal of reform : the grand failures of New York's political crusaders and the death of nonpartisanship / Francis S. Barry.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barry, Francis S., 1975-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Elections--New York (State)--New York--History.

Elections.

Political parties--New York (State)--New York--History.

Political parties.

Political corruption--New York (State)--New York--History.

Political corruption.

New York (N.Y.)--Politics and government.

New York (N.Y.).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 299 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick, N.J. : Rutgers University Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Scandal of Reform reveals the bonds New York reformers have always shared with the bosses they disdain, the policy failures they still refuse to recognize, and the transition they have made from nonpartisan outsiders to ideological insiders. Francis S. Barry examines the evolution of political reform from the frontlines of New York City's recent reform wars. He offers an insider's account and analysis and he challenges reformers-and members of both parties-to reconsider their faith in reforms that are no longer serving the public interest.

Contents:

Saints and sinners

Tweed : reform's child and champion

Purifying the polls

Reform comes of age

Murphy's law : the direct primary

Changing of the guards

The new goo-goos

Not your grandfather's nonpartisanship

The politics of process

Bossism and ballot access

Noncompetitive elections : the elephant in the room

Participation and representation

Race concerns and race cards

The new fusion

Campaign finance follies

Redeeming reform.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-288) and index.

ISBN:

1-283-54343-5

9786613855886

0-8135-4869-1

OCLC:

794701262