In the coming weeks, New York could adopt a strong system of public financing of elections and help bring good government to Albany .

Or it could set up an incumbent-protection racket.

Guess which way things are leaning?

The long fight for public financing in New York State got a big break this year, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature put a nine-member Public Campaign Financing Commission in charge of designing the system. The commission’s recommendations are due Dec. 1. Unless the Legislature steps in, they will become law within 20 days.

Public financing works by offering a match in taxpayer dollars to small donations raised by qualifying candidates, increasing competition in elections. In New York City, for example, participating candidates receive $8 from taxpayers for every $1 they raise, up to $175 per donor. That means raising $175 results in $1,575 for the campaign war chest.

Since the commission first met in August, its members, in public testimony and private correspondence, have shown a keen interest in some terrible ideas.