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On the Road with Bev Saidel August 31, 2003 The List  - filed by Bev Saidel 8/31/03 I received a call from the Democratic National Committee the other day.  They were looking for donations so that they could support Democratic candidates in the upcoming election against George W. Bush.  A woman who donates her time making these phone calls was shocked when I told her I was considering changing my party affiliation to either the Green or Independent party. I could tell she was unprepared for my comment and reminded me that I had been a registered Democrat since the beginning of my voting life long ago.  It’s true.  I won’t deny it.  I did register as a Democrat about a million years ago and am still on their rolls.  I even became a card-carrying member of the DNC.  So she had the right to think, “what the heck is going on?

I did not tell the woman I had been abroad and had been exposed to a different view of America.  I did not tell her that I was tired of the same style of “crookery” that politicians had come to use as part of their campaign platforms.  I did not tell her that I felt our country had become a place where white-collar crooks are supported by the government.  I told her, “There’s not much difference between the Democrats and Republicans these days.”

A part of me wanted to give this woman my laundry list of what would make a good candidate, but her job is to raise money – not to hear complaints.  As the conversation came to a close she asked the statement, “I hope you aren’t going to vote for George Bush.”  I assured her that was unlikely.  And it is.

 So what is my laundry list?  Take a look.

1.      Be honest – even if you’re dishonest or have taken a moral fall – be honest about it, say, “yes I did do that.” And let’s move on.

2.      Stand for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights – That ALL citizens are created equal - no matter if you are black or white or green or gay or Christian or Moslem or whatever – citizens are all equal in the good old U.S.A.

3.      Loudly proclaim that ALL citizens have the right to free speech – whether you are for the government or not.   Censure is anti-American.

4.      That all Americans have the right to free choice, that no group be singled out or discriminated against, that equal opportunity is for everyone.

5.      Let women know that their reproductive choices are secure.

6.      Let gay Americans know that they too are equal and have the same rights to marry, buy a home, have children and that their choices are secure.

7.      Stand for the elderly – remind us that our elderly are a treasure not to be exploited by big business who profit from the sick and impaired.

8.      Stand for our Native Americans – we are long overdue in giving them what is rightfully theirs – both in earnings and in loss of land and culture.

9.      Don’t take money from special interests or lobbyists who see their profits as more important than the American people.

10.  Don’t provide special interests with secret contracts that unfairly place profits in the hands of a few.

11.  Tax fairly – do not place the burden on middle class America.

12.  Stand for the environment – limit the amount of pollutants that can be spewed into the air, fine companies who pollute our air and our water and make them pay for the cleanup; tell automobile manufacturer’s to produce fuel efficient non-polluting cars, give rebates to people and businesses who find environmental solutions, keep our open spaces, national parks and monuments free from oil and gas drilling, keep American’s wild areas open and beautiful.

13.  Develop a plan to support the infrastructure of America – through the intelligent management of public and private utilities – preventing exorbitant gasoline, natural gas, electric, nuclear and coal pricing.

14.  Stand on the platform that will allow America and Americans to grow – support and nurture our youth, free speech, invention, our elderly, and fairness for all, with justice for all that is not based on the ability to buy the best lawyer.

15.  Stand for the scrapping the war on drugs.  We’ve lost it so why not get involved and have the government profit publicly, rather than through subversion, from the sale of drugs (in a controlled manner) in this country.  Use the Netherlands as a model.  And let’s end the deamonization of hemp and marijuana.  Hemp is a valuable crop that can be used for many things from clothing to lip balm.  Let’s move on…

So there’s the list.  If I receive another call from either of the two major political parties I will ask where whoever is the flavor of the month stands on these issues.  I am sure they won’t be able to answer.   And I have a sneaky feeling if they do answer it will be in the same manner as the politicians.  They will say, “yes” to whatever I suggest (winky, winky) and move on to the next phone call.

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