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Corporate Abuse and Cash Register
Politics
Printed in the Mystic River Press, 11 July '02
WorldCom, Enron, the CRRA, Arthur Andersen.... the dominoes keep falling, and with them topples our confidence in the corporate-dominated system of politics that has overtaken us in recent years.
What good does it do to take compromised financial statements from corporate boards? Not only do ties link both our President and vice-President to the same type of questionable corporate accounting that has brought down Enron et al., but most of our representatives in state and federal politics depend on corporate and "bundled" contributions from special interest groups to get elected.
Is it any wonder that our incumbent senator in the 18th district voted against corporate accountability legislation? Against campaign finance reform (even so tepid a proposal as allowing voluntary participation in a "clean money" program)? Against demanding that corporations receiving tax breaks pay decent wages to workers?
Our system is by no means broken, but it has some serious flaws which are not going to be addressed by any legislator controlled by special interests. Nor will the people truly have a voice in politics when campaigns are financed by special interests. That's why we need third parties; and especially third parties that refuse to take any corporate PAC donations. The Green Party has made just such a pledge.
And as the Green candidate for state senate in the 18th district, I further pledge not to take any PAC money; I will only accept contributions from individuals. I will work through grassroots organizing and by talking to people, one-on-one. And I will talk about issues like corporate accountability and campaign finance reform, as well as health care for all, transportation alternatives, and development in CT of renewable energy research and production.
You can call me at 536-4980 to learn more about my positions on the issues.
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