From: borden@head-cfa.harvard.edu (Dave Borden)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush,alt.politics.perot
Subject: Re: To all of the alt.politics.* people
Date: 6 Nov 92 23:18:52 GMT
Reply-To: borden@m5.harvard.edu
Organization: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA,  USA

In article <1992Nov5.051728.6694@telesoft.com> trevor@telesoft.com (Trevor Bourget @ignite) writes:
>
>There will be no bi-partisan effort to get the job done.  There is
>no such thing as bi-partisan, which is part of the problem with our
>political system.  There might be a non-partisan effort, and if that
>happens it will be largely a result of Perot's influence on the
>American political scene.

You know, I respect the right of voters to support the candidate of their
choice - I know I did (Clinton), but I've encountered particularly among
Perot supporters this somewhat self-righteous attitude that they and their
candidate are somehow above the fray and that anyone who doesn't support
Perot doesn't care about the issues.  Well, the Clinton campaign has
published and placed at least 200 statements and speeches on-line, describing
his positions.  You know, there are other issues besides the deficit.  The
deficit is a very serious problem, and I find it an appalling one as well,
but it's not the only one.  I don't think Perot is the man for the job at all.
The only issue that he presented a plan for dealing with is the deficit, and he
wants to do it by socking it to the lower middle class by hiking the gas tax
enormously.  I do not consider that a fair solution.  Other than the deficit,
Perot liked to talk about talking about the issues - he doesn't talk much about
the issues themselves.  ("We're going to put the experts together and come
up with a plan" - that really wears thin after awhile - Clinton did that
before the election - why didn't Perot?)  The truth of the matter is that
Perot, billionaire that he is, tried to buy the presidency, and the fact that
he did so well is a demonstration of the extreme gullibility of the American
people.  And be real, how do you think he made all his money?  Do you really
believe anyone can become so mind-bogglingly rich and be perfectly clean?
Perot is an insider - much of his wealth came from lucrative government
contracts, and he knows very well how to manipulate the system.

All this being said, I respect Perot supporters for their enthusiasm, but
actions mean more than words.  Take a look at the clinton volunteers mailing
list; the election is over but the consensus on the group is that it's up to
us to make the whole thing work.  We know that government by itself can't do
the job without an energetic people behind it, and we're trying to figure out
now what our part can be.  You're welcome to join us, or do things on your
own.  But don't preach to us about the messiah Ross Perot, the only chance
for humanity.  There are a lot of intelligent, enthusiastic people out there
who are ready to get to work.  For the first time in more than a decade, we
have leaders who will work with us, not against us.  The election is over,
but the campaign continues.  We're ready to get to work.  In fact, we've
already started.

   - Dave Borden
     borden@m5.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton