From: cdpert01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Subject: Bush and Perot Supporters, Please read this appeal
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 13:19:56 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

To:      All Bush supporters, Perot supporters, and other independents
From:    Cary D. Perttunen, a fellow non-Clinton supporter
Subject: Courage and Our Common Ground

     We all have seen some of the "it's time for healing" posts
from well-intentioned Clinton supporters.  Let me suggest that
before true healing can occur, a time of grieving is also necessary.
It may take a day or two for some to truely accept and understand
the ramifications of this election, for I do believe that this
is a watershed point in our history.  The purpose of this post is
not to dwell on defeat and division, but rather to examine *victory*
in the common ground of Bush and Perot supporters.
     What is our common ground?  Our view of the seriousness of
the debt and budget deficits is our common ground.  We must always
remember that we are in the majority; approximately 57% of the 
electorate voted for candidates who espoused less government spending,
a balanced budget amendment, or for a specific plan designed to 
balance the budget.  
     Before we can go any further in discussing our common ground, 
we must remove the personalities from the plans.  We must *not* let 
any negative connonations regarding either Bush or Perot to distract
our unity on the seriousness of the problem.  The persons of Bush
and Perot should be irrelevant to us now, for the message is much
more important than either of the messengers.
     Many of us have either read books or gone through the numbers
that show the possibility of the debt reaching an irrevocable point
sometime this decade.  It is at this point when the payment for 
servicing the debt surpasses the total amount of tax dollars collected.
Unfortunately, the Clinton adminstration has promised plans which
will increase budget deficits in the short term.  So, when we hear
Clinton and his surrogates speak of "healing" and "unity" and "working 
together," it is at this point where we have a moral obligation to 
differ.
     Now that we've defined our common ground, the next step is
to discuss how we can voice our concerns and affect the process
of government.  President-elect Clinton has constantly sung the
theme of "we must have the courage to change."  I agree, but not
in the same context as Clinton.  We must have the courage to
change from mere observers to responsible, active members of our 
political system.  We must keep ourselves informed.  We must keep a
watchful eye on our congressperson and senators.  We must communicate 
with them on a more active basis.  And, we must hold the fire under
their feet; we must actively organize efforts to vote-out anyone
in Congress who supports government largesse and pork barrel
legislation.  If we do not do all of these things, then we will
have no one to blame but ourselves.
     To be more specific, we should regularly call or write our 
congressperson, and ask "what have you done to help reduce the deficit 
this week?" or "how are things going on that balanced budget amendment?"  
We should also remind our congressperson that he/she is only guaranteed 
employment for two years -- and the electorate will replace him/her 
without hesitation if necessary.  (We should think of ourselves as 
"George Steinbrenners" and congress as a group of "NY Yankee Managers.")  
We should call or write the White House whenever we see President 
Clinton stray from *any* of his few fiscally-conservative campaign 
promises.  It is important for us to realize that we have strength in 
numbers on the issues of the deficit and debt, and must use this to our 
advantage.
     Let me conclude by saying that this is not necessarily a time
for "unity" but rather a time for organization.  I believe the debt
is of such importance to both Bush and Perot supporters that we should 
bury *any* other differences we have.  It is important because the 
sovereignty of our nation is jeopardized with the increase in the debt.  
Only *after* the budget has been balanced and the debt begins to be 
payed-off, should we discuss our differences.

     C. Perttunen

P.S.  I would be interested in hearing from former Bush and Perot
      supporters on their thoughts about our rallying against
      the enemy of the debt.