From: mpye@netcom.com (Michael Pye)
Subject: Are We That Stupid?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 09:19:13 GMT

This is the August 30, 1992 letter to the OP/ED section of the Sunday 
New York Times from Ross Perot

'How Stupid Do They Think We Are?'
by Ross Perot
Dallas

     The other day, a plumber stopped me and said, "Ross, there's not 
a nickel's worth of difference between the two political parties." A 
construction worker told me," If I hear one more phony speech about 
'family values,' I think I'll throw up!"  The most frequently 
repeated statement by good, hardworking people since the Democratic 
and Republican Conventions has been: "How stupid do they think we 
are?"
     Both parties act as if they bear no responsibility for the $4 
trillion debt that burdens our country. But the world financial 
markets tell the story, as the dollar dropped to new lows against the 
German mark after the Republican Convention. A computer engineer 
summed it up: "We can't be a superpower unless we are first an 
economic superpower--just look at Russia."
     Sam Walton became America's richest man by standing in the 
aisles, listening to his customers and taking swift action to meet 
their needs and desires.
     Unfortunately, the parties have lost touch with the American 
people.  Neither party has a Sam Walton.  They spend so much time 
listening to the special interests--from the foreign lobbyists to the 
tobacco industry--that give them the huge amounts of money needed for 
their campaigns that they can't hear taxpaying citizens.
     An interesting thing happened this year.  Five and a half 
million people, who feel they have no voice in the country they own, 
joined together in a petition signing process to put me on the 
ballot.
     Even after I announced that we could best solve the country's 
problems if one or both of the political parties would squarely face 
the issues and deal with them, the people continue getting the 
petitions signed and have now formed the national organization, 
United We Stand America.
     The process has been completed in 48 states and should be 
successfully completed in all 50.  Their goal is to influence every 
congressional race, as well as the Presidential race, and they are 
active in every state.  At their request, I am actively supporting 
them.
     I am not the centerpiece of this effort.  My role as a candidate 
is incidental.  This effort is focused on rebuilding our country.  
Only the owners--the people--can do it.
    Earlier this year, the Republicans and Democrats spent several 
months arrogantly wandering around asking, "Who are these people 
getting petitions signed?"
     I can tell exactly who these people are.  These are people who 
love their country, work hard, rear good children, play by the rules, 
love the principles in which this country was founded--and don't like 
to see those principles violated.  
     They are disgusted with gridlock government, finger-pointing, 
check bouncing, and neglect of domestic and economic issues.  They 
are concerned about their jobs and their children's futures as we 
export entire industries, deindustrializing America and putting our 
people out of work.  
     Why should Democrats and Republicans in every political race 
listen to these people?  Here is one good reason:  Their numbers are 
so large that they can be the swing vote that determines who wins 
congress in the White House in November.
     Just to eliminate any confusion by the candidates and political 
parties about what the people who make up United We Stand America are 
concerned about--here is a partial list.  I hope the parties will 
treat it as a wake up call.
% Rebuild the job base and put our people back to work.
% Stimulate growth of small businesses by making capital and credit 
available. Today they are starved for both. Credit can be made 
available by changing the banking regulations. Capital can be made 
available by elimination all capital gains taxes for money that goes 
directly into the treasuries of small businesses.
% Develop an intelligent, supportive relationship between Government 
and business.
% Develop strategic plans on an industry-by-industry basis to 
strengthen and rebuild our large companies. Target the industries of 
the future and develop specific plans to be the world leader in those 
industries. our successful international competitors do this. We 
don't. 
% Build and maintain our manufacturing base. We cannot be a 
superpower unless we are a world leader in manufacturing. Never 
forget that if we have to defend our country we will need to make a 
range of products, from steel and integrated circuits to shoes ( 
Remember Valley Forge?), and convert our factories to wartime use.
% Eliminate the deficit. Pass legislation to balance the budget. Put 
in place a program to pay off the national debt. The President's 
check-off box is a gimmick. It won't begin to pay for one year's 
interest on the debt.
% Get rid of illegal drugs and dramatically reduce crime and violence 
throughout our country. Talk won't do it. 
% Rebuild our cities. Make our "alabaster cities gleam undimmed by 
human tears."
% Make our public schools the finest in the world. Today they rank at 
the bottom of the industrialized world. 
% Restructure our health-care system to make it cost effective. 
Today, it is the most expensive system in the world, but not the 
best. Minor changes suggested by both parties won't fix the problem.
% Develop a new tax system that is fair, paperless for most Americans 
and raises the money necessary to pay our country's bills. The 
parties don't even talk about this.
% Make it a criminal offense for foreign countries, foreign companies 
or foreign individuals to hire lobbyists or contribute money - or 
services - to political campaigns. Both parties have foreign 
lobbyists in key campaign roles.
% Pass laws prohibiting cashing in on prior Government service.
% Develop truly fair free-trade agreements. Today we are giving 
entire industries to other countries.
% Develop an intelligent energy policy. We have no policy. Our 
country is totally vulnerable in case of war.
% Give the President a line-item veto. 
% Pass laws to stop Congress from exempting itself from laws it 
imposes on the rest of the country.
% Bring the overly generous Congressional retirement plan in line 
with private-sector plans and get rid of unnecessary perks in 
government. Slash staffs in the executive and legislative branches .
% Pass laws requiring the return of all excess political campaign 
funds to the Treasury.
% Pass laws to reduce the lengths and costs of Federal election 
campaigns.
Create equal opportunity for all new candidates by providing equal 
television time. 
% Replace the Electoral College with the popular vote. 
% Eliminate political action committees and pass laws eliminating all 
possibilities for special interests to give large sums of money to 
candidates. 
% Hold elections on Saturday and Sunday, instead of Tuesday. Make it 
easy for working people to vote. Prohibit the release of election 
information until polls close in Hawaii.
% Finally, and most importantly, bring us together. United teams win. 
Divided teams lose. Play to our multi-cultural strengths. Stop 
preaching the messages of hate and division in your campaign themes.

     And now, a message to both parties. Please remember that those 
whom have participated in the United We Stand America movement are 
intelligent, thinking, responsible people.
     They are not unprogrammed robots who can be emotionally swayed 
by your negative ads or messages of fear and divisiveness.
     To put it bluntly, you will have to face the issues to get their 
votes. Mud wrestling and messages aimed at destroying your opponent 
and his loved ones won't work.
     I love the American people and I am sure that you do, too.  I 
owe them a debt I can never repay and so do you. Today, the 
government is a mess, and they want it fixed. By joining together as 
the owners of this great country, they can solve these problems.
     As I've said before, it is time to clean out the barn. Join 
us--pick up a shovel. Get to work!

Ross Perot is author of "United We Stand: How We Can Take Back Our 
Country"

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