San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara County, CA November 3, 1998 General
Smart Voter

An Outline of My Concerns for the Future of Our Nation

By Richard D. "Dick" Porter

Candidate for United States Representative; District 22

This information is provided by the candidate
This is a list of topics reflecting my concerns for our nation's future. I would be glad to speak to, or discuss, or present a brief essay on any or all of these topics whenever there is an opportunity to do so.
1. Partisanship: the core problem
2. Two-party system: the embodiment of modern partisanship
3. Winner-take-all: the objective of partisanship
4. Election campaigning: the partisan ritual
5. Statesmanship: the lost art
6. Good people, bad system
7. Campaign finance: the "mother's milk" of partisanship
8. Contributors: the good the bad, and the ugly
9. "Meaningless" $100 contributions: the good
10. Unlimited self-contributions for the wealthy: the bad
11. Money as "free speech"
12. Buying "access" to elected representatives: the ugly
13. Corruption: of the system, by the system, for the system
14. Bribery: the implicit quid pro quo
15. Conflict of interest: legislation for sale
16. Bundling $1000 contributions: the power breakfast
17. Soft money: free speech run amuck
18. Access to pinnacles of power
19. Congressional organization: the partisan objective
20. Odd January: new beginnings
21. Window of opportunity: a brief opening for reform
22. Partisan caucuses: the power base
23. Seniority: more than staying power
24. House and Senate leadership: "you scratch my back . . ."
25. Minority party: "just wait until next time"
26. Gridlock: irreconcilable differences
27. Bipartisan agreement: compromising the public interest
28. Organizing the new Congress: Power to the Speaker
29. Congressional rules: the system in perpetuity
30. Committee chairs: concentration of power
31. Designer legislation: the payoff
32. Lobbyists, lobbying agencies, clients, and access
33. Congressional staff: the gatekeepers
34. Committee staffs: where the rubber meets the road
35. Authorization: committee power
36. Appropriation: leadership power
37. Conference committees: the ultimate power
38. Lawyers, legislation, case law, and precedents
39. Executive organization: implementing legislation
40. Governmental agencies: building better bureaucracies
41. Continuing authorization: the sun never sets
42. Unthinkable: zero based budgeting
43. Rules and regulations: bastions of bureaucracy
44. Congressional oversight: more than posturing for the media
45. Judicial review: when laws are not clearly drawn
46. "Issues": defining the candidates
47. Partisan "issues": the parties define themselves
48. Single issue politics: the "hot button issues"
49. The Constitution: amendment, or better legislation?
50. The Presidency: partisanship or statesmanship?
51. The people: "get out the vote"
52. The voters: getting their attention
53. Media: information and "spin"
54. Television "spots": getting to know you?
55. "Serious candidates?": by their spending shall you know them?
56. Getting "things" for the constituents: who gets what, why?
57. Apportionment 2000: maintaining partisanship for the decade

Next Page: Position Paper 2

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 15, 1998 14:56
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