The Citizen Politician: Why I Am Not Accepting Campaign Funds

By David Shapiro

Instead of raising funds for the campaign we are asking citizens to donate to organizations and projects benefitting the community.

During presidential election years over 1 billion is spent nationwide on political campaigns. Just think how problems government tries to solve could be resolved by communities if that money went back into towns and neighborhoods instead of into campaign coffers.

As a busnessman, labor and community organizer and medical home care provider in the valley and foothills, I am continuously amazed how on the local level citizens regardless of political orientation work together on common projects for their children and communities. It is apparent that when neighbors walk the walk instead of just talking the talk we share a tremendous common ground. Our current political leadership instead of organizing the people for great undertakings, our traditional role, weaken our common strength by emphasizing divisive political issues, in order raise funds and get votes. This has undermined our capacity to unite on issues of great importance to us all such as crime, health, education and the economy. The greatest fear of self aggrandizing political leadership is of a people acting in unison.

Many of those presently in Congress, who themselves enjoy the best health care system in the world, totally subsidized by government, vote against innoculations for children and for the destruction of home health for the aged. For those of us who pay directly for our healthcare, the depth of this paradox opens up a window on the political world that is shabby and hyprocritical, and which forces us to act.

My campaign seeks to benefit the community by asking people to donate not to a political campaign, but rather to organizations and projects in their own backyard. The campaign acts directly to benefit the community by building interest in new local projects. Individuals and organizations that help the community will become part of a community wide congressional office used to both create a genuine community government partnership and to protect the community from big government intrusion. Law and legislation can then be practically judged on whether it enhances family and community life or helps to destroy it.

My campaign is devoted to taking money out of Congress and putting community and the Constitution back in. By not accepting campaign funds we are obliged to deal face to face with the citizens we represent. We ask our local press to publish our views and let the people decide. Regardless of whether we win or lose the election, we will show that the local organizations and projects supported and created during the campaign will do more for our district that the last decade of congressional leadership.

Please write to me with any comments or criticism about this and future articles at P.O. Box 461, Georgetown, CA 95634 or email me at davsha@jps.net.