May I ask our listmanager to not let this debate begin on this e-list.
We've all been good so far - let's keep it that way. Nov. 8th will be here
soon enough. All of us working for our candidates are already overwhelmed
by the masses of e-mails out there to keep track of. I read many newspaper,
editorials and other info from all over the country every single day. And
most people on this list - I know their ilk next Tuesday. I'm working to
get all those undecideds and previous non-voter type people out to vote.
Let us pray that voter apathy and disgust aren't the winners of this
election season.
In my humble opinion,
Annie Young
At 09:36 PM 10/30/00 -0600, Catherine Shreves wrote:
>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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>While this is not strictly a Minneapolis Issue, it is an issue on the
>minds of Minneapolis voters and in the pages of the Minneapolis
>newspapers. How this issue plays out in our city and state has profound
>national implications. What do people think? Can we have a discussion
>about it on the list?
>
>Catherine Shreves
>School Board, 13th Ward
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>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 16:29:54 EST
>Subject: Re Nader: ATLA Election Alert and address
>MIME-Version: 1.0
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>
>Dear Friends,
>
>A couple things:=20
>
>1) from a friend who works in the US Justice Dept. (I think ATLA stands for=
>=20
>American Trial Lawyers Assoc.) It's about Nader's Raiders for Gore.
>
>2) E-mail address for Ralph Nader, in case you want to advise him.
>
>Janet K
>
>1) ** ATLA ELECTION ALERT **
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> THE UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES OF THE NADER CAMPAIGN
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Dear Marc Goldstein,
>
>This is a special message to all ATLA members and particularly to voters
in=20
>the "swing" states of California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Missouri,=20
>Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, and=20
>Pennsylvania.
>
>Unquestionably, Ralph Nader cannot win the Presidency, but his candidacy
--=20
>especially in those states -- may cost us all some of our most valued rights=
>.
>
>Like many ATLA members, I consider Ralph Nader a hero. When I was a law=20
>student, Ralph and the crusade for consumers and safety that he initiated=20
>were inspirations to me, as they have continued to be throughout my=20
>professional career. Ralph has been a mentor and a close personal friend fo=
>r=20
>over 30 years.
>
>I am sad to say, however, that his Green Party candidacy for President=20
>represents a very real threat to everything Ralph Nader --often with the=20
>support of ATLA and its members -- has fought for for almost 40 years.
>
>ALL OF THE NATIONAL POLLS SHOW AN EXTREMELY TIGHT ELECTION. MAKE NO MISTAKE=
>=20
>ABOUT IT, A VOTE FOR RALPH NADER IS A VOTE FOR GEORGE W. BUSH FOR PRESIDENT.
>
>That means a vote for Ralph Nader is a vote for helping to enact Governor=20
>Bush's draconian programs of federal tort "reforms" that will severely limit=
>=20
>every American's legal rights and the authority of citizen juries. It is
a=20
>vote for restrictions on consumer protection. It is a vote for every=20
>imaginable threat to the environment. And it is a vote for a United
States=20
>Supreme Court that will include two to four more justices like Antonin Scali=
>a=20
>and Clarence Thomas.
>
>It would be tragic if Ralph Nader's ultimate legacy were everything that
he=20
>and his closest friends and supporters have opposed.
>
>AND IT WOULD BE MORE TRAGIC STILL IF ATLA MEMBERS AND THEIR CLIENTS=20
>INADVERTENTLY HELP ENACT FEDERAL TORT "REFORMS" BY
>VOTING THEIR HEARTS, RATHER THAN THEIR HEADS.
>
>The 2000 Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 7 will be among the most important in ou=
>r=20
>lives. They will determine who holds the White House and makes appointments=
>=20
>to the U.S. Supreme Court. They will decide the balance of power in the U.S=
>.=20
>Congress and state legislatures that will reapportion both legislative and=20
>congressional districts in 2001.
>
>As a former "Nader's Raider," I join with many of my former "Raider"=20
>colleagues who have recently written to Ralph (=20
>http://www.nadersraidersforgore.com/ ) saying:
>
>"It is now clear that you might well give the White House to Bush. As a=20
>result, you would set back significantly the social progress to which you=20
>have devoted your entire life... There have been countless occasions where=
>=20
>you stayed in the background when that helped achieve the maximum benefit fo=
>r=20
>others. It is time for you once again to step aside in the best interests o=
>f=20
>our nation. It would be a cruel irony indeed if your major legacy were to=20
>erase the victory from the candidate who most embodies your philosophy...and=
>=20
>to give the Executive Branch to the party which has consistently resisted=20
>your progressive ideals."
>
>More than ever before, please think about the importance of your vote. I=20
>believe that you should cast it for Ralph Nader ONLY if you are willing to=20
>accept George W. Bush as the next President of the United States.
>
>And, please do what you can to educate your family, friends, and clients=20
>about the unfortunate consequences of the Nader campaign.
>
>Fred Baron
>President of ATLA
>_________________________________
>2) =20
>
>The Nader camp is deeply divided over whether they should endorse Gore -- at=
>=20
>least in swing states. Many say they never got into the race to play the=20
>spoiler. What was positioned as a safe protest vote has now become a kind o=
>f=20
>kamikaze vote. The specter of a Bush presidency looms large.
>
>Let Ralph Nader hear your feelings. His contact information:
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> fax: 202-265-0183
> phone: 202-265-4000
>
>Nader has a lot of power in this situation? What should he do?
>
>Please carbon copy us on your email to Ralph Nader at
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] We want to know what you think.
>
>As a sample, we've attached below an open letter that has been floating=20
>around the net. However, a personalized message is always better.=20
>
>Sincerely,
>
>- Wes Boyd
> MoveOn.org
>
>P.S. Here's are some of the latest state level poll results, so you
>can see how close it is in these key races:
>
> Gore Bush Nader Undecided Source
>Washington 45% 43% 5% 7% 10/16 American Research
>Group Oregon 40% 44% 7% 9% 10/12 KPAM-Radio
>Minnesota 41% 44% 8% 6% 10/18 Minneapolis Star
>Tribune New Mexico 42% 42% 5% 10% 9/28 NM State
>Univ. Michigan 43% 43% 4% 9% 10/19 EPIC/MRA Poll
>Florida 43% 44% 3% 9% 10/18 John McLaughlin and
>Assoc Nevada 44% 43% 3% 9% 9/21 Public Opinion
>Strategies Pennsylvania 43% 45% 3% 9% 10/19 Public
>Opinion Strategies
>
>
>AN OPEN LETTER TO RALPH NADER
>
>[Please sign this email with your own name and send it to Ralph Nader
>at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Then forward it to every person in your
>email address book, to the newspapers and broadcasters in your area,
>and anyone else you can think of. With the race so close and such a
>short time until the election, it's time for action.]
>
>Dear Mr. Nader:
>
>Over the years you have done a great deal for the American people. =20
>Now you are about to do great harm. Your candidacy in this election
>has been important. You have raised serious issues that need to be
>addressed. But now your message is out and it=E2=80=99s time to set aside
>ideology and step aside. If you don=E2=80=99t you will ensure that George W.
>Bush is our next president. And if he is elected with a Republican
>majority in Congress, the American people stand to lose most of the
>social, economic and environmental progress we have made in the last
>thirty years. If there is any question in your mind of this,
>consider the following:
>
>THE SUPREME COURT
>
>Bush will appoint activist conservative judges who will actively seek
>to take away a woman=E2=80=99s right to choose.
>
>They will also support the corporate interests you have been so
>gallantly fighting against by promoting "tort reform" which, as you
>know, is another way to disempower the average citizen and take away
>his or her right to sue corporations who damage them or cause death.
>
>And the Bush Supreme Court will be anti-environment and side with the
>exploiters and polluters who so willingly sacrifice the public health
>and safety on the alter of short term profit.
>
>THE DEFICIT AND THE MIDDLE CLASS
>
>While Gore intends to use the surplus to pay down the deficit, Bush
>plans to refund a large part of it to the wealthy. He says it=E2=80=99s=20
>their
>money and they should get it back. Well, it=E2=80=99s their deficit as well
>and they should help pay it off.
>
>At this time the nation is almost five trillion six hundred billion
>dollars in the red. That=E2=80=99s $5,600,000,000,000. Over the past ten
>years we have paid over three trillion dollars in interest. This year
>we will pay an estimated three hundred and sixty-two billion dollars
>in interest. That=E2=80=99s $362,000,000,000, Mr. Nader. About $1,400 for
>every man woman and child in this country. Do you have any idea what
>that amount of money could do for the environment and health care and
>education if it was not being wasted on interest?
>
>Next year we will pay even more. And the years after that still more.
>And instead of paying down the deficit it will grow larger. Why? So
>Bill Gates and Paul Allen and all the other multimillionaires can have
>their much needed tax brakes. And if Bush is elected and then
>inheritance tax is eliminated, the middle class will be asked to make
>up the hundreds of billions of dollars in those lost revenues as well.
>
>THE ENVIRONMENT
>
>As governor of Texas Bush has put the polluters in charge of the
>state's environmental program with the result that Texas is now an
>environmental disaster. Although he doesn=E2=80=99t dare articulate it duri=
>ng
>the campaign, the Republican agenda includes doing away with the
>Environmental Protection Agency. If it=E2=80=99s not eliminated
completely=20=
>it
>will be emasculated to the point where it exists in name only.
>
>And in service of his major contributors, the Oil and Coal
>conglomerates, Bush and the Republicans will encourage oil exploration
>in environmentally sensitive areas and the burning of fossil fuels to
>produce electricity etc. If you think global warming is bad now, just
>give a Bush administration a few years to pay of its debt to these
>special interests.
>
>And whether you want to admit it or not, Mr. Nader, Al Gore has been
>one of the strongest advocates for environmental protection. He
>recognized the danger of global warming before most people had heard
>the term. And he almost single handedly, and against the advice of
>all his political advisors, saved the Kyoto Accords. But a rabid
>Republican Congress has blocked their implementation along with almost
>every other environmental effort put forth by the Clinton
>Administration. You=E2=80=99re correct. Clinton/Gore haven=E2=80=99t got
a=20=
>lot done.=20
>But if you=E2=80=99d been president these past eight years, neither would yo=
>u.
>
>CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
>
>You warn us of the growing power and influence of the corporations on
>our lives and our democracy yet you threaten to help defeat the only
>candidate with any chance of doing the one thing that will help solve
>this problem. You know Bush and the Republicans will not support
>Campaign Finance Reform. But Gore has promised that he will work with
>John McCain in his mission to bring about the reform we need. Why on
>earth would you actively work to keep this from happening?
>
>SOCIAL SECURITY
>
>You know Bush plans to divert hundreds of billions of dollars to Wall
>Street. It seems like a great scheme while the market is going up as
>it has been for the past several years. But what goes up also comes
>down. While this risky scheme may put a few billion in the pockets of
>the brokers and underwriters, it will turn Social Security into Social
>Insecurity and endanger the retirement of many people who
>unfortunately don=E2=80=99t have as much money as you do.
>
>Mr. Nader, you have stated publicly that you would rather see Bush win
>than Gore. You seem to believe that Bush will make things so bad that
>the country will rise up. This reminds me of the days when doctors
>bled patients in order to cure them. The problem was the patients
>often died from the treatment rather than the disease.
>
>As someone who agrees with you on so many things and would love to see
>you continue your campaign to educate and enlighten us about the
>things for which you care so much, I ask you to do the right thing.=20
>The election is too close and now is the time for you to throw your
>support behind Gore. If you help Bush win you will have single
>handedly done more damage than any well meaning person could possible
>conceive of. Please don=E2=80=99t let this happen.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>__________
>
>
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>
Annie Young
Ward 6 - East Phillips
Citywide at-large Park Board Commissioner
Working to build a sustainable community
