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Challenging the Status Quo — Part 2
By Phil Steele, Hartford
Mr. Steele is Republican candidate for Congress in the 1st Congressional District.
One of the chief obstacles to a democratic politics in America is the power of incumbency. There's nothing wrong with serving any number of terms, so long as one doesn't, in effect, use the power of incumbency itself to return to an office time and again. After two terms, representatives should step down. Then, if they still believe they have more to contribute, let them run again two years later.
The clearest difference between electing Phil Steele to Congress and re-electing the incumbent is that I will work for all of us 100% of the time, while the incumbent, as a career politician, will work for himself most of the time (for which we're paying him)—and will spend most of that time raising money for his own re-election and re-election and re-election, for as long as he chooses. I will spend zero time raising money and will run for re-election only once.
I ask you, if an Enron were to happen here in the heart of Connecticut—if a Citigroup or an Aetna or a UTC became another Enron—who do you think could be the better advocate for the thousands employees and shareholders right here in the Hartford area who would be left in the lurch: a career politician who had taken tens of thousands of dollars from the management of that company, or someone who refused corporate contributions?
During the next two years, I ask you: Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to ensure that the tremendous upsurge in patriotism, bipartisanship and volunteerism triggered by the tragedy of September 11 will be channeled to make America safer and stronger, and not to drive a narrow political agenda? Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to get Congress to act on providing prescription drug benefits to Medicare recipients? Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to require utilities in the Midwest to stop polluting Connecticut's air?
Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to see that old thinking does not get access to government at the expense of new thinking; to see that Enron, Exxon-Mobil and Chevron will not enjoy an access bonanza at the expense of consumers and state-of-the-art environmental-technology manufacturers; to see that those most heavily invested in the current energy system no longer set a course for our future that champions the status quo at the expense of new ideas and innovation?
Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to support stronger regulation of corporate accounting, including a requirement that corporations buy insurance for their accounting statements so that insurance companies will police the numbers?
Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to go beyond a modest fuel cell research program that would let Washington and Detroit focus on vague, long-term aims while avoiding the more difficult task of improving the mileage of existing cars and sport utility vehicles in the short term?
Who will have more influence with the President of the United States to promote open software technologies to build out the creative commons and to bring about patent and copyright reform?
Phil Steele won't engage in political polling to decide where to stand on the issues—your votes will be my only poll. Phil Steele won't hire any consultants—you will be my consultants. Phil Steele won't try to fool the public with slick campaign commercials.
Phil Steele won't engage in negative campaigning. I'll tell you how I think the incumbent hasn't done a good enough job and how I think I can do better, but I won't criticize my opponent in a personal way.
Phil Steele will spend 100% of the time you're paying him to work for you really working for you—not advancing his own career. Phil Steele will spend none of the time you're paying him to represent you raising campaign contributions instead.
Phil Steele will accept no money from corporations or PACs unless they give equally to all the candidates because they believe in fostering political debate and democracy, not in trying to buy influence.
America, more than anything else, is an idea, and I believe that America the idea is a source of optimism and a beacon of liberty critical to the world. I will do everything possible to ensure that the tremendous upsurge in patriotism, bipartisanship and volunteerism triggered by the tragedy of September 11 will be channeled to make America safer and stronger, and not to drive anyone's narrow, political agenda from September 10 into a September 12 world.
At a time when national security requires extraordinary measures which may undermine precious civil liberties, it is all the more essential that government measures be carefully and thoroughly scrutinized. Politicians should stop trying to cover their backsides with dire but vague warnings about terrorism. We know the threat is real, huge and imminent. And we're willing to pay the price and go the long haul, however long it may take, and we don't want to be talked down to. Politicians should be working together, not posturing for the sake of re-election.
The FBI should promote Coleen Rowley.
To create jobs and turn the economy around, I will work to double, for a period of three to five years, the amount that investors can put into their 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts.
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