The Rich Take a Beating...But Keep on Ticking...in California

Mike's Letter

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June 8th, 1998 12:00 AM

The Rich Take a Beating...But Keep on Ticking...in California

It was "Beat the Rich" time in California-and throughout the country-last week. In the race for the Democratic nomination for governor, the candidate with the least amount of cash, Gray Davis, defeated millionaire Alfred A. Checchi, who spent $40 million on his campaign-the most money spent by a non- Presidential candidate in American history. In the Republican Senate race, Matt Fong beat millionaire businessman Darrell Issa. And let's not forget Jerry Brown, who became the next mayor of Oakland with fifty-nine percent of the vote, and who originated the idea of disallowing campaign contributions of more than $100.

Nobody should be able to donate more than $100 to a politician's campaign. In fact, I'd like to see all private contributions removed. Campaigns should be brief, open to all, and taxpayer-supported and controlled. In California, Proposition 226-which would have required unions to get permission from their members before making political donations-was sent to a resounding defeat. I think this was more a vote in favor of unions than over the specific issue of the union's money. There is a resurgence in the union movement taking place and it's great to see. I wish the media would quit referring to unions as a "special interest"--13 million people is not a special interest. The rich believe they can buy their candidates and then sucker all of us into voting for them. They have had such a good laugh-and profit-off this ruse for so long they must have got bored because now they've decided, "Hey, why buy a candidate WHEN WE CAN RUN OURSELVES!"

In last week's election, eighteen millionaire candidates spent record-breaking amounts of money in running for offices across the country-and they all lost. I think the American people sent a clear message. By defeating these millionaires, the people have said, in part, that they're fed up with the rich and with being excluded from this so-called "economic boom" that's supposedly taking place. The electorate had a chance to give the rich a whoopin'-and they did.

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
The Awful Truth

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