John Anderson, former independent presidential candidate, addressed the need for a third party. Many reforms have come from third parties, even the Republicans were at one time a third party. We, as a country, cannot afford to allow indifference to politics. Mr. Anderson presented the case for political reforms such as multi-candidate districts, proportional representation, and instant run-off. These reforms would minimize gerrymandering and make for more competitive races. Mr. Anderson also advised the ARP to develop a foreign policy plank.
The keynote speaker was former US senator and former governor of Connecticut Lowell Weicker. The governor praised the ARP for being dedicated and having common sense, the ARP is not a one or two issue group. Unfortunately third party politics is on the edge of becoming a joke with too much flamboyance and zaniness. Weicker’s issues include education, health care, violence, poverty, debt reduction, and campaign finance reform. His issues do not include abortion, prayer in schools, and term limits.
On education Weicker believes there is too much reliance on local taxes, the federal government should equalize education spending. College should be available to all. On health care he would like to expand community health care, double the National Institute of Health’s budget, study if there is a link between disease and the environment, establish school based child health care clinics, expand home health care and put mental health insurance on a par with other health insurance.
Weicker favors the outright ban of handguns and semi-automatic weapons, but not long guns. He wants a balanced budget and would pay down the deficit rather than giving tax cuts. Regarding campaign finance reform he would like to shorten the election cycle, give free TV to candidates, and is opposed to soft money.
On the matter of politics Weicker stated that independents must come together, they should not be entertainers. Parents should encourage their children to enter government service.
Following governor Weicker was Roy Beck. Roy spoke elegantly of the need to reduce immigration. His charts and famous gum ball demonstration bring home the point that the problem with immigration is the number, the huge number of people entering this country every yea.
Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk spoke of how she become involved in Jesse Ventura’s campaign. She described the gubernatorial campaign and how they listened to the common people such as those they met at the state fair, the “fair” people, rather than the power brokers and media, the “unfair” people. Her present efforts are concentrated on improving the education system in the state of Minnesota.
Jack Gargan, chair elect of RPUSA was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to us. The two party factions should mend fences although the time for that is not now. He is an embattled chair elect and will on January 1 put up a sign on the RPUSA door, “Under New Management”. The public, seething about corruption, is desperate for a third party candidate. Jack expressed his support for Jesse Ventura.
To wrap Saturday’s proceedings was an excellent panel consisting of Bob Schiff, Micah Sifry, and Donald Simon which gave us some things to think about as we confront this most important issue.
Sunday was devoted to the business meeting. Louis Herrick served as convention chair.
Don Torgersen coordinated a lengthy review and update of the party platform. Several important modifications were made to the immigration plank Added to the platform was an environmental plank, a plank in support of a single payer health plan, and a plank supporting family farmers. In a followup vote, there was virtually unanimous approval to have a plank advocating restoration of normal diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba.
The constitution was updated to further define the procedure for conducting a presidential and vice presidential nominating convention. Amendments were also passed to extend the time the National Committee could change the constitution to Jan. 1, 2001 and to shorten the notification time for a convention from forty days to twenty days.
Results of Officer Elections:
Chair - Ted Muga
Vice-Chair - Mary Shmaker
Secretary - Lee Stork
Treasurer - Kathleen Hopkins
Deputy Secretary - Richard Batson
Deputy Treasurer - Roy Downing
Outreach - Nancy Couperus
Communication - Don Torgersen
Finally the convention delegates passed a resolution urging Lowell Weicker to run for the presidency and seek the nomination of the American Reform Party
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