Article by Victor Good
Congressional Election – November 2000 – Colorado Central Magazine
Nomination acceptance speech by Victor Good, Reform Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado District Three.
The two biggest problems facing America today are, number one: the corruption of our election process by special interest, PAC, corporate and large personal campaign contributions and number two: the rising tide of intolerance in America.
In addressing the campaign finance reform issue, I would like to share an experience. One of the questions I was asked during the candidate committee review, which all Colorado Reform Party candidates must go through, was, “Do you truly feel you can handle it? I understand that congressmen put in 18-hour days.”
The immediate reaction was, “Sure I feel I’m up to it or I wouldn’t be doing it.” Then I realized that currently politicians spend anywhere from 30-70% of their time, once elected, raising money for their next election! That’s after they are elected to work for us! I figure since I don’t have to do all that schmoozing that I could be more productive in 8 hours than any Democrat or Republican incumbent could in 18 since my fund-raising is limited!
However, I am ready for whatever time is needed to represent the people of my district. I believe strongly in the Colorado Reform Party’s Platform which states that we must work toward a government-financed electoral process. It would cost the taxpayers less and be, without doubt, a much fairer process.
My interpretation of what America is was formed at a very young age. My roots go back in this country ten generations plus and in this state four or five. My grandfather traded Minnesota Woolen and Fuller Brushes throughout the Four Corners region. From his home in the San Luis Valley he raised my father and four daughters. My great grandfather, from my father’s father’s side, also lived in Colorado at various points in his life but was also one of the first settlers on the Cherokee strip. Many entries are found in Guthrie, Oklahoma, in the Logan County Clerk and Recorder’s office in book #1 for Victor or Ella Good, my great-grandmother.
My ancestry includes Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Finnish, Scottish, English, French, Danish, even American Cherokee Indian and probably others. Many of these ancestors came to this country fleeing religious persecution. Generations later I find myself with relatives and close friends who are of the following religious persuasions; Mormon, Catholic, Hindu, Lutheran, Jewish, Buddhist, Evangelical, Born Again Christian and Atheist or Deists. I’m sure I’m missing some but let me clearly state that I love and respect ALL of them and I feel that they love and respect me as well. That my friends, is what America is about!
We must have leaders in this country that are inclusive and unifying in their message. True leaders unite not divide their people. The Reform Party founders were very careful when developing our Constitutional Principles to clearly define behavior acceptable to candidates seeking to lead our nation. Item number six in our principles states; “We, the members of the Reform Party, celebrate our heritage of individual liberty, recognizing that one of our greatest strengths is our diversity; and we will foster tolerance of the customs, beliefs, and private actions of all persons which do not infringe upon the rights of others.”
In Colorado we demanded presidential candidate Pat Buchanan’s resignation from the party after his latest attacks promoting discrimination and intolerance.
Let me state very clearly to Mr. Buchanan and his followers that the true “disorder” in American society today is intolerance. This is the plague that cost a young man in Laramie, Wyoming, named Mathew Shepard his life. This is the disease that two Columbine High School students faced as they ran a gauntlet of intolerance each day they went to that school. The resulting rage and hate cost our community fifteen precious lives. Intolerance should not be permitted in our schools and is certainly not wanted in our leaders. If we ever want a peaceful, caring society then we cannot have leaders that spread a message of intolerance.
Finally, I will state that, unfortunately, I have not been perfect my whole life. However, when George Bush states, “Don’t hold me responsible for anything I did before I was forty,” I promise that I won’t need the next two years [Good is 38].
I am ready now and I promise to do my best to bring our government back to the people and away from the corruptive influences of our current method of campaign finance. Now is the time to vote for Good. ¤