Question:
Do you think the democratic process is at risk? If so, why
and what needs to be done so the democratic process thrives in an
information society?
Response:
Although our democratic process remains intact. America has strayed from
its heritage of individual freedom and personal responsibility. If we're
to keep our democracy -- and the American Dream -- alive for future
generations, we must take steps to restore that proud heritage.
All across our land, Americans are fed up with the liberal notion that
government, and not individuals, can best solve our nation's problems.
After thirty years of Great Society programs and an ever-expanding
welfare state, Americans are once again embracing the philosophy that we
the people -- not the federal government -- must take responsibility for
solving problems in our own lives and communities.
Our experiment with the liberal philosophy of big government has been a
disaster for our treasury, our culture, and our national spirit.
We have spent more than five trillion dollars on welfare programs; yet
the number of poor and their desperation have increased. We have
attempted to excuse violent crime by blaming society and excusing
criminals, all the while the crime rate in Minneapolis has surpassed that
of New York City.
Finally, there is the biggest destroyer of freedom of all. Today, on
average, government at all levels takes 49% of personal income through
taxation. That's more than most families spend on food, clothing, and
shelter combined. In our nation's history, freedom has never been so
fragile.
I'm pleased to say, however, that our country's experiment with this
liberal philosophy is coming to an end. After thirty years of
big-government social engineering, we've concluded that our nation's
founders were right all along: the American spirit is inextricably
connected to individual freedom and personal responsibility, and it's
time we returned to our belief in the power and goodness of the individual.
Indeed, we are living through an exciting time in American history. Even
President Clinton has declared that the era of big government is over.
I know the American spirit. I came to this great country as a refugee at
the age of five. I went to work and built a successful business, meeting
a payroll and creating jobs for other hard-working Americans. I formed a
family whose members contribute to the well-being of their own families,
their communities, and our country.
As a U.S. Senator in the 1980's, I took important steps to restore our
frontier spirit, to rebuild an America where hard work and individual
responsibility formed the bedrock of our national character. I worked to
roll-back the federal bureaucracy and to reign-in the liberal welfare
state. We accomplished a lot, but there is still much more to be done.
I look forward to leading this fight in the next Congress, and I won't
waste any time. I know how the Senate works. I will hit the ground
running, and lead the fight for a return to freedom and responsibility.
I will vote to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment, to restore the same
budgetary discipline on the federal government that each one of us faces
in our business and family life. I will vote to implement
growth-oriented tax cuts for Minnesota's families, and I will vote to
replace welfare with workfare. I will vote to hold criminals responsible
for their actions, and I will vote to institute the death penalty for
murderers and severe mandatory sentences for violent offenders.
This election offers voters a truly clear difference between two
candidates.
Senator Paul Wellstone sincerely believes in big government and bigger
government. That's why he is the biggest spender of taxpayer dollars in
the entire Senate. Indeed, Paul Wellstone has the Senate's single most
liberal voting record. We will defeat Paul Wellstone and his
embarrassingly liberal philosophy, because his liberal philosophy doesn't
mesh with Minnesota's mainstream values, and, therefore, it should be
defeated.
Throughout this campaign season, we've enjoyed taking our fight for
freedom to the people. We have proudly and forcefully defended our great
core values of freedom and responsibility. We have spoken straight, but
not softly. And, in a week and a half, we will return this Senate seat
to the people, so that Minnesota common-sense will be practiced once
again in Washington.