[Peace-discuss] Congress has elections too.

[Ken Urban]

I received the following from Dr. David Gill, who is running for
congress against Rep. Tim Johnson.  

Ken

*****************************************************************************************************************
Dear Friend,

        Please forgive the terribly impersonal nature of this request--

the topic is so important, though, that it behooves me to contact as 
many of you as efficiently as possible.

         President Bush and his blindly loyal followers (such as 
Illinois' 15th District Congressman, Tim Johnson) continue to wreak 
havoc on the American public.  We've witnessed the travesty of the war

in Iraq, the passage of tax cuts that benefit only the ultra-wealthy 
(leaving the rest of us in a sea of red ink and with sharp cuts in 
services), and the continued support of NAFTA-endowed Big Business 
(which has cost us 2.7 million jobs the past two years and is squeezing

the majority of small family farmers out of business).  Women's 
reproductive rights continue to be attacked (through both judicial 
nominations and Congressional legislation),  and we continue to be the

only developed nation on this planet without a National Health 
Insurance plan.

         The list goes on and on.  Suffice it to say that our current 
leaders are making this a terribly dangerous and unfair world, and 
leaving a sorry legacy indeed to our children and grandchildren.  The 
current administration concerns itself with 1-2% of Americans and cares

not at all for the other 98-99% (or for the rest of the world, for that

matter)

          I can no longer tolerate this.  As many of you know, I have 
traveled the 22 counties of Illinois' 15th district over the past 7 
months, and I am convinced that the average American citizen has also 
"had enough."  There is a populist backlash just around the corner, 
with a large majority of Americans ready to send the Bush/Tim Johnson 
policies off to history's junk pile.

          Because I can no longer stomach the status quo, I've decided

to run for Congress to help us reform the awful mess created by the 
current Administration.  We can change the legacy left to our children

and grandchildren.

          The odds are stacked against any challenger in a campaign 
against an incumbent.  I'm convinced, though, that with the help of 
thousands of concerned friends, we can collectively begin to make a 
difference.
          We can have a National Health Insurance program, saving 
money 
in the process.
          We can return to a progressive tax system.
          We can protect the environment.
          We can give all Americans autonomy over their own bodies.
          We can dump our "free" trade agreements in favor of FAIR
trade 
agreements which respect human rights and the environmental health of 
our one and only planet.

           I must have your help with this campaign.  I have no formal

background in politics, but I've learned already that I'll need your 
hard labor and/or your money.  The money issue is particularly galling

and important, until we have publicly financed campaigns (which I'll 
work for!).  Without money, the opposition will be free to spread their

myths and lies unchecked.  Remember the "Harry and Louise" commercials,

in which "plain ol' folks" filled our collective consciousness with 
misinformation regarding Universal Health Care?  Money is needed to 
purchase advertising time to present TRUTH to Americans.

           You can help me in any of three ways: volunteer, contribute

money, and/or arrange for a "group contribution."
  -To volunteer, simply e-mail a reply that you're interested in doing

so, along with a couple of sentences about yourself and your interests,

and your home address and phone number.

-To contribute, please use the form attached to this message.

-If at all possible, please arrange a "group contribution."  If you can

find 6 to 60 friends whom you could invite to your home for coffee, 
conversation, and contributions, I would be more than happy to be there

to present my case for making this a better world!  Please e-mail or 
call me if you think you could arrange this, and I'll arrange my 
schedule to accommodate you and your friends.

               Thank you for your time and interest.  Let me know about

any ideas you have about winning this congressional seat-- all input is

welcome.  Please forward this message on to your like-minded friends, 
whether or not they live in Central Illinois.


               Sincerely,


                David Gill, M.D.

                321 N. Center St.
                Clinton, IL   61727
                (217)937-0111
                dgill at mchsi.com
                davidgillforcongress.com

PS-- The Web site will likely be up and functioning within the next 
week or two.