| Reed Estabrook |
| 482 Chetwood Street, Oakland, CA 94610 |
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February 18, 2002
|
| Dear Representative |
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| The enclosed gift is a print from a body of photographic
artwork entitled "In God We Trust". These works use the images of
the architecture found on twelve of the thirteen Federal Reserve
notes currently in circulation. I am sending a print from this series
to each member of Congress in hopes that they will serve as a reminder
of the conflict between representing the people and the need to
seek campaign funding within the bounds of a system awash with special-interest
money. I am writing to thank you for your part in passing the first
phase of meaningful campaign finance reform. |
| |
| I am an artist and Professor of Photography at San
Jose State University. This body of work, "In God We Trust," grew
from the observation that the principal instrument of corruption
and undue influence, the "greenback", bears upon it the images of
those same institutions that it subverts. The series was initiated
in 1998 and completed on a sabbatical leave in 2001 (see attached
statement). |
| |
| In the discourse resulting from the horrendous events
of September 11 we became aware, if we weren't already, that many
people in the underdeveloped world have much enmity for us. Chief
among the reasons we are viewed with such suspicion is that we preach
and practice democracy at home while we support non-democratic governments
and regimes abroad. Our government promotes our corporate interest
overseas, but often, it seems, without regard for our political
ideals. Now comes the Enron debacle wherein we learn that numerous
members of Congress received campaign contributions from Enron executives
- the same executives that appear to have been defrauding their
investors and employees as they made sure their own proceeds were
secure. Clearly the system is broken! |
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| I know I am not alone in expressing my dismay at
the current campaign finance regulations that invite such "undue
influence". As Senator McCain so eloquently said on television not
long ago (and I'm paraphrasing). - "If I give you $500,000 don't
you think I want something back?" There is enormous pressure to
raise money to get elected while avoiding the influences of private
interests. Money, influence and power seem inextricably linked and
inseparable. Clearly this has gotten out of hand. Thank you for
your part in helping to fix the system by passing the Shays-Meehan
bill. Please do what you can to insure that the Senate passes the
same bill without need for a conference committee. |
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| Yours sincerely, |
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| Reed Estabrook |
|
