| Reed Estabrook |
| 482 Chetwood Street, Oakland, CA 94610 |
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February 18, 2002
|
| Dear Senator |
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| I am writing to urge your support for meaningful
campaign finance reform. The enclosed gift is a print from a body
of photographic artwork entitled "In God We Trust". These works
use 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. |
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| 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 98 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 the
underdeveloped world has 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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| 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?" I know I am not alone in expressing
my dismay at the current campaign finance regulations that invite
such "undue influence". 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.
Don't you think this has gotten out of hand? And wouldn't it be
easier for you if you didn't have to raise such huge sums? It is
time to fix a system that is more than a little broken. Please help
pass the Shays-Meehan bill and avoid the need for a conference committee.
Please see that a clean bill reaches the President's desk. |
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| Yours sincerely, |
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| Reed Estabrook |
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