Open Letter to Warren Buffett, A Plan To Save Our Nation

Hello Warren, it’s me, Randy. The guy that took Whitey’s place, the engineer you sometimes stopped to chat with after you spent your day reviewing Berkshire Hathaway’s books and I was resolving technical issues.

Warren, I need your help but more importantly the American People need your help. I truly believe that I have identified the single greatest contribution anyone can give to the American people and how to accomplish it. We can give them back their government. I’m not asking you to personally take on this monumental task nor am I asking for your financial backing. We need help with where to best place our idea. The criteria will be evident to you and I have complete trust and faith in your wisdom and humanity.

I come to you representing an idea looking for organization, I can think of no one better suited than you to help find a match. If it is not too much to ask, I humbly request your assistance. We are attempting to chink the dam that is the obstacle in the way of democracy to let the floodwaters pour through. I realize that nearly everyone else believes it is impossible to do, I know otherwise and furthermore I have a plan. I understand the magnitude of this claim but if you give me a moment l think you too will become a believer.

I have nurtured and tested an idea and it has yielded astounding results. I approached well over fifty people representing all of the divided factions of politics, Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party, Liberal, Pro-Gay Rights, Anti-Gay Rights and so on, from all different age groups and walks of life. Most were strangers and the intent was to test my hypothesis. Particular attention was given to insure everyone’s view was represented. In some cases I raised the bar by soliciting the opinions of ex-politicians from both sides and individuals with whom I have differed greatly in the past. It is one thing to believe in your idea and yet another to prove it.

Every single one of these people shares my view, within this group we have a unanimous opinion. This consensus can only be achieved if it relies on closely held and common beliefs. It cannot rely on new information or changing of opinions. Valid concerns of others were raised along the way. Concerns that improved and refined the fix we now propose. They were essential in defining the common ground of our collective viewpoints. Many participants were quick to site examples, the skeptical were looking for a hidden agenda but once it was clarified that none existed they provided examples of their own. The range of response was from cautiously optimistic to wildly enthusiastic. Tea Party followers were quick to promote talk radio, Liberal participants were just as quick to suggest the best outlets on their side, both had suggestions for funding. Mainstream partisan participants sometimes looked for my hidden purpose but, upon their understanding, we all agreed. Mainstream Democrats, mainstream Republicans and all the other groups were knowingly “on the same page”.

The only faction excluded from participation was special interest.

I composed a story that clearly conveys the idea I was putting forth in order to explain it to others. This is the story:

Not long ago there was a saying “The sun never sets on British soil”. It was true. The English had sailed the world claiming the land and property of others solely for the benefit of England. Any option to gain control was justifiable because the objective was to reap the harvest for themself. The end justified the means. Since that time, the British Empire has for the most part dissolved because the people of these other lands finally said “enough is enough”. “Go home.” When the people of India joined their voices together and said in unison “no” to England it worked. They took their country back.

You and I may disagree about politics. In fact, we might even be screaming about it in each other’s face. But, I would bet we agree on one thing “Our country is headed in the wrong direction and we need to take our country back”.
The tea party is a perfect example. The tea party was all about “taxation without representation”. The English taxed goods we bought without giving the colonies a representative in Parliament. In other words England was a special interest. England’s only interest was serving England’s interest.

Now, let me ask you a question: “If special interest buys your representative in Washington who represents you?” Like I said, you and I may disagree about politics but right now the most important fact is this: “Until special interest is silenced in Washington they have all the votes and neither you nor I are represented”. The first thing we have to do is join together to kick special interest out of Washington just like the people of India had to make the British leave with a unified voice before they could even have a chance to fix it. Let’s do it now.

With this starting point, our plan evolved. An important point raised from multiple views during the process is: not all special interest is bad. This is a valid point. Some special interest has great merit and therefore the voice must not be silenced. We must protect the voice of all. We can achieve our goals and protect our rights by regulating two things: advertising and personal profit for politicians through the legislation they promote.

Our sole agenda is the removal of special interest money from politics while at the same time protecting the voice of all. We are starting as and will remain a single issue movement. After this barrier is removed our collective problems can be addressed. We want legislation to be shaped by merit, not bought by a pile of special interest money. We need fundamental change in the campaign process to accomplish this goal and we have collectively developed a well thought out place to begin the process. Our goal, to allow government to govern in the interest of its people, can only be accomplished through the regulation of special interest money in politics without removing the voice. Let special interest voice their views as the people can voice theirs and insure equal rights by removing the inequity imposed through influential money.

Below is page three of the open letter. This is the substance of our proposed method of corrective action.

The first point is advertising. Enact a law or pass a constitutional amendment that only allows political ads to be sponsored by the candidates. Everyone including corporations has the same right to support their candidate and voice their opinion through their candidate but every ad will have a candidate attached to it. All candidates will have the opportunity to present their platform and speak to the people. If they choose to attack their opponent, so be it. Some of the most egregious and unfounded claims will cease by virtue attaching the message to the candidate speaking. This gives the candidates a vested interest in supporting the people and truthful arguments while protecting equal rights for all. We are guaranteed free speech by our constitution but free speech used to incite a riot is a crime. Similarly, cigarette advertising is regulated on television, in spite of free speech, for the good of the people.

Also in need of regulation is the personal gain of politicians for the legislation they promote. This is more complex than the advertising aspect and involves not only the instant gains but also future gains. Due to the nature of the governing process, we believe it is in our countries best interest to establish regulations regarding both current and future methods of gain for politicians. When a profit is gained by a politician for support of legislation, it makes no difference when the gain is received; it is still a betrayal of the peoples trust and the oath of office. One necessary component is to attach lifelong restrictions to all elected members of the legislative and executive branch regarding future gains and future employment. It must become a crime for an elected official to promote legislation which will result in personal financial gain presently or delayed. The American people are willing to continue the retirement package currently enjoyed by former congressional representatives and former presidents and possibly even increase the benefits if the needed restrictions are applied. An oath of office, an oath to our nation and its people is immediately violated if the intent is simply to be paid latter. There is no doubt that with regards to future profit, your expertise dwarfs mine and this element requires further development. Whatever restrictions are implemented they will simply become part of the cost of business. Ones who chose to run for office will understand that these future financial restrictions come with the office and inseparable for life. Restrictions will add an element of enforcement to the oath and this is in the interest of the people. We believe this approach insures equal rights for all. No citizen is forced to run for office therefore no citizen has these restrictions forced on them. Conversely, all who run for office must accept these terms as conditions of service. This represents an enforceable contract with the American people.

The existence of special interest money in politics poses an equal rights violation and directly conflicts with the very bases of our constitution. Equal voice is equal rights. If the volume of the voice is dependent on the depth of the pocket then the voices are no longer equal and thus nether are the rights. Our constitution calls for a government of the people by the people and for the people. Legislation shaped by special interest money violates this most sacred part of our constitution. These rights can only be restored by the removal of special interest money from politics.

I have chosen you because of who you are as a human being and a business leader. You work hard and have great accomplishments to show for it. You have shown a great appreciation for the people upon which your wealth has been acquired and you have acted to enrich those people’s lives in return. You have successfully enlisted others like yourself to give back in a meaningful way as an expression of your gratitude.
Thank you for your time and effort in reviewing this plan and for any direction you have to offer toward the restoration of our democracy.

Randy

A beautifully written letter, I hope someone pays attention to it.

But how do you propose we eliminate special interest money form government?