The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Witness for Peace 110 Maryland Ave., NE #304 Washington, DC 20002 202-544-0781 The US Elections: A Critical Moment for Latin America What's at stake: Will Congress ever hold public hearings to explore the implications of the Administration's recent report on CIA abuses in Guatemala? Will funds designated for needed development assistance programs be diverted to the counterproductive Drug War in Latin America? The answer to these and other questions will be determined, in part, by voters' decisions on November 5, 1996. The US electorate will decide whether current members of the House of Representatives keep their hold on office or are replaced. In addition, 34 Senate seats are up for grabs. This November, voters will decide whether Congressional committees are dominated by legislators interested in hearing alternative policy suggestions, indifferent to progressive policies, or actively hostile to alternatives. The battle for the Presidency is also being waged by a range of candidates from across the political spectrum. Because of the potential impact of the fall election, Witness for Peace urges you to get involved. As a tax-exempt organization, Witness for Peace cannot recommend that you vote for any particular person or party. We can tell you, though, that your vote matters. Interest groups from across the political spectrum are now investing resources and energy into over 30-plus key races. The seats of some defenders of progressive policies towards Central America, as well as seats of legislators with a terrible record on the issue, are up for grabs. Due to low turnout, many races are decided by a relatively few number of votes. Systemic obstacles to change: The peace and justice community has no illusions about its capacity to effect tremendous changes through this year's elections. We learned some hard lessons in the 1980s about how resistant US foreign policy towards Central America and the Caribbean can be to grassroots pressure. US foreign policy is made by an elite that is difficult for grassroots groups to influence, and even harder to dislodge through the current electoral process. In addition, many voters are frustrated by the limited choices that the current two-party, winner-take-all system presents. The campaign finance system likewise restricts our options by favoring wealthy interests, such as Wall Street, making it hard for candidates who question neoliberal policies at home and abroad to wage competitive races. So far, the financial sector alone has donated over $5.5 million to the Dole and Clinton campaigns combined, according to the Center for Responsive Politics! The arms industry has already donated $4.4 million to Congressional candidates. Such systemic obstacles to progressive policies deserve ongoing attention from activists like you. Despite the systemic problems, however, it would be a mistake for friends of Central America and Haiti to sit out this election. Rather, let's take every opportunity to bring up issues of peace and equitable development, educating voters and candidates. If we work together we can help candidates for office who stand for human rights and social justice, whatever their party affiliation, become the dominant decision-makers in Washington, the US Congress and the White House. What Can I Do? It's not enough for you as an individual to give your vote to a candidate who holds progressive views on Central America and Haiti! Such candidates are struggling to hold the seats they have or battling against the odds to take a seat from someone hostile to peace and justice issues. If there is a candidate that is good on peace and justice issues, actively consider ways you and your organization, in coalition with others, can help that candidate get elected. You could provide financial help or volunteer labor. If there are legislators currently in office who have been particularly bad on issues of concern, why not work to ensure their ignominious defeat! Keep in mind that you must not do so in the name of or with the resources of Witness for Peace or any other 501 (3) organization. Such groups are limited to non-partisan get-out-the-vote campaigns and issue education. How can I find out the positions of the candidates? Contact the campaign offices to request copies of any position papers. There are several good sources of information on the position of candidates and parties on foreign policy and development issues. 1~The legislative scorecard compiled by the Latin America Working Group (202-546-7010) provides details on how incumbents voted on key issues concerning Latin America. Concerned voters can review candidate surveys and scorecards compiled by groups from across the political spectrum. Check out those complied by Peace Action (202-862-9740 x3002; web address: http://www.webcom.com/peaceact) and by Bread for the World (301-208-2400; web address: http://www.bread.org). The American Conservative Union rates candidates from a conservative perspective (703-836-8602). The quickest and most comprehensive resource for voters is available at the touch of a button, via the Internet's World Wide Web. Here are the addresses of some user-friendly, non-partisan Internet "web sites" that offer an astounding array of useful information on candidates and the elections. Try accessing them at your public library if you are not on the Internet. http://www.vote-smart.org http://voter96.cqalert.com http://www.igc.apc.org/igc/www.vote.html How can I find out where a candidate's funding has come from? For information on a candidate's funding, contact the Center for Responsive Politics at 202-857-0044. Their web site is http://www.crp.org. Find out whether candidates have accepted large sums from the arms industry or from Wall Street bankers who are helping to put the squeeze on peoples in Central America and Haiti. Get informed! How can I effectively raise issues of peace and justice? Utilize "Better Neighbors", a concise booklet put together by the Latin America Working Group that lists recommendations on just US relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, raising the issues, and the candidate's records, at a public forum. Be sure to look over the ideas for action that are included in Witness for Peace's "Grassroots Companion" to Better Neighbors. Contact us at 202-544-0781 to get a copy. Provide a copy of Better Neighbors to the candidates, asking that they sign a written pledge stating their promise to work for the listed policy changes. In addition, contact Witness for Peace to receive a copy of a pledge on intelligence reform candidates can sign. Should candidates sign the pledge, find ways to publicly reward them for that promise and then hold them to their promises if elected. Should the candidates refuse to sign the pledge, make this publicly known. Simply educating and sensitizing candidates now could pay off in the future should they be elected!