John Reiger for Congress, 5th District

JOHN C. REIGER
5301 HARTE WY.
SACRAMENTO, CA 95822
PHONE: (916) 456-4595
E-MAIL: reigers@earthlink.net
WEBSITE: www.johnreigerforcongress.com
Self-employed Potter

Election Results

(Official count as certified 10 December 2004; for additional detailed, official results, see the Statement of Vote at the Secretary of State's website.)

Post-Election Statement by John Reiger

Well it's all over but the crying. About the only positive thing I can say about the national results is that we are spared a lingering uncertainty. Now we must roll up our sleeves and get to work taking back the country.

The reelection of Congressman Matsui was a forgone conclusion (despite what any other candidate said), so why would anyone else run? The Republicans use races like this to give unknowns, long shots, and young hopefuls some campaign experience. They know it's unwinnable so they do not provide much (if any) support to their candidate. Mike Dugas is a young Republican from Davis (outside the district). His "campaign" was essentially nonexistent, but the loyal Republicans in the district voted for him.

Pat Driscoll ran an unusually energetic campaign for a smaller party candidate. He raised lots of money, got real press coverage (a rarity), and seems to have built a good campaign organization. He didn't win, but he says he was successful in achieving his goals.

My campaign was about using the electoral system to talk about the changes needed in this country: peace; universal health care; electoral reform; and many others. As those of you who heard me talk know, I was not very concerned about actually getting votes. I've been through this before and I know the system is rigged for Democrats and Republicans. I am pleased and humbled by the level of support I received from friends and fellow progressives. And, although my vote is the lowest, I take heart in noting that the two progressive candidates received almost 6% of the vote.

Campaign Statement by John Reiger

The late scientist Carl Sagan once commented that he was "a child in a time of hope." I too was a child in a time of hope, and I was a young adult in a time of hope. But it's very hard to feel hopeful right now when one thinks about all the negative things the Bush administration is doing. Congress has not been standing up against all of those backward steps. I want to change that.

I want to try to rekindle that spirit of hope. I want to offer a positive vision of the future. An America whose strength is moral and ethical, not militaristic. An America where people have assured health care, good jobs, and decent housing. An America where the voting practices match our democratic ideals. That's my America, and I believe it's your America.

In my campaign I will be emphasizing the need to curb America's militarism. I will propose a single-payer health care system covering everyone. And I will be proposing electoral reforms that will improve our democracy.

I hope you will continue to help me as I champion these and other progressive issues.

Yours for a brighter tomorrow,
John

REIGER for Congress
For a Brighter Tomorrow

War is in-security! Peace is the only Security!

• U.S. soldiers out of Iraq - end U.S. imperialism
• Create a Department of Peace
• 100% war profits tax on corporations - end war profiteering
• Downsize the military - create a Peace Dividend
• Stop supporting repressive regimes - self determination for all peoples
• Strengthen the United Nations

Health Care is a Right Not a Privilege

• Create a national health care system (a single-payer system)
• Full coverage for all residents of America
• Price controls on medicines and medical technology
• Public funding of medical research - no private patents
• More AIDS research, prenatal care, and substance abuse treatment programs

Create democracy in America

• Mandatory media coverage (equal time) of all campaigns
• Instant runoff voting (IRV) for executive positions
• Proportional representation (PR) for legislatures
• Public financing of campaigns, no private financing - overturn Buckley v. Vallejo
• Full political rights for resident non-citizens

Vote your hopes, not your fears

• Full rights for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) people
• Abolish NAFTA, WTO, FTAA, etc.
• Repeal the Patriot Act
• Close corporate tax loopholes
• Support labor unions - repeal Taft-Hartley
• End the death penalty
• Higher taxes for the rich
• Double the minimum wage
• Defend the environment
• Support Affirmative Action

I want you to vote FOR a better America, not just against the repugnant Republicans and demoralized Democrats.

Leaflets

This website's library of printable leaflets includes flyers with John's positions on Democracy, Health Care and War and Peace in its John Reiger section.

Links

• "Third party on", a guest column by John in the October 21st issue of the Sacramento News & Review.
• www.costofwar.com, a website that shows the cost of the war in Iraq and compares it to the cost of the things we really need.
• Center for Voting and Democracy, a national organization dedicated to fair elections where all voters have an opportunity to be represented, supports proportional representation and instant runoff voting.
• Physicians for a National Health Program, is an organization of physicians, medical students, and other health care professionals who support a national health insurance program, and specifically a single-payer system.

This page was last updated on 14 July 2005

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