Thomas Daschle: “As I talked to South Dakotans all over the state this last month of August, I found it remarkable how many people simply…”

“As I talked to South Dakotans all over the state this last month of August, I found it remarkable how many people simply said they don't want to have anything to do with the political process anymore. I had many, many Republicans who said they are just sick and tired of what is happening out there. Most of it, they said, relates to the money--the money chase, the implications of more money, the influence of big money on the legislative process. They are tired of it. I think without question they all understand that the rules, the laws, need to be changed. It was remarkable to hear the consistency with which people expressed that point of view to me--Republicans, independents, and Democrats; they all said it. They all indicated with increasing intensity that unless we change the system we could lose it, that unless we change the rules we will become victims of the current ones. That, to me, is the essence of why this is so essential, why it is important that we act now.”