[GPCA Updates] NEWS ADVISORY: Election system 'crazy, ' charges ElectionsChief candidate

[Jim Stauffer]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 15, 2006


Record low Primary Election turnout indicates election
system is 'crazy,' voters know politicians are in the 'back
pocket' of corporations, charges Elections Chief candidate  

SACRAMENTO - The "two-party" system is broken, and last week's dismal,
record-low voter turnout shows the election system is "crazy," said
Secretary of State candidate Dr. Forrest Hill today.

Dr. Hill, running on the Green Party ticket, pointed to the apparent lack
of voter interest - less than 30 percent of registered voters showed up at
the polls - as evidence of a 40-year downward spiral that leaves the U.S.
near the bottom of worldwide voter turnout.

"The two party system is broken. And, if the definition of insanity is
doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, then
our election system is crazy. Campaigns today are little more than a stream
of manipulative television ads with little substance and a whole lot of
mudslinging. The sound bites are cliché and no one is listening," said Dr.
Hill.

Despite spending tens of millions of dollars in the Democratic Party
primary for governor, voters - or  the lack of them - demonstrated people
either don't care who runs the state, or believe voting is a complete waste
of time, said the Green candidate.

 "Phil Angelides and Steve Westly spent $70 million dollars for a job that
pays $175,000 a year," said Dr. Hill. "Voters aren't stupid. They know
these guys are in the back pocket of corporate America."

Hill said he wants to "democratize" California elections, and has called
for making it easier to vote with weekend voting and same day registration.
He also has endorsed plans to keep corporate money, and influence, out of
politics by supporting "clean money" legislation.