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standard deduction.
H.R. 1918 also incorporated the Tobias Plan (so named for financial writer
Andrew Tobias, who originally conceived and publicized it in the early 1990s),
a privately bid national no-fault automobile insurance system. Thanks to the
Plan, insurance premiums were no longer collected by the insurance companies
themselves, but at gasoline, diesel, and electric recharging stations as part
of the
JAMES L. HALPERIN
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price of the fuel. The savings in paperwork, administrative costs, and legal
fees from the Tobias Plan alone were staggering; over 100 billion dollars
yearly, roughly $340 per capita. Altogether, H.R. 1918 was an ingenious bill
that managed to leave nearly all taxpayers, if not automobile insurance
agents, administrators, accountants, and personal injury lawyers, better off.
By presenting her case directly and eloquently to the American people, she and
President Gore had rammed H.R. 1918 through Congress over the objections of
most special-interest groups in America. In the 1990s, to paraphrase
Time magazine, lobbyists for special interests and large corporations roamed
Washington like grazing beasts not good, not evil, just hungry. Getting her
bill passed intact, without the massive changes suggested by these grazing
beasts,
had been an impressive feat.
Once passed, the new tax code created an economic boom unprecedented in
previous American history, and so endeared Secretary
Whitcomb to the voting public that she was able to clinch the Democratic
party s nomination barely two-thirds through the first ballot. But the
Democratic nomination was a far cry from the presidency.
Moderator Paula Zahn thanked the candidates. Before we conclude tonight s
final debate, I d just like to mention that you ve both demonstrated what
politics should be about. You have debated the issues forcefully, but with
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decorum and restraint. This has been the cleanest debate maybe the cleanest
presidential campaign I can remember, and whichever of you prevails, you ll
both be remembered and admired for your poise throughout these contentious
months.
Zahn was briefly interrupted by polite applause. Now in accordance with the
rules of this debate you each have five minutes to address the American
electorate.
Secretary Whitcomb, you ll speak first.
Thank you, Paula.
My fellow taxpayers.... The audience, or at least the Democrats in the room,
rewarded her not-so-subtle reference to H.R. 1918 with laughter, cheers, and
applause. Whitcomb smiled, now energized as she waited for the fanfare to die
down.
Violent crime is the scourge of our nation. But this scourge can be
confronted in an enlightened, humanitarian way consistent with our national
character. Please let us never forget who we are. We are the United States of
America, the most powerful, the fairest, the most generous nation on earth....
A Whitcomb administration won t use violence as a means to end violence. The
death penalty is no deterrent; it is retribution that only legitimizes
THE TRUTH MACHINE
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violence. Swift and Sure requires executing up to 40 persons in the United
States every single day. That s over 14,000 human beings each year, most of
whom could be rehabilitated to become useful members of society and many of
whom will be innocent of the crimes of which they re convicted.
Even if we surrender and accept such injustice as a necessary evil as a price
we re willing to pay to make our streets safer still, Swift and Sure won t
work. Ultimately it will only make things worse....
(Note: The text of Secretary Whitcomb s entire summation is reprinted in the
Appendix. A summary of the key points of Swift and Sure appears in Chapter
12. 22g CP)
One of Harvard s well-known characteristics has always been that eccentric and
strange people do not feel out of place there; they have plenty of company.
Pete had become more comfortable and had even acquired some social grace. He
still rocked a little, but his tongue was completely inside his mouth most of
the time, and he spoke to everyone, often calling them by name.
Acting as host, he said, P-Please raise your hand if you d vote for
Whitcomb if the election were held now. All 43 students names, hand
dimensions, and social security numbers had already been recorded from their
ID
microchips as they entered the room. Pete scanned 27 hands, which were
automatically verified and entered into his interactive remote unit.
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About 45 seconds later, the screen registered the votes of every participating
viewer nationwide. Instant Poll Result: 3,824,752 / 8,956,781 =
42.7%.
Diana lamented to Pete and David, She s running less than 43 percent right
after her summation; not a good sign. David and Diana were loyal
Democrats who both backed Whitcomb.
Pete, who had supported Hall since the day he declared his candidacy in
January 2003, added, She s, uh, got almost 63 percent of this room though.
It s like my dad once told me, If you re under 20 and you re already a
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