Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 11:45:54 GMT
From: John F. McMullen (mcmullen@well.sf.ca.us)
Subject: File 5--Net "do-it-yourself" political activity (NEWSBYTES Reprint)

Warren Announces Do-It-Yourself "NET" Political Activity 1/13/92
WOODSIDE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 13 (NB)  -- Jim Warren, founder
of InfoWorld and the West Coast Computer Faire, has announced a plan
under which US taxpayers may let their legislators know their desire
for expenditure of tax revenues.

In a statement posted of the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL),
Warren outlined a proposal under which taxpayers would fill out a form
that specifies the desires of the taxpayer for the uses of her/his tax
payment. The form will then be sent to the taxpayer's elected
representatives. Warren said "As we approach tax-day, it emphasizes
that we again worked more than a  third of last year for the
government and politicians. This year, let's  tell them how WE want
them to use the hard-earned money they take from us.  When we send in
our taxes, let's also send copies of this to our current  and
potential elected representatives, especially to this year's political
candidates. (Let's not blame the IRS; they're just doing what our
elected  representatives tell them to do.)    Please feel free to copy
this to friends, neighbors, customers, business  associates and
company and community bulletin boards."

The form, designed by Warren, provides spaces for the taxpayer to fill
in dollar and percentage figures for the expenditure of the funds.
Warren also committed, if taxpayers send copies of the forms to him,
to publish summary reports reflecting the desires of the aggregate of
the reporting taxpayers. Warren's form follows:

 To:  ______________________________
      ______________________________
      ______________________________
      ______________________________

 TAX ALLOCATION INSTRUCTIONS FROM A VOTER

Here are the taxes that I know you are taking from my work last
year, and  here is how I want you to use them.  (For other projects
that you or your  campaign donors desire, please depend on the
hidden taxes that I cannot  easily identify.)

   This is a very serious matter to me, even though this note is a
form.  Please respond and tell me how much of our earnings you, as
our elected  representative, want to take in taxes, and how much you
want to spend in  each budget-area.  Please send me _____ copies of
your response for my  friends, neighbors and business associates.
(And, a lack of response will  be noted as a response.)

 How to use MY taxes: Federal allocations: Fiscal-1992 Federal Budget
 1.      %  $      18.0%  $ 290,820M  National Defense
 2.      %  $         2.2%     35,679M  International Affairs
 3.      %  $         1.2%     18,934M  Science, Space and Technology
 4.      %  $         0.3%      4,129M  Energy
 5.      %  $         1.2%     19,708M  Natural Resources and Environment
 6.      %  $         1.2%     20,219M  Agriculture
 7.      %  $         6.5%    105,780M  Commerce and Housing Credit
 8.      %  $         2.1%     34,312M  Transportation
 9.      %  $         0.4%      5,768M  Community & Regional Development
 10.     %  $        2.9%     46,934M  Education,Employment, Soc.Services
 11.     %  $        5.0%     81,300M  Health
 12.     %  $         7.0%    113,811M  Medicare
 13.     %  $        13.8%    222,691M  Income Security
 14.     %  $        21.7%    351,109M  Social Security
 15.     %  $          2.1%     33,380M  Veterans' Benefits and Services
 16.     %  $          0.9%     14,842M  Administration of Justice
 17.     %  $          0.8%     12,688M  General Government
 18. 12.7%  $          12.7%    206,343M  Net Interest
  19.     %  $         <not an expense>  deficit reduction
  20.     %  $         0.0%          0   tax reduction/refund/rebate to me
    ------  ---------  ------ -----------
    100.0%  $   100.0% $1,618,447M  my taxes & your FY-1992 budget

   Thanking you for your attention to this constituent request, I
remain,
 From:______________________________
      ______________________________
      ______________________________
      ______________________________


Warren told Newsbytes that, following his posting, MicroTimes editor
Mary Eisenhart told him that he can include a copy of the form in an
up-coping column in that 200,000 circulation publication.

Warren also stated that any forms sent to him for summarization will
be held in the strictest confidence and not shown to others. He said
"I must hold them for the possibility that anyone doubts that the
basis for our published summary actually existed."

Warren also commented to Newsbytes on the potential of network
mobilization, saying "We have in the computer network the largest
circulation publication in the nation and it is free for the logon
cost.  This is the beginning of the implementation of effective
electronic citizenship.

Warren said that at least 2 other electronic political projects are
planned  for 1992.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contact: Jim Warren,
415-851-2814 (fax); jwarren@autodesk.com (e-mail)/19920113)

Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253