Spring Cleaning

A reader and friend sent an email to me about how a group of lab monkeys reacted over time when faced with cold reality and obstacles. The moral of the story was that the monkeys learned their behavior from the experience of other monkeys, and if one wants to change the mind-set in Congress, the whole group has to be turned out. If voters fail to remove incumbents in a wholesale fashion, the returning legislators will infect the newcomers with their “this is the way we do it” attitude. Our nation doesn’t have the luxury of ample time to slowly transform the mentality of career politicians.

With all 435 Members of the House of Representatives up for (re) election plus a third of the Senate in 2012, the task is a daunting one. The first problem is finding candidates who are knowledgeable, energetic and willing to take on the status quo. In addition, rookie candidates must raise adequate funds and dedicate one year of their lives to non-stop campaigning. It becomes a brutal obstacle course, but with the state of the nation at stake, one would hope and pray that patriots step forward. Once those who are willing to tackle the monumental task of running for office have been identified, it becomes absolutely necessary for patriots, liberty groups, Tea Parties and their like-minded associates to commit to knocking on every door, raising funds and seeking out campaign opportunities for the candidates. Merely begging someone to run and then leaving them to their own devices for success is a fraudulent approach to restoring the political structure. Recruit, endorse, support and work…and work…then work some more. The same formula will work for the state General Assembly. In Ohio we have 99 House seats and 33 Senate districts so that means that in 2012 all House seats will be “open” and half the Senate.

If you’re doing the calculus, you’ll note that some liberty-patriot groups will have to do “double duty.” In Ohio, for example, each Congressional district will contain approximately six (6) state house slots and one or two state senate races. The activists within a given Congressional district should co-ordinate and divide responsibilities and emphasis. The theorists of warfare and football recommend finding the opponent’s weakest point, then attacking and exploiting it. The nature of the political beast, however, changes the strategic plan from a directed one to an all-out assault across the entire front of action. This approach will require massive people power and tons of money. If any district or area of the state falls down and fails to uphold their end, the two old parties can divert resources from the weakened area into other more competitive races. It is vital, therefore, for the sweeping effect to succeed that every liberty or patriot group and every active member be immersed in the effort.

So why call this piece “Spring Cleaning?” In Ohio and many other states the candidate filing deadline is earlier than normal because of the advanced primary dates next year. December 7^th, 2011, is the filing date for partisan office in Ohio for the 2012 General Election. That date is a mere 6.5 months away. If candidates must be recruited, now is the time. If others have decided to run, build the team and design the plan for victory. The cleaning of the Congress and the General Assembly must begin this spring. If it doesn’t, the eventual candidates and supporters will be at a significant disadvantage. I’ve participated in and coordinated campaigns at all levels…earlier is better. So, apply your thinking caps, Patriots, the time for a clean sweep of the system is now…or never. Despite their legendary thick-headedness, politicians will recognize a threat when it affects them personally. If the liberty movement is not up to speed, the politicians will win and then devise methods for limiting the input of citizens…self-protective retribution.

Come on, 21^st Century Paul and Paulette Reveres, mount your steeds and sound the alarms. The membership must be awakened from their slumber and assembled on the village green. The Turncoats are coming!!! They must be confronted and defeated, or we should prepare to live in tyranny. The door of opportunity is not a swinging door. When it opens, we must charge through…and not look back.

Tomorrow we’ll review the “Cleaning Supplies” that we’ll need to sweep out the old political class.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com     or     www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Cleaning Supplies

When the time arrives for Spring Cleaning, an ample collection of the proper supplies is essential for completing the task. If we begin with the floors, we’ll need carpet cleaner and floor wax. Our political parallel is the candidates. In order for our clean sweep to be successful we must have capable, principled and informed candidates. While some of the conspiracy theories floating around the internet may have validity, they will not resonate with the electorate at large and may reduce our candidate’s status to a punch line for a political joke. For example, Dr. Ron Paul has solid reasoning and constitutional foundation for his positions yet the media and political class demean and marginalize him at every opportunity. Our candidates will lack Dr. Paul’s experience and savvy so they cannot afford the luxury of appearing “too far out there.”

Principles of constitutional government, individual liberty and property rights should be the cornerstone of every candidate’s campaign. Examples of egregious violations of each principle should be researched and saved into the mental arsenal for use in debates, speeches and general conversation. It should be noted that a candidate who runs on “cutting spending” cannot be fully trusted. Consider that we have a theoretical budget of $1000 of which we borrow $430. Cutting spending could mean that we spend $999 and borrow $429. The candidate must be committed to constitutional principles that are defined by the enumerated powers.

The walls and windows represent the structure between the floor and the roof. The volunteers who work with the candidates to achieve victory are the links between the candidate and good governing. Every solid congressional candidate should have a minimum of 125 dedicated workers to provide the manpower for a legitimate door-to-door campaign. Personal contact remains the best method for winning voters, and volunteers who represent the candidate are a powerful surrogate. The potential congressperson will need another group of volunteers for “bird-dogging’ appearance opportunities, scheduling, driving the candidate, answering phones and making calls, and all the various and sundry tasks that a well-oiled campaign requires. People, people, people are needed. If the Tea parties, Liberty groups, Patriot organizations and 912 projects cannot or will not supply the necessary personnel to conduct a credible campaign, then we may as well spit into the wind. We’ll continue to get the spineless big spenders we obviously deserve.

Each legislative campaign will require twenty five or more dedicated volunteers to handle the same type of activities that we anticipate for the congressional races. State Senate campaigns would require roughly 60-75 patriots working. It’s rather easy to note that a massive number of absolutely committed people will be needed to totally transform the political culture in D.C. and the state capitol. I am not convinced that most Tea Party-type organizations have the numbers, stomach or the will to do what has to be done. If they do not, convincing future candidates to engage in futile campaigns will become increasingly difficult. The moment is now. If the walls are unstable or dirty, the building cannot be cleaned.

The capstone or roof of our building and cleaning supplies is money. There are three basic components of any campaign: money, manpower and material…the three M’s. Obviously it takes money to purchase the material, and the material is vital for the volunteers (manpower) to disburse as they go door-to-door. Despite an all out face-to-face effort by the volunteers, the candidate’s message will have to be repeated and reinforced through mass media. Most of the media outlets will be hostile toward a constitutional candidate so paid media will be needed. So, mucho dinero will be necessary to assure that the effort receives the maximum exposure. Volunteers should initiate fundraising events for candidates because, please remember, most new candidates will NOT be independently wealthy or be experienced political fundraisers. In fact, most new principled candidates will be extremely hesitant to ask for support…financial or physical. The supporters have to take the initiative. If we allow politics to be practiced as it usually is, we’ll get the politics as usual.

People committed to constitutional government and personal freedom must move out of their comfort zones. Your commitment to liberty MUST exceed your reluctance and fear. Going to meetings, attending rallies and engaging in never-ending email threads will not save our republic. Hard-core feet-on-the-ground, knuckles on doors and dollars in the kitty may work. True belief and conviction migrates from the heart and mind to the whole body’s involvement. Hope is invaluable, but it is not enough in the political universe. Work…lots of it…is required. Just do it.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com     or   www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com