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Welcome to the 2006 Editorial Archives of Martin T. Ingham Read Martin T. Ingham's Current Column Here! |
| Read Martin T. Ingham's Archive of 2005! |
| Martin Ingham's 2004 Archives |
Many Conservatives ask, how do the Liberal Democrats keep winning elections, even in largely Conservative areas? How is it they manage to spin their way into power, when the Republicans should have a clear advantage? For years, I have tried to figure out why my fellow Mainers vote for Democrats, in spite of the fact that the Dems are constantly raping our state and destroying our way of life. There is no simple answer.
Part of it is the mentality of the voters. I remember talking to a Republican a few years back, when Baldacci was still in Congress. This Republican swore up and down that he would never vote against Baldacci the Democrat, simply because "There's always somebody at his office to talk to you!" That was it. He didn’t care that Baldacci supported things he opposed, and constantly went against his advice. All that mattered was that Baldy had somebody sitting in his office to listen to complaints, whereas sometime long ago a Republican’s office must have taken the phone off the hook.
Another part of the equation is the kind of campaigns the democrats run. They fight dirty. They terrorize, tell the voters that if they vote for Republicans, their Social Security will be stolen, Gays will be stoned to death by Christian mobs, and big corporations will dump toxic waste in their back yards. They are loud-mouthed liars, and too many Republican candidates are mild-mannered folks who just try to use the issues, but aren't willing to really attack their opponents. They just say "I have a good plan, better than my opponent's plan," and that just isn't enough for the average, non-political voter.
Another key to the puzzle is party loyalty. The Republicans are individualists, who allow dissention in the party, and conflicting opinions. You constantly hear people like John McCain, complaining about his fellow Republicans, and expressing his difference of opinion. The Democrats, on the other hand, are generally collectivists and loyalists, who support one another no matter what. The party platform comes first to them, where individual opinion is more important to the Republicans. Republicans don't have the blind solidarity of the Dems, and that is their principal weakness.
If the Republicans want to win big in the future, they have to start fighting back. We have seen this happen here and there in the recent past, where some candidates are willing to stand up and call the Dems on their lies, however far too many Republicans are more interested in keeping this image of “playing fair and nice.” They take it so far as to condemn their fellow Republicans for daring to stand up for themselves against liberal lies. It is a defeatist attitude, and needs to be done away with.
I am not saying Republicans should start acting like Democrats, blindly following the party platform and their own political ambition. However, I am saying that Republicans have to start working together as well as the Democrats work with each other. But we do not need blind solidarity. We can’t accept anyone just because they have an (R) beside their name. We need to tell the weak-willed Moderates like John McCain, Olympia Snow, and Lincoln Chaffee that if they don’t like us fighting the left’s dirt with our own, then they can either shut up, or get out. If they do not support their fellow Republicans, they are not really Republicans, and they might as well stop pretending.
Republicans need to be able to stand up and shout their message to the people, without fear of chastisement or undermining from their own party. To win big, and defeat the Socialist Left, the Republicans need Solidarity, Loyalty, and a willingness to fight dirty. These 3 are the key to future Conservative political victory.
Just like everyone else, I have felt the effect of high oil prices in my wallet. It was particularly hard this summer, having to drive a considerable distance each day just to work, and having gasoline jump up every time I went to fill up. However, I am very disappointed by some people’s immediate reaction to attack President Bush over the high price of Oil. It is not his fault, and some simple logic easily defeats the “It’s Bush’s Fault” mentality.
Firstly, Bush isn’t a CEO of an oil company. The Bush family may happen to own stock in oil companies, just as millions of other Americans do (including Michael Moore!), but they do not tell the oil companies what to charge.
The fact that oil prices are so high has relatively little to do with the Bush family, and has more to do with past Presidents and Congresses who have refused to issue permits to oil companies to build new refineries in America, and denied them the right to drill for American oil in places like ANWR, leaving us vulnerable to foreign consortiums, like OPEC, who regularly raise the price to gouge us “evil Americans.”
Also, if you consider the true worth of the US currency, and inflation, gasoline isn’t much higher than it always has been. In 1960 when you paid 25 cents a gallon, gold was $40 an ounce. Today, it’s over $400 an ounce, and gas is $2.50 on average. If you compare other goods, such as food, you can likewise see that gas doesn’t cost much more than it always has when compared to other goods and services. Inflation is ultimately to blame, and the higher price is actually an illusion.
So, nobody with a lick of common sense or common decency can stand up and say that President George W. Bush is to blame for the seemingly high oil prices today. Those few who still do obviously do not know what they are talking about, and only sound ignorant and petty.
It is every man’s burden to know that death lurks somewhere in his future. No matter how long we run, or what we do to stave it off, someday the end of this life arrives, and sometimes it comes as no surprise and to others it is out of the blue.
I certainly hope to be alive tomorrow, and I would be quite happy for my life to continue onward without major upset forever. However, I must face the facts that in this uncertain future in which I tread, I may have little time left in this physical anchor. As such, I would just like to opine a bit, and tie up a few loose ends, should I not have the chance to do so otherwise.
I cannot say my life has been pleasant as it could have been, but considering what other people have had to put up with around the world and even in America, I must say my miserable existence was pretty low on the pain scale. Mine was more of a dull headache, as opposed to a migraine, or an axe to the skull. Still, there have been times when I’ve found myself picking shards of metal out of my hair.
Mental pain, I’ve had my share, but when it comes to physical pain, I have been spared in so many ways, I must thank God for it. There are times when I could have been, and even times that I logically should have been, seriously injured, but somehow an unforeseen force stepped in and made sure that my physical form avoided the blows. Some may call it luck, but I know there has always been someone looking out for me, on the spiritual side of things.
I would like to say that I have always strived to do what I thought to be right, even when it seemed the entire world was pitted against me. There are times when the majority opinion is not the correct one, and there are many shades of gray among the black and white of the night. I have always strived to stay on the lighter side of gray, and cannot think of any situation that I regret out of personal wrongdoing.
No man is perfect, and I won’t dare say that I haven’t made mistakes, but it’s not the mistakes I’ve made that people have ever noticed, but the right things to which other people have taken offense. So many old clichés come to mind, “No good deed goes unpunished,” “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” and a few others.
I feel that nothing I could ever do in life was quite good enough for anyone else, especially not myself. I regret that I could never seem to achieve greatness at anything, despite my natural talent to be good at most anything I tried. Perhaps I spread myself too thin, trying to do everything, while ending up doing nothing.
I don’t want anyone to ever think that I was somehow a fraud; a pretender in life. Some people may get that impression from me, simply because I am not the most personable individual. I am a recluse, who really cannot deal with people personably. I just want everyone to know that what I say and what I am are the same thing. I want you to believe that because that is how I wish to be remembered, in a true light, for there is nothing more important to the living or the dead than the truth.
Speaking of the truth, I have tried to be as honest as possible with everyone, though I know I’ve told a few lies now and then. Though the wrong thing to do, I always felt I did it for the right reasons on those few occasions I found it necessary. Besides hiding my romantic relationship with my wife prior to our marriage, I cannot think of anything large that I’ve ever concealed or lied about to anyone; though once I told a Bush-hating Democrat that I was an “independent” in order to get a TABOR signature. Although I am an “independent” in many aspects (just not when it comes to political parties) I’m not going to pull a “Clinton” and debate semantics. I lied to get a signature, but again, it was for the right reasons. I’m still sorry that I stooped so low.
If you’ve made it this far, I applaud your patience and your ability to care enough to listen. I promise to not bore you much longer. Please indulge me a few paragraphs more.
I am sorry that when I am gone that in the minds of most people, I will have been a joke. Because people don’t generally see much of me, or know much about me, it is assumed I’m that same bumbling idiot child they remember. The very fact that I have talent and ability beyond that of most men never even crosses their mind. They’ll just harp back upon me wrecking a $150 lawnmower on rocky lawns, or peddling a bicycle around town, because I didn’t have a license before I was 25. They’ll look at their own preconceived image of my life, and never move beyond it.
I hate myself for the image I have portrayed. I’ve never been a reprobate, nor a saint. I never went out partying with the guys, and never Bible-thumped for Jesus, either. Because I fit into no man’s world, I have found myself cast into the mold of “idiot” or “fool” by those people who live in a worldly class.
I wish that life could have been everything that my potential could have allowed, if only fate had been a little different, or I had been a little more bold. I fear it’s too late for that now. Few can tell when their end is certain, or if today will see their final sunrise. I can honestly say that, although nowhere near what it could have been, my life is better than most would be under the circumstances, though perhaps less eventful. I find myself praying every day that I will live to see one more tomorrow, knowing that sooner or later, that sun will rise upon me for the final time.
Please do not condemn me to mediocrity in your thoughts. That is all that I can ask.
We did it. Those of us who tirelessly sacrificed so many weekends last summer, collecting signatures for Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) can rest assured that our efforts were not in vain. The Secretary of State finally approved the signatures this week, and it’s headed for the ballot (whether in June or November has yet to be decided or announced).
I've fought for TABOR, and the majority of the people I met while circulating the petition supported it because they're tired of being treated like Serfs by the crooks who run their government, both locally and in Augusta, and they recognize that this legislation is their best hope of reclaiming their rights. However, most people don't feel up to speaking out, and few people are willing to stand up and challenge the crooks openly and seriously, but if TABOR becomes law, it would be a start.
There are going to be many terror attacks against TABOR from fatcat bureaucrats who don’t want any kind of spending limits, or accountability to the people. They want to be able to vote themselves a pay raise any time they want, hire all their buddies to push papers and waste taxpayer money, and grow the bureaucracy exponentially, without asking the voters if they approve. These bureaucrats want the right to double and redouble taxes and fees to feed their addiction to money that is not their own.
TABOR, if enacted, would put an end to the taxation bureaucracy. TABOR will require that any and all tax and fee increased be put to the voters, so we would be the ones in charge again. It would mean if the bureaucrats in Augusta, or your local city/town government wished to double your property tax, they’d have to put it on the ballot and ask you first, not mandate it and tell you what you’ll be paying, without your input. It means if they want to increase taxes, they’d better have a damn good reason, or the voters won’t approve it.
This will mean more responsible taxation policy. If there really is a legitimate shortfall and a town needs a little extra to pay the firefighters, or fund the school, then they can present a reasonable case to the voters and get approval. However, if they just want to line their pockets, or blow it on nonsense, the voters will have the right to say no!
Another big thing we pro-TABOR citizens will be facing from the big-spend lobby will be the terror of “TABOR will shut down schools, fire departments, and cost jobs.” This is a flat out lie. TABOR does not cut anything. It merely imposes reasonable growth limits. It allows government spending to grow at the rate of inflation and population growth. There will be no lay offs, but Baldacci won’t be able to hire his wife’s friend’s cousin to be the “Executive Secretary to the Secretary to the Secretary of state,” and pay him $100,000 a year to smile and agree with the people who hired him. This is purely a cynical analysis. There is not currently an Executive Secretary to the Sec. to the Sec. of state, to my knowledge, but Baldacci has invented plenty of similar jobs, which waste money and accomplish nothing, such as the “Tobacco Tax Task force,” whose salaries are roughly three times what they’ve brought in by penalizing tax evaders who bought smokes from out of state online without paying “use tax.”
TABOR will not cut anything, will not abolish any taxes, it will not cost anybody a job, it will not freeze salaries of government workers, nor shut down any government programs. It is merely Common Sense limits on the amount government can grow, and a requirement that Voters approve of future tax hikes. If we really need a new tax to pay for something, then the voters will approve it. If not, the bureaucrats will have to forget about traveling to Cuba or Germany, for a taxpayer funded vacation in the guise of “economic exploration.”
The final thing that should be addressed is the Colorado Taxpayer Bill or Rights, that was recently suspended. Colorado’s TABOR is much different than Maine’s version. It’s like a Model T compared to a new Explorer; same make, different year and model, and wholly different. Colorado’s TABOR had no budget stabilization fund, Maine’s does. The stabilization fund calls for surplus funds to be saved for future shortfalls. Additionally, Maine’s version has emergency provisions written into the law, allowing government to increase taxes in a crisis. However, taxpayers would still be required to approve the tax increase at the ballot box before any “emergency” tax could be made permanent.
TABOR is just Common Sense. Those who oppose it are special interest groups who want the right to feed off our hard earned dollars, and do not want limits on how much more they can steal from us every year. They don’t want us having any say in our own taxation, and expect us to be their Slaves forever. Do not kneel before bureaucrat “Masters.” This is America, and we should be free! Vote for TABOR, tell everyone you know to vote for TABOR, and we shall have a chance at freedom and self-determination once more!
Be sure to visit www.taxpayerbillofrights.com for more information!
Government Doesn’t Create Jobs! That much must be emphasized by those of us who believe in limited government and reduced taxation. The government doesn’t create any jobs, other than those few that the taxpayers have to pay for, which end up being a net loss and in many cases a detriment to the job market, due to the high taxes required to pay more and more state salaries.
Government is not in the business of making jobs for people. Historically, the main goal of government has been to impose order, and establish a set of rules by which to live by. This still applies to our modern government, but it is also tempered by a desire to seek justice, and allow for the comfort of the people. In recent years, this desire to provide comfort has devolved into a socialist welfare state, where government thinks it has the right to rob from those who earn money and give to layabouts and other non-productive members of society. They have become a “parent” where they were never meant to be.
The founders of our great nation sought to create a free nation, where the government would leave you alone, unless you committed an injustice upon another. Murderers or thieves, and other violent criminals were the only ones who had to worry about government getting in their way. Unfortunately, today it is different. Every single human being in America must be wary of “the great and powerful Uncle” who will steal everything you own and throw you in jail if you don’t file your tax return on time, or just want to be left alone. Even those who pay their taxes must fear “the Uncle,” for if Uncle arbitrarily picks your name out of a basket and chooses to audit you, you’re in for a real pain in the ass, whether you cheat on your taxes or not. Try digging up every deductable receipt from 3 years ago, and then try having to justify to a pencil necked goon in a black suit why you “needed” to buy this tool or that to perform your job.
It is clear to anyone that Government has grown well beyond its initial intent, and has grown well beyond anything the founding fathers would have tolerated. King George III could never in his wildest dreams have envisioned the kind of exorbitant taxation that is imposed upon the American public today. Keep in mind, the Boston Tea Party was fought over a single Penny tax! So why is it today that we continue to think our government and its tax structure are a-okay? Well, we don’t, and I doubt you’d find a single American who doesn’t believe the system could be better.
There is a lot of conflict about how we could make it better, but the truth is, most people don’t believe change is possible. Most of us put up with the system because it seems impossible to address the problems, so we let them exist and grow, feeling we are powerless to stop it. And maybe that’s the case. Perhaps we have gone too long without addressing the problems of taxation and government bureaucracy to fix the growing evil within. Then again, perhaps not. There is still hope, if enough people are willing to actually stand up and try to address these sizeable inequities in government control and power.
People need to stop hiding behind the old excuse “you can’t fight city hall.” You can fight for your rights, in the legislatures, in the congress, in your local town councils! You can stand up and make noise, and you can recruit your neighbors to the fight, and stand tall in greater numbers. Really, we only enslave ourselves to the system. It is our acceptance of the growing bureaucracy that empowers it, and makes it ever worse. If those of us who remain silent for fear of rocking the boat actually get up off our collective asses and demand our rights back, demand cutbacks in government spending, demand the firing of corrupt bureaucrats who “lose” (aka embezzle) millions in taxpayer dollars, and demand a simplification of the tax codes, and a reduction in IRS powers, then we could truly make it happen. But we won’t make it happen from our armchairs, watching Monday Night Football and sulking!
Returning to my original point, the government doesn’t create jobs; people do. Small Business, Big Business, Medium Business, it all boils down to private individuals. They are the ones who set up offices, offer services to others, build our homes, work on our vehicles, and hire more people to perform these tasks. Government is not the source of jobs. Government can influence the job market, and through higher taxation and regulation they suppress the job market, and thereby stop the creation of new jobs. There is very little government can truly do to “create” jobs. Government subsidies to a particular industry is merely the redistribution of jobs. They take money away from one job sector, preventing a private enterprise from creating more jobs in one field, and put that money into another sector, which then is able to hire more employees when their current financial condition would otherwise prevent it.
At best, government can stay out of the way of the creation of jobs, or move jobs from one place to another, but they cannot independently create jobs, and people have to start understanding what government really is supposed to do for society, which is to maintain limited order, not be a nursemaid to everyone, nor an all seeing eye, spying on people in case they do something not in accordance with popular opinion or oppressive government mandates.
I am so tired of phony politicians hiding behind sneaky semantics in order to get elected. These days, it’s hard to find a politician who isn’t guilty of double-speak, but I understand where a lot of national figures feel compelled to appeal to a broad audience rather than risk alienating some voters by standing firm on the issues. However, as important as appearing to be everything to everyone may be for large candidates running for Congress or a State Legislature, I find it very disheartening to find the same kind of campaign being run in my own town of Robbinston.
This year, for the first time in quite a while, the 3rd Selectman’s seat is open, and there are a couple of candidates running. One of the candidates was nice enough to mail out a campaign letter to every voter in town. As nice as it is that someone running actually had the sense to send out an introductory letter, there was much to be desired. The letter was full of “slogans” and “catch words,” and was pretty vague in many respects. It’s a typical form letter from a politician seeking to sneak into power, rather than be up front and bold about who they are and what they stand for.
I do not know June Russell personally, and I can’t say that I have learned much about her political beliefs from her campaign letter. Although it’s perhaps a practical idea to be this way in a large, state-wide or nation-wide race, it is shooting yourself in the foot to be so obscure in a small-town race like this.
I will now point out the mistakes in her letter, for the purpose of educating future candidates. As I do not know June Russell, I do not seek to condemn her candidacy, or in any way disparage her personally. This is merely a look at her campaign letter which turned me off.
The first paragraph is fine. It gives a nice, general introduction.
In the Second Paragraph, we start getting a little off: ”I decided to run for this office because I want to be involved in the issues at hand. At this point in time, I support Downeast LNG in pursuing its FERC permits.” The second line is a huge loophole for a politician. “At this point in time” means she can at any point oppose Downeast LNG and say with a clean conscience that she didn’t lie, but merely changed her mind. Also, adding “in pursuing its FERC permits” is totally unnecessary, unless she opposes the project, but for some bizarre reason supports their attempt to get the permits only. Very clever political double-speak, that many people would not pick up on. Wise for a Presidential Candidate, but bad form for a small town Selectman-hopeful.
Paragraph 2, Sentence 3: “I believe many of our concerns will be addressed in that process.” This further leads me to suspect that she opposes Downeast LNG. Anyone who has attended the many meetings that Downeast LNG has held to discuss and review their project have had the chance to have their concerns addressed, and the vast majority of us are satisfied with the answers we have received. The people who still have major concerns are those who oppose the project for their own personal reasons. Everything has been above board with the project, and we have been provided with extensive legal documentation thoroughly addressing the serious concerns that such a project brings. The permitting process will do nothing but address the same concerns twice, and provide no new answers.
Paragraph 2, Sentence Four: “However, I pledge to be an advocate for all Robbinston residents. There’s a bad catch-phrase if I ever heard one, and one destined to be proven false. You cannot be everything to everyone. You cannot be an “advocate” for all residents, when there is a difference of opinion on any issue. This is just a bad thing to say in a political campaign, because there is no way you can be for everybody, unless you exist in a fascist one-party state. How can you be an advocate for Handgun Control Inc., and an advocate for the NRA? Not that June Russell has said anything about supporting either organization, but the contrast is a good analogy. You can’t represent everyone, you can only represent those who share your beliefs.
She ends Paragraph 2 with contact information, and invites us to send her questions and comments; a considerate and wise move.
Paragraph 3, sentence 1: ”I believe we need transparency, checks and balances, open-minds, and fresh ideas at this juncture” Wow, there are more anemic political slogans in that sentence than at a John Kerry fundraiser! This sentence more than anything turned me off to this letter. What transparency is she after? All selectmen meetings are open to the public. There is not an action in Robbinston town government that is hidden from the residents, and our voices have been heard. “Checks and balances?” We already have the annual town meeting during which we approve everything in the budget, as well as address the other affairs of the town, and special votes are held on any major decision. The people are the checks and balances. “Open-minds?” What, are we talking about Gay Marriage or something? “Fresh Ideas?” If you want to use this catchy term, you had better back it up with some of those fresh ideas in the same letter, or it’s just meaningless political jargon.
Paragraph 3, sentence 2: ”We must continue with the everyday issues of the school, fire department, roads, taxes, etc. and combine those with the changes that a potential LNG import terminal will bring.” Again, this doesn’t tell us anything about where she stands on anything. Why not explain how you want us to continue with regard to the school, the fire department, roads, taxes, or the etcetera?
Paragraph 3, sentence 3: ”We must get the facts out to everyone in the community and every resident should have a chance to be involved in our negotiations with Downeast LNG.” First off, the facts have been given out so freely and extensively that anyone who is interested has gotten literally hundreds of pages of facts from Downeast LNG, the federal regulatory agencies, and independent firms. Anyone who doesn’t have the facts obviously isn’t interested in them, and everyone has had the opportunity to be involved in the negotiations with Downest LNG. We’ve had dozens of meetings to discuss what we want to get out of Downeast LNG, and spent considerable time last year in various groups coming up with a comprehensive plan.
Last Paragraph: ”I applaud the town administration for their dedication and commitment and hope to have the opportunity to work with them.” Fair enough.
Her letter is also signed with one of those tacky, printer-made signatures, the kind you get with “You may have won 1 million dollars” random house sweepstakes mailings. I understand that the pen may be an alien device to someone running for a political office, but if you can’t take the time to sign 500 letters yourself, just leave them unsigned, don’t go all tacky with a phony printed signature!
Overall, this letter rubbed me the wrong way, and gave me the impression that June Russell is anti-LNG, regardless of how she truly stands. I believe this will make the average voter, who isn’t interested in “digging deeper” go against her, considering that nearly three quarters of the town is pro-LNG. Nothing new was addressed in the letter, and no position was given on anything, other than she supports Downeast LNG in trying to get FERC permits for the moment.
My advice to all small-town political candidates is simple: Speak from the heart, tell the people who you are and what you stand for unequivocally. Do not hide behind catch phrases and vague ideas. Tell the people what you want, and why they should support it. It’s the only way to win the race honorably, and the only way to be a true representative.
Anyone with any questions about where I stand on the issues should read my archives.
Happy Birthday to me. I’m 26 today, this April 7th. Forgive me if I come off a bit morbid, but I have a bone to pick with the vast majority of obituary columns, and I hope to express it in a cynical manner.
Obituaries are a disappointment for the vast majority of readers. Now, you may not be one to read the obituaries often, nor am I, but on the occasion that I happen to glance upon the page of recently departed, I want to see some information along with those names and dates. I am sick and tired of these boring, bland, lifeless obituaries.
First off, they never tell you how or why someone dies. It’s always “Joe Blow died on April 4th, 2006.” That’s it. No information as to what happened to Joe. Sometimes, they’ll throw in “died unexpectedly” if they got hit by a bus or had some other unnatural death, but they’ll never tell you what happened. Not exactly worthy of a NEWSpaper, now is it?
I want to know why someone has died. Now, in the case of the elderly, it’s generally assumed they passed on due to natural causes, but they could waste the tiny drop of ink to actually mention that. And if Joe Blow, 21, of Nowheresville Maine got drunk and wrapped his car around a tree, I want to know about it, not that he “died unexpectedly.”
I find it a lack of respect for the living and dead to deny us the facts behind someone’s life and death. I enjoy it when someone actually bothers to put in a few lines about someone’s life, about what they did during their existence, and how they affected the world around them, but most of the time it’s just “Joe Blow is survived by X relatives, who wish he were still alive.”
I thought about writing my own mock obituary, just to show people how it should be done, but I felt it a little too morose for my Birthday. Needless to say, as a true writer, I thoroughly intend to write my own obituary someday, with a few holes here and there for minor alteration. Damn it, I will not have some hack journalist generalize my life with pedantic formulaic drivel. If ever I die, I demand to have an obituary that explains how I lived and how I died, not just one that says “he was alive, now he’s dead. Move along, nothing to see here.” I want details, and I want substance.
Is there nobody out there willing to pay homage to the dead by giving them a fitting memorial in the daily rag? I am saddened by the answer.
Devoted readers and occasional glancers, I must apologize for my several month absence from writing this fine column. I have been very busy, and with readership dwindling, I decided to take a short sabbatical from political writing. I first focused my efforts on a new Science Fiction novel, which is currently half written. Then, my free time shrank considerably with the birth of my son, Wyatt, on May 20th. However, as always the political arena draws me back in, as I see injustice and bureaucratic BS abounding.
Before dipping into the darkness of my current column, I would like to give out a big hooray for the Nomination of Chandler Woodcock by the Maine GOP to be our Gubernatorial candidate this November. Chandler was the one, true Conservative running in the primary, and his nomination will assure that Mainers have a chance to unseat John E. Baldacci, who has severely mismanaged our State’s affairs. I’ll speak in more depth about Mr. Woodcock in a future column.
Now, as to the matter at hand…
A day after the primaries, what did I find in my mailbox but a mass mailing from my local Representative, Anne C. Perry. While I appreciate the fact that she bothers to mail something out to the voters, I am dismayed to find that the substance of her letter is nothing more than Socialist Propaganda. She parrots Governor Baldacci’s spin machine, so I must assume that Anne merely slapped her name on a “form letter” that Baldacci’s office sent to his fellow Democrat cronies in the legislature.
The letter was mostly a rehash of last fall’s Legislative Review, but I’ll briefly comment on a few items that caught my eye. Be sure to review my 2005 archives for more criticism of Anne Perry.
Anne Perry (and her master, the great and powerful Baldacci) claims that the following will create jobs in Maine. 1: Expanding broadband internet access, 2: Eliminating a special interest equipment tax, 3: Inflating the minimum wage to $7 an hour, 4: Passing more road bonds to drive us further into debt.
Arguably, increasing broadband internet access can help business (though I've seen no expansion in my town), but it pales in comparison to the damage done by jacking the minimum wage up to $7.00 per hour. Now, at first glance, one might think that raising wages is a good thing, but do you really think it’s going to help anyone out? All arbitrary pay raises do is drive up the price of goods, and make employers reluctant to hire new employees. If you have to pay a higher wage for your bottom-rung employees, you are not going to be encouraged to hire on more unskilled laborers to flip burgers or stock shelves. A higher minimum wage will depress the job market, and drive the price of goods up, thus damaging our economy.
As for the transportation bonds, some may say it will create jobs, because you’ll have a bunch of road crews paving and leaning on their shovels, but all that does is create more public sector jobs. It puts a higher burden on the taxpayer, thus it's redistribution of wealth. Pure Socialism. It will not help the economy; it will depress it with higher taxes to pay off the bonds and the high interest incurred from borrowing the money in the first place.
“Affordable Health Care” is another fabulous claim from Ms. Perry. Just more propaganda about how great the Dirigo health scam is. This Socialized-Medicine fiasco has simply turned the government into an insurance broker, and the insurance they provide actually costs the consumers more than other private insurance, despite their outlandish claim that it saves people money.
She further brags about how state budgeting has put $100 million into a “rainy day fund,” yet the state is billions of dollars in debt. It’s like someone having a credit card bill for ten thousand dollars and bragging about having $50 in their pocket. The state doesn’t have any money. Baldacci’s goons just know how to juggle the books like Enron executives!
Anne thinks that jacking up Teacher salaries is going to automatically improve education. Wrong! If anything, it will make education worse, as now we'll have a lot of unqualified teachers who are automatically entitled to more money from the start. This is nothing more than pandering to the NEA, and it will drive up taxes to pay for teachers who aren’t worth their diplomas. If a teacher is worth $25,000 a year, they can prove it in the classroom. The only teachers who need this kind of legislation are incompetent and shouldn’t be teaching to begin with!
Overall, Anne Perry’s (aka Baldacci’s) talking points are unimpressive, attempting to show accomplishment out of failure. They try to paint negatives as positives, and say they’re doing something when they’ve done nothing at all.
I’ve had enough of these corrupt bureaucrats in Augusta. This November, I will be voting for true change! Not only will I be voting for Chandler Woodcock in the Governor's race, but I will be casting a vote for Judith Alexander to replace Anne Perry in House District 31. I may even look Judith up and offer my services for her campaign. She will certainly need all the help she can get to defeat the Perry/Baldacci Juggernaut.
I commonly hear a call for “bipartisanship” or “an end to partisan politics” in America. Whenever I hear this, I cringe, not merely because of the horrible catch word that “partisan” has become, but because of its deeper meaning.
Everyone is ruled by their beliefs, by what they think is right or wrong. What someone feels is the best thing to do in a particular situation, or believe others should do, greatly influences every aspect of their life.
It is a myth that there can truly be impartiality when it comes to those in the political trades. Those who sit in government, were they to truly be “bipartisan,” would be totally worthless, and simply do whatever they were told to do by others who were. Oh, wait, we do have a few of those in the Republican party, don’t we? The whole meaning of being “bipartisan” is to do whatever the opposing party wants, and thus stop supporting your own party. In the case of Republicans like John McCain or Lincoln Chafee, they can truly claim to be bipartisan, because they don’t believe in the Republican party.
There is no way to make crucial decisions regarding governance if one does not have a set core of beliefs upon which they act. This is where political parties are formed. A party is simply a group of individuals who share a certain number of beliefs and seek to uphold them in government. Not everyone in a party will hold all of the same beliefs, and the major parties of today are fairly broad reaching, to satisfy the largest voter base possible. However, when a politician stops fighting for the beliefs of the party, and becomes “bipartisan” in their beliefs and actions, it means they are no longer a member of the party to which they’ve sworn their allegiance and been a member. The whole nature of being “bipartisan” is to go against your party and join with a different one, thus becoming a “partisan” for the other side.
Bipartisan politicians generally have a set of beliefs that are self-centered and self-serving, therefore they are willing to become bipartisan, to sell out, when it is advantageous to their own self-agrandizement or they can get something in the future from would-be opponents.
It’s okay to be partisan. It means you actually stand for something, and aren’t an opportunist.
Note: The following is the complete text of a speech I made at the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Downeast Support Rally at the Robbinston Grade School on August 26th, 2006.
Welcome to The Taxpayer Bill Of Rights Downeast support rally.
I am honored to be here among fellow Mainers who are willing to stand up and take the time out from their busy lives to help promote the advancement of freedom. It gives me great hope for the future to see you daring to make a positive difference.
We’re here today to show our support for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, a piece of legislation which will usher in a new era of prosperity and freedom for the people of Maine, should the people see fit to pass it in November. It will limit the growth of government to the current level, plus inflation and population growth, and require that the voters approve of any and all tax and fee increases, both locally and in Augusta. Anyone with a lick of common sense can support this sensible initiative, as it is good for us all, and not tied to a single party or special interest group.
I’d like to tell you a little about how and why I got involved with the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Those who know me best understand that I’m fairly shy. I’m not someone who’s outgoing or comfortable among big crowds, and I’m not the kind of guy who will go up to a complete stranger and strike up a conversation under normal circumstances.
It was out of pure necessity that I got involved with the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
I have a strong sense of honor and justice, of right and wrong, and to know that the State of Maine has the single highest personal tax burden of any State in the Union just makes me sick. As a poor, working man, I know how hard it is to get by these days, especially in Washington County. It makes it a lot harder when the government is taxing you at every turn, taxing your clients so they can’t afford your services, and taxing employers so they can’t afford to hire you or raise your wages. Despite our hardships, the government’s solution to economic ruin is to steal more of our meager earnings every year through increased taxes and fees, while giving out fewer and fewer services in exchange.
We need to take back our government in this state, and that is why I support the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, for it is a return to democracy, which gives us control over our own affairs, and assures that politicians will be held accountable to us!
I first heard about the Taxpayer Bill of Rights last spring, and after looking it up online I was eager to sign, but nobody around here was circulating it. Therefore, in order to have my voice heard and put my own name on the petition, I had to do more than simply sign. I had to get involved, and that’s the message I want to promote today: Getting Involved.
I say to you today that we must be silent no longer. It is time that those of us with Common Sense and fiscal responsibility stood up and made some noise. We can’t just sit around and expect government to run itself, nor can we afford to let them be crooks anymore.
This is America, and we have a right to fight for our rights. The attitude that “you can’t fight city hall” is a bad one, which doesn’t belong in the hearts and minds of a free people. It is a defeatist attitude that only empowers government to become oppressive and corrupt. We are not lowly peasants living under monarchy, and our system of government can be as honest and free as we want it to be, given that we actually get involved and make it honest.
The only reason we have a corrupt government is from lack of honest citizen activism. Good people like ourselves don’t want to get involved, because it’s a pain in the butt, or we’re afraid of being corrupted, or we think we can’t win, so the only activists out there are a bunch of crooks and illogical ideologues, advancing an evil agenda which we end up paying for.
The people of Washington County have felt for too long that they can’t win, and if you start out with that attitude you’ve already lost. So it’s time to get a new attitude, and it’s got to start right here, right now!
I’m here today to tell you that we can win. We can make a positive difference, and the only thing preventing us from trying is ourselves. It may seem impossible to overcome the negative feelings, the fear of failure, or the laid-back laziness in our minds, but if I can stand up and knock on the doors of strangers, then anything’s possible. We just have to give ourselves a little more credit, and have faith in our own abilities.
You may be asking, “What difference could I possibly make?” The truth is you make all the difference. The main reason that we get stuck with crooks for politicians, or that good legislation goes down to defeat is simply because of inaction and ignorance. A lot of people don’t know anything about what they’re voting on, because nobody’s there to tell them. All they hear is some 30 second radio message from “Political group X,” and they base their vote on that, rather than digging deeper.
I dug deep on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and that’s how I know that it is beneficial to the people of Maine, that it does not cut any budgets or services. It will not bankrupt fire departments, or shut down schools, and it won’t have the elderly eating dog food on street corners, as some people would have you to believe. In actuality, it will require that politicians answer to the voters whenever they want to jack up taxes. They will have to justify their expenditures and prove a need for new taxes, or we will vote them down!
Anyone who tells you that TABOR will cut government services, or be harmful to the economy, is lying, or has been lied to and doesn’t know what TABOR really is. That’s why it’s so important that we all speak the truth about the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. We must dispel the lies being spread by greedy bureaucrats and special interest groups who don’t want us to have any say in how we’re taxed.
Get involved. Go out and tell your neighbors, your friends, your brief acquaintances. Don’t be afraid to dispel the lies, and spread the truth about the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. If you’re willing to fight for this just cause, we will not fail! Thank you.
As the fall sets in, I find myself more eager to speak out again, about all things political. It has yet again been too long since my last column, and I will attempt to provide a more regular report in the near future.
Today I received an interesting letter from Senator Susan Collins. A while back, I wrote her and asked what she thought of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. I was hoping she would have the spinal fortitude to give a straight answer, but yet again I find her disappointing me.
First of all, she starts out showing ignorance: “Thank you for contacting me regarding the tax cap referendum.” The Taxpayer Bill of Rights is not a tax cap! The only people calling it a tax cap are anti-TABOR bureaucrats. This only leads me to assume that Ms. Collins secretly opposes the referendum, but is afraid to say so.
She continues: “Unfortunately, as a United States Senator, this initiative is outside of my jurisdiction, as it will affect state tax policy. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this issue.” Hello, Ms. Collins. Are you still a Maine citizen? If so, I find it wholly inappropriate for you to not voice an opinion on this matter. This is not a matter being discussed in the legislature, or proposed by the Governor. This is a referendum question that will be on the ballot this November, and if you are a Maine voter, this is in your jurisdiction, as every single voter is deciding this, including you, Ms. Collins, unless you’ve decided you’re no longer a registered voter in our state. Will you be voting on November 7th, or do you believe that that is beneath you?
The rest of her short letter: “Nevertheless, I remained concerned about Maine’s excessive state tax burden, which is currently listed as the highest in the nation by the Tax Foundation, and I have consistently worked at the federal level to provide tax relief to middle- and lower-income Americans.” The past-tense, “remained,” was in her letter, and is not my typo.
Truly, it is not inspiring correspondence. I’m afraid her wishy-washing political double-speak does not instill confidence in her leadership abilities, and shows her to be someone who is a bit out of touch with her constituents. She sounds like a Washington insider, rather than one of the people. It is truly sad.
I would have more respect for Ms. Collins if she would just come out and say, “I don’t support the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and will vote against it in November, when I vote like everyone else.” Instead, she plays the “I don’t have a right to comment” game, which only makes everyone mad. Please, Susan, use that spine I know you’re hiding and speak the truth. You upset more people by avoiding answers than by giving one they disagree with. You also deprive yourself of the opportunity to learn if you are right or wrong when you don’t take a side, because nobody on either side can tell you if you’re right or wrong when you hide your true thoughts.
Senator Collins, please take a page from Chandler Woodcock’s book, and answer questions with a straight “Yes” or “No” answer! You will get more respect, and more votes that way. Become one of the people once more, and speak your mind, instead of some scripted talking points.
As a strong supporter of Chandler Woodcock for Governor, I asked a number of local people if I could place Woodcock signs on their lawns. One in particular left me particularly perturbed. She said, while she supports Woodcock, she didn’t want anyone’s political signs, because she didn’t want to be outspoken, or advertise her politics. As polite as I am, I wasn’t going to be pushy about it, or argue about the importance of flying political colors publicly, but it did spur me to write this article which will hopefully encourage more people to stand up and be willing to show their support for Conservative candidates.
One reason the illogical leftist radicals have so much sway these days is due to their loud mouths. They are not ashamed or afraid to plaster a dozen bumper stickers on their cars. They are not reluctant to speak out about their favored candidates, and they do not have any reservations about talking down the competition.
Those of us on the right keep silent too often, and do not want to make waves. Too many of us just want to be left alone, and think that our candidates and views will win out, just because they are better and correct. The problem is there aren’t enough of us speaking up to sell the truth, while the liars and the opportunists are out there screeching from the rooftops about how much our ideas suck. Therefore, people believe the lies, and listen to the only side they’re hearing.
We can’t pretend to be neutral, and we cannot afford to hide our allegiances. It’s important that we stand up for what we believe in, and if we’re not actively out there fighting for our cause, we might as well be surrendering. In many cases, it is superior numbers, not superior ideas or individuals, who win the day.
For every Socialist nutcase out there, we need a dozen Conservative voices speaking sanity. For every Baldacci sign, we need a dozen Woodcock signs, showing who really has the support of the voters. A lot of fence-straddlers will actually vote for the guy who has more signs on lawns, because they want to vote for “the winner.” It may sound stupid to a lot of us, but that is how some folks vote, so it is important to display our allegiance, so the undecided voters can see who really deserves their vote.
If you support Chandler Woodcock, get yourself a sign, and don’t be afraid to let it decorate your lawn! And it won’t hurt your car’s paint job much to slap a bumper sticker on there while you’re at it!
Today, I picked up my latest issue of “American Hunter,” the Official Journal of the National Rifle Association. With the November elections looming, the NRA has released its candidate endorsements. I generally find these endorsements to be helpful in identifying good candidates, but this season I find they have only muddied the waters considerably.
Looking at Maine House District 31, in which I live, we have Anne Perry, the incumbent Democrat, and then we have her Republican challenger, Judith Alexander. I decided some time ago that Judith would be a better representative than Anne Perry, but after seeing the NRA ratings, I had to question myself, for Judith had scored the worst possible rating from the NRA, an F, whereas Anne Perry had scored a weak, but slightly better D+. I must say, I was stunned to discover that the NRA rated my choice for representative the same as a gun-banning commie! You have to really hate guns to get an F from the NRA. You must be akin to Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and Sarah Brady to get that bottom grade.
I was quick to email Judith, and was relieved to learn that the NRA had made a big mistake. Judith has an "A" grade from the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, and her husband is a proud gun owner & NRA Member! She isn't a gun-grabbing pinko, so the NRA must have mixed her survey results with someone else's. These kind of errors do pop up now and then in big organizations, though I expect more from the NRA.
Secondly, I was shocked and dismayed to see the NRA failed to endorse Chandler Woodcock for Governor. Why do they refuse to endorse Chandler, with his strong “A” grade, over John Baldacci’s pathetic C? What is the NRA afraid of, that they will not officially endorse the better candidate, someone who is a true champion of sportsmen and 2nd Amendment patriots? I am disappointed in the NRA on this respect, because their endorsement of Woodcock would have most definitely assured Chandler’s victory in November. Now, the NRA has chickened out and left the governor’s race in the balance. Hopefully, enough pro-gun Mainers will take heed of Baldacci’s C grade, and vote for the man who truly believes in the right to keep and bear arms: Chandler Woodcock.
So, thanks a lot, NRA, for throwing me for a loop! Now, I’ve got a tough choice to make, and my choice for Governor will have a struggle on his hands, where you could have made it a cake-walk! I am proud that the NRA drew my attention to Judith Alexander’s anti-gun leanings, but ashamed that they don’t have the gonads to support a pro-gun gubernatorial candidate, when there is a definite choice! I know what it is. The NRA is afraid to lose support from pro-Baldacci NRA members, of which there may be a few, but that cannot make up for the number of members they are now alienating by refusing to endorse Woodcock.
Sorry, NRA, you will not be getting that $100 you begged me for over the telephone on Sunday. If you aren’t going to stand up for my Governor (Woodcock), you can kiss my money goodbye, and I don’t believe you’ll make it up off of Baldacci supporters, because most of them are gun-grabbers!
Nothing angers me more than liars and the lies they spew forth. This is why I truly hate the opponents of Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (aka TABOR, aka Question 1). It is not that they oppose TABOR, but the fact that they are damn liars, who attempt to use blatant fraud to scare Maine voters into going against something they would support if they knew the truth.
Today, my mother got an anti-TABOR mailing from “Citizens United,” who should be more aptly named “Liars United” because virtually everything in their mailing is that; a total lie, with absolutely no element of truth to it at all. It is disgusting.
The first strike against them is they spelled my mom’s name wrong. That just goes to show how “personal” they are. That aside, they start by claiming that TABOR “takes away local control from our towns.” That is the biggest and most ridiculous claim I’ve ever heard. The most important element of TABOR is the fact that it gives control over taxation and spending back to the local towns. Each citizen in every town will have a say on whether they get taxes jacked up, or want to spend excess money. It is power to the people. It is LOCAL CONTROL! These liars might as well tell you that voting is undemocratic!
It further claims that TABOR “limits how much can be spent on schools and services.” No, it doesn’t. It gives the power of spending to the people. Each citizen will have a say. It will not be left solely in the hand of some Augusta bureaucrat, or town council to decide how much is spent on schools and services. The voting citizens of each town will decide if they want to increase spending on schools and services, in excess of fairly liberal limits.
I will quickly point out here that TABOR never, ever cuts spending. It limits budgets to the current level, PLUS population growth and inflation. So there is still increase in budgets, but without voter approval, there are limits to that increase.
The next outlandish claim: “Towns would be forced to cut budgets.” Lies! How many times must it be said? Budgets will never be cut under TABOR. The members of Citizens United would appear to either have poor reading comprehension skills, or have never bothered to read the actual legal documentation of TABOR. More likely, however, they don’t want us to have any say in how we’re taxed, or how our government spends money, because the limitless bureaucracy benefits special interest groups like theirs! It is an attempt to make us all slaves, so they may profit!
They further claim cuts will be made in healthcare services for seniors. There’s the terror trump card they play all the time. Scare the poor, defenseless seniors into thinking they’ll be thrown out on the streets and forced to eat dog food if any kind of tax reform is made. It is sick and evil to use our elderly in such a way! Do you liars have no shame? Obviously not!
The liars then use the other formulaic threats; that road maintenance, fire departments, police, and rescue services will suffer. All total lies and BS.
Next, they throw out that TABOR will hurt our education system; just more threats about cuts, and shutting down schools. TABOR will not do a thing to cut anything, let alone schools. It will only leave the decision of increasing school funding up to the voters!
This is just on side 1 of the mailing. The other side mostly elaborates on these lies, making them even more ridiculous, like saying “over one-third of all towns would be forced to cut their budgets,” and “One-third of all schools in Maine would lose funding.” Where the hell do they get these figures? Out of thin air, obviously!
Why do these “Citizens United” oppose voters having a say in how they’re taxed. Why do these people oppose citizens voting on whether they want government spending to increase? Could it be because this special interest group is made up of people who don’t deserve our tax dollars, but are getting a ton of pork from government, and thus don’t want us to have any say on whether they get more of our hard earned dollars, which they would then use to terrorize us and make us peasant serfs?
Quick, somebody call Homeland Security! We have to report these acts of terrorism from “Citizens United!”
Anybody who is actually interested in the truth about TABOR should check out my archives of 2006 & 2005 for other important Taxpayer Bill of Rights articles. My previous columns about TABOR further counter these liars! Also, be sure to check out www.taxpayerbillofrights.com for more of the truth!
In a few days, all eligible Mainers who seek to exercise their voting rights will have their chance to cast their ballots, and as such, I believe now is the best time for me to finally point out why I am voting for Chandler Woodcock over the other 4 candidates for Governor. I would hope that everyone would hear me out, regardless of their current political leanings or voting intentions. Before casting a gubernatorial ballot on November 7th, listen to why I support Mr. Woodcock.
First and foremost, Chandler Woodcock is not a career politician. He has only served a few terms in the legislature, and spent the majority of his life working for a living. He’s not some fatcat bureaucrat who thinks he knows better how to run our lives because he’s been in Washington or Augusta for a million years. If you want a yes or no answer to a question, Chandler will give it to you, and not play semantics or lie through his teeth like most politicians. He says what he means, and does what he says! He’s as honest of a candidate as you’ll ever find running for political office; a true rarity.
Chandler Woodcock is a Vietnam War Veteran. He has served in our armed forces, and as such knows the meaning of honor and loyalty. When so many of his generation sat around smoking pot and chanting “hell no, we won’t go!” Mr. Woodcock signed up to go where few desired. You must ask yourself, “Why would someone volunteer for such hardship?” I tell you, it was because he believes in fundamental things like Freedom, Justice, and the American Way, things that so many of us take for granted.
Chandler Woodcock is a true advocate for the Maine sportsman. He believes in our right to keep and bear arms, and has been known to exercise those rights himself. He’s a hunter, which is something the other candidates are not! You will never have to fear Gestapo-style gun registration or bans on hunting with Woodcock as Governor. The NRA may not have had the stones to endorse him, but Woodcock did score an “A” grade from the NRA, while Baldacci only managed a “C.” Don’t believe for a second that Baldacci is a friend of your firearms. He just hasn’t had the legislative support to pass restrictive legislation, yet!
Chandler Woodcock believes firmly in our referendum rights. He has said the will of the voters comes first. He will not seek to overturn any law voted on and passed by the voters.
Mr. Woodcock is the only Candidate for Governor who supports the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, the common sense referendum that will give us a say in our taxes. I hope not too many of you have bought into the lies from the big spending bureaucrats who want to keep us slaves. TABOR will not cut schools, police, fire departments, or any other social service. It only applies to future increases in funding, and requires voter approval for new taxes and spending in excess of reasonable limits (population +inflation). Nobody’s school will close under TABOR, but many will be closing soon if we don’t reign in spending, and stop bleeding the voters dry. Mr. Woodcock knows that we need tax relief and fiscal responsibility from our elected officials. The other candidates just want their chance to suck more blood money out of us all! Chandler and I both say Yes on Question 1!
Mr. Woodcock is a moral man. He believes that Abortion is wrong, with few exceptions, unlike the other candidates for governor, who are all pro-choice. However, Chandler has said he respects the will of the people first, and will not be writing legislation to ban abortion. He also opposes Homosexual marriage, and will reject any attempt by the legislature to mandate that immoral practice, unlike some candidates, who sidestep the question with answers like “this just isn’t the time for gay marriage,” meaning they’re just waiting for their chance to pass it into law when we’re not looking!
Chandler Woodcock is a Republican, but nobody should hold that against him. It’s about time the Democrats and Independents in this state came to understand that they are Mainers first, and their party must come second to the survival of our state. Don’t vote for Baldacci just because he has the (D) beside his name. This is not Great Britain, where you vote for a party, rather than a candidate. You are voting for a person in this election, and there are very few Mainers who can say honestly with a straight face that Baldacci is the better man for the job. His incompetence has thrown this state deep in to debt, overturned the will of the voters twice by imposing a special “Gay Rights” law, put people out of work, taxed the crap out of everyone, perpetuated the welfare state to the point where most young people must flee out of state to find jobs. It’s ridiculous. We cannot survive another 4 years of this man’s bumbling idiocy! Please, for the love of God, vote Chandler Woodcock!
This is what I believe, thank you.
To say I was disappointed with the outcome of Tuesday’s elections would be an understatement. It was utterly devastating in all respects. The fact that the US Congress will be led by the Democrats is no surprise, and that didn’t bother me half as much as seeing our incompetent socialist Governor, John Baldacci, re-elected with 38% of the vote, to Chandler Woodcock’s 30%. Truly, a sad day for Maine, to see a much-hated Governor put back into power by a minority of the vote. Thank you, Barbara Merrill, for assuring us 4 more years of Liberal Socialism under the Baldacci administration.
I was further shaken by the fact that the Democrats actually picked up more seats in the Maine legislature, despite pushing our state to the brink of bankruptcy while raising taxes on everything. How is it that the Maine people are so easily persuaded to vote for the same people who are slowly stripping away traditional rights and making us slaves to a socialist state?
It is simply a lack of communication, and the product of proficient lobbying from the left, which has made us a sad State. The Democrats know how to talk to the Maine voter, and their organization is united and powerful, whereas the Republicans are commonly disorganized, inconsistent, and splintered.
Republicans are always on the defensive, despite the advantage they should have as the minority party. It would seem quite easy for them to stand up and denounce the incompetence of their Socialist counterparts in the Democratic party, but they commonly refuse to soil themselves by speaking up against their opponents. They feel it is more important to tell everyone what good people Republicans are, and how we have better ideas than our Democratic opponents. This fails to resonate with a majority of voters when used by itself. You must follow up with something more.
The “more” which we need is commonly dirty and mean-spirited. It is something called the truth! We must be willing to stand up and speak ill of our Democratic opponents, expose all the bad things they’re doing to this state and to the individual voters, and not say it in a nice, friendly manner. We need to beat on some podiums and shout the truth in anger. We need to hammer the Democrats on the issues, and put them on the defensive. Shame them with their own guilt. If the Democrats can win by shouting out lies like this, surely we can win by shouting out truths in the same manner. The key is to actually do it!
In order for the Republicans to ever take control of the State of Maine, they must stand strong, unite under a furious banner, not a white flag of truce. We must treat the bureaucrats in the Democratic party as the enemy that they are, and tell people why these socialists are their enemies, too! We must expose every vote which has inflated our taxes and reduced our freedoms, and we must do it in a simplistic and easy to understand way, to send a quick message that will stick in the minds of the average voter.
Of course, it’s going to take a lot of work and consideration to figure out the correct combination of strategies to use in this uphill battle. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I plan to dig them up over the next few months, and be ready to put forth a comprehensive battle plan for Republicans before the 2008 elections. Though I doubt the party as a whole will embrace my hardcore strategy for success, I hope to prove its effectiveness myself, and then perhaps others will take notice and follow suit. We can take back our government in Maine, but it will take new leadership and a new message for the voters. The status quo and the old school bureaucracy must surely fall, or so shall we all.
An important lesson should be learned from November’s elections, and from the disgraceful actions of both Republicans and Democrats in positions of power. That lesson is that those who seek power for power’s sake are bound to be corrupted and betray their constituents. It is true that many Americans voted against the Republicans on November 7th, but that’s not to say they voted for the Socialism of Democrats over Republican Conservatism. On the contrary, they voted against Republicans because many Republicans have abandoned their principles and become left-wingers.
Why have some Republicans become left-wingers? It’s simply because that’s where the power is. The left of the political spectrum holds the key to subjugating the citizens, and truly ruling over them, whereas the principles of the right-wing hold the keys of freedom. To be what is defined as “Conservative” these days requires that you believe power truly rests with the people. You must represent them, not rule them, and that does not sit well with many politicians who think they know better how to rule our nation than the people who live and work in it every day.
It is only natural for the career politician, one who went to college to learn how to govern and “play the game,” to desire dominance, and feel superior to us commoners who work for a living. It’s just part of who they are. They are the elite; the ruling class, and as such they don’t believe we peons know how to run things. This attitude has permeated the Democratic party for years, and is slowly overtaking the Republicans as well.
Now, I am not about to flee from the Republicans and call for a third party, yet. I know there are still a lot of good Republicans who are still Conservative and willing to let the people rule themselves, as the founding fathers intended. However, the Republican party needs a change, if it is to retain its Conservative base. We need fewer career politicians and more common working stiffs in office. It’s time to abandon the idea that you need a college degree to hold a political office. Anybody can sit in congress or in a State Legislature. It does not take a great deal of brain power to represent your constituents. It does, however, take a lot of brain power to cheat and lie to your constituents, then trick them into re-electing you, which is what many career politicians specialize in.
I say to all of you who sit back and think ill of your local representative, or congressman, do not be hindered by your lack of schooling or common-man status. If you are a normal citizen working for a living you are the person to represent your neighbors. If you feel you know better how things should be run, then stand up and run for office. Now, political representation may not be for everyone, but the true representatives are among the people, not above them in a special class, so sometimes you’ve got to stand up and take charge, even if you don’t feel up to it.
The only way for our Representative Republic to survive as a free and honest country is for the good people, those who just want to be left alone to raise their families, to stand up and dare to do their duty and serve in government. We need common citizens with common sense, not career bureaucrats without a clue about balancing their own checkbooks or busting their rumps to put food on the table.
It is time for the common citizens with fiscal sense and moral values to stand up and let their voices be heard. The day of the career politician must end, or our freedom will slip through the cracks of society.
In recent months, I have spoken with some people who are “pro-choice” based on the philosophical belief that a woman owns anything that grows within her body. While this may be true of a body part such as a leg, a tumor, or a tooth, I don’t see how someone can claim to own another living being (which a fetus is) and not call it slavery. I am also vexed by the explanation that an unborn child has no rights, because it is dependent upon the mother and feeding off her. Both presumptions are outrageous, and merely an attempt to justify a practice that most people would find immoral and wrong if they stopped and thought beyond the talking points.
An unborn child is as much the property of its mother as an employee is the property of the company that provides a living wage, or the grocery store that supplies the food you need to survive. If you can "own" an unborn child because it's "feeding" off you, then you can also own someone you employ, because they are similarly feeding off of you, and would be starving without you. It is the same thing. Just because one is feeding off the inside of a womb doesn't mean it's less of a person.
How far shall we stretch the definition of "property?" An infant requires the mother to feed it. How does that make them an object to possess, or to condemn?
Murder of Convenience is still murder, no matter how much you want to justify it. Abortion on demand makes a slave of every unborn child, and just because abortion is legal, it does not make it justifiable. A child is not a parasite, and it is not a non-human creature. It is a less developed human, one that in 99.999% of cases the mother voluntarily created through her own actions and choices. If she didn't want a child feeding off her, she shouldn't have spread her legs. She should therefore take responsibility for her actions and carry the child to term for its benefit, not hers.
I also hear people argue that a woman’s “emotional state” is more important than the life of an unborn child; that if it can “help” a woman with her feelings, and prevent hardship on her psyche, then it is therefore justified to commit abortion. I find this reasoning especially dangerous. Apparently, it was good for Andrea Yeats' emotional state to beat her 5 kids over the head with a hammer and drown them in the bathtub. Should that kind of murder be legal because it's more convenient and could be beneficial to some woman's "emotional state?" I don't care how young the child is, they are still a living being and should have rights, or we might as well start killing anyone we deem fit, for our own pleasure, because it's about feeling good and our convenience, isn't it?
In previous columns, I have noted how illogical it seems for Atheists, those who believe in no God or existence beyond the physical, to be pro-abortion. If you believe that this life is all we have, then how can you totally exterminate someone from existence, and deny them a chance at the one thing they have? Is that not an utter abomination?
Likewise, I believe that those with a belief in God could be more permissive of Abortion, as they would see the unborn child as a soul that would live on in some way, perhaps even be redirected to another womb by God. Though I object to abortion, and consider it wrong, I can understand that religious people should have less of a problem with it than Atheists. Quite a human paradox we have made out of abortion.
Whether you’re pro-Abortion, pro-Life, or on the fence, I sincerely hope my personal analysis here can assist you in your quest for answers, and lead you to a greater truth.
I must admit, I’ve been a bit down lately. As the sun slowly vanishes on it’s trek toward winter, and personal and political obstacles seem ever greater, my mood has been pessimistic. However, it’s time to drag myself out of the mire of misery and admit that this truly is a great time to live. Despite any hardships that we may endure, for Americans, this is the greatest time, and the greatest place, to be alive.
Now, some of you may be screaming, “How can you say that? War in the Middle East! North Korean nukes! Jobs going overseas! Illegal Mexicans are invading!” and so on. However, putting all these troubles in perspective, when compared to all the nasty things that have always awaited us, it is really no worse than any other time.
In the recent past, we had Nazi Germany, the USSR, Castro’s Cuba, and so on. There’s always been some ever-present threat, ready to wipe us all off the map and enslave us. Now, we have some crazy commies and radical Moslems. So what? We’ll deal with it, or we won’t, but sitting and wallowing in fear or defeatism isn’t going to solve anything.
Jobs have always been a pain, but right now the average American worker is getting paid more, and has a greater purchasing selection than ever before. Look at the diverse goods at your average store; the choice of brands, and types of products. You can get anything that exists, for a lot less than you expect. Rising taxes put a damper on this, but we still have enough to more than scrape by, for the moment.
Technology is at an all-time high. Never before in history have we had so many fun gadgets or interesting games. The idea of having the insanely advanced video games of today would have been laughed at as a fantasy a mere fifteen years ago. Likewise with the medical breakthroughs that save millions of lives, and help better the physical existence of everyone. Modern automation makes the workplace so much safer, and the internet provides endless entertainment and knowledge, right at your fingertips.
Some of the poorest Americans are fat! We’re giving out handicapped license plates to people because they eat too much. The amount and diversity of food in this country today is beyond belief. You can buy an “All You Can Eat” buffet for $7.00! We eat better than Henry the 8th.
As much as there are things to complain about, and as much as people still suffer, it is truly the greatest time to live. We see more, know more, and can experience more fantastic things now than any other generation in history. We should not worry about the storm clouds on the horizon all the time, but take a few moments to reflect, and understand that we are blessed to see the height of human civilization, for if it is to end soon, we are truly fortunate to have been able to enjoy the best of it all, before the fall.
Last Sunday, Pastor Cody Stow, of the North Christian Church in Robbinston, which I attend on a regular basis, gave one of his usual rousing sermons. He spoke of a number of things, including people’s true hearts, and the value of doing good deeds, or lack thereof. He pointed out one particular scripture which caught my attention. It was Psalm 14:1, which reads in the King James Version: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
In speaking of this Psalm, he pointed out the lack of value to “good deeds” when done by people for their own morale; the kind of people who will throw money at a charity, so they can say “I’m such a good person, because I give money. Look at how great I am.” Truly, that is not the reason to give. If you give to make yourself feel good, as part of societal stature, or so you can think you’re better than other people who don’t give, then you’re truly wasting your time, and condemning your soul. What’s the point of giving if you’re not doing it out of a sense of righteousness? You are only serving your own desires, which is greed and vanity disguised as charity.
Cody didn’t come out and say all that. I am. That is what I read into the sermon, myself, and I don’t want anyone taking my own revelation and putting it into someone else’s mouth. If you want to hear Mr. Stow’s exact words, just ask for a taped copy of his sermon on December 3, 2006, which either he or I can supply.
Sitting there in service, considering the broader implications of this “heartless giving,” which seems ever more prevalent in our world today, I realized one big perpetrator of the Welfare State; and that is Self-Interest in charity.
Just think about this for a second: You are down on your luck, and you really need help. Some rich guy comes up to you and throws a check into your lap. Now, imagine that you see that guy on television the next day, bragging about how “giving” he is, while others laud what a great person he is for being charitable. What are you going to think as a recipient of that charity? Are you going to share the thoughts of all those socialites, and believe that this guy’s really great because he throws extra money at charities? Maybe, but more likely you’re going to think, “Hey, he didn’t give me money for my sake. He did it to make himself feel good.” In that case, you aren’t going to really cherish this “Gift.” You are going to consider it just a free handout, with no strings attached, and feel no sense of obligation, responsibility, or thanksgiving.
However, let’s go the other route. Say some good Christian soul walks up to someone in need and hands them something they really need, not for personal glory or to feel good about themselves, but because they wish to do what is right by God. How much more valuable is that Gift, if it comes from the heart of a true giver, someone who will not go out and seek praise and glory for their generosity, and not act like they’re so much better than everyone because they throw money at the poor? Think of how much more meaningful a gift is when it is given from the heart, and perhaps when praise to God is handed out with it.
When someone is given Welfare, it is truly given for the wrong reasons. It is generally given because politicians want to feel good about themselves and achieve personal gain. Many politicians give out welfare, because they want to buy votes, or feel good about “helping” people. Very few want to actually help; they just want to feel good about themselves, therefore, the gift has no meaning, not to mention the evil of stealing that money from someone else through taxes to give away. Politicians also give out welfare because it gives them greater control over the lives of the citizens, and adds to their ultimate power, but that’s another subject altogether.
Charity is truly the giving of a gift because you want to help someone and glorify God. Welfare is giving in order to make you feel good about yourself, or to get something in return, and that truly is an abomination to God.
We should all strive to give for the right reasons, and should ask ourselves whenever we’re preparing to donate to charity, why are we doing it? Are we giving for their sakes, or for ours?
I have long been critical of many people’s inability to control their own animalistic desires; their carnal lust, or their deadly addictions. I have condemned the worst of these people who refuse to exercise the least bit of self-control and abuse their own bodies for pleasure. I have lost many friends, and even relatives, over my own firm stance that people should be masters of their own bodies, and not succumb to their baser instincts and harm themselves for fun.
I must say, that while I have excelled at controlling most of my desires most of the time, there is one thing that I’ve always had a problem with, and that that is my love of food. Yes, as most anyone who knows me has come to learn, I simply enjoy eating, and as such have combated a weight problem most of my life. Though I am overweight, I also work enough to prevent it from causing too much trouble, though it does make physical labor more burdensome.
While I have avoided all forms of drugs, have shrugged of alcohol, refused to philander or otherwise commit immoral acts against God, I have failed to combat my gluttony on many an occasion. I suppose it only proves I’m human, after all.
Recently, I came to realize that I had never in my life gone a single day without food. I know, there are a lot of people out there who have eaten heartily each and every day of their lives, but for someone such as myself, who has always prided myself on being master over my own activities, I found it appalling that I had never once proven strong enough to defeat my greatest weakness.
Therefore, on Thursday, December 14th, I took the big step, and finally challenged my animal body to a battle of wits. I did not eat the entire day. It started out easy, but by lunchtime my body started to hurt. By 3PM, it was really a drag, feeling tired and weak, as my body went through “food withdrawl” symptoms. Worst of all was the night. Even though I was tired, I tossed and turned for over an hour in bed before falling asleep, then my mind was filled with evil dreams, scary and weird things that didn’t make any sense.
Finally, the dawn of Friday arrived, and I must say it was well worth it. It was like being revitalized, waking up, realizing I had defeated my own base desires. I not only proved that I was in command of my flesh, but it gave me a sense of inner calm. I can understand why many religions practice fasting as ritual or ceremony. It does provide a certain reward and sense of spiritual satisfaction.
It is important for people to be the masters of their own bodies, if nothing else. If you cannot control your most basic instincts, then how can you ever hope to be better than a slug or a mosquito? Being born human means you have a choice. You can succumb to the animal within, or you can embrace your own willpower, and rule the flesh in which you reside. Personally, I’d rather be the boss of my flesh, rather than its slave.
What shall I discuss for my last column of 2006? Truly, I am stumped. So many things have happened this year, and everybody knows what they are. Why waste space rehashing the past, as so many do at this time of year? Certainly, it is a time to reflect, but I’ll leave that for everyone to do on their own this season.
I will, however, break away from the conventional, and instead of writing a long and poignant article of prose, I will regale everyone with a pair of poems I wrote some time ago, which seem to suit my current mood, and hopefully you will enjoy them.
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The Hypocrites Abroad
Who is that man?
The one over there,
who keeps shouting "it's unfair."
Doesn't he know that
it's not getting him
anywhere?
Why are the women there
Screaming that they're fair
to spread their legs for cash
and spend it to cure a rash
of children they don't want to pay for?
Impropriety of society
calling out your name.
They know it's just a game,
life and death are meaningless things
only worth the paper
you're printed on.
Who knows why
the children die,
those who would kill in vain
to make life easier, they say
it's their right,
yet deny you the same right
to defend yourself in the night
from those who
are armed to the teeth.
I swing at the end
of a knotted rope
never knowing when
it becomes a noose.
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Mind Peak
Now my mind
has reached the peak
of what it used to be.
I don't think I can
make it through
another century.
What is here, I cannot say
it's what I'd like to see,
but how am I to ask the question
about this grateful scene?
The grace of dawn is moving
to an endless twilight grave,
and the evening stars are crying
for the lives they might have saved.
No one ever noticed
the whisper in the wind
or the spry young fawn a-calling
for a hunter's straight sighting.
My life has fought a long way
from its innocent burgeoning.
Youth was never something realized
so we forget it,
or try to reclaim it.
Either way it never is again.
Never was,
or was it something they sang about
in the days when you were roundabout,
traveling circular, languishing
in the starlight.
I look into a photograph,
wondering how it came to capture your face,
and now I realize,
it's not your face I seem to seek.
It's just a reality,
what always will be, because it was,
and now I've got to find another
road away
from this dreaded place,
beyond my mind's
degeneration.
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Conservative friends, have a great 2007!