I’m
a Republican. For the vast majority of my
adult life, I have fought for Republican
principles – small, effective government,
personal freedom, and strong national
security. I spent the last 12 years working
in Republican politics helping candidates at
every level get elected. I’ve worked on two
presidential campaigns; one successful, one
unsuccessful. In all that time, I have never
questioned my commitment to my party, but
lately I question my party’s commitment to
its own ideals.Don't miss the complete article at http://www.unity08.com/node/146
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Submitted, not yet published.
By Jack Lohman
Finally, a “center” party!
Populated with disenchanted Republicans, Democrats and independents, Unity08.com promises to make badly needed changes at the top. To be successful it must accomplish two critical changes. It can be done and the American people will do it.
First we must work to throw the current regime out of office. Whether they are Republicans or Democrats, 80% of them are at least inept or worse, corrupt, and they must be “term limited” by the voters in November. The public must support challengers who will reform the political system from top to bottom. Where qualified challengers do not exist we must field good candidates. Without proving our electoral clout we will get nowhere with a government that is owned and operated by Corporate America rather than the voters.
Secondly, we must eliminate the corrupt moneyed political system. Totally! The current system virtually demands that politicians take private money and give away taxpayer assets in return. There are only two types of money, public and private, and politicians have thus far refused to implement full public funding of campaigns. Why? Because they like things just as they are, with re-election rates of greater than 90% and lobbyist-paid trips to every corner of the earth. That they must give away over $300 billion in taxpayer assets to stay in office does not bother them.
That’s a real cost of over $3000 per taxpayer per year that must offset government giveaways so politicians can get re-elected! I’m not happy with that; are you?
Today’s politicians, from both political parties, are hopelessly addicted to the moneyed political system. It simply doesn’t matter what your issue, follow the money and you’ll find a politician at the other end with his hand out. Connect the dots and you’ll see that special interest money has fueled the tax shift from the wealthy to the middle class, has helped block efforts to stop illegal immigration, has helped to maintain a health care system whose costs are growing at 15% a year and consuming even more of the GDP, has prompted a government giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry and, although not lastly, has created a government hands-off policy as companies pollute our air and waters and the petroleum industry eliminates its competition by merging, thus driving gas prices and profits through the roof.
That’s not a good deal for those of us without the funds to bribe our congressmen, yet our congressmen seem not at all worried about the health of the country as long as the moneyed interests keep them in office.
I could accept the writing of even bad laws if I knew that political money wasn’t changing hands in the process. If I had an employee giving away company assets while taking bribes on the side, I’d have him jailed. But we Americans are not very bright. When politicians do this we just re-elect them and don’t even question their allegiances.
In Mexico, Italy or any other country, we’d call our political system corrupt. In America our politicians choose to call it freedom of speech. However, speech is not free when only the wealthy can afford it.
But if we eliminate the privatized electoral system we must replace it with full public funding of campaigns. Ouch, you say? At the federal level that cost would average $10 per taxpayer per year to fund all elections. That’d be a bargain at 200 times the price, but only then can we expect to see taxes lowered and budgets balanced.
Both the taxpayer costs and savings are half that at the state level, as Arizona and Maine have successfully demonstrated. In these states 55-78% of their politicians have rejected private money, and each state has increased voter turnout by over 10% (see www.azclean.org). What’s not to like about that? Ask their voters. Both systems were passed by voter initiative over the objections of the politicians who, incidentally, now embrace the Clean Money system. It turns out to be a lot more fun when you’re clean.
So support the challengers regardless of party. We need new blood, and that means replacing the old blood. Remember the old saying: “Politicians are like diapers. They should be changed frequently and for the same reason.” See how your representative stacks up at www.ThrowTheRascalsOut.org.
