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Conservatives Underestimate the Forces Against Them - Do We Really Want a Solution?
Resistnet.com ^ | March 23, 2009 | Jeffery J Cole

Posted on 03/24/2009 2:27:34 PM PDT by Arrowhead

Given the topic title, I could write a book easily, outlining the many pricks (not in the vulgar sense) raging against the conservative movement. And in the course of understanding our problem, I believe the very premise of this argument goes without saying: that we conservatives do not understand our problem and thereby, underestimate the forces working against us.

So, it is my intent to share some of my observations based upon 25 years of political activism and organizing, and to breakdown this problem into succinct categories. Also, I want to offer a solution to all this as I see it; because, what good is constant harping about a problem without a proposed solution?

THE PROBLEM

1. The Williamsburg Resolve

In the wake of the 1994 elections, when the incumbent replacementrate jumped to 20%, dubbing that election year as "The Republican Revolution," thirty sitting Republican Governors met in conference in Williamsburg Virginia and drafted a document that surmised:

Federal action has exceeded the clear bounds of its jurisdiction under the Constitution and thus violated the rights guaranteed to the people.

Even the staunchest left-winged radical cannot deny how government has usurped its power. And it does not take a Sherlock Holmes to find a smoking gun for Americans to see the crimes that have been committed against them by their government. It is self-evident!

2. Cause and Effect

With regard to the big picture, we can easily examine government abuse of power in terms of its effect on one swing of the pendulum, and the Cause of that Effect on the other. For conservatives, half of our problem can be attributed to only hacking at the branches, the effects, of this problem. So, let us examine the effects first.

EFFECTS (The Branches of Evil): Bigger Government; The Income Tax; Interstate Regulation; Low-Income Welfare; Dumb-downed Education; Abortion; Breakdown of the Family

Conservatives have, for the most part, taken a defensive posture for every one of these issues. As such, we have not gained any ground whatsoever fortifying these issues against forces who seek to control them. Why? I am sure the answers are as variable as my bank account. But the answer is quite simple:

CAUSE (The Root of Evil): United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, Council of Foreign Relations, International Financial Cartels (banks and insurance companies) & Multinational Corporations (industrial cartels).

I purport that conservatives have not, or will not, look at the Cause of these Effects. To understand the whole problem, as opposed to half of it, conservatives must examine the Cause. Without a proper understanding of the Cause, conservatives will neither have a proper perspective of the Effects nor will they know how to battle the problem as a whole.

I would also purport, conservatives real fight is not against the liberals: It is against themselves. We are divided into two categories with respect to association with the Cause and the Effect. Those "conservatives" who are associated with the Cause literally hate the conservatives who are associated with the Effect. The only time there is a show of cordiality from the Cause "conservatives" is during election season. They know they cannot win without grassroots conservatives. The sad truth is that those of us real conservatives have been fooled into thinking that big (global) business is conservative. It is not! The Cause is neither conservative nor liberal; neither capitalist nor communist.

As an aside, you will find that liberals have the exact same problem. The difference? They know it! They see and know the Cause and they deal with it. Literally! They have succesfully implemented campaigns specifically to deal with drawing in grassroots liberals to their causes. As such, the Cause rewards liberals because the liberals are on board with their devised machine to control the masses. However, true conservatives are not. And this is why we are not rewarded by the Cause.

It is time for us grassroots conservatives, we Effect conservatives, if you will, to look at the Cause for what it really is: The "love of money," the "root of all evil." We have to ask ourselves: Are we going to continue hacking at the branches (the effects) of evil? Or, will we band together in a concerted effort and strike at the root (the Cause).

3. Congressional Control & Accountability

If true conservatives can grab this Cause by the horns by acknowledging that we are onto them, we will begin to understand that our battle with Congress should not be against them, but FOR them. Congress' head is turned to satisfy the demands of the Cause. The Cause is better equipped to fund their evil designs through congressional campaigns and lobbying. The Cause buys both sides.

We must win back the hearts and minds of Congress! How?

THE SOLUTION

1. Create an Independent Movement

Actually, the movement is already started. It has even reared its head in such national actions such as the Amnesty Bill last year. And a more recent move was against AIG. Here we have two examples, one good and one bad, where conservative and liberal came together and said enough is enough. I call one good and one bad because of the reaction by Congress. They voted down a bad bill on one, which is good, but the reaction to AIG is not good, as their proposed actions is a usurpation of federal power.

The problem with independent actions like this is the reaction we get from Congress may not be good. So, it is imperative that true conservatives get a hold of this independent Spirit, harness it, and direct true conservative, Liberty-oriented principles through the actions themselves.

The actions can be categorized into two modes: Defensive and Offensive. Our actions with both modes must meet a common goal (more on that later). Defensive actions are when the Movement says we do NOT want a certain bill passed. Offensive actions are when we demand that this Law or that Law be repealed.

There are two main objectives to this approach: One, to change the mentality of Congress back to "Congress shall make no Law..." from "there ought to be a law." And the other, to start the cycle of moving government action back within its limits as prescribed by the Constitution.

2. Government Action

It goes without saying that if we want to move government action back within its limits as prescribed by the Constitution, we should identify exactly the actions to which they are prescribed. This is essential to identify those laws that are outside congressional purview and to repeal those laws forever. And here they are:

A. To coin money and regulate the value thereof. This essentially gets rid of the Federal Reserve, the income tax system, and puts direct accountability of congressional money policies to the People. The change in the attention from managing bloated, unconstitutional programs like welfare, education, and social security to managing money of constitutional means will be a worthy result. Also, any money needing borrowed can be done interest free (as a side note, the objective, however, should be to live within our means and not borrow at all-in other words, as commerce or economies of scale grow, so does the money supply). The desired effect here is: With direct oversight by the People, Congress will be forced to live within their constitutional means.

B. To provide a national defense. Notice the Constitution does not provide for a global defense. Expounding on each term...

GLOBAL: We have no constitutional business for any of our troops to occupy other countries. We must bring them home.

DEFENSE: Congress has no constitutional authority to authorize pre-emptive strikes against any country. They only have authority to declare war upon countries that have taken pre-emptive strikes against us. Also, what of the notion of having troops protect our borders? What on earth are they for if not to protect our borders? I maintain that border patrol is not a police function. It is a military one. There should be a federal easement around the perimeter of this whole nation. This would fall under the constitutional jurisdiction of providing for a defense.

C. To regulate international commerce. Notice the Constitution does give the federal government authority to regulate interstate commerce unless that commerce traffics across federal territory within any given state. The Constitution gives the federal government authority to enter into treaties with other nations concerning trade, commerce, and port logistics as long as it does not infirnge upon the Rights as enumerated in the Bill of Rights or violates the Supreme Law of the Land: the Constitution. So, any US company engaged in international business is subject to regulation by the federal government. Entering treaties with other countries must foster the exericise of Rights; not impede upon them.

And FOLKS, THAT IS IT! As an agent to the People, these are the only actions by which the Federal Government has any authority. By seeing the true scope of what they are allowed, by default, we see the true scope of their violations. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do.

3. Focused Action

The People have shown from the Spirit of Independence that we can force Congress to our bidding when there is a show of demand. Notice, the Amnesty Bill from last year: We got what we wanted and hardly any money was spent on our part doing it. Just some phones calls, letters, emails, and faxes and we made Congress bend to our will.

However, the focus here is twofold: We focus our actions and prioritize them by manner of effect; starting with those that are grossly in violation. On the defense, we adopt the mannerism of Ron Paul: We vote "NO" on any proposal, any bill that does not meet constitutional muster. And on the offense, we demand a repeal on laws that are repugnant to the Constitution. One by One.

4. Neural and Viral Communications

As we speak, I am associated with a small group of organizers and tech experts who are seeking to create a state-of-the-art political communications network. It seeks to tie in actions with the best of Twitter, LinkDn, MySpace, Facebook, Skype, etc. The objective from the neural end is to spread specific, targeted actions as quickly as possible. And from the viral end, to discount, attack, and stifle the liberal/socialist propaganda machine with the truth. We are seeking to tie in this communications network that includes all independent/freedom-oriented organizations and their rank-n-file into unified, concerted actions.

Whether we succeed or not is beside the point. The point is this is the kind of network we need. The objective is to focus on the tool and not building another organization. Lord knows we have enough organizations.

The objective is to have a tap into every organization, every PAC group, and every local, state, and national public official's contact list. The objective is to create a utility whereby the tool makes use of the tools already in existence: The computer, the fax machine, the pager, the landline, and especially, the cell phone.

We must band together in our actions with a communications network, neural in its intent and viral in its effect. This is how we win the hearts and minds of Congress.

5. Elections

Democrats and Republicans do not have any control over the elections. Independents do! They have been in control for at least twenty nine years. As an independent movement, we have already conquered the elections. But, what and how we win is crucial.

The What: We want in writing from all candidates that their actions in Congress will promote and work toward moving government back within its constitutional limits.

The How: We want our ranks explosive enough to affect an incumbency replacement rate of 30% or more each election.

To make that effective, we do need to increase our ranks as independent voters. Just the mere act of changing our registration status will send a succinct message and a good start. But we have to go beyond that. For instance:

We should have a "throw the bums out" campaign every election if Congress fails to act upon our bidding. We will need to create voter friendly & unfriendly lists, focusing our election actions upon those unfriendly incumbents. And we will have to create grassroots phone calling, and door knocking to get the independents, or sympathetic Republicans and Democrats out to vote.

6. Dwell Upon Common Principles

There are common principles that will unite most of us. This is not an attempt to list all of them, but, here are a few:

A. We choose freedom over money and security. B. We choose independence over party loyalties. C. We choose to expect "where much is given, much is required." D. We choose to return to a nation of Laws.

With respect to "C"...in the beginning of our nation, it was international commerce that funded the government. Since there was an expectation that the federal government existed as a result of international business, and since international enjoyed the making of profits through the labor of Americans, and the government officials operations were conditioned to see that that business takes place, it was commerce that ultimately paid for the protected and regulated services of the federal government. However, over time, the relationship between government and international business became cozy and government yielded their constitutional duty to allow international commerce to pass the buck to the People in the form of income taxes and all the myriad of other fees and duties imposed upon Americans today. The same can be said for interstate commerce and property taxes upon homesteads on the state level. At one time education was paid for by corporations because it was corporations that directly benefit in the name of profits. However, under the auspices of federal usurpations , states allowed corporations within their jurisdiction to pass their corporate liabilities in the form of property taxes upon homes, violating a Right upon which all other Rights are hinged: The Right to OWN your home without any government encumbrance.

With respect to "D"...too many laws can destroy the rule of law as much as not having enough laws to rule out the enemy who seeks to destroy our Lives, our Liberties, and our individual pursuits to Happiness. But to get back to this will depend on where we are in our individual attempts to eradicate the evil that gives us cause.

So, to close, I ask you...

Are you hacking at the branches, or are you striking at the root?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservatives; resistnet
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1 posted on 03/24/2009 2:27:35 PM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: Arrowhead

the root is the popular culture which dumbs down everything. We have to deal with the college campuses and E! and the ‘jaywalkers.’


2 posted on 03/24/2009 2:32:59 PM PDT by ari-freedom ( Hail to the Dork!)
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To: Arrowhead

Conservatism has one very important thing operating in its favor and a second important thing operating against it. So what are these two important things: the first is human nature and the second is — human nature.


3 posted on 03/24/2009 2:34:22 PM PDT by vbmoneyspender
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To: Arrowhead

“CAUSE (The Root of Evil): United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, Council of Foreign Relations, International Financial Cartels (banks and insurance companies) & Multinational Corporations (industrial cartels).”

Goood luck with finding agreement on that plank, Conservative Mulit National Corpratism has literally driven blue collar Conservatives away from the Republican Party in massed ranks.

The problem is, the Conservatives Corpratists reap the rewards, the blue collar Conservatives see declining wages and opportunities and rising tax bills and illegal immigres depressing wages even further.

The paradigm of “you vote your morals, they fill their wallets” is not sustainable any longer, and therein is the issue.


4 posted on 03/24/2009 2:34:37 PM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: Arrowhead

bump


5 posted on 03/24/2009 2:34:48 PM PDT by WorkerbeeCitizen (The only time I want a Republican reaching across the aisle is to smack a liberal.)
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To: sauropod

read


6 posted on 03/24/2009 2:36:49 PM PDT by sauropod (Welcome to O'Malleyland. What's in your wallet?)
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To: rabscuttle385; null and void; LucyT

ping


7 posted on 03/24/2009 2:52:48 PM PDT by stockpirate (April 15 join the tax revolt tea parties.)
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To: vbmoneyspender

No doubt!


8 posted on 03/24/2009 3:15:24 PM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: ari-freedom

No Sir, that is the result. We must seize the power that fuels it first.


9 posted on 03/24/2009 3:17:05 PM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: padre35

Agreed! That is why we must win Congress back from those bozos.


10 posted on 03/24/2009 3:18:55 PM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: Arrowhead

what will we do if ACORN is counting the vote in 2012 and there is no talk radio? Take to the street against a well armed National Civilian Defense Force and the Obama Youth Korps?

we do not organize. we do not think the way they do. even though we see it coming. we have seen the last real election in this country.


11 posted on 03/24/2009 3:59:12 PM PDT by GeronL (....and I won't let it happen again!)
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To: GeronL
Well....I am going to count on the real "Silent Majority" in this country....I STILL think they are out there...and are watching, and listening....maybe more closely now?

The problem is....I swerve into "seeing what you see"...and lean to the hopelessness you and others spout....

I WILL NOT do that....

MOLON LABE

12 posted on 03/24/2009 4:05:58 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators. -Will Rogers)
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To: Osage Orange

I think there are enough of the “silent majority” that all want to be proactive but don’t know how. A good thing that has happened, which shows me people really are ready to revolt is all the “tea parties” that are springing up.

What we need to do is march on Washington DC on July 4th in the 100’s of thousands and then they have to listen to us. The question is, we as conservatives don’t put the effort into these sort of things like the left does.....I wish we would.


13 posted on 03/24/2009 4:21:02 PM PDT by estrogen (time to fight)
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To: Arrowhead
In an ironic way, the Obama Banana Republic in Washington may be a blessing. Sometimes things have to hit bottom before anything will happen. This country needs a revolution, not an independent party. No political party can fix the mess in which we find ourselves. All three branches are broken. The US Constitution is nothing more than a piece of paper with some historical significance. We are way beyond half measures.
14 posted on 03/24/2009 4:25:05 PM PDT by Nosterrex
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To: Arrowhead

Well, we first have to separate the bozos who wear an “r” after their names from the bozos who were a “d” after their names.

We have plenty of bozo republicans too.

It’s an odd time at the moment Arrowhead, the DC Republicans are neither here nor there and the Dhimmicrats are shooting themselves in the foot trying to deal with a Obamao who is farrrr to the left of the voters who put them into office.

However until the DC Republicans achieve..the 3 C’s Coherence, Consistency and Competence, all the politiking in the world won’t make a difference.


15 posted on 03/24/2009 4:49:57 PM PDT by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: Arrowhead

bfl


16 posted on 03/24/2009 5:31:57 PM PDT by Excellence (What Madoff is to finance Gore is to global warming.)
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To: Osage Orange

Come and get them!


17 posted on 03/24/2009 6:31:55 PM PDT by stockpirate (April 15 join the tax revolt tea parties.)
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To: Nosterrex
In an ironic way, the Obama Banana Republic in Washington may be a blessing. Sometimes things have to hit bottom before anything will happen.

I understand your meaning. I believe that patriotic Americans are at their best during liberal reigns. But, it is evident to me that we will have to be better than best if we are ever able to do what is proposed in the article.

This country needs a revolution, not an independent party.

When reading subsequent postings after the article, the author made clear in a response that the planning did not call for creating an independent party; but, an independent movement.

18 posted on 03/24/2009 7:19:10 PM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: ari-freedom

What the hell is this? As soon as we find out way back to our foundation and real issues; give me a call; I say. Let the ones that want to go to heck in a handbasket.


19 posted on 03/24/2009 8:15:16 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: GeronL

Actually, we may have seen the last real election 20 years ago. And with the recent admission by Diebold Corporation, I suspect any election which uses a computer with no paper trail is tainted at least.


20 posted on 03/26/2009 6:47:21 AM PDT by Arrowhead
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