I believe that people can change. I further believe that in order for us to see liberty succeed in our society, some individuals will have to change their mindsets on a variety of issues.
When I was 16 years old and a junior at Northside High School, I discovered liberty in politics for the first time. It was financial guru Harry Browne’s articulate message of liberty that took me from being a Freshman/Sophomore fiscal liberal to fine tuning my message towards one of consistent freedom.
I recall my United States history teacher telling me that I would grow out of my constitutional Republican ideals as I matured and got into the so-called “real world.” Here I am today, as consistent in liberty as ever. I still believe through all the change in the world that the best ideas are founded in individual freedom – socially and economically. I believe that the best vehicle with which to spread the ideas and to reach those means is through working with like-minded individuals in developing plans of action to show voters how liberty is indeed the best answer.
That said, we sometimes get very excited when a new person or idea comes forth. Scott Brown comes immediately to mind. He was an afterthought when polling well behind Martha Coakley. Then he jumped into a pick up truck and said the buzz words “Tea Party.” During this time, his poll numbers increased. As a state political figure in Massachusetts, Mr. Brown supported the government-run health care system that is in place today. He was moderate on a variety of other issues. However, the excitement of his polling increases were minimal in the minds of activists who wanted to see the seat formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy go to a Republican.
Excitement is a great thing and we should all be forthright in expanding our energy when the causes are right. We must be careful in the meantime. We must take a more diligent approach to ensuring that the candidates we support support the principles of freedom. Scott Brown has already proven that he does not subscribe to the principles of freedom by supporting a billion dollar job bill in Massachusetts. His moderate stance on this and other issues may win him new fans, but we must remember those he was “preaching” to in order to get elected. But still I say, we must take individual responsibility to know our candidates philosophical viewpoints and know if they are or are not consistent before jumping on their bandwagon.
To me, the principles of freedom and individual liberty can and must not be compromised. Sure, we may have a variety of means with which we present our message of liberty. Debra Medina in Texas and Rand Paul in Kentucky are suggesting liberty in a variety of terms that I believe will lead to the same, beneficial end result.
That result, must however, be the same. Maximizing liberty and freedom should be forthright in the minds of anyone who subscribes to the true, original meaning of our founding fathers. We must be philosophically consistent and know those around us and know if they are preaching a bad gospel or are really on our side.
Further, we must continue to work without delay in helping everyone share our belief that a society where individuals are truly free is a society that is most prosperous for all.
Cam DeJong
“Wow!”
That has been my expression since the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts. In a prior post, I stated my reasons for where Brown is not necessarily liberty-friendly. However, the winds of change have blown him into office.
Reflecting on 1994 again, it is essential that in 2010 we elect authentic lovers of liberty to office in New Hampshire, in your state, and to represent us in Washington, DC. I do see many individuals picking up the “tea party” banner who are not necessarily in step with the principles of liberty. The good news is that it is easy for us to pick off those individuals and call them on the spot.
“Wow! Wow!”
Another expression after yesterday’s Texas polling results. This is a key point to being able to tell who is truly a tea party patriot and who is not. Rick Perry tried to appeal to a group of voters last year by saying he would consider secession if the federal government didn’t find its way out of Texas. He has tried to embrace the Tea Party movement and was endorsed by Sarah Palin, who has taken on in the eyes of many the de facto leader of the tea party movement. Kay Bailey Hutchison is clearly seen as the Washington insider and has been dropping in the polls. However, the voters of Texas are showing that they understand the true patriot movement. Debra Medina has gone from 12% a few weeks ago to 16% and then yesterday up to 24%. Hutchison is at 28%. When you consider the margin of error, Medina could be in second place. Perry is far away from the 50% needed to avoid a run off.
So what is being seen here? Voters who are anti-Washington are burying Hutchison’s prospects of getting into the run off. In fact, Medina polls best amongst those who do not trust the politicians in Washington, DC. So Perry’s attempted use of the tea party movement is not fooling anyone. The Texas election is March 2, 2010. If Medina can continue to spread her message, I am confident we’ll see a “Scott Brown-like” result. The difference is that Debra Medina is a TRUE patriot and stands for the principles of liberty and the principles of the Constitution. Please offer your support to her at http://www.medinafortexas.com today.
In New Hampshire, the winds are certainly blowing in the right direction. On February 16th, several New Hampshire liberty lovers will have an opportunity to elect David Boutin to the NH Senate. If you live in Hooksett, Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, and Manchester Wards 1, 2, and 12, make sure you get out and vote on February 16th. David Boutin’s web site can be found at http://www.boutinforstatesenate.com.
Just as exciting, liberty candidate for NH Senate Jim Forsythe is having a kickoff event on February 25th in Laconia, NH. Jim is an outstanding individual and has the right message to win his Republican primary in September. You can find out more about Jim’s campaign at http://www.jimforsythe.com/In addition to Jim, I am confident we’ll see more work in the coming days and weeks from even more liberty friendly candidates for Governor, Senate, and House.
Here in Manchester’s Ward 2, I look forward to working with one or two other candidates to reach the voters in our ward with the best message ever – that of liberty.
While I talk a lot today about other states and the national level, I believe in my heart of hearts that all politics is indeed local. I look forward to the good and strong wind continuing. That, my friends, is the wind of liberty!
Cam
The move towards liberty continues to accelerate. While some of the candidates involved are not quite there on what I would call a “liberty litmus test”, we do have a lot of potential to turn the direction necessary for maximum individual freedom.
Scott Brown in Massachusetts is an example of someone who I don’t agree with on all issues, but I believe to be more of a friend to liberty than would be his Democratic opponent. The main issue in his race is that of health care. He can be elected next Tuesday and help block the government takeover of healthcare – called by many “Obamacare.” While we need a tremendous overhaul of health care in America, I believe a lot has to do with deregulation (i.e. deregulate the use of alternative medications) versus more government intervention – and ultimately higher costs. Sure, I don’t agree with Brown on foreign policy and other issues, but the health care debacle in Washington has us closer to centralized government than any other issue at this time.
In Texas, Debra Medina showed a good streak of liberty in an articulate debate performance against Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Rick Perry. Medina helped demonstrate what is wrong with those currently in power – including how out of touch they are with America today.
In Kentucky, Rand Paul continues to impress the masses with a mostly consistent message of liberty. Just months ago, he was double digits behind Trey Grayson. Today, his message of individual liberty and freedom has resonated well in Kentucky and he has become the person to beat in the GOP primary. Now with Manchester, NH political superstar Andy Demers working on his campaign, I think we will continue to see great things.
More candidates throughout the country should continue to open more eyes to liberty. Peter Schiff in Connecticut hasn’t quite swung the door open in the public opinion polls, but it may be only a matter of time.
The list continues, but the point is that the move towards liberty has been greater than I would have ever imaged a few years ago. The key is that those who are leading the liberty movement need to be checked by every liberty loving voter to ensure that they are true to the principles of freedom and liberty. In New Hampshire, I hope we see more and more individuals come forth for the liberty movement. I generally support Frank Guinta and also think highly of Bob Giuda and Jennifer Horn in their races for US House. In the state races, Jim Forsythe will be an outstanding candidate for State Senate. There are countless others I am sure.
On the state representative level, when the filing time comes, I hope I am just one of dozens – if not hundreds – of liberty candidates looking to serve the citizens of New Hampshire.
For me, it all starts in Manchester NH. I hope you see the potential for liberty as I do and that you work for it wherever it is you may be in 2010.
Let’s work harder than ever to make liberty happen!
Cam