| | September 21, 2008
The Independents Conference in Atlanta
This past week, on September 17 & 18, four Independent Presidential candidates including myself met in Atlanta to begin a new effort to break through the two party controlled election process. Six others who could not attend will be taking part in this new, as yet un-named group, to begin serious work with other already established on-line organizations to attack some of basic issues preventing Independent/Third Party candidates from getting elected.
The issues we intend to work on include gaining ballot access in all 50 states, term limits for congress, eliminating special interest influence in Washington, getting the main stream media to provide campaign coverage to I/TP candidates, finding ways to educate the American people to the principles of self-government as laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the rights and responsibilities of citzens, and forging links to already established third parties.
Our plan does not entail 're-inventing the wheel'. Rather, we intend to work with other groups that have already built a base of knowledge and have active supporters throughout the country, and to act as a clearinghouse of sorts to co-ordinate efforts from all. If we can unite those who want to accomplish these goals, we can better achieve success. One of the great failures of the Independent Movement is a lack of such unity.
One of our group, Donald K. Allen, actually made contact with Bill O'Rielly on the phone. Asking Mr. O'Rielly why he did not bring any I/TP candidates on his popular TV show, he was told that independents are not unified, and then O'Rielly abruptly hung up the phone. Don was also able to contact a radio show talk host named Mark Levin. Asking the same question, he was told when we have $7 million we should call him back.
What these two responses show is that in fact, we who wish to see another voice in the running of this great nation are not united. Our efforts are scattered among different groups pursuing different objectives, even though our similar hope is to bring this diversification to Washington. There is ample opportunity for all of us to work together. If we can unite folks from these different groups to occassionally focus their efforts on one particular target, we will begin to make breakthroughs.
Right now we are at the very beginning of forming this new group, but we hope to be up and running with a 'Board of Directors' and a website before the end of the year. After the new elite President is sworn in, we will begin to actively work on the goal of getting more I/TP candidates elected in 2010, and an I/TP President in 2012. There is no reason why we cannot attain these goals if we are sincerely willing to work together.
The serious challenges facing our nation are not being addressed by the two major parties. Despite the rhetoric from the current candidates, there will not be an end to the partisanship that is destroying the greatest nation ever in the history of the world. In fact, you can bet on the partisanship increasing as the bitterness that comes from a battle for winning and losing power starts anew in January. There is no future for freedom or true Constitutional government that will come from either party. Only by injecting new blood and a new spirit of cooperation and common sense in the politics of the country will we actually have a government 'of the people, by the people, for the people'! As the rightful owners of this nation, it is our job to see to it that the country is properly managed, and the Democrats and Republicans have shown that they are not up to the task.
I hope that you will support our efforts in the future. Why not? The elites have stolen our inheritance and it is up to us to reclaim it! If we do not, how will it ever happen?
Thanks, Joe
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote was never lost."
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
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