How do we change the path before us?

"Almost too late, a consensus seems to be developing that we`d better get busy teaching our children moral values. We may not even be that far apart on what values to teach. But the idea seems to be taking hold that somebody ought to be teaching our children right from wrong-building their character." - William Raspberry, Washington Post, 1990

84% of of parents want moral values taught in schools, yet more than 50% of teachers refuse. Wall Street Journal, 1990

When a student found a large bank-bag of cash he was ridiculed, belittled and bullied for a fool. The teachers would not take a stand on the moral high ground that keeping found property is tantamount to theft.

When a governor was given the green light to establish guidelines for teaching morality in schools, topics like “Fidelity” and “Temperance” and “Chastity” were forbidden because they sounded religious.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.” Prov 18:12

We currently have an administration that is simultaneously rolling 4 flat tires on greased rails, and thundering through the Constitution like Freddy Kruger on prom night. We have a thousand, or more, legislators, advisers, judges and cabinet officials at all levels who are selfish, self-centered, out-of-control, arrogantly conceited suck-ups who have no interest in the jobs they were elected or appointed to aside from self gratification, self promotion and good-ole-boy partisan cheerleading. The president claimed that his chair was “occupied”, but he forgot that it is the people's chair, and that he lives in the people's house, and that he serves at the people's pleasure. That chair will always be occupied, just not by him.

Allow me to quote from former Congressional Candidate and former National Evangelical Association President Robert P Dugan in his best selling book, Winning the New Civil War.

“Despite constant grass-roots efforts, some politicians will prove impossibly stubborn when it comes to certain issues. Their minds simply will not be changed.

Fortunately, we need not be perpetually frustrated when, for example, when a senator's voting record shows that he inevitably prefers a woman's right to abortion over protecting the unborn. Nor are we limited to gnashing our teeth when a congresswoman's vote reveals that she prefers gay rights over a religious institution's right to practice its faith.

Under the Constitution, when we are unable to change our office-holders' minds, we can change the politicians themselves. Doing that, through elections, is not as difficult as most people think it is, and would be a whole lit easier if more citizens were willing to get involved. [Ed. Note: Elections, impeachments, recalls, etc. are powerful tools. Perhaps it's time they be used with their full force.]

It comes as a great surprise to most Americans that out nation's political course has so often swung on narrowly decided election. Did you know that Richard Nixon came very close to defeating John F. Kennedy for the presidency in 1960? (Kennedy won by 118,574 (50.07%) of the actual votes, though he carried 58% of the electors.) Or that Jimmy Carter just barely turned Gerald Ford out of the White House in 1976? (Carter won by 40,827,394 of the actual votes, but he carried 55.3% of the electorate.)

Since we never know for certain when our state or congressional district vote may be very close, our interests can be defeated by the narrowest of margins. The way to prevent that is by significant, personal campaign involvement. Significant campaigning could be something as simple as putting a bumper sticker on your car. It could also be much more than that—and easy to do, fun, and of great consequence.”

Who wins elections? The most attractive candidate? The candidate whose political views make the most sense? We are now convinced that this is not true. The candidates with the largest campaign treasuries? The answer is: None of the above.

Pastor Dugan goes on to explain why wealth, astuteness and attractiveness aren't all there is. Charisma is wonderful, but one look through the portrait gallery of America's political who's who readily shows that these are not, in and of themselves, clinching advantages. While it's true that being lackluster, impoverished and stupid will get you nowhere, poverty is no campaign killer. Former Senator Robert Kasten ran a race with 19 times and 10 times, respectively, less money than his two candidates, but public relations teach the Kasten Principle in campaign seminars. No one remembers his two opponents. Mario Cuomo won his election despite the full backing of mega-millions of personal campaign infusions by his opponent. Do you remember who he was?

The thing that wins elections is Organization. Organization begins with the individual voter. Wearing a bumper sticker on your car, attending rallies, promoting where ever possible, knowing the facts, understanding the issues well enough to explain them to a confused audience of one or one hundred.

Here's your chance to brainstorm. Come up with ideas that will put your candidate in the driver's seat.