Looking for a few good voters

I plan to place a series of large-format ads in the Indianapolis Star and a few other key newspapers around the state (donations made out to Horning For Senate, if you’re so inclined).  It will be a simple ad, with a simple logo, maybe a picture of me, some contact information, and something like this:

Looking for a few good voters

If you think this nation can keep going the same direction we’re going, then, please, read no further and have a nice day.

If, however, you’re concerned about our future, then please, read on.  We may need you.

OK, the bad news is that we have nobody but ourselves to blame for the cronyism, the violence, the injustice and self-destruction of our culture.  We The People have exactly and only what We The People have chosen with our wallets, our actions, our voices (and/or silence) and our votes.  We certainly cannot blame the politicians and political abstractions we’ve chosen over and over again.  They’re just doing what comes natural, what they can get away with, and what we ask them to do.

The good news, however, is that We The People can have exactly and only what We The People choose.  We don’t have to turn to anybody else to fix our problems.  It is not too late to clean up our messes and choose the life we want to live.  It’s never too late; and there is currently no need for a “revolution” anywhere but in our own minds and voting arms.

Of course, the bad news with that is that we don’t get what we want, we get only what we choose…and we’ve felt as though there are no choices but that two-headed crony network we call the “two party system.”  We have been betrayed and deceived.  It’s understandable that your trust in any politician, even ones you’ve never given a chance, is very low.

Then again, the good news with that is that there never really has been a “two party system;” that’s just an abstraction of some pretty bad choices on our part. We can fix that with just a little information.

Alright, so the bad news is that most people can’t even imagine how this country could work better. Trained in government schools and suckled on government handouts, surrounded by government actions and always aware of our wars, nobody alive remembers how life worked before we had all the “programs,” taxation, regulation and litigation that are now sucking us dry. Nobody alive remembers how “national security” worked before we began endless games of international “whack a mole” with our children’s lives.  Nobody alive can remember how we could have schools, roads, jobs or healthcare without giving everything unto our new Caesars.  We are all caught in the monkey traps of Social Security, Medicare, “national security,” “education” and “welfare.”

Ahh, but there is more good news.  The good news that outweighs all the bad is that it’d take only a little more than a third of Hoosier voters to set this nation to a better direction, a proven direction.  It’d take only slightly more than a third to crack the cronies’ pedestals and govern our government by rules that are few enough that everyone can know them; simple enough that everyone can understand them; and important enough that every single one of them is to be obeyed by everyone (even the rich and mighty) equally, without exception, all the time.

And my fellow Hoosiers, those rules exist; they are proven to work better than anything else humans have ever tried; and they are already the Law of The Land. They can be ours again as soon as we choose them.

This is not fantasy.  The fantasy, though a very bad one, is what we’ve been doing.  The dreamers are those who think we even can preserve the authoritarian, lawless status quo.  The fools are those who keep voting for it.

We all make decisions every day that impact our families, our careers, our children’s future.  I’m asking only that you give more thought to your vote than you have ever dedicated to it before.  I’m asking that you read your state and federal constitutions to see what you have been missing, how you have been misled, and how you can fix it all on Election Day.

We can fix this country.  We can live in peace, prosperity, security and freedom if only we choose to. That choice will be at least in part represented as Andrew Horning (L) for US Senate.  But the choice is yours.

You say you want a Revolution?

It’s a little disturbing that one of the most common web searches bringing people to this blog is, “Give me hope, please.”  But what really worries me is how many people are typing, “violence” and “revolution,” to end up here.

My fellow Americans, what are you thinking of? 

What is violence going to accomplish that your votes did not?  You got what you voted for.  You want something else?

What?!?

I have nothing to say to “centrists.”  These human dandelion seeds have no senses, apparently; and just float the prevailing wind.  I wish I did have words that’d shake them down.  But I’ve never had any luck with people who think it’s reasonable to split the difference between Hitler and Stalin. 

And true socialist/authoritarians are twisted, ruthless monsters who know that their violence and oppression is self-serving to the elite group to which they feel they belong.  They probably know what I’d like to say to them, but they’d happily have it tortured out of me anyway.

However, most people of the so-called “left” are not those socialists, and they’re not hopelessly foolish.  They don’t understand that politics/government is violence, so they simply don’t know that they are invoking, promoting and unleashing violence upon their fellows. 

The multiply-pierced, tattooed but still smiling Obama fan you see at Whole Foods really does want a peaceful society; he just hasn’t thought any more deeply about politics and market economics than he thought about that ring in his nose.  He doesn’t know that his free-love-and-world-peace dreams drag us all into Stalinist nightmares.  But so far, I’ve found it rewarding to talk to these people. 

Sadly, most of the so-called “right” are much more difficult to work with.  Perhaps they’re worse in hypocrisy and idolatry, and thus inoculated and steeled against reason.  So while many righties seem to pray to God, they put their hands on their hearts and promise to obey a symbol  instead (really; think about that). 

While the word “constitution” invokes wonderful, abstract imagery to them (Norman Rockwell paintings, Bob Hope, and of course, flags), they have no idea what the constitution is for, let alone what it really says.  Just like the lefties, they advocate bigger, costlier, more intrusive government – but they deny it!  They’re just as opposed to individual liberty – but they deny it!   They tear up the constitutions and stomp on them  – but they deny it!  

Frankly, I’d rather hang out at Whole Foods than listen to self-righteous ignorami spouting off about the “coming revolution,” or even secession.  Far-Righties are maybe not as bad as centrists, but their rising mood of undirected, goal-free violence is certainly not helpful. 

What do they suppose a revolution is going to do if they don’t even VOTE for what they say they want?  And what would secession accomplish if it creates only a self-deluded clone of our current mess?

After years of trying to find ten Republicans who know what it is that they want, I’m hard pressed to see any difference between the “right” and the “left” other than the aforementioned tattoos, piercings…and the type and degree of hypocrisy. 

Well, actually, I like Whole Foods.  The one near my work in Houston has a great selection of Belgian beers.  The GOP has nothing like it.

Of course, now that they’ve given up their catbird seat, and there’s no expectation of them actually doing anything substantial, the GOP talks (almost) like Ron Paul. 

But when they held the reins of power, they did only evil, and then chose John McCain to lead them into more of the same. 

They had a chance – a very good, record-breaking, youth-energizing chance – to set things right according to the words they speak from their mouths.  But their voting arms, inexcusably, chose otherwise.

And now they complain?  Inexcuseable.  Shameful. 

Even so, I think we’re seeing that even Republicans can come to their senses in sufficient numbers to shake the centrism tree.  The so-called “Tea Parties” may exemplify this.

We all know we have enemies and problems.  But the question in battle is never so much what to attack, as what to defend.

What do you want?  Please don’t say you want “American Exceptionalism” unless you can explain to even yourself what that really means.  

How do you want to live?  Please don’t tell me “with American Values.”  We’ve all seen plenty of American Values, and I think that’s why we’re all so hopeless, disgusted, and crying for revolution.

On these pages I’ve said that I want my rules written down, and that’s true.  I don’t think we can live in peace without some hard and fast rules.

Good fences make good neighbors.

But if I were to paint my picture of The Good Life, here’s what it’d look like:

1. Citizens can do whatever they want to do as long as they don’t harm anybody else, or take what’s not theirs.
2. We’d have no more government than necessary to maintain #1.
3. We write this down in plain speech and call it law.
4. We invite others around the world to emulate our success, but otherwise leave them the heck alone.

So caveat emptor would replace the FDA, FTC, FDIC, FCC and a zillion other F’agencies.  Common sense, competition, voluntary associations, charity and free market options galore replace union/corporate monstrosities, Medicare, Social Security, lobbyists, regulations, litigation and price controls.  And because of the preceding, you get to keep what you earn, buy what you like (smoke it if you’re fool enough – and as long as you don’t blow it in my face), and live however and with whomever you want…as long as you leave others, and their stuff, alone.

That’s all.

Is that really so bad?  Could you live with that?

Because you know that the alternative plan is not working, right?

Fairness Doctrine?

Dear friends of Liberty and Justice, I have a problem, and I’d like your help.

We all know where all the “money in politics” comes from and who it goes to.  That’s not my problem (sadly).

We all know that voters ask for term limits and then vote for incumbents 98% of the time.  But that’s not my problem either. 

We all know, really, if we’d only think about it, that elections aren’t so much about candidates, money or issues at all.  Elections are about voters.  It’s their one day to rule.  It’s their day to be heard.  And the days leading up to Election Day are the only days, sadly, when voters are listening.

And we all know that voters require the imprimatur of legitimacy, and whatever information presented (though increasingly distrusted), through the major media.

In short, elections are about voters, their sources of information, and their choices.

Elections can be a peaceful revolution; or more commonly, an acquiescence to the ever-devolving “status quo.”  Success or failure of our culture depends entirely upon the quality of information upon which voters make their decisions.

Let me tell you my problem:  Voters have been blindfolded, hoodwinked, lead around with a red herring and then duped.  Voters could, in a single election cycle, end the corruption of money, the entrenchement of power, and the abuse of their lives, property and rights if only they had the information necessary to do so.

The problem is that they don’t ever get this information.  Instead, they are told that their only choice is the corruption of money, the entrenchment of power, and the continued abuse of their lives, property and rights.

As applied to the gubernatorial race, here’s how it works:

When the “incumbent” (the putative owner of the Governor’s office) has an issue statement, the media call Jill Long Thompson for her view.  When Jill’s got an issue, they ask Mitch for his take on it.  Generally, all the answers are about the same with about 10% difference in numbers at most.  Nobody in the media questions whether their words are true or whether their plans will work (they certainly haven’t worked yet).  Media report the “He said, She said” and nothing more. 

This isn’t entertaining, it’s not informative, and it’s certainly not right.  Particularly when the sole alternative view is completely missing.

I’m the only candidate with substantially different answers and positions.  I’m the only constitutional candidate!  And I’m on the ballot. 

I’ve had too many issue statements and press conferences with zero coverage.  This media blackout is flat wrong and there is nothing that I personally can do about it.  I don’t have a voice without the aforementioned “money in politics” or media coverage. 

So I’m asking you for a favor.  Could y’all please write letters and make phone calls to your local media folks to ask them to include me?

I don’t care what they write.  I’ll take overt insults as an improvement.

I’d be delighted if they’d call me a loser, a vote stealer, a wasted vote, a libertine, a terrorist…whatever.  But they should say SOMETHING about the one true alternative on the ballot!

Don’t ya think?

 

 

 

…Stimulated ENOUGH?

Politicians have told us that giving tax money to multimillionaire athletes stimulates the economy and our otherwise lacking sense of pride.  Giving tax money to enormous multinational corporations stimulates the economy and promotes innovation.  Giving tax money to third-world dictators, erotic artists and apologetic criminals stimulates the economy, peace, art and justice.  Of course, giving tax money back to taxpayers stimulates the economy too, just as taking it in the first place did.  It’s all good, right?

With all this stimulation going on, you’d expect that our economy, technology and pride would have been stimulated past Pluto by now. 

Actually, the USA has never equaled the vigor and innovation we’d experienced before the invention of Income Tax and the so-called “Federal Programs;” and now we’re in a downward spiral of litigation, complexity, corruption, lost liberties and economic meltdown. 

Why?  Because freedom works, politics doesn’t; politicians lie, it is their nature to gobble up power; and it is our nature to think that we have to just grin and bear it all. 

Why in the world do we think that political campaigns are about candidates and their promises?  We act (and vote and pay taxes) as if Election Day is for politicians.  Do we really want this? 

I ask because political candidates often refuse unscripted public debates and direct questions, and instead control “the message” through tightly-scripted marketing and staged events. 

I ask because “winning” campaigns cost lots of money, and you know very well where some of that money comes from. 

I ask because negative campaigning usually works. 

I ask because those stupid yard signs work (think about that!). 

I ask because the good candidates would love to have ten seconds of your time, and almost surely won’t get it.

I am one of three candidates for the important job of Indiana Governor.  You are the boss.  I respectfully suggest that this time around you interview us at least to the degree that you’d interview a burger-flipper in a fast-food restaurant.  Ask real questions and expect real answers.  Don’t take no for an answer, and watch for lies and bunk.  Watch, attend, or even host a candidates’ debate.  And when you’ve gathered your facts (yes, facts really do exist) and made your decision, tell others what you’ve found.

This is a pivotal time.  In light of what’s happening to us now, in the most fearful and rapidly collapsing culture on earth, it’s time we wake up and take our roles seriously.

And no role is more important on Election Day than that of the voter. 

…That’s you.

It’s already in your home. When will you act?

Again I say bravo to Oklahoma politicians for pushing back against our “federal government” usurpers.  Walter Williams wrote a very good related piece, and I’ve seen many others that, to one degree or another, correctly describe the constitutional breach evident in just about everything the various levels of government do to us each day.

But the problem with almost everything I’ve read on the topic of ungoverned government, is that too much emphasis is placed upon politicians and their wicked ways, and far too little blame is directed at the real troublemakers.

There’s only one class of humanity that causes all the abuse of power, corruption, theft and death that’s stinking and growing all around us, and it ain’t politicians.

Politicians do exactly what they can get away with – no more and certainly no less.  We get exactly the oppression, slavery, genocide and war we can stand.  In the USA, there’s nobody more accountable for all the sins of our nation than …voters.

It’s entirely our fault.  If not you personally, then at least your neighbors are entirely to blame.  And, to be more direct, unless you’re reaching into your personal wallet, time and energy to correct our lawless lawmakers and their proliferating anarchy, then you’re to blame just as much as is anybody else.

Are you doing what you can to restore liberty and justice?

If not, how much more time do you think you’ve got before it gets a whole lot harder to do?

Forward Ho!

In real life, Lemmings do not run into the sea.  But people do.  Since the first violent blow of human history we have sought leaders to give us banners and trumpets, point to the cliffs and cry “FORWARD HO!”  

It’s invariable fact that all nations die; and with very few exceptions, the modus operandi is suicide.   

Now, until fairly recently, American Presidents warned us more about this death by our own hands than about any external threat.  From Kennedy and Eisenhower, to Jefferson, Adams and Washington, our leaders dismissed external threats compared to the perils of central banking, unlimited political powers, ungoverned militarism and even …democracy. 

Now our government is much more powerful and secretive than when it tested syphilus on black men, or fed plutonium to school kids.  Yet no president ever mentions constitutional restraint any more.  

I’m afraid this is what they call foreshadowing.  And it’s not our first warning.

The world hasn’t seen a year’s peace since the War to End All Wars.  Crime has exploded since the War on Crime.  God knows the war on Drugs has been a bust.  We’re working longer hours, taking less vacation, the land of the free has the world’s highest percentage of citizens in prison… 

And we have voted for all of it. 

What’s worse is that it looks like we intend to keep charging toward that cliff.  If such betting were legal in Indiana, I’d bet that in the upcoming election, voters will once again choose the bipartisan violence, corruption and oppressive failure that have been proliferating like bacteria for the past 90 years. 

One way or another, this foolishness will end; either by a collective act of will, or by slack-jawed ignorance and societal collapse. 

Choices are taken away from us every day.  We don’t have so many left.  The choices we make on Election Day have been mindlessly partisan, thoughtlessly shallow and unresearched for too long.  It’s time to vote as though it’s a matter of life and death; because, of course, it is just that.

Pray without ceasing…

Maybe I’m just burnt out.  But I am weary-sick and grievous sore of going through one campaign season after another without any collective discernment or even discussion of right from wrong, success from failure…or truth, from the more common lies. 

We’ve been talking Las Vegas odds and Fortune 500 money, as usual, without ever seriously discriminating the true differences between candidates and the government they’d embody.  We’ve allowed the pundits to ask their stale, dryly stupid questions, and we’ve bought the resulting media blather about likely match-ups and political strategy on Election Day.  We have never (most of us, anyway) questioned the proper role of government, how much is too much, is war really so great, and just who are these Federal Reserve Bankers, anyway?

Damn us all as fools; this is no game. 

Those who don’t see what’s coming and vote anyway, are fools drawing the rest of us into a fatal vortex of complacency.

But then, if you’re reading this page, I’m guessing that you, like me, are equally disgusted by our antics, yet are praying on hope.

I really do hope. 

I hope that we’ll straighten our heads before next November, when the fate of the world (really) is determined.

With the brilliant exception in Ron Paul’s amazing campaign, my hope seems unfounded.  With what I know of the GOP, it seems too much to hope that the best candidate could win in such a horribly corrupt power structure.  With what I think I know of third parties and voters’ reaction to them, it seems too much to hope that third party candidates could get our attention at last.  It seems too much, in other words, to hope that God will save us from ourselves when we have shown so little interest in Him.

If you’ve a mind to, I hope you’ll join me in prayer that a sufficient number of Americans would:

• Take more interest in our future than in football.
• Push aside the silly pundits who spew irrelevance and demand real information.
• Treat our right to vote as a critical and dangerous responsibility; giving it all the attention this life and death function deserves.
• Understand that voting is just a tiny part of our citizenship and accountability to our neighbors.

Of course, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). 

Let us pray.