It’s abundantly clear that most local GOP organizations have little or no direction, no real leadership, and little inner motivation to change. They need a jolt — and that jolt can come from you — the citizen who wants “change you can believe in.”
Rank and file GOP voters are never going to see most of those already-elected Republicans doing what they’re supposed to do — if they can continue to get away with not doing anything. And we’re never going to get the kind of Party leadership that’s needed unless more people from the outside of the political process step inside.
Nationally and in Illinois the consequences of GOP failure has been high.
Some good news: Americans are starting to get their news and information from new sources. While the dominant mainstream media still holds sway, they are losing their grip and the opportunity exists for local, credible organizations to step in and help fill the void.
Two quotes from Thomas Jefferson:
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.
The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right.
You, the rookie activist, along with some of your like-minded neighbors, can make a greater impact in this Internet/information age than ever before. The fact is we’re experiencing flood conditions when it comes to the availability of good information on the web. A renewed and revitalized GOP in your area can help end the good information drought that too many of your neighbors are experiencing.
It was for good reason that the founding generation emphasized the need for decentralized political power. Top down management and central planning typically fails — especially when it comes to government. To return ours back to a more decentralized system, however, more of our fellow citizens must muster the will to be politically self-reliant.
Polls continue to show distrust in government, yet Republicans have failed to capitalize on this fact and squandered the opportunity they had while they held power earlier during this decade.
One final note. I realize that political combat isn’t pleasant — but it isn’t avoidable. Our side had better buck-up. The price to pay is real involvement. If Republicans are not willing to pay that price, I guarantee it will be paid in ways that are far more costly as our political system and our government continues to get worse.
There has been little consequence for bad behavior and poor performance on the part of our GOP public and party officials. That must change — and it can change quickest at the local level.
Right now the merit system doesn’t really exist when it comes to party politics. Too often those who hold on to power do so because they have money or influence — not a record of accomplishment. The nice thing about democracy and elections is that a motivated electorate can over-throw bad leadership wherever it is found.
There has been little to no oversight and thus no accountability for too long. Grassroots Republicans can and must raise the temperature. If our leaders aren’t punished for their failures or bad behavior, what we get is continued mediocrity. Worse, we get a second term for Barack Obama — and the equivalent of Obama at the state and local level.
Up next: After the Tea Parties, it’s time for conservatives to take over the GOP.
