October 3, 2008
An Open Letter to Congressman Wamp
I sent this in to the chattanoogan.com this morning, but haven't seen it on their site yet. So I'll go ahead and post it here ... apparently too late to do any good.
Dear Congressman Wamp,
Thank you for voting NO on the first bailout bill. That took political courage and I commend you for that. However, I read in the chattanoogan.com that you are planning to support the second version, which is even worse than the first. I hope this is not true or that, if it is, you will reconsider before the vote is taken.
I don't think I have to explain to you that this bill represents socialism -- corporate welfare at its worst. Not to mention the extra billions and billions of dollars in pork projects inserted into this version to buy votes in the Senate and the House. This bill is a disaster waiting to happen. Please don't help it happen. It will be a terrible thing both for the country and for your political future. (Imagine running for Governor with this albatross around your neck.)
I know you are afraid the situation will get worse if Congress does nothing. Guess what, the situation is going to get worse no matter what. The Federal Reserve has devalued the dollar, we are many trillions in debt, the housing market is in shambles; a hard landing is inevitable. Passing this bill may (no one is sure) delay the consequences of our reckless fiscal policy for a while, but sooner or later, we are going to face those consequences.
As your colleague Ron Paul says, it would be better to pay the piper now -- painful as it will be -- and get this over with, than to postpone the inevitable and face an even more painful crash landing sometime in the future. The further you climb up a slippery slope, the harder you land when you finally lose your grip. Dr. Paul says it much better than I do, so I hope you will read his article before casting your vote.
Best regards,
Joe Dumas
Signal Mountain
Political Thoughts | By joedumas | 1:46 PM | Comments (0)
January 6, 2008
Reasons to Support Ron Paul
I would like to encourage everyone who reads this column to consider supporting Congressman Ron Paul in the upcoming Presidential primary. While the mainstream media have done their best to ignore him, Ron Paul raised almost $20 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 - more than any other Republican candidate.
Why is Ron Paul worthy of your vote? Here are a few highlights of his experience during ten terms in Congress. Ron Paul:
Never voted for corporate welfare, a tax increase, an unbalanced budget, or to raise congressional pay. He even declines to participate in the lucrative congressional pension plan.
Supports the First Amendment, the Second Amendment ... in fact the entire Bill of Rights (especially the Tenth Amendment), personal freedom and privacy, a free and unregulated Internet, and a return to sound monetary policies that will bolster our sagging economy and strengthen the dollar.
Opposes intrusive government regulations, domestic spying, the (horribly misnamed) PATRIOT Act, and any form of a national ID card.
Voted against the Iraq War, opposes a pre-emptive attack on Iran, and will end the U.S. role as world policeman and bring our troops home.
Unlike many of the other candidates who are lawyers, Dr. Ron Paul is an obstetrician who has delivered over 4,000 babies. He is pro-life and pro-family; Ron has been married to the same woman for over 50 years and they have 5 children and 18 grandchildren.
Ron Paul's reputation for honesty and integrity is unmatched in American politics. Even one of his current opponents, Senator John McCain, once told a Ron Paul staffer: "You're working for the most honest man in Congress."
The primary election is February 5 - less than a month away. Early voting runs from January 16-31. Find out more about Ron Paul now at RonPaul2008.com and you will see why the "Champion of the Constitution" deserves your vote.
Political Thoughts | By joedumas | 10:34 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2007
Why Republicans Should Love Ron Paul
Some thoughts from a message I just sent to a Republican who isn't a Ron Paul supporter:
I started out life as a Republican. I voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980 and would have voted for Ford over Carter in 1976 had I been old enough to vote. Shoot, I would have voted for Barry Goldwater in 1964, but I was only 3 at the time. :)
I grew disillusioned with the GOP during the 1980s as the "Reagan Revolution" failed to fulfill its promises. Instead of slashing government, Republicans made it bigger and more intrusive. The 1994 "Contract with America"? They should have called it the "Contract on America". To say that it was a dismal failure is the understatement of the century. In brief -- I didn't leave the Republican Party -- it left me -- and for many years I supported the Libertarian Party as the best alternative.
Now I am back, a Republican once more. A proud Ron Paul Republican, to be more specific. He has given me the hope that Barry Goldwater's party of limited, constitutional government may not be dead yet. And not only has Ron Paul brought people my age (46) back into the fold, but he has energized a whole new generation. When I attend Ron Paul Meetups I am usually one of the oldest people in the room. The average age of the supporters I know is probably mid-to-late 20s. Contrast that with the typical demographics of the local Pachyderm Club meetings at which I am usually one of the youngest people in attendance.
Consider the fact that if the GOP does not recruit and retain the next generation of voters, it is doomed to irrelevancy and eventual extinction. Consider that it is Ron Paul whose message is resonating with the younger voters. And it's not just his anti-war message ... I have heard more young people questioning the Federal Reserve and government giveaway programs than I ever thought possible.
Whether or not Ron Paul gains the GOP nomination in 2008, and whether or not he pursues an independent or third-party candidacy if he does not, ... Republicans alienate the legions of Ron Paul supporters at their peril. They are a powerful, grass-roots movement that, if welcomed, promises the Republican Party new energy and a new start in the new millennium. I invite all Republicans who don't yet support Ron Paul to consider this before you write us, or our candidate, off.
Political Thoughts | By joedumas | 8:53 PM
November 21, 2007
Keep the Hullander Family in your Hearts
After a long Wednesday before Thanksgiving on the road, my lovely bride and I just settled in to our hotel room and found a Wi-Fi connection to check e-mail and the web. As is my habit I checked the chattanoogan.com and was shocked to see this story with the sad news that the daughter and son-in-law of County Commissioner Bill Hullander were involved in a terrible car crash while on a mission trip in Mexico. The Commissioner's daughter Mandy was seriously injured and, tragically, her husband Chris was killed in the wreck.
I am not a personal friend of Mr. Hullander - I have only spoken to him on a couple of occasions - but as a citizen and political activist I do respect his long and honorable service to Hamilton County. I hope all my readers will keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers this Thanksgiving weekend.
And for all of us who are traveling this holiday weekend: Stay safe out there, folks.
Political Thoughts | By joedumas | 11:59 PM
November 14, 2007
At Last - Fiscal Responsibility in Signal Mountain
In case anyone missed Monday night's meeting (it was a packed house) or the write-up in the Chattanoogan.com, the Signal Mountain Town Council (all-new members since last year's election/recall) finally stood up to the plate and exercised some fiscal discipline, voting down a request to allocate an additional $317,000 of town taxpayer funds to the new middle/high school under construction, and instead applying that money to our large, outstanding (3 years ago the town, very unwisely, made a $7.7 million commitment to the school) bonded indebtedness.
Predictably, the "tax us more for the children" crowd are crying in their beer - including some folks who aren't even from Signal Mountain. Give me a break! We have already given $7.7 million more Town tax money than we should have to build a county school. When is enough enough? When does the well run dry? Thankfully, three of our five council members said, now. No more!
Three cheers on behalf of the taxpayers for Bill Lusk, Susan Robertson, and Vice Mayor Hershel Dick!
Political Thoughts | By joedumas | 2:05 PM