Thoughts on a Platform

[Tia Gazi]

We are going to have to start thinking about a Platform and Mission Statement for the Tea Party. I think that this will happen on the National Level very soon. Right now what we can do as a start is agree on a few things that we all would like to say to any person that wonders what the Tea Party is all about here in Kalamazoo. Mostly I think we are all fairly well in agreement that we want to see Federal power returned to its appropriate level and the authority that has been usurped from the states returned to us. That is pretty much a start. But we need to educate people because this usurpation has gone on so long that many are not even aware that the Federal Government has overstepped its Constitutionally defined boundries. It might be nice for us to figure out how to draw a picture for people of what America was intended to look like.

I was surfing around and looking at other Party Platforms that might make a good template for us. And in the first place wanted to say that a Platform is fairly long winded, it is not the same as a Mission Statement which is just generally a paragraph or two that explains what we want and what we intend to do. A Platform goes through point by point and enumerates beliefs on practically every issue. Now just for an example, here is a link to the Libertarian Party Platform. http://www.lp.org/platform Not saying that we agree or disagree I just see it as a clear template for how to put together a simple, intellegent and easy to read platform.

Although we don't need a platform the way a Political Party does, we do need to be clear on what we think about most questions, because we are going to be asked. I have been fielding questions such as, what is the Tea Party's stance on tariffs, trade deficits, embargos, green energy, extra. I have answered with my own beliefs on these matters, but if we are all to be on the same page we may want to have a clearer statement.

As far as Mission Statements we need to ask ourselves what we hope to accomplish, where we want to go, and how we want to move forward. A good mission statement is short, pithy, and to the point. We need to keep in mind that we are not the National Party, just the Kalamazoo Tea Party and so what we have to say needs to be targeted towards an audience of Fellow Michiganders. We understand that they are losing jobs, watching the schools fall apart, and seeing homes all over foreclose. After all its our jobs, schools, and homes values too. I think we need to emphasize the fact that it no longer matters what party you have supported, or who you voted for. These problems did not begin with Obama, but he is continuing and magnifying previous improprieties in the government and we are indeed equally disgusted with all those Republicans that have also taken part in the spending.

Anyway these are just my thoughts on the matter, and I want to hear what everybody thinks. I know not everyone can come to the meetings, but I will print out everyones comments and take them with me when I go.

[Scott Arnett]

Term limits are an interesting idea. Our founders wanted people from the agricultural, business, and blue collar sectors to serve for a few years and then go back to the livelyhood they had before. Thus, insuring that they would not be overly influenced by the Washington enviroment and more in touch with the common folk.
In todays environment, this may be a bad idea. A newcomer to the political arena has to contend with career lobbyists, who know how to work the system and therefore the electorate.
If we look to California as an example, we can see that term limits are not the panacia.
I would like to see term limits, but there is much to reform with the constitutionality of state and federal governments before they can achieve their best results.

[Larry Mulder]

I guess the ultimate goal here is to take back our government and return it to what the framers intended it to be.
What I would like to see this movement pull off, is to vote out every federal incumbent house and senate member. I have been hearing about term limits all my life, and the age old argument is, if you don't like them you can vote them out. Well, lets do it. Not exactly sure how to do it, but was thinking maybe something coordinated at the national level, and carried out state by state by the sperate tea parties.
If we could pull this off, not only would it put an end to elitist politicians, and send a clear message to the federal government, but it should send a wake up call to our state and local governments as well. It might even let the so called main stream media know that this is not a partisan movement, it's a peaceful, pro American revolution designed to give people back their liberties and freedom.

[Tia Gazi]

The Left wing slant of the school systems is one of the biggest problems we have today. Partially because we ended up with uneducated kids and partially because they are brainwashed into growing up to expect the government to solve all problems and difficulties in life.

[Jan Novak-Voeltzke]

Bruce: I have tons of informational research on the educational (sic) system including per student figures and I can look them up if you really want them. Some of the schools are actually up to 10 to 12k per student--and also the teachers are the highest paid after attorneys and engineers. Teachers will vehemently argue over this but the records and research show it as the truth. Sure, some teachers are paid much less, but overall, on average, they are extremely well paid. It is a Socialist NEA and AAUP lie that education is underfunded. They, too, are out to financially break our nation apart with the lies. I tutor in the Public Charter School and it is a bit better than an NEA school, but the influence is still heavy in the course curriculum and texts. Our young teachers, of course, have mostly been educated in the Liberal Left Socialist State Universities/Colleges and are thoroughly blinded with brainwashing--some much more than others. God seems to preserve some of them, though, bless God. Sorry I could go on and on.

[Jan Novak-Voeltzke]

We do need term limits--our own senator has been "in" for 30 years and is a complete socialist. This would have to be voted on by the people. Also the salary...MI is the highest paid legislature...Jack Hoogendyk tried hard to limit the salaries to a part time salary much lower than what it is--having done a complete study on all the States. Brave man!

I am a "specialist" in the government public school history--written about it, co-authored a book, etc, and this needs to be an essential issue stated in our platform as the govt public schools have been the training camps for the religion of secular humanism and Socialist/Communist Party USAunder every name it is known by--teaching our children progressivism, gradualism, global warmingism, evolution, the homosexual movement, abortion, encouragement of the premarital sex and illegal drug useage by our youth--taught in schools--to dumb them down and drop them out, secular humanism, environmentalism, collectivism, radical feminism, social(ist) justice, liberation theology, Universal healthcare, ACORN, etc. They have "community organized" our children in OUR schools--AND WE'VE LET THEM WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. I know what I speak of as I have members of my own family who work in the educational reformation movement for Socialism. These are are Spokes of the Socialist/Communist Wheel. It's how Barry was educated!!! The Communist Party USA changes the title of the CPA every couple of years so the public does not know that it is the Socialist/Communist ideology being taught right in the schools--33+ hours a week. throughout the entire curriculum, to captive audience children WHO ARE THEIR FUTURE VOTERS--THAT'S WHY THEY ARE WINNING EVERY ELECTION NOW--AND MANY ARE SITTING RIGHT IN THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRS HAVING BEEN EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. And now, on top of the Socialist/Communist curriculum and schools, we have Islam being pushed in our Social Studies. The failure of our children in the schools is due to a "planned deception" caused and pulled off by the CPA. A citizenry that is well-educated will NEVER sink into or permit Socialism. So they incrementally dummied down 50%!!! of our students to drop out and druggied and homosexual lifestyles to attain what they have today--over the past 35 years. IT WORKED WELL FOR THEM---AND AGAINST THE SLEEPING CHRISTIAN/CONSERVATIVES. The failure to make this an important part of our platform will make the rest of our platform useless....we will be treating the symptoms of the horrible illness, and NOT the cause---the public schools. All this taxation and spending is merely a symptom and a spoke of the education system that has gone completely afoul in our Nation--having been taken over completely by the Socialist NEA and Socialist Democrat Party and the AAUP. UNTIL WE HANDLE THAT AND EXPOSE IT, ALL OUR OTHER EFFORTS ARE REALLY USELESS--AND WE ARE NOTHING BUT WHAT THE SOCIALISTS CALL THEIR BRAINWASHED WORKERS...."USEFUL IDIOTS"....BECAUSE WE ARE REFUSING TO INJECT THE SICK VIRUS OF FAILED SOCIALIST EDUCATION WITH THE ANTI-VIRUS OF "TOTAL EXPOSURE." Parents are not aware because most have been educated in public schools too--BUT if they were exposed, the parents would be aghast at what was happening to their children. It is ALSO THE CAUSE OF THE REBELLION IN OUR CHILDREN---THE SCHOOLS FORCE FEED OUR CHILDREN AGAINST THE IDEALS THE PARENTS ARE TRYING TO INSTILL IN THEM--NO WONDER 50% OF OUR CHILDREN END UP CONFUSED, REBELLIOUS, AND DROP OUTS. NOT MANY CAN WITHSTAND THAT MENTAL TORTURE. The educational system and textbooks were taken over by Hitler in Germany...it's the only way he came to Own Germany....He said: Give me the schools, textbooks and the children and I'll own Germany....and he did. And IT TOOK THE RESULTATNT WWII when people finally awakened--with multi millions killled. Let us pray we will awaken before we have to have an armed Revolutionary War. But I fear it's already too late as I have been writing for 35 years and people are just sound asleep or cannot believe it is happening, or are lazy and apathetic---which is why we have what we have today, folks. Thanks for listening and I hope and pray you can see the light here.

[Gail Koporetz]

I have been reading this blog since before the tea parties, but just signed up, so forgive me if I repeat anything.

I think it is important to be very clear on the main things, and on other things just say that we want to make sure people are informed on both sides so that they can voice their opinion (either by voting or by contacting their representative.)

I also am interested in helping put together a one sheet flyer that will outline our basic tennants. From there it can lead them to this website where information is expanded and linked.

Basically just want to help in any way I can...

[Tia Gazi]

I have been thinking about your term limit question Bruce. And as of right now I am not sure where I come down on it. I will do some more research and keep thinking. This has really been alot of interesting reading and when I research one thing it leads to another and another.

From what I have seen its extremely hard to impose term limits on the legislature, but there are some other reforms that seem to work to make the legislature more of a citizen legeslature. In New Hampshire they pay their legislators an ANNUAL salery of only $100. To me that is an amazing idea because it forces their legislature to actually work and be a part of the economy. It also pretty much asures that no one will be in the legislature for too long, because they are basically working two jobs for the price of one. I like that idea best, infact I am begining to think we shouldn't pay them anything at all. It should not be a job, certainly not a career. It should be done for love of liberty or not done at all.

[Gene Clem]

Tia, you're doing great. There are so many things out there, and so little time. I think we need to do this research and thinking. So far there does not seem to be a national leader. There are several people and organizations trying to take over the movement as 'theirs', but most local organizers I have spoken to are coming down on the constitution, federalism and constraint on the feds. This is timely for me as I have spent the last 2 years reading on the colonial period, out if interest of what those folks were like; to include folks like Washington, and businessmen and entrepreneurs that we never hear of today. They were remarkably like us!
So, keep on goin'.

[Tia Gazi]

I just want to know if you think I am getting ahead of myself here Gene. LOL, I tend to be a very gung-ho person so I need other people to say, "woo there Tia slow down." Anyway, do you think it is time for us to move forward on these things, or wait and see what the national Tea Party comes up with?? I have been researching the Tea Party's and the Tenth Ammendment movement and I am amazed at how much I am learning about history and the writings and beliefs of our Founding Fathers. I thought I had a decent grasp of American history but I have found out how ignorant I really am. If nothing else this Tea Party movement has brought me an even greater appreciation of what we got here in America.

[Gene Clem]

Tia, Some more ideas here: WSJ Opinion Page.
Our basic problem is federalism. We can force from 38 (75%) states, or replace 535 congressmen.