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Thursday, October 22, 2015

The 2014 Election - Opinion

The Letter to the Editor below is one I sent to the Detroit Free Press after the 2014 Election results were out.  While it focused on Michigan, it pertained to the whole nation! The philosophical and financial radical element to which I was referring is: The John Birch Society.  One of its founders was Fred Koch, also the founder of Koch Industries.  Two of his sons, David and Charles, were behind the growth of the Tea Party and are the driving force behind ALEC (where they decide which laws are written and then transmitted) and a network of "think tanks" that promote the party line in almost every state.  While they have posed as Conservative Republicans, they are, in fact, Libertarians.  Their work has helped to inflame the hatred of government that feeds the frenzy behind Trump and other demagogues.   Many of their goals can be found in the John Birch Society Blue Book.  These are the people who called Dwight Eisenhower a communist! We are now seeing how 40 members of the US House of Representatives who are committed to an agenda formed by a single, well funded group can control the 455 elected* representatives of the people. * Several of those only represent districts that are no longer competitive because of the 2010 gerrymandering!

 Tuesday, November 18, 2014, Subject: A Test for the Governor:
"When I wrote to the Free Press before the November elections, I included my belief that Governor Snyder would not stand up to the radical elements in his party by using his influence, and when necessary, his veto.  I hope that I was wrong!
When Republicans finish their victory lap around the country, they may wake up and find out who will be controlling them.  The goals for this radical element were established long ago by people who were so far to the right that even William Buckley, who set the standards for modern conservatism, considered them dangerous.
In 2010 and in 2014 they threw unlimited and untraceable money into campaigns they needed to control Congress and as many state governments as possible.   In 2014, their job was easier because their plan of redistricting had worked so well that now only a handful of state and federal elected offices are competitive.  In Michigan we will likely have five Democrats and nine Republicans going to Washington for this election and the next, no matter what the voter turnout looks like. That fact accomplished their next step which is to change Presidential elections so that the size of the Democratic turnout doesn’t matter.  They want to change our method of selecting Electors, who actually vote for the president.  Their plan is to change from majority vote to a vote by Congressional District.   They will then complete their coup with an almost certain group of nine Republican and five Democrats voting for the President of the United States in 2016.  If the Democratic candidate wins the popular count in Michigan by a million votes, it won’t likely matter! The plan is not just for Michigan. It is a national plan to control the United States by a handful of Oligarchs whose names and goals we can only guess! While the Republicans thought they won this year, they will soon see that the real power behind their Party will control every decision they make! The onus is on Governor Snyder to stop this coup, at least in Michigan!".

Post Writing note:
Of course, the Governor went along with the right wingers on every important issue!
And in the Congress, even the very conservative John Boehner was in their way and had to be removed.
The Liberty (Libertarian) Caucus will rule the House of Representatives unless the Republicans wake up!

Al Halper