Comments from the Chair
WHAT’S RIGHT ABOUT GOVERNMENT
For a long time now, in fact, ever since Ronald Reagan famously declared that “maybe government is the problem”, the republican party has painted the federal government as some evil monolithic force that is wreaking havoc with our basic freedoms. They have been so successful in selling this distorted view, that they now control all three branches of government.
Yet there is much good that comes from the efforts of the federal government to deliver services and benefits that make all our lives safer, healthier and more enjoyable. Think of all the many positive benefits that impact our daily life and the lives of our loved ones.
Many of us already receive benefits from Social Security, probably the most successful social program in the history of human civilization. We enjoy a very safe and secure food supply system which is overseen by multiple federal agencies. Many of us have vacationed in one or more of our national parks which, during it’s centennial last year, was visited 330 million times! Thanks to the Center For Disease Control, the FDA, and myriad other federal agencies, we are among the healthiest people on the planet. We have a military that is the most powerful in the world.
All of us enjoy the open road or flying anywhere in the world we take a fancy to. Some of us have received our educations through the GI Bill, a PELL grant or some other form of public support, a benefit that has transformed our lives. We now live in a country where the rivers no longer catch fire and are cleaner, along with the air, than they were 60 years ago.
All of these benefits, and many more, we take for granted every day, They define our quality of life and are the source of our freedoms. Sure, the system that provides all of this is not perfect. It requires continuous refinement and modification and that is what our elected officials are supposed to do. However, republicans seem to be on a mission to discard much of what has been described in the name of getting big government out of our lives. Is that really what the American people are demanding? Countless polls have shown that a significant majority of Americans actually support this government presence in our lives. So it becomes paramount that every citizen contact their representatives to let them know that, Hey, “You work for us and we expect you to continue to provide the services and support that we value”. That’s what government of the people, by the people, and FOR the people is all about. We must all keep reminding our representatives of that singular American truth.
Gary Madden, Manistee County DEMS Chair
For a long time now, in fact, ever since Ronald Reagan famously declared that “maybe government is the problem”, the republican party has painted the federal government as some evil monolithic force that is wreaking havoc with our basic freedoms. They have been so successful in selling this distorted view, that they now control all three branches of government.
Yet there is much good that comes from the efforts of the federal government to deliver services and benefits that make all our lives safer, healthier and more enjoyable. Think of all the many positive benefits that impact our daily life and the lives of our loved ones.
Many of us already receive benefits from Social Security, probably the most successful social program in the history of human civilization. We enjoy a very safe and secure food supply system which is overseen by multiple federal agencies. Many of us have vacationed in one or more of our national parks which, during it’s centennial last year, was visited 330 million times! Thanks to the Center For Disease Control, the FDA, and myriad other federal agencies, we are among the healthiest people on the planet. We have a military that is the most powerful in the world.
All of us enjoy the open road or flying anywhere in the world we take a fancy to. Some of us have received our educations through the GI Bill, a PELL grant or some other form of public support, a benefit that has transformed our lives. We now live in a country where the rivers no longer catch fire and are cleaner, along with the air, than they were 60 years ago.
All of these benefits, and many more, we take for granted every day, They define our quality of life and are the source of our freedoms. Sure, the system that provides all of this is not perfect. It requires continuous refinement and modification and that is what our elected officials are supposed to do. However, republicans seem to be on a mission to discard much of what has been described in the name of getting big government out of our lives. Is that really what the American people are demanding? Countless polls have shown that a significant majority of Americans actually support this government presence in our lives. So it becomes paramount that every citizen contact their representatives to let them know that, Hey, “You work for us and we expect you to continue to provide the services and support that we value”. That’s what government of the people, by the people, and FOR the people is all about. We must all keep reminding our representatives of that singular American truth.
Gary Madden, Manistee County DEMS Chair
The recent mass shootings in Las Vegas, NV, Parkland, FL and, closer to home, at CMU, continue to remind us of how dangerous our country is becoming. In today’s America we are increasingly afraid to go to any outdoor or indoor activity where large numbers of people gather while many of our children are afraid to attend school. Today, in addition to children practicing fire drills, they also train for lockdown and active shooter situations. Yet we are told that the solution to all this is to arm everyone. Really! Will we really be safer with more guns on the streets?
Recently, I heard some statistics on TV that got me thinking a lot about gun control and safety. The reporter said that a recent survey found that only about 37% of Americans own a gun. He went on to say the only 3% of the 37% or just over 1% of our entire population, actually own more than 14 guns. This means that nearly two thirds of Americans don’t even own a gun let alone possess an arsenal of weapons. Most gun owners own just a few guns that they use for hunting or personal protections in their homes! So why have we adults allowed a very small minority of our citizenry to dictate government policy?
On the bright side of this national disgrace, young people who attend the high school involved in this latest mass shooting, have declared that they have had enough of this tragic failure of our political system to respond to a clear need for reform. They know what it feels like to cower in fear while their classmates and teachers are callously murdered. Many of them have met with local, state and national officials and appeared on TV to demand change. They have held vigils, staged demonstrations and vowed to continue to challenge the adult community in this county to do what most of us know is the right thing. Personally, I have been deeply moved and inspired by these young people. I can only pray that their inspiring behavior moves enough concerned citizens to accomplish real and substantial reform so that we can all live in a safer community and country.
I urge all adults who feel as I do to find ways to support these inspiring young people, not just in Florida, but also right here in Manistee. There has been a call for demonstrations on this critical issue across the country on March 24th. If joining our demonstration and waiving a sign is not for you, then write some letters or call your representatives and let them know how you feel. Talk to friends and neighbors, and especially young people, about this issue. Contact local merchants who sell guns and urge them to stop selling assault weapons and the ammunition they use. In other words –“make some waves” – and pay close attention to the positions politicians take this year and hold them accountable when you vote. If enough of us do these things we will be heard.
Gary Madden
Recently, I heard some statistics on TV that got me thinking a lot about gun control and safety. The reporter said that a recent survey found that only about 37% of Americans own a gun. He went on to say the only 3% of the 37% or just over 1% of our entire population, actually own more than 14 guns. This means that nearly two thirds of Americans don’t even own a gun let alone possess an arsenal of weapons. Most gun owners own just a few guns that they use for hunting or personal protections in their homes! So why have we adults allowed a very small minority of our citizenry to dictate government policy?
On the bright side of this national disgrace, young people who attend the high school involved in this latest mass shooting, have declared that they have had enough of this tragic failure of our political system to respond to a clear need for reform. They know what it feels like to cower in fear while their classmates and teachers are callously murdered. Many of them have met with local, state and national officials and appeared on TV to demand change. They have held vigils, staged demonstrations and vowed to continue to challenge the adult community in this county to do what most of us know is the right thing. Personally, I have been deeply moved and inspired by these young people. I can only pray that their inspiring behavior moves enough concerned citizens to accomplish real and substantial reform so that we can all live in a safer community and country.
I urge all adults who feel as I do to find ways to support these inspiring young people, not just in Florida, but also right here in Manistee. There has been a call for demonstrations on this critical issue across the country on March 24th. If joining our demonstration and waiving a sign is not for you, then write some letters or call your representatives and let them know how you feel. Talk to friends and neighbors, and especially young people, about this issue. Contact local merchants who sell guns and urge them to stop selling assault weapons and the ammunition they use. In other words –“make some waves” – and pay close attention to the positions politicians take this year and hold them accountable when you vote. If enough of us do these things we will be heard.
Gary Madden
Lately, I have become very concerned about the issue of firearm safety and more generally, the rule of law in our community, in our state, and in our country. I was troubled a couple of weeks ago when I read an article in the News Advocate that concluded with the suggestion that it is perfectly acceptable for individual citizens to use firearms to oppose what they perceive as government overreach.
Really? Does this mean that it is OK for me to judge the merits of any law passed by any level of government and use my gun to oppose its enforcement? I don't think so. I always thought that my personal responsibility as a citizen of this country was to obey the laws. I know that I am always free to oppose laws that I strongly disagree with by joining with other like-minded citizens to get them changed. I know that I can pursue legal remedies if I care to, or I can write to my representatives in government. I am also free to actively protest laws that I don't support. But I am not and should not be free to use violent means whenever I disagree with my government over an issue.
A few days later I learned that a group of 2nd amendment supporters were planning to ask our county commissioners to adopt a resolution making Manistee a 2nd amendment sanctuary county, meaning that our county would then refuse to obey any state or federal law that infringed upon our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. To my mind, this effort also seeks to circumvent the rule of law in our society. Many people came to the latest county commissioners meeting to speak in support of and against the adoption of this ill-conceived and dangerous resolution. Thankfully, the commissioners declined to act and Manistee did not join the list of counties that have already adopted it.
Finally, we have the spectacle of our President all but directing the US Attorney General William Barr, via twitter, to alter the sentencing recommendations for one of his longtime friends! While this is technically not against the law, it does certainly undermine the independence of the Justice Department and the public's respect for the law. Are we headed to a time when the law is whatever the president says it is? Isn't that the way it is in a dictatorship like Russia? Are we heading in that direction? I wonder!
I think we all need to pay very close attention to events like these and take every opportunity to speak out against the erosion of the rule of law in our society. We must not be afraid to speak up to friends and family about this and other serious issues. Our failure to do so may very well embolden others to continue along the dangerous path to anarchy. This year we have a chance to correct many of the dangerous trends we have recently witnessed. We need to pay very close attention to what is happening during this election year and take our responsibility to vote seriously. Remember these words of Thomas Jefferson: "We do not have a government of the people; we have a government of the people who vote!"
Gary Madden
Really? Does this mean that it is OK for me to judge the merits of any law passed by any level of government and use my gun to oppose its enforcement? I don't think so. I always thought that my personal responsibility as a citizen of this country was to obey the laws. I know that I am always free to oppose laws that I strongly disagree with by joining with other like-minded citizens to get them changed. I know that I can pursue legal remedies if I care to, or I can write to my representatives in government. I am also free to actively protest laws that I don't support. But I am not and should not be free to use violent means whenever I disagree with my government over an issue.
A few days later I learned that a group of 2nd amendment supporters were planning to ask our county commissioners to adopt a resolution making Manistee a 2nd amendment sanctuary county, meaning that our county would then refuse to obey any state or federal law that infringed upon our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. To my mind, this effort also seeks to circumvent the rule of law in our society. Many people came to the latest county commissioners meeting to speak in support of and against the adoption of this ill-conceived and dangerous resolution. Thankfully, the commissioners declined to act and Manistee did not join the list of counties that have already adopted it.
Finally, we have the spectacle of our President all but directing the US Attorney General William Barr, via twitter, to alter the sentencing recommendations for one of his longtime friends! While this is technically not against the law, it does certainly undermine the independence of the Justice Department and the public's respect for the law. Are we headed to a time when the law is whatever the president says it is? Isn't that the way it is in a dictatorship like Russia? Are we heading in that direction? I wonder!
I think we all need to pay very close attention to events like these and take every opportunity to speak out against the erosion of the rule of law in our society. We must not be afraid to speak up to friends and family about this and other serious issues. Our failure to do so may very well embolden others to continue along the dangerous path to anarchy. This year we have a chance to correct many of the dangerous trends we have recently witnessed. We need to pay very close attention to what is happening during this election year and take our responsibility to vote seriously. Remember these words of Thomas Jefferson: "We do not have a government of the people; we have a government of the people who vote!"
Gary Madden
I want to thank everyone who participated in our first ever virtual Don Jennings event. Considering the difficulty that some of us face with accessing Zoom meetings, our event was very well attended this year. It was personally so frustrating to so suddenly lose our internet connection in the middle of our program. Thanks to Meg Batzer for her quick thinking in inviting us down to her home and getting us back on. I was so honored to be this year’s recipient of the Don Jennings award. It means a great deal to me to be recognized in this way.
Everything is running smoothly at our office on River Street. It is turning out to be a better location than we expected with lots of people coming in every day. Of course, everyone wants Biden/Harris yard signs. We are doing our best to keep them available. We have had many out-of-towners stopping in looking for signs. Apparently, everyone around the state is having trouble keeping up with demand. If the demand is any indication of how fired up people are then we are in for a very big blue wave in November. If you haven’t stopped by, please do so soon. We have plenty of materials for all candidates including local candidates and others. In particular, pick up some materials about our MI Supreme Court candidates McCormack and Welch and share them with friends and family. They will, of course, appear on the non-partisan portion of the ballot, so don’t forget to vote for them.
In the coming weeks we will be asking for volunteers to help out in various ways. Look for volunteer notices as they come out. We must all do our part to defend our Democracy against this assault from extremists who are playing on fear and division and even, in recent days, sowing the seeds for civil war. Simply making financial contributions, while very helpful, is not enough in these troubled times. We all need to stand up and not be afraid to express our opinions, however and whenever we can. We need to write letters, make calls, demonstrate, attend rallies, and make some noise. If we fail to fight for our principles, our freedoms can easily slip away, as they did in Germany in the 1930’s.
Everything is running smoothly at our office on River Street. It is turning out to be a better location than we expected with lots of people coming in every day. Of course, everyone wants Biden/Harris yard signs. We are doing our best to keep them available. We have had many out-of-towners stopping in looking for signs. Apparently, everyone around the state is having trouble keeping up with demand. If the demand is any indication of how fired up people are then we are in for a very big blue wave in November. If you haven’t stopped by, please do so soon. We have plenty of materials for all candidates including local candidates and others. In particular, pick up some materials about our MI Supreme Court candidates McCormack and Welch and share them with friends and family. They will, of course, appear on the non-partisan portion of the ballot, so don’t forget to vote for them.
In the coming weeks we will be asking for volunteers to help out in various ways. Look for volunteer notices as they come out. We must all do our part to defend our Democracy against this assault from extremists who are playing on fear and division and even, in recent days, sowing the seeds for civil war. Simply making financial contributions, while very helpful, is not enough in these troubled times. We all need to stand up and not be afraid to express our opinions, however and whenever we can. We need to write letters, make calls, demonstrate, attend rallies, and make some noise. If we fail to fight for our principles, our freedoms can easily slip away, as they did in Germany in the 1930’s.