Are Most Grassroots Organizations Merely Social Clubs?
I have noticed over the years that some of the "grassroots advocacy" groups are little
more than social groups whose main topic for discussion is politics rather than the latest
book or quilts. They meet monthly or every few months and discuss the evils of politics,
which generally entails the actions of the opposing political party.1
Every now and then, these groups pay someone from out of state to come in and tell
them the way it is and how wonderful they are for having monthly meetings to talk
about the political situation. They make a real event out of such get-togethers. ("Real"
like cotton candy, a big mass with little substance.)
Often times, such "grassroots" groups are started by a strong willed individual who
secretly wants a platform to put out his brand of "politics" to others. Such individuals
are happy to have the go along crowd who have the posterior fortitude to sit through
meeting after meeting without really doing anything of substance. It never seems to
dawn on the members to ask the question " What action are we (am I) going to take to
make things better?"
In Fact, this is how the November Patriots came about. I was in another group and after
spending a couple of years in monthly meetings with no real direction or plan, I finally
realized such was not only boring but was a grand waste of time. The political / social
situation was bad and getting worse and the group I was in wasn't doing anything that
made a difference. Worse, I wasn't doing anything to change the situation.
For most of the time I was with the other group, I felt good (or at least better) because I
could talk to other folks who realized something bad was going on. In those days that
was a big deal. It was like getting together to discuss the ball game. It was fun,
entertaining and one felt like they were participating in the game (if only vicariously)
and we all had our I’m- doing-something fix until the next meeting. We deluded
ourselves that we were making a difference when in reality we were not.
The November Patriots was made up of a handful of people more interested in making
change than attending monthly meetings. The only meetings we held were planning
meetings where we laid out strategy and tactics for operations. We took our act on the
road!
It was sometime after the November Patriots went active that the tea party groups came
about. It was some time later that some of us realized the "tea party” and "9-12”
movements were orchestrated by the "Billionaire's Boys' Club". Not to say there were no
legitimate local groups.
Some still refuse to believe that Americans for Posterity (AFP) is merely a mouth piece
started, managed and funded by the Koch brothers to grease the political skids to go
their way. In fact, when I testified to such at the House hearing on the American
Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) model resolution (HCR 5010) to apply for an
Article V amendments convention, none other than retired Senator Tom Colburn, now
on the Article V payroll, said the Kochs had nothing to do with AFP, that he and a couple
of guys in Oklahoma started AFP. I saw his nose sprout about six inches.
Now the Kochs' and their billionaire buddies have a vast network of non-governmental
organizations (NGO) to manipulate we citizens and our elected servants as well. There is
the State Policy Network (SPN) ( a hub organization) CATO, Heritage Foundation,
Independence Institute, Kansas Policy Institute (there are several of these state titled
organization around the country), Sam Adams Alliance (ran by Eric O'Keefe a Koch
operative), John Hancock Committee for the States (ran by O'Keefe and uses the
assumed name Citizens for Self Governance), Club for Growth, Wisconsin Club for
Growth (O'Keefe) Chamber f Commerce, American Majority, Goldwater Institute,
Freedom Works and it goes on ad nauseam.
Initially, I was happy to have the TEA (taxed enough already) party groups spring up.
But, late one night it hit me. If all that will get the American people upset and willing to
take action is money / taxes, then the Republic is truly lost. We are back worshiping
before the Golden Calf. If they were unwilling to fight for Liberty, or to even realized
their Liberty is being stolen the great Republic is lost. The primary driver of the
Constitutional Re-writers for the last thirty-fifty plus years has been money in the form
of the deceptive Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA).2
The split between the American colonies and England was not about taxes, although "no
taxation without representation" was a nice slogan. The split was about Liberty. The
King was denying the colonist their rights as British subjects. Read the complaints
against the King in the Declaration of Independence.3 Of the 27 complaints only one
related to taxes and it was based on being imposed without representation.
The sad answer to my question is: "Yes, many, if not most, grassroots advocacy groups
are merely social clubs that simply get together for the companionship i.e., feel good
sessions. Most do not know about American sovereignty, American federalism and the
fundamental principles of Liberty. These issues, sovereignty and federalism, go far
beyond the Constitution, which was not written for "We the People" and gave "We the
People" nothing.
The Constitution was primarily to establish and set the boundaries of the central
government. Contrary to the false assertion of the pro-constitutional rewriters, the
Constitution was not to contain the central government, clearly no written document
can contain corrupt politicians, that it is "We the People's" moral and patriotic duty.
Many of these groups and their members, have the short term memory our "public
servants" depend upon to keep their jobs, and are quick to turn their ear to a snappy
sound bite rather than dig out the truth. But then, they are like our "public servants" and
a vast majority of our fellow citizens, ignorant of the principles of Liberty which created
the environment which afforded us such Liberty and prosperity in the past.
To restore the Republic "We the People" need to become November Patriots, who put
the principles of Liberty and the law of the Constitution ahead of political parties and
special interests and stop voting for the lesser of two evils!
For the sake of Liberty,
Richard D. Fry
November Patriots
"The Few, The Faithful, The Outspoken."
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Galatians 4:16
"I will turn your face to alabaster
Then you'll find your servant is your master"
Wrapped Around Your Finger, The Police
1
R. D. Fry: At the lowest level of awareness, we citizens should realize we are being duped by both parties who are working
together. Yes, we are the mere paying passengers in a collectivist canoe being rowed on the "left" by the Democrats and on the right
by the GOP. They may row on differnt sides but the destinations are the same.
2
John F. McManus, The Flawed Balanced Budget Amendment, The New American (01/28/2016)
http://www.thenewamerican.com/reviews/opinion/item/22423-the-flawed-balanced-budget-amendment
Publius Huldah, A Balanced Budget Amendment Gives Government Lawful Power Over Whatever They Want, Fairfax
Free Citizen (01/18/2016) http://fairfaxfreecitizen.com/2016/01/18/a-balanced-budget-amendment-gives-government-lawfulpower/
Publius Huldah, BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENTS (BBA) GUT OUR CONSTITUTION AND DON'T REDUCE
SPENDING, NewsWithViews (02/15/2014) http://www.newswithviews.com/Publius/huldah126.htm
Joe Wolverton, II, J.D. , Latest Balanced Budget Amendment Proposal Fails in House, New American (02/25/2011)
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/8100-latest-balanced-budget-amendment-proposal-fails-in-house
3
Declaration of Independence (07/04/1776), ¶s 25,26,27,28,29
"He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already
begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a
civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the
executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless
Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."