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November 20, 1975 - History is Repeating Itself

9/28/2013

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My favorite U.S. President is Calvin Coolidge for two main reasons:  1) he lead the nation out of adverse economic times by reducing the size of the federal government, business regulations and taxes, which resulted in the roaring 20s and 2) as an extremely humble man, he shied away all his life from getting into politics.  Despite the country's prosperity, his own party resisted him and his policies.

Another President I admire is Ronald Reagan.  Similarly, when he began his presidency in 1981, the economic climate in America was dreadful.  By reducing taxes and regulations, the country prospered economically in 1980s.  Sound familiar?  History repeated itself.  History has shown that when taxes are reduced, when the size of government is made smaller and when businesses are free to pursue prosperity, the country wins economically.  The question is...do we learn from history?  In 2013, we are faced with mirror-like circumstances.   

Back in 1975, there was a battle brewing in the Republican Party - the establishment vs the conservatives who wanted less dependency on government and a reduction in regulations and taxes.

President Gerald Ford was part of the establishment.  Ronald Reagan, like today's politicians of Senators Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Representative Justin Amash, stood his ground against the direction of the GOPs leadership.  The current GOP establishment is digging its heals in to defeat and vilify those who seek to restore America's dependence on each other, rather than a bloated federal government.  Unfortunately, as one's individual power grows so to does the government grows.

I was nine years old in 1975 when Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for the presidency.  Below is his announcement speech.  I am now 47.  After reading it below, please ask yourself these questions:  1) did Reagan foresee the future,  2) was he correct in battling the establishment and 3) as we head in 2014 and the mid-term elections, is history repeating itself?

"Thank you for coming.  I have called this press conference to announce that I am a candidate for the Presidency and to ask for the support of all Americans who share my belief that our nation needs to embark on a new, constructive course.  I believe my candidacy will be healthy for the nation and my party.  I am running because I have grown increasingly concerned about the course of events in the United States and in the world.

In just a few years, three vital measures of economic decay—inflation, unemployment, and interest rates—have more than doubled, at times reaching 10 percent and even more.  Government at all levels now absorbs more than 44 percent of our personal income.  It has become more intrusive, more coercive, more meddlesome and less effective.  Our access to cheap and abundant energy has been interrupted, and our dependence on foreign sources is growing.

A decade ago we had military superiority.  Today we are in danger of being surpassed by a nation that has never made an effort to hide its hostility to everything we stand for.  Through détente we have sought peace with our adversaries.  We should continue to do so but must make it plain that we expect a stronger indication that they also seek a lasting peace with us.

In my opinion, the root of these problems lies right here—in Washington, D.C.  Our nation’s capital has become the seat of a “buddy” system that functions for its own benefit—increasingly insensitive to the needs of the American worker who supports it with his taxes.  Today it is difficult to find leaders who are independent of the forces that have brought us our problems—the Congress, the bureaucracy, the lobbyist, big business and big labor.

If America is to survive and go forward, this must change.  It will only change when the American people vote for a leadership that listens to them, relies on them and seeks to return government to them. We need a government that is confident not of what it can do, but of what the people can do.

For eight years in California, we labored to make government responsive.  We worked against high odds—an opposition legislature for most of those years and an obstructive Washington bureaucracy for all of them.  We did not always succeed.  Nevertheless, we found that fiscal responsibility is possible, that the welfare rolls can come down, that social problems can be met below the Federal level.

In the coming months I will take this message to the American people.  I will talk in detail about responsible, responsive government.  I will tell the people it is they who should decide how much government they want.
I don’t believe for one moment that four more years of business-as-usual in Washington is the answer to our problems, and I don’t think the American people believe it either.

We, as a people, aren’t happy if we are not moving forward.  A nation that is growing and thriving is one which will solve its problems.  We must offer progress instead of stagnation; the truth instead of promises; hope and faith instead of defeatism and despair.  Then, I am sure, the people will make those decisions which will restore confidence in our way of life and release that energy that is the American spirit.
"  Ronald Reagan

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BELIEVE.ACT.SERVE.  "One's Belief must lead to like-minded, geniune Actions, which leads to humble Service.  Always Act how you Believe.  Don't Serve others if you are not willing to follow your Beliefs."  Tim Reedy

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I'm Tired, But Not Going to Sleep (part two)

9/27/2013

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(author's note: please read part one of this post before reading part two below)

One of the 59 individuals I spoke with, whom I respect deeply, said running for Congress without any political experience is similar to a little league baseball player trying to make the major leagues.  Another one said that if you choose to run, the attacks will come from every direction - my opponent, future opponents, the local GOP, the media and people who just don't like me for whatever reason.  One person who was made aware of my potential entry in politics through a friend of mine said, "I will do everything in my power to defeat Tim because the sitting Congressman is a Christian man."  This person doesn't know me, but has already decided to support the establishment.  I suspect that this person's feelings are rampant in PA District 16.

The support that I have received since my post on Monday has been overwhelming, to say the least.  I am also certain that many people think I am crazy for even considering taking this journey to the next level. 

It would be easy to remain silent.  It would be easy to continue serving my community as the chairman of the annual July 4th Celebration or on the committee of the Zombie Run.  It would be easy to walk away from politics even before it starts and let someone else do it.  It would be easy to run for the open PA Senate seat in my district to get my feet wet as some have urged me to do.  It would be easy to serve on a local school board sub-committee or serve as a township supervisor.  Still, I have this constant sense that I am to be a voice for those crying out for a change in this nation's direction.  Four of those voices are my children (Hannah, Andrew, Grace and Gabrielle).   

I hope that you are getting some sense of the magnitude of this decision.  Talk about life-changing.  I did not wake up one day and say that I want to be a Congressman or that I want to be in politics.  In fact, politics has always been the furthest from my mind.  I earn a good living, live in a nice house, have tremendous friends, enjoy being a part-time sportscaster on TV, and love serving in my community;  quite frankly, I have a good life. 

Why would anyone want to give this up for the cesspool that is political life?

Emails from many of my readers and others lately as well as conversations I've had over the past couple of weeks have confirmed that I am being lead to continue taking this journey.  There are like-minded people out there who are hungry for a change back to smaller government and for people to take personal responsibility.  If I am to be that voice, then so be it.  I am confident in my abilities and nothing like public speaking, being on TV, meeting people or raising money scares me.  And, not even the establishment scares me.

What I do know is that there is a movement in Washington, DC to challenge the political establishment in both parties in order to restore sound principles that this nation was founded on over 200 years ago.  We need representatives, including their aids, to start using common sense - again.  

Look.  Don't buy into the argument that putting the GOP in power again will solve these problems.  The GOP had power for 6 years under G.W. Bush and they put us on the road to out of control spending that President Obama and Company has continued ten fold.

We are longing for our leaders to be authentic, open, transparent, and to make the tough decisions that in the short run, will cause heartache.  However, the end result is a healthy nation.

I firmly believe that all of us are born for a specific purpose.  What's my purpose?  Maybe politics.  I'm growing tired of this journey, but for some reason, I can't sleep or put it to bed.

(part three in a couple of days).

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I'm Tired, But Not Going to Sleep (part one)

9/23/2013

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(Author's note.  I wrote this post over a month ago, but never posted it, until now.  It is with great political risk that I decided to write this post and release it.  I just can't stay silent any longer.  Hopefully, someone who reads this post will be affected and lead to do something.  Comments are welcomed.)

A little over a year ago, I was lead to turn off all TV news and limit my talk radio listening during the day in favor of reading books, internet blogs and other related sites in addition to the Bible.  I read liberal, conservative, libertarian and progressive materials so that I could obtain an understanding of all sides of social, economic, cultural and political topics. 

In December of 2012, I believe I was lead to begin a journey of exploring a possible run for Congress or at least a journey to discover people’s views on the current state of affairs in this naiton.  In the span of 7 months, I met with 59 different individuals (some of those 2 and 3 times) regarding this journey.  Among those I met with were sitting and former state office holders, present and former republican committee people, friends, family members, acquaintances, relatives, coworkers, and my pastors.   Although surreal at the beginning, these conversations became more meaningful to me as time went on because they gave me an opportunity to share my Christian faith and my political beliefs, to ascertain people's perspectives of today's society as well as to examine my inner self.

To give you a little insight into those conversations, below I list what I learned about myself, politics in Lancaster County, what this country needs now, and my potential run for political office:

•   In Lancaster County politics, and I'm sure as in other parts of the nation, you are selected for office and not elected.  The only election that takes place is schmoozing the 200 plus committee members of the local GOP.  I was told repeatedly that I would do myself a disservice if I ran against the party's wishes and/or if I ran without the party's endorsement.  I learned that the county GOP only wants candidates they deem worthy and not the general populous.  I heard that my time would come only after I worked my way up in their "queue" system.  Since I never donated to the GOP or even bought a GOP barbecue ticket, I was urged to not even try.  I reached out to numerous sitting committee members to discuss ways the GOP could become more involved in the local communities.  The GOP needs to touch people's lives before they try and win votes.  Off the record, some were happy that I wanted to serve the public; however, since I was not part of the chosen class, it would be like climbing Mt. Everest with no hiking equipment.

•   Most of the 59 that I talked to concurred with me that our country has moved far from its roots as a republic.  The federal government is so large and consuming that a small amount of elected and non-elected (the bureaucracy) officials actually control our lives through taxes, regulations, domestic spying and other senseless laws that the framers never intended to be passed.  Bottom line – leave us alone.

•   I was flattered to hear from almost everyone that my demeanor, intellect, beliefs and  understanding of today's political climate are on point and would resonate with voters.

•   The fact that I am a political outsider may be of an advantage.  Or not.

•   I would need to raise a half a million dollars in order to be a serious candidate.

•   The current political party system favors incumbents in such areas as money raising and gaining nominating petition signatures, especially those independents and members of a third party.

•   My committee involvement in the upcoming Zombie Run in Lititz would be a detriment to my candidacy, especially here in Bible country.

•   The county GOP as well as those surrounding the sitting Congressman has, in some respects, already anointed the sitting Congressman's successor.

•   Washington, DC is corrupt as is politics in general.  Even if I would become elected to serve in Washington, most said that I would have to be on guard 100% of the time as to not become beholden to the existing moral decay that is Washington, DC.

•   Change in Washington and this country does not happen by electing more conservatives or democrats or republicans.  It is only through the changing of the hearts of people that this country's morals and less governmental intrusion into our lives begins to swing in the other direction.

•   Listen first.  Talk later.  Be kind. 

•   Service to people is my calling -- taking credit for successes, is not.

•   Americans need to rely on Jesus and become more like Him.  Jesus came to serve His fellow man.  We need to do the same.

(Part 2 on Thursday.)

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