Why we have a government that doesn't work

In 2004, I was a candidate for public office. I had no money to speak of nor did I have what you might call a "base." My candidacy was totally ignored. Admittedly, I did not run or try to run a campaign in the common tradition.

While I say I did not have a "base" of support in the usual sense, people in my community did know that I existed; and they had a sense of who I was and what I stood for. Of course your first thought might be, "Maybe that's why you were ignored." That might be so, but I think there is more to it than that.

The reason that my candidacy was ignored, I think, is that no one believed I had a chance to win. I didn't have a "name" and I didn't have money. And of course, that's why our government doesn't work: because you won't vote for what you believe in if it means that you will have to take a risk--that you will have to take personal responsibility for what you really want and make sure other people know that a new opportunity has opened up and is available to them. You will only vote for famous, well placed people even if those people do not really represent you, and even if you don't believe those people have the ability, the integrity, the desire, or the wisdom to make the kind of difference you really believe is needed. Typically, you vote to keep someone else from winning and you either end up with them anyway, or you end up with the person you voted for who disappoints you just the same.

Here is a link to an old page on my web site where you will find a number of quotes from my books. On that same page is a link to the announcement of my candidacy and the platform that I offered. I made it clear that my candidacy was a choice if the people in my community wanted it and I explained why I was running. Maybe you can learn something from reading what I had to say for the next time someone offers you some help.

Consider this as you read my stuff: you live in America. It doesn't take money to win elections. It takes votes. Votes. Why don't you vote for what you want for a change. What do you have to lose now? Haven't you already lost enough voting for people you don't really believe in?

http:www.gpln.com/frontpage.htm

Look for the place on that page that says, "I ran for a seat in the US House of Representatives in 2004."