Paul Jacob - Citizen Activist

I just found out about an important meeting that everyone in NJ should attend.  The meeting, sponsored by the “Citizens in Charge” organization, addresses several major problems that citizen’s face.

(1) We do not have enough useful citizen-oriented choices on the ballot.

(2) Most elected officials do not care about us.

(3) By design, the courts do not pursue or care about justice for citizens.

But there is a citizen activity that makes sense – binding initiative and referendum (I&R).

Here is how it works:

We start by asking politicians to enact the legislation that is needed to fix our problems. When they refuse to help, we organize a team of citizens to collect the  petitions needed to get the issue on the ballot. Then we campaign for the citizen votes needed to enact the initiative at the voting booth. When passed, the initiative becomes  law.

This is the only way to fix our runaway NJ legislature within the limits of our current circumstances.

Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge has agreed to come up from Washington on February 4, 2010 to discuss the I&R process with New Jersey citizens. Columnist Robert Novak called him “the most hated man in Washington” because he has successfully organized citizen actions around the country for many years.  It is Paul’s kind of help that we can use in NJ.

No reservations are needed to attend.  Just show up with your pencil, paper and questions.  There is no admission (free) and Prestige Diner offers first class food at normal menu prices.  This will be a good night for the people.

Post this information on your web sites and bulletin boards

Meeting Date

Thursday, February 4, 2010 – 7:00 PM

For up to date recorded snow/weather information on this meeting, call 609-528-4979.

ADDRESS

Prestige Diner

610 Route 33, EAST

EastWindsor, NJ   08520

Diner Phone: 609-443-1211

Directions

From NJ Turnpike

Take Exit 8 toward Twin Rivers/Freehold

Proceed to Route 33 East toward Twin Rivers

Travel 2 miles to the 3^rd Light – Lake Drive

There is a Shell Station at the Lake Drive Corner.

Prestige Diner is located next to the Shell Station.

If you pass the diner, go into the shopping center and return to the diner.

Related Information:

Wiki Article on Paul Jacob

Jacob’s description of the initiative process

Governor Christie I&R campaign promise #28

This web update was posted 01-25-2010 – 10:59 PM.

It wasn’t supposed to happen.

But it happened.

Shall Thou Steal?

The voting majority will always get what they think they want, regardless of their needs, regardless of the Constitution, and regardless of the natural rights of others.

The sad fact is that the majority of eligible voters are not informed enough to understand that they’ve selected the government officers who’ve caused the problems that they are experiencing. The electorate has been deceived into giving us a government that ignores the natural rights that it was supposed to protect. Consequently, we’ve lost an America that could have continued to lead the world to real freedom and prosperity.

Example of the Problem

During the 2009 NJ Assembly election, citizens complained about overpriced schools, the highest property taxes in the nation, and a bad business climate for jobs. But they re-elected the legislature that caused these problems.

There were about 92 challengers, each with different degrees of wisdom, different tactics, and different levels of political expertise. Every incumbent won re-election.

Then there were the citizens who spoke about the need to break the addiction on high taxation and irresponsible spending caused by the monopoly parties. But, out of fifteen independent Assembly candidates, all, except one candidate, received one percent of the vote. There was one candidate who received three percent of the vote. That was hardly a resounding cry to break the stronghold.

Blind Votes

The voting majority votes for winners, not problem solvers. They will elect an incumbent because they believe that he or she has the best chance to win, as if choosing a winner will somehow reward the voter.

The voting majority behaves as if it is unpatriotic or sinful to vote for anyone who is not a member of a monopoly party. Consequently, most candidates who run on monopoly parties are guaranteed 95% or more of the votes that they need to win, regardless of their quality, regardless of their campaign tactics, and regardless of their potential to properly represent the best interests of the public.

Because they are guaranteed most of the votes that they need to win, the monopoly can limit their campaign to swaying a few votes rather than earning them all.

To keep all of the votes within the two-party illusion, candidates alter the perception of the electorate in such a way that voters reject candidates from non-monopoly parties.  They promote voting for the better of two evils so that everyone believes that evil is their only option. They create laws that make it impossible for serious challenges from outside the monopoly.

Contrast this with candidates who are not affiliated with a monopoly party. They must earn 100% of every vote that they receive. If monopoly candidates were required to compete for votes the same way as non-members of the monopoly (third parties), almost none of the current elected officials would be re-elected.

The Solution

This voter mindset must be broken before we can kill the political beast that destroyed our country.

That’s why voter education is more important than ever. Voters must understand that their votes or non-votes count. They must understand that they can bring us a good government as long as they get together and vote for a good government. And they must also understand that voting does not matter if they do not cast their vote for a good government.

We do not know what tactics will work (if any) to convince voters to elect candidates with the ability to restore freedom and prosperity for America. That’s why it is necessary for each one of us to choose the tactics that we believe will make the best use of our talents when addressing this problem.

My Intention

For the future, I will keep my eyes open for opportunities to develop or promote techniques that can be used by citizen candidates to get elected. And that is where I will focus my limited amount of available time and energy. Among specific tactics, I will offer my assistance to the Modern Whig movement. I believe that the Whigs have a bright future as a major contributor to the saving of America.

The name “Gene” in votegene.com represents all potential candidates throughout America who are willing to do whatever is necessary to restore our land. This web site – Votegene.com – will make a slow transition into a discussion group and clearinghouse for techniques that can be used to break the deadly monopoly.

Gene Baldassari
Former Modern Whig Party Candidate
NJ 14th Assembly – 2009

Gene is the author of “Survival of the Slickest: Everyone’s Risk of Being Terrorized by Lawyers”.  The book describes the need for a free market in the legal trade.  It cries for a legal system that can be used by citizens to challenge a runaway government.  It also outlines many other  suggestions on how we can take back America.

Click here for related post “The Problem in a Nutshell”.

The Star Ledger published an editorial this morning that discusses this problem. Here are a few snippets:

“The lamentable fact is that the two parties are, themselves, little more than narrow special interests. Their competition for short-term political and/or monetary gain has jeopardized the state’s long-term economic health and left it with a tarnished national reputation.”

“They have contributed equally to gross overspending in Trenton by consistently pandering to the pay, pension and retirement policies demanded by powerful public employee unions. Democrats have financed the spree with tax hikes, Republicans with borrowed money, and both with pension-fund raids.”

“Where the major parties have differed, their differences have been inconsequential. Where they’ve been the same, their similarities have been destructive.”

As I meet citizens of the 14^th District, I hear it more and more. They are starting to believe that the political parties represent bad Government in NJ. They are starting to recognize the apparent collusion between the political parties and how they have worked closely to make it impossible to fix the problems of NJ.

The Star Ledger opinion piece that was quoted earlier offers a solution.

“New Jersey needs radical change in Trenton.”

“Only by breaking the hold of the Democratic and Republican mandarins on the governor’s office and putting a rein on their power will the state have any hope for the kind of change needed to halt its downward economic, political and ethical spiral.”

“The Star-Ledger today endorses independent candidate Chris Daggett and recommends his election as the next governor of New Jersey.”

I agree with the Star Ledger that we need a massive repudiation of the parties that put us into this mess. I agree that they have “forfeited any claim to the trust and confidence of the people of New Jersey.”

What about Chris Daggett?

I have not looked into all of his ideas. But it is not necessary. Even if we disagree on some issues, we agree on the most important need for New Jersey. An Independent Governor would be independent enough to break the monopolistic stranglehold that’s preventing good ideas from penetrating the walls of the State House. Until we cure that disease, there is little profit in looking at any other issues. That is enough for me to consider him as a viable choice for Governor.

–Gene

Star Ledger Article Endorsing Daggett

Stolen Sign - Returned Damaged

After spending a considerable amount of time constructing our first mini-billboard, it was installed on a private property in Hamilton. Six days later, on Saturday, 9-26-09, the sign was gone.

The Township police were called and a report was filed.  Later, we contacted Hamilton Public works to determine if they picked up any signs that may have caused some kind of safety concern. They confirmed that they did not pick up any of our signs. Hamilton zoning also indicated that they were unaware of any possible problem that may have prompted removal of the sign. Finally, we closely examined the related ordinance on signs and everything seemed to comply.

Conclusion: The sign was stolen.

Hamilton police and the township personnel were very kind, eager to address all questions about the matter, and willing to help provide suggestions to find the sign. Thank you, Hamilton Township.

On Tuesday, 9-29-09, the sign was returned and was found leaning against a tree on the property.  It was slightly damaged but repairable. The picture in this article is the sign as found.

We will pursue this matter as much as possible to determine the nature of the theft.  In addition, we are developing a method of surveillance for all campaign related activities that will, hopefully, allow us to track future assault against this type of Citizen campaign. The Modern Whig Movement is national and is here to stay, regardless of my involvement.

Most people do not realize that third party campaign challenges are 100% volunteer efforts and are completely funded by small citizen donations. Interference with Citizen oriented campaigns should not be taken lightly. Without them, we would lose the ability to challenge a runaway government. .

New York Times Article

Fair Tax 4^th Congressional Communications Coordinator John O’ Rourke sharing the merits of Fair Tax with a protester of a recent spending bill

Eliminate the Income Tax with Fair Tax (HR 25)

Backed by several years of Citizen and Congressional support

The income tax is the most abusive method of confiscating money ever invented by politicans. It is not necessary. It is wasteful. It is cruel.  And no one has come up with a good reason why it should continue.

The Fair Tax Bill (HR 25/SR 25) would eliminate the income tax, lead to the repeal of the 16th Amendment, and eventaully pressure legislators to drastically reduce taxes.

I was the past director of Fair Tax NJ for the Fourth Congresional District. I support the elimination of the income tax Federally and in New Jersey. We need every possible method to enhance the productivity of private business and this would be a major boon to our economy. We will never create real jobs until we get rid of this noose around the neck of our flag.

Here is a summary of the benefits of Fair Tax and the problems that it would eliminate after it becomes law.

-        Co-sponsored by 55 D.C. legislators

-        Based on millions of dollars of privately funded studies

-        Biggest transfer of power to the people in history

-        Collects taxes from illegal aliens

-        Collects taxes from the underground economy

-        Eliminates tax breaks for special interests

-        Pressures Washington to eliminate the 16^th Amendment

-        Initiates an economic boom as embedded taxes are eliminated

-        Sparks a voter revolt for spending sanity in Government

Examples of the pain and suffering that we can eliminate:

-        $300 Billion dollars in needless paperwork

-        Automatic assumption of guilt

-        Lack of privacy

-        Weakened private ownership

-        Government “central planning”

-        Easy to cheat by hiring tax professionals

-        Unfair and cruel

-         Destroys jobs

In actuality, it has nothing to do with “health” and it will not accomplish any of advertised goals.

In return for swallowing this overpriced placebo, Americans will be guaranteed increased taxes, a destruction of good quality disease management, a slap in the face of hard working health personnel who are already doing a good job, a destruction of a market that needs health freedoms to introduce new health technologies, a Constitutional violation, and an increase in tyrannical government abuse on the majority of citizens who do not want participate in this failed approach to “health” care.

It used to be called the natural right to private property ownership. It can be found in Exodus 20:15 which says, “Thou shall not steal”.  It is also the basis of the US Constitution, which was originally written to protect the property rights of individual Citizens.

When it comes to their own money, Americans should be allowed the freedom to choose how they spend it.

It is wrong to confiscate hard earned property from Americans who want to use their own money to improve and preserve their own health rather than give it to the government to support an overpriced, rationed, and inefficient disease care system.

Common Sense Health

Instead of throwing around hot air, we should take a rational look at the problem and apply common sense solutions. 

We already had a workable disease care system in the US in the past.  Anyone who grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s will remember a useful private system that was affordable. We still have a good disease care system, but it is now overpriced. To think that HR 3200 holds the magic key to improve a first rate disease care system that evolved over hundreds of years is fantasy. 

One of the differences between the current disease management system in the USA, and the one that vintage USA had, is the cost. So, before we address any other issue about health, cost is the one that we must address.

When a common sense approach is taken, we will determine that we have a good disease management care system and what we really need is insurance reform. There is no need to restructure our disease management. The 93% percent of Americans who are happy with the current system should not have to give up what they have. The 7% who want health insurance, but cannot afford it, should be able to apply for government assistance. That would be a lot less expensive and less abusive to America than HR 3200.

The Game of Hot Air

Does anyone remember the income tax?  Originally, it was a flat tax. Very few people were liable to pay it. The average rate was 1%, and it had a maximum rate of seven percent for the really rich folks.

Does anyone remember Social Security?  Finally, it has been exposed as the greatest Madoff (formerly Ponzi) scheme that has ever known to man.

The game of dialectics is older than the Bible. One of the ways that it is used in politics is as follows: A game player comes up with an outrageous proposal. Everyone screams and riots because they do not like it. So, the group that initiated the proposal finds out what would be acceptable and they modify the proposal in a manner that would allow it to become law. After they have their foot in the door, they determine that the original need was too important to leave out. So, they revise the bill and get everything wanted. In the end, the public looses.

Don’t let them trick you into believing that they can perform magic by taking their overpriced and abusive rationed care system and magically convert it into a solution. If this bill passes, it would deny you the greatest health potential ever known to modern humanity. We would not the have the cash and the freedoms needed to fund the free market, which would be the source of major innovations in health enhancement.

The Real Story

America needs a true “health” care system, not a disease management system.  As Andrew Weil, MD suggests, Americans must change the content of health care, not just the access. If we put the incentives on business to improve health rather than manage disease, everyone would be healthier, happier and richer. The costs of disease care would decline.

The real need is to train individuals to take care of themselves through choosing the right food and the right lifestyle. That is the only proven way to maximum health potential and it works. Dr. Raymond Francis noted that we have the technologies to help millions of baby boomers that are entering a phase of their lives when they will burden the disease care system. He said that we can fix it by teaching them how to get well and how to stay well using proven modern technology.  .

So, let’s go back to the drawing board. There is a problem. We can solve the real problem. Let’s give the health care system back to the free market. That is the only way to have a sensible, sustainable, common sense and fiscally responsible approach.

Previous article on Health Care

I am in full agreement that the issue needs to be properly addressed.  But the key word is proper.

The disease care system that Congress is threatening to impose on Americans, HR 3200, will not solve the health problem. Even if  HR3200 had the potential to improve health, Washington cannot be trusted with this very personal and private aspect of life.

Washington has a long history of consistent refusal to pass legislation that would allow the private sector the freedoms that it needs to develop and promote real health solutions.  In short, it is the fault of the past and present leaders that we are in this mess today. They are the people who should not be given any control over our health.

However, that is the not major reason why Americans should demand Congress to stop wasting their time on HR 3200.  Health care is a State issue and does not fall under the Constitutional jurisdiction of the Federal Government.

The Tenth Amendment prohibits the Federal Government from exercising any powers that are not specifically granted to them by the Constitution. Most of these powers are listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution.  So far, no one has been able to show me anything in Article One or anywhere else in the Constitution that grants the Federal Government the ability to mess with our health.

All of the shouting and rioting in the world will not make federally supplied health care a “right” or a Constitutional possibility. Of course, those who want Federal intervention in health care can and should lobby for a Constitutional Amendment. Until that happens, we should not disobey the Supreme Law of the Land.

The proper place for the health care argument is the State legislatures.

If this issue came to NJ, we would have to determine where the money would come from, how we would guarantee the protection of the personal property rights of those who do not want to participate, what kind of support there would be for preventative measures, how we would protect the privacy of those who want to keep it, and how freedoms will be protected to select health protocols that citizens believe to be effective but government does not want to permit.

There is a history of politicians creating laws that define the nature of health and the components that go into it. These government workers should not be given the ability to determine what methods Citizens need and want to pursue to become healthy.

Click here for more commentary on health care and HR3200

Click Here for Mike Adams article on how to save America with health

NJ taxpayers should not be required to support an educational system that is overpriced and inhibits educational alternatives. Charter schools, vouchers, home schooling, and remote computerized learning should be allowed to thrive so that better methods of education can be developed at a price that is comparable to those of other States and other countries.

There are many citizens who prefer to choose their own health development and care techniques. Many times, their choice is different than the options that are sanctioned by the Government. In the area of health, those who want to take advantage of reported successes in natural therapies, vitamin therapies and disease prevention should have the freedom to choose those options.

In the area of health insurance, everyone should have the option to choose  any type of health insurance that they desire, or none. No one should be required to support a disease based government-sanctioned insurance system against their will.

In short, confiscating money from Citizens who need it to support thier own health mangement techniques is nothing but armed robbery, invasion of privacy, and tyranny. .

Click Here for Mike Adams article on saving America’s health

Click Here for Related VoteGene article on Health Care Grab