Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Friday, February 15, 2008
Jon Sanders :: Townhall.com Columnist
Declaration in Dependence
by Jon Sanders
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
Was the Copenhagen Global Warming Summit Walk-Out a Win for the U.S.?


Comment: This isn't political science, this is politics. 

Suggestion: And we know we cannot provide these things on our own. It takes a village. It takes each of us contributing together to build our national village.

9. — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Comment: Wow. Just ... wow.

Suggestion: But to do that, we need to look forward with hope and bring about change.

10. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;

Comment: Delete.

11. and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Comment: That made my head hurt. Why not just talk about boiling the frog again? That's the basic idea, right?

Suggestion: Because we know that if you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, he will jump out. But if you put him in cool water, and slowly heat it, you can boil him.

12. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Comment: Huh?

Suggestion: And right now, we are all frogs sitting in boiling water. And we need to jump out with hope and dreams and reach for the change we need. This is for the future. This is for the children. This is for the planet itself.

I'm not reading any further. What you have written is way too long, too speechy, and too fundy-christiany.

In glancing over the rest, it seems you've listed several dozen policy disputes. That's the wrong approach. Don't forget all the single-issue voters out there. You don't want to scare off a possible supporter based on one political difference. The more policy positions you take, the greater this risk.

Remember the KISS principle: Keep it simple, stupid. Don't do anything to stop the voter from feeling that your candidate agrees with him. Elections aren't about policies, they're about feeling safe and happy.

Oh, and don't forget to end with "Sí, se puede! Yes, we can!" The focus groups are eating that up right now.

1 2
| Full Article & Comments | < Previous
Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author
Jon Sanders is a policy analyst and research editor at the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, N.C.

Be the first to read Jon Sanders' column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

SJ doc
You are right- the GOP and dems are stagnant and therefore scummy. "Government" has become its own entity, and it represents itself and the interests of those in power. The idea the American people are represented in the government is long gone and not coming back this side of great hardship and probably a blood bath.

Witty, but not original
--
I'd read this sort of thing before - on many occasions, using not only the Declaration but also Lincoln's Gettysburg Address - to parody the common usages of business communications.

Ever play "buzzword bingo" during corporate motivational speakers' interminable Pointy-Haired Boss presentations?

Interpreted in this context, however, this column does demonstrate how completely the mainstream political parties have succumbed to the "Dilbert Principle."

In a stagnant pond - which describes both the GOP and the Democrat Party - you get scum on top.

Yet another argument for "radical" agitators like Ron Paul.

Republicans really do need outreach to those of us who - unlike McCainiacs - can still think.



--
"Inflation has now been institutionalized at a fairly constant 5% per year. This has been determined to be the optimum level for generating the most revenue without causing public alarm. A 5% devaluation applies, not only to the money earned this year, but to all that is left over from previous years.

"At the end of the first year, a dollar is worth 95 cents. At the end of the second year, the 95 cents is reduced again by 5%, leaving its worth at 90 cents, and so on. By the time a person has worked 20 years, the government will have confiscated 64% of every dollar he saved over those years. By the time he has worked 45 years, the hidden tax will be 90%. The government will take virtually everything a person saves over a lifetime."

-- G. Edward Griffin
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Phone:
      
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.