RFFM.ORG

The Chicago Way: The Mayor Daley Machine & Chicago Politics From The Inside

Dan Zanoza, Executive Director of RFFM.org, interviews Carl Segvich, a Republican Committeeman in the 11th Ward--the ancestral home base of Mayor Richard M. Daley.  Though Richard M. Daley no longer lives in the 11th Ward, his politically powerful brother John Daley still resides in the 11th Ward and is Segvich's political counterpart as the Democratic Party's 11th Ward Committeman.

Segvich discusses what it's like to be a member of the GOP in the city of Chicago, Chicago-style politics, the Chicago way and "pay to play".  It is an insightful look into one-party, big city liberal politics which should be an eye-opener for those wanting to learn more about President Barack Obama's political roots.

Biography:

Carl Segvich is currently serving his first four-year term as Republican Committeeman of Chicago’s 11th Ward.  After running for delegate for Jack Kemp to the 1988 Republican National Convention, Segvich didn’t run for public office again until 2003 when he ran for the Chicago City Council – Alderman of the 11th Ward.  In 2004, he ran the first time for Committeeman.  In 2006, he ran against Mayor Daley’s brother John Daley for 11th District Cook County Commissioner.  Segvich continued to increase his vote percentages from the people when he ran for Alderman in 2007.  In February 2008, Segvich won and became the 11th Ward’s Republican Committeeman.

Segvich was born and raised in Bridgeport where he still resides.  He spends much time as an activist for several conservative causes including defending the unborn, immigration law, capitalism, school vouchers, freedom of religion, respect of marriage and respect of law by prosecuting corrupt politicians.

A former lector and church board member, Segvich is a Roman Catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Segvich worked in the health field at Mercy Hospital, 1995 - 2001.  Segvich has worked voluntarily and as paid staff on several political campaigns.  He ran and completed six Chicago marathons, 1994-1999.

Volunteer: 1993, Segvich traveled to Bosnia as Member of the Croatian Youth International Corps, counseled and assisted war orphans to shelter during Bosnian War.

Education: Studied political science at Richard J. Daley Community College of Chicago.   B.A., Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1985
 
Carl Segvich -- In His Own Words

Q.  Mr. Segvich, you have lived in Chicago your entire life.  In fact, you live in the 11th Ward, the ancestral home base of Mayor Richard M. Daley.  How did you get involved in politics?

A.  At the prodding of a local activist in the neighborhood, I recall conducting a poll in front of a grocery store for Richard M. Daley who was running for state senator.  It was the 1970's and I was an unwitting 15 year-old.  I had no idea at the time I was helping a spoiled young man who would go on to be an extreme leftist, stunningly selling out his Catholic religion and country by being the most responsible for foisting on us, a conman as President in 2009.
 
I would go on to learn better. I entered college as a democrat, studied political science and sociology and became a republican.  It was the mid 1980s and President Reagan was becoming an American hero, and aldermen actually debated in Chicago.

In 1988 I decided to run for the Republican National Convention as a Jack Kemp delegate.  In Mr. Kemp I saw a man who knew how to tackle urban problems and who could continue President Reagan's successful policies for America.

So my political interest was sparked by Chicago city council debates, Jack Kemp, President Reagan and honest professors at University of Illinois.  Today Bill Ayers teaches there.
 
I love politics.  It's very interesting to study human behavior as it relates to politics.
 
The biggest phenomenon that keeps me interested is this: Professed Christians and conservatives painfully and ironically continue to vote for liberal democrats such as Daley, Carol Mosely Braun, Durbin and Blagojevich.  I’m interested in stirring them to their untapped courage.  I’m interested in fighting the forces of money and clout, for the sake of justice.
 
Q.  As you very well know, Chicago is dominated by the Democratic Machine, but you are a Republican.  In general terms, can you talk about some of the challenges you have met as a member of the GOP living in the heart of Democratic Machine country?
 
A. It’s painful to watch conservatives vote for liberals, because of the false illusion that they “have to”.  It’s difficult to get employment (public or private) when you stand for truth.  One is not "accepted" if he doesn’t go along to get along.  I’ve had many folks tell me, “Carl, you say things that others won’t say” or “You say what everybody else is thinking, but is afraid to say”.  This makes me sad because I do not consider myself an extraordinarily brave person; I just say what is on my mind; it’s that easy.  So what is so brave about speaking one’s mind?  Nothing.  The opposite is true: Something is rotten when people don’t speak their mind, especially here in America.  Money and power corrupts.

The greatest challenge is fighting for others when they won’t fight for themselves.  The world is upside down.  You see, this is so important:  There are large numbers of people throughout Chicago, not just the 11th Ward, who are Republicans, but just don’t know it or won't show it.  The Daley Liberal Democrat Political mafia has demoralized a huge segment of our society.  This machine makes you think you must not be honest, and you have to be crooked and pay fealty to the Daleys.  As if that isn’t enough, pop culture led by secular media says it’s mean to be Republican and cool to be Democrat.
 
So, it’s quite challenging to fight a machine that tells society you “have to” and media that says it’s “cool”.
 
Q.  Recently, you ran for 11th Ward Republican Committeeman and won.  What are some of your duties as a Committeeman of the 11th Ward?

A.  I’m responsible for gauging the people’s opinions on government and politics, and answering with candidates who will be accountable.  I’m responsible for recruiting and campaigning for Republican candidates in all offices, from city council to state representative to President of our U.S. of A.  It's my duty--along with our precinct captains--to knock on every door and encourage our American patriotic neighbors to vote wisely.  It’s my responsibility to organize a political apparatus that will promote the conservative Republican Party, which in turn will promote the greater general welfare of all people and provide for ourselves a better representative government.

Perhaps most importantly, I am responsible for appointing 125 Republican election judges.  An election judge is there to protect the very foundation of our republic: honest and fair elections of integrity.  Unfortunately, fairer honest elections will take more time to re-introduce to an utterly corrupt Chicago.
 
I am also responsible for filling vacancies on the ballot.  (That too was recently corrupted as my powers were violated by the "machine")  I'm also responsible for our Ward's weighted vote to fill Republican offices when they become vacant.

It’s been noted that:  The office of Committeeman is the most powerful office in America.  While the President is the most powerful man in the world, the committeeman's office is more powerful because of grass-root politics.  It determines whose names will appear on the ballot for public office and, what the philosophy and platform will be of the party and candidates.  In other words, values and morals.

Right now Illinois is a 1-party state.  My job is to make Republicans compete.
 
Q.  During the last election, it was reported there were some election irregularities in your Ward.  Can you elaborate about this for RFFM.org's readers?
 
A.  By “irregularities”, we mean illegal activities which occur regularly, election after election in Illinois and more so in Chicago.  These “irregularities” must be stopped! 

First of all, our election contests between Democrats and Republicans, are run by Democrats.  Can we draw any clearer a picture of what is wrong in Chicago, America?!  The entire thing is run by Democrats!!  Government bureaucrats, whether they work for the state, county or city board of elections are card-carrying members of the Democrat Party.  They are card-carrying, dues-paying members of unions which are undeniably, irrefutably and incontrovertibly tied to the Democrat Party.  These partisans prepare for months ahead of time, the election process.  They put up the booths.  They troubleshoot problems on election day.  They monitor.  They are our “watchdogs”.  They take the booths down.  They count the votes.  Enough said?
 
At the polling location where folks are hiring the leader of our free world, what have we?  We have armies of political activists whose government j-o-b-s rely on that day's election results, passing out palm cards (eg., vote for Joe) in implacably clear violation of election law, ie., less than 100 feet from the voting booth.  These amazingly insulting and intimidating cards are often left right inside the booth next to the stylus, for the next voter to view.  It’s just another “irregular” violation.

Precinct captains – Democrats of course – inexplicably operate their election day political operation right at the voting table.  It is illegal for him to sit at that table!  Polling sheets, names/addresses of voters being monitored and cell phone calls being made with precision to get out their favorable voters and to depress the Republican vote.

All day long, food is brought in by “friends” of John Daley, the mayor’s brother and the Democratic Committeeman of our 11th Ward.  These boxes are emblazoned “Compliments of the 11th Ward Democratic Party”.  Openly displaying “compliments of Democrats” is illegal!  It’s electioneering.  However, it is visible all day to voters.  It’s worth mentioning this food is actually donated often, if not always, by the local intimidated businesses who don’t want an illegal communist-style inspection.

Next, when a voter first appears to vote and his name is located, his name is to be clearly announced out loud.  Remember this is supposed to be public and transparent.  This happened almost never.  There was no sincere safeguard to prevent early voters and absentee voters to vote again on election day.

It's also an old practice for machine apparatchiks to work the nursing homes, escorting completely unaware, barely alive seniors in the voting booth.  The Democrats are shameless.

Q.  Did you report these violations of election law and who did you report it to?
 
A.  I’ve been reporting these incidents to everyone I can think of for years, before I was Committeeman; namely to the Chicago/Cook Boards of  Election, the prosecutors, media and other so-called independent watchdog groups.
 
Q.  What was the response to your report?
 
A.  “We will look into it” is the typical response.  The media are partisan democrats.  The Cook County State Attorney's office for years has been run by loyal liberal democrat Dick Devine since Rich Daley vacated that seat.  I never expected Devine to help me lock up or even confront a political soldier working for his pal Richy and all his fellow liberal Democrats.

As far as the U.S. attorney and some independent watchdog groups, well, I'll give them the benefit of the on-going doubt -- there have been one or two election fraud cases prosecuted through the years.  Most “watchdog” groups are painfully liberal.

Q.  You didn't receive a response to your complaint until the election was over?  It appears there were problems with the system, not only from Democrats, but Republicans as well.  Would you agree with this?
 
A.  Absolutely.  Our problem is that the Republican Party in Illinois is run by Richy Daley.  Yes.  That is not a misstatement and Americans need to understand this, because this political cancer is now in D.C.
 
Daley is a Democrat who is so drunk with power and so entrenched in office (over 38 years in public office) that he, through surrogates, tells the “Republican” hierarchy what to do, and they willingly, cowardly and treasonously acquiesce.  The rank-and-file conservatives and Republicans have been sold out by elected “Republicans”.  So when I desperately call for help to any given Republican advocate on any given issue, there is no telling who I am talking to, and it is a 65% chance – I’d approximate – that I am talking to a sell-out for the Daley political mob.

As Committeeman, I filled vacancies so that an actual Republican can just run.  I mean just run, just be placed on the ballot for state senator and state representative, and guess what happened?!  Citing  specious paperwork inaccuracies, these Republicans (remember we are in America) were not allowed to contest the Democrats for a seat in our Illinois state General Assembly in Springfield in our Nov. ‘08 election.  In other words, Republicans can't run for office!  The candidates and I were denied my authority and their right to even be placed on the ballot for an election right here in America.  This was from the Chicago Board of Elections' hearing officers (Democrats) instructed by expert Democrat lawyer pals of Democrat Mike Madigan (Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives).  We had no Republicans who wanted to appeal this mammoth travesty of justice to a serious court.
 
I mentioned the important responsibility of appointing Republican election judges.  For years here in the 11th ward, Democrat John Daley picks the Republican judges.  It happens elsewhere too because again, the Republican “boss” is bought off.  Taking my responsibility seriously, I worked hard to appoint bona fide Republicans as judges.  However, official misconduct took place at the Board of Elections, and my authority was spat upon.  Some appointments were confirmed, but many were illegally denied, and the travesty of justice continues.  I could not find real significant help from the Republicans who are supposed to advocate for us, to fight this either.
 
Q.  Even though President Barack Obama was a product of the Chicago Democratic machinery, few Americans seem to be aware of how all consuming the one-Party system is in Chicagoland.  Do you think the national media did a good job of vetting Sen. Obama and reporting on the Democratic machine from which he came?
 
A.  No, of course not.  It is painfully obvious that there is only one entity more reprehensible than lying politicians in America.  American media is repugnant and detestable.  They are granted special privileges by our Constitution and they are supposed to be a watchdog for our better well-being.  Yet what they are really doing is rooting and cheerleading for the Democrat Party, and strategically and nefariously working to instill modern-radical-liberalism in our culture and destroy our United States of America.  These media are largely anathema to Christianity and free-markets.  Obama was perfect for them.

It boggles the mind when considering how corrupt the governments of Chicago, Cook and Illinois are.  The entirety is run by liberals and Democrats.  Republicans--who purportedly are led by Illinois chair Andy McKenna--are actually run by Daley’s Democrat army; ergo, the one-party system.  Media know this, but say nothing.

Obama and his manufacturers David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel saw the hugest gaping hole in a strong and free nation of the U.S.A.  That hole is called Richy Daley.  Emanuel knows what Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx called a “useful idiot”.  Axelrod has been managing and forming "useful idiot" Daley for years.  Axelrod knows media also; he previously worked for the Chicago Tribune.  Per the communist mindset, a useful idiot is a politician who is not very intelligent, but is powerful.  To boot, their man Daley had no morals.

When Emanuel wanted a seat in our U.S. Congress, he came to get one from Richy.  This here is one big machine story in and of itself that makes the Daleys cringe when told.  The Daleys used and abused their patronage armies, including unwitting fall guy Robert Sorich and convict Donald Tomczak and good conservative people from the 11th Ward and elsewhere to help elect the execrable Emanuel who is polar opposite of conservatism.  In order to maintain the illusion that they are not dirty liberals themselves in action, the Daleys don’t like to be associated with Emanuel.

Media ignored all this.  Media were all too willing to promote the agenda of Axelrod, Bill Ayers, Saul Alynski, Rich Daley and Emanuel.  Media ignored Obama’s work to elect Blagojevich our governor in 2006, even as Rod was under suspicion of federal crimes of abusing government power.  Media watered down Obama’s extremely suspicious professed religious beliefs.  Media ignored Obama’s outrageous associations with defiant bomber Ayers.   Media ignored the criminal bombshell of the messiah’s criminal collaboration with Rezko and Patty Blagojevich, and the plum jobs given to Michelle Obama, and the “affordable houses” that were mostly Chicago board-ups and dope-houses.

Media dismissed a huge Obama real-estate scam by accepting his pathetic excuse that “it was a bone-headed mistake I made”.  Media have aided and abetted liberal democrats and gullible treasonous republicans into creating a massively liberal 1-party state.  The media killed the story of staggering Chicago corruption that runs through Illinois.
 
Q.  Obviously, this is not the first year and you are not the first individual who has encountered this political gamesmanship.  What are your prior experiences with the "Chicago way"?
 
A.  Well I’ve had my car window broken days before my election for alderman in front of my house.  I suppose that can be considered minor.  I’ve had my friends intimidated out of attending my fundraisers.  I’ve had other friends harangued for giving me an in-kind donation of office space.  That’s serious.

I’ve seen the nefarious Daleys who are loving it and laughing all the way to the bank, continue to get away with small and big abuses of our government power.  They dole out OUR jobs, overtime, handicapped parking, zoning, tax-breaks, police protection, liquor licenses and many other lucrative items such as contracts, illegally to pleasure themselves and to empower themselves, at the expense of good, moral and decent American taxpayers and their children and grandchildren.  These abuses were used to separate and buy off my life-long "friends".  Political gamesmanship may be heart-wrenching to me, but it poisons the entire city.  It’s serious.
 
Not only is the body-politic ruined, but the gamesmanship poisons the religious world.  With promise of reward, Rich Daley types have taught the Catholic congregation how to scandalize their church.  Examples: Abortion and the homosexual agenda.  The Daleys are experts at getting the masses to compromise sacred principles.  The alderman is superior to the priest.  That’s the Chicago way and the “Catholic” way.
 
Q.  Recently, the impeached former Democratic Governor, Rod Blagojevich, has been at the center of a huge controversy regarding his attempt to sell the vacated Illinois U.S. Senate seat and the political scourge of "pay to play".  Did any of the recently revealed allegations surprise you?
 
A.  Of course not.  He’s just another narcissistic animal.  His crooked political life is intertwined with those of Alderman Dick Mell (his estranged father-in-law), Rich Daley, Emanuel, Obama, Emil Jones and other poor excuses for government such as Jesse Jackson and his openly lesbian lawmaker sister-in-law Deborah Mell.

But shame on voters who elected and re-elected Rod.  Now the master plan of the master criminals, along with complicit media, is too blame an entire state of corruption on one crooked man.
 
Q.  Now that we have someone who came right out of the Chicago machine in the White House, do you feel there will be more scrutiny of how things are done in the City?
 
A.  No, not by media.  Along with some conservatives who care about law and order, I will continue to expose criminals, but the left is clearly running wild.

Looking at how things have generally been going since the 1950's, and specifically in Chicago since 1989, I don’t see anything changing the trajectory of less and less media scrutiny in Chicago and more oligarchy.  The oligarchs include some with subpoena power and most media.  Let’s face it, things look dire.  We must be willing to fight it.

As far as Obama in our White House, I do think the American Culture War will intensify in some ways, but I don’t see yet how that will translate to more scrutiny on the cesspool of where this fraud hailed from politically – Chicago.

The “dumbing” down of our nation and the apathy of jaded Chicagoans are facts that lend themselves to further downward trajectory and less scrutiny, not more.

Federal agents can change this...possibly.  I don't know.  We will see.  But I will say one thing: Honest scrutiny and honest government can never coexist until Daley is out.
 
Q.  What are your thoughts of Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and the job he has done regarding corruption in the state?
 
A.  I have mixed emotions.  Most importantly to me is this: Having a criminal in our Chicago city hall for 19 years and 9 months without getting hand-cuffed and indicted is too long.  Fitzgerald has been U.S. Attorney here about 10 years.  It is not unreasonable that millions of Americans residing in Illinois are demanding the arrest of Richy Daley for abuse of their public trust.  Taxpayers in Illinois do indeed know in their hearts that Richy is a crook who is utterly obsessed with being a politician.  Rich has had innumerable scandals such as "not knowing" who hired a young member of the Hispanic Democrat organization to oversee the Hired Trucks scandal, to how his son got a lucrative contract, how his nephew got a lucrative bond deal, to selling a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) lot to his pal for $1.  So, where is the indictment of Daley?  Where?!

I live by the motto regarding giving people the benefit of the doubt, so I am forced to accept the notion that Fitzgerald innocently ran into problems of making the people’s case.  I give Fitzgerald the benefit of the doubt, but it’s getting old.  His handling of Blagojevich is starting to emit a foul odor.  I hope I am wrong.  Where I know I am not wrong is common sense.  In the court of common sense, Rich has obviously sold Chicago in exchange for his seat as illegal mayor.

Illinois is obviously awash in graft.  So now we need our paid public servant, Attorney Fitzgerald, to take that common sense evidence and legally transfer it into our federal court of law.
 
Q.  It has become clear there is a problem in the City of Chicago.  Some blame this on one-Party government, others say it is the responsibility of individuals to do the right thing.  In your opinion, what do you think needs to be done in the City of Chicago to bring about reform?
 
A.  Rich Daley and his brother John Daley need to be arrested, given a fair trial and convicted for the huge crimes of official misconduct, abuse of the public trust, bribery and many more crimes of enriching themselves on the backs of a beaten down demoralized citizenry.  Rich can be convicted of many other crimes, such as violating his oath of office by violating the immigration laws of our United States of America.  His sanctuary city policy, EXECUTIVE ORDER 89-6 OFFICE OF THE MAYOR (SANCTUARY CITY) SECTION 3 is unconstitutional.  It is illegal.  No one says anything.  He is aiding and abetting the quiet “bloodless” war and overthrow of America.  No one says anything.

His brother John ran the job-rigging scam for which his fall guy Robert Sorich went to prison.  The feds called this City Hall scam a “massive fraud”.  Nothing, so far, happened legally with John Daley.  Rich was interviewed by the F.B.I., but we the people were told almost nothing about this, and that was 2 ½ years ago.

Yes, we need people to do what is morally right.  And we know about the one-party government causing the problem.  Yes, these are parts of the problem.

Also, it is crucial that we - somehow - convince all government workers that we reformers are on their side and not against them.  We need to support them and convince them that they must not be threatened by the Daley’s holding the patronage hammer over their heads.  The workers are to immediately call the “cops” if the Daleys abuse them in any way.  City workers are allowed to keep their jobs, get paid well, get promotions and vote Republican.  That’s the law.  City workers are to be respected, not used as slaves, while Rich flies around the world on our money.  It is one of the dirtiest kept secrets -- the average city worker does not like the Daley political animal.  The workers are intimidated but again, they must learn to respect themselves, respect their jobs and say "no" to Daley.  It is their job, it is not Daley's job.  Chicagoans will stand up for the workers, not with power-drunk Daley.  Honest conservative government workers must stand up for themselves.  They must stop voting for liberal politicians who “hate” them.  How deranged is it to have an otherwise tough conservative city worker vote for Obama who makes fun of folks who cling to the Bible and his gun?!

If we are to reform, we must compel ourselves to talk morality over money.  We need not only reform.  Let's be clear -- we need root-and-branch reform.

Pray tell, where on earth is the Church’s voice?

Q.  As a Republican, have you become discouraged in your efforts as someone who believes in something more than political allegiance?
 
A.  A bit, but I bounce right back because I know that fighting the good fight is right and right always wins in the long run.  I’m a marathon runner.
 
The idea of being allegiant to a political party is foolhardy.  I am not going to be loyal to frauds such as (former Governor) Jim Thompson or Andy McKenna.  In fact, I didn’t vote for George Ryan.  It’s principle over politics.  Now is the time in America and Illinois that we trumpet morality over money.  Morality!  Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, taken together, are firm in sober and profound reliance on morality.
 
I see many Chicago characters who are in our Republican Party for all the wrong reasons.  Some do it just to further a career as government workers loyal to the culture of corruption.  Some are fiscal conservatives tired of Daley, but are extremely liberal on social issues.  They call themselves moderate.  It’s another lie.  We are witnessing a move by homosexuals gaining huge influence in our Republican Party.
 
The Republican Party Philosophy is the protection of life from conception to death.  We value a traditional American family life style.  A man marries a woman.  Republicanism is to promote small and efficient government, giving incentive to individuals to be responsible and independent.  We take seriously our 2nd Amendment rights.
 
Our rights are unalienable, as our Declaration states.  Most importantly, all our rights come not from President Bush, Daley or Obama, but from God.  Governments are to serve people by keeping obstacles out of our way to protect these God-given rights.
 
Be loyal not to a party, not even to a government, but to God.  Be encouraged by your allegiance to sound moral governance, and faith in God.

Q.  What are your plans for the future?  Will you continue to work against the system in Chicago?
 
A.  What’s happening in Chicago politics is evil.  To see evil happening, and do nothing, is like doing that evil yourself.

Political engagement is absolutely necessary, if you have even the least bit of respect for your family, neighbors and self.  It is mandatory to not abdicate one’s civic responsibility.  It is required of us men on earth to be involved in our political arena.  As Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said, “Good manners are not an excuse for political cowardice".

So I believe it is important to, at the very same time, have good manners and to expose political corruption.  It’s vital to work for justice.  It is vital to our well-being to contribute to our self-run government.  Obviously, it varies from person to person as to how much time and other resources one can contribute.  I just plan on staying locally active.  It is so important because all our local political actions have a ripple effect upwards to the national and international stages.  Remember, all politics is local.
 
Look at how we pretended not to see Daley’s, Emanuel’s and Blagojevich’s despicable public policies in Chicago.  Now look at the conman from Chicago they foisted on us as leader of our free world!  We lived the lie.  We were in denial.  Now we have the hugest abortionist ever as president.  This guy is an implacable fraud!
 
This Chicago system must be fought; it must be fought now and fought hard.  Fight with prayer, common sense, a moral compass, intellectual honesty, community organizing, fund-raising, bravery and talking with our neighbors and families.  We must open the dialogue.  The way the sinful political system works now is to get the masses to not talk about politics!  So we must recruit better people of strong moral character, with loud voices, to run for the noble position of public office.

So, yes, I’d like to work against the current system until I can work for a more honest and fairer system, along with our majority of fellow-citizens.  That is, a body-politic where publicly elected officials actually serve the public...where politics is about ideology, public policy and good government for every human soul, and not about enriching oneself on our tax dollars.

We all need to work against this system.  Working against the system now is more important than ever.  Life is oh so short -- just fight the good fight.  In the end, truth always wins over lies.

11th Ward Republican Party
Carl Segvich, Committeeman
3110 So. Wells St.
Chicago, Il 60616
312-404-CARL
Carl@Segvich.US
www.11thWard.US
 
********

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Illinois Grassroots Organization Defends Second Amendment

Dan Zanoza, Executive Director of RFFM.org, interviews Warren Drake, GunEnews editor about issues involving Americans' right to bear arms. Drake gives a history of the organization and where it is headed in the future.

Warren Drake of Mahomet, Illinois is an active member of GunsSaveLife, Inc., and currently serves as GunEnews editor, GunNews Magazine Distribution Chairman, July 4th Parade Chairman, and helps with other interesting activities as they come along.

In His Own Words" -- Warren Drake

Q. I believe GunsSaveLife.com (Champaign County Rifle Association) is one of the most influential grassroots organizations in Illinois. RFFM.org's readers would be interested in knowing something about why you feel the fight for our Second Amendment rights is so important. Briefly, how did you personally become involved in this effort?

A. Culture. Our fight to retain and regain our Second Amendment rights is so important because those rights, the freedom that flows from them, and the liberty from tyranny (of bullying criminals and government alike) they help preserve, is a key part of our unique American Culture. Our rights to own property, to go elsewhere to seek work, take the risks of running a business, to worship--or not worship, are all dependant on the rule of law, and our society's ability to enforce the law. I see private ownership of firearms as key to the long-term success of our culture, and therefore it is worthy of our efforts to protect it.

My active involvement in the gun rights movement started about 1996, when I went to a meeting of "Champaign County Grassroots" in Urbana at the Jolly Roger Restaurant. It was then and still is a congenial group with a wide range of interests and knowledge. When we incorporated, we adopted the name Champaign County Rifle Association, and later added GunsSaveLife as another corporate name. Our website, and the tagline on our highway signs, is GunsSaveLife.com.

Q. Can you give us a description of what your organization's Mission Statement is?

A. Our main mission is education. We promote gun safety education for and the responsible use of firearms for youth and adults. We aim to educate the population regarding the history of firearms in this country, and the proven benefits to America of law-abiding firearm ownership. We also promote participation in the shooting sports, by sponsoring and offering classes, shoots, and encourage the building and maintenance of shooting ranges for the public to use.

Q. How many Illinois residents receive your e-newsletter and newspaper, Gun News, each month?

A. At present we are distributing 9,000 copies of GunNews Magazine, the paper version. We mail individual copies to our members, as well as certain companies, politicians, and other organizations whose goals are similar to ours. Our members distribute copies to auto parts stores, restaurants, sporting goods stores, veterinarian's offices, and friends--who often pass them on again. Sangamon County Rifle Association, which has a section in GunNews, is a prolific distributor for many miles around Springfield. We mail 60 bundles to more distant locations. We also post GunNews in PDF format on our website, GunsSaveLife.com.

I am really pleased with the quality of our newsletter. Many thanks to GunNews editor John Naese!

We send out GunEnews to all who sign up to receive it, a few hundred at present. This is the e-mail newsletter I edit, with links to stories of interest, sometimes the full text of stories, and information on events that shooters and gun-rights supporters might be interested in attending. GunEnews helps get calls to legislators in a more timely fashion.

Q. I know one thing for certain. Millions of motorists see your billboards along Illinois Interstates. Do you receive much feedback regarding the billboards? How are the billboards funded and do you plan on putting more of them up across Illinois?

A. Oh, yes! We get lots of feedback! Our Burma-style sign program is easily our most visible effort at educating the public. Developing the slogans is also a popular meeting activity, members pitching in to tweak, trim the slogan into 19 letters per sign, hopefully made to rhyme and have proper meter. Then the final test: "Does everybody like it?" Once, a slogan was met with near unanimous enthusiasm. Except for one man, who pointed out that if one did not catch the first panel, the whole meaning was reversed. We scrapped the slogan. Unanimously.

The funding for sign sets, about $500 a set, comes from members dues and donations we receive at our regular monthly meetings. We also have received some grant money for public education purposes from the Friends of NRA organization. We currently have about 30 sets of these around the state.

The biggest item for these signs is always donated -- the land that they sit on. The key to getting them that close to the Interstate highways is that they are non-commercial, political speech. Landowners who support what we do and have land fronting a major highway give us permission, and then our volunteers swing into action.

We will certainly put up more, mainly when we find new, good sites along major highways with landowners that will help by letting us use the space.

We hope that the rhyme, humor, and simple statement of a truth will nudge people who really have not considered the value of privately owned firearms to our society, into looking at them in a more positive light. Whether the signs convert anyone or not, I ALWAYS FEEL BETTER WHEN I SEE ONE.

Q. What's so different about your gun rights organization, compared to others?

A. I believe member involvement and participation is key. Meetings are well attended: second Tuesday every month. Our members recommend and recruit speakers, as well as volunteer to be the feature and "tech time" speakers at our monthly meetings, to share their knowledge and insight with others. Many of the articles in GunNews are written or sent to the editor by our members. Our members volunteer to show the flag at the Fourth of July Parade (Champaign County Freedom Celebration is huge--we get lots of "thumbs-up" and a few hecklers!), and at gun shows and other events. Our members help at youth shooting camps and other educational events. In short, we offer our members many ways besides sending money that they can help, and many take us up on the offer.

Q. Perhaps the most important court ruling in our nation's history regarding the Second Amendment was recently handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court when that judicial body struck down the Washington, D.C. gun ban. What was your initial reaction when you first heard the news?

A. My initial reaction was, a very quiet "THANK GOD," followed by profound grief that four members of the highest court in the land could be so dishonest; that they could actually write an opinion denying that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual rather than a government right. All in all, it is appalling that the case had to be brought at all.

Q. How do you feel the high court's ruling will impact Illinois legislation regarding the possession of firearms? I know you can probably write a book on this subject, but what will the ruling's immediate impact be?

A. The immediate impact is to put us on offense and the anti-rights people on defense. Instead of us having to fight off another gun ban, now they (as in City of Chicago) are having to fight off lawsuits seeking to strike down their onerous bans and regulations.

Q. We are already hearing of potential lawsuits being brought against cities like Chicago and Wilmette regarding these city's prohibitive laws banning hand gun ownership. But how will the D.C. gun ban decision apply to such cities on an immediate basis? For example, does the ruling automatically strike down Chicago's ban on hand guns?

A. Not potential lawsuits, actual lawsuits that have already been filed against the City of Chicago and a handful of suburbs. Although there will be no immediate improvement in Chicago, as that city has chosen to fight the suits, there has been an immediate effect in several suburbs, such as Wilmette, Morton Grove, and Evanston which have chosen to amend or repeal their anti-gun ordinances rather than spend large amounts defending them in suits they would almost certainly lose. Vigilance IS still required--some may try the D.C. route of making minor changes that will require another court fight.

Q. Obviously, the debate over whether individual citizens have the right to bear arms is over. In a more far-reaching sense, what did the Supreme Court say to not only Illinois, but the rest of the nation regarding the possession of firearms? Will the ruling give a boost to those who are trying to implement conceal and carry laws in states that do not yet have them?

A. This ruling will give a boost to those of us who are working for right to carry laws here in Illinois, which is one of only two states (Wisconsin is the other) that have NO provision for any regular citizen to get a permit to carry. Like I said earlier, this puts us on offense. Let THEM make the case that the people of Illinois are less trustworthy, and less in need of personal and family protection, than the citizens in 48 other states.

What the Supreme Court has essentially said is that gun bans are off the table. This lifts a tremendous burden from gun rights supporters, who can now concentrate on getting the rest of the gun laws to be more citizen friendly.

Q. Without letting the proverbial cat out of the bag, can you tell RFFM.org's readers what is at the top of your legislative agenda statewide?

A. It's no secret that we would like to see permit to carry enacted in Illinois. Even more urgent, we need what's called a "preemption" law that would prevent cities and counties from making gun laws more restrictive than those on the state level, so that when we do get permit to carry, it won't be negated by a patchwork quilt of city and county ordinances.

Q. There are millions of Illinois residents who support the Constitutional right to bear arms. How can they help protect these rights?

A. Vote pro-gun rights. A politician who wants gun restrictions probably doesn't trust you with other freedoms, either. Get involved. Work to get good candidates elected. Urge good people to run for office, and support them when they do. Get involved in primaries; by the time of the general election, it's often a choice between bad and worse. Support pro-freedom organizations such as ours, not only with your money, but with your time. Join or start a local group that can impact politics in your area.

Q. If someone wanted to join your efforts at GunsSaveLife, what do they need to do? Can they send donations? Can they volunteer their time? How can they sign up for your newsletter?

A. The best way to support our organization is to become a member. You'll get GunNews every month, which will keep you very informed on the gun rights scene here in Illinois.

To join, send a check for $30 per year to Guns Save Life.com, PO Box 51, Savoy, IL, 61874. You can print the third page of the .PDF found at

http://www.gunssavelife.com/Newsletter/Aug08.7.PDF for a membership form to send in with your check.

Donations, by check payable to Guns Save Life.com, are certainly welcome. You can specify if you want your donation used for the Burma Sign campaign, our legal defense fund, or our range and land acquisition fund, or our general operations (mainly GunNews).

If you own a business, consider advertising in GunNews. Page 2 of the PDF above has the advertising rates. Call Editor John Naese at 217-684-2602 or e-mail him at

johnnease@comcast.net

if you are interested in advertising. It's a good way to reach a target audience of freedom-loving, generally conservative and intelligent people.

You don't have to be a member to subscribe to GunENews; just e-mail

gunenews@mchsi.com

And if you can, come on out for our meetings, at the Park Inn in Urbana, just off Interstate 74 at the Cunningham Avenue exit. You don't have to be a member to attend. Folks from all over drive quite a distance to come to these meetings, which are held on the second Tuesday of every month. We have dinner and conversation from 6 to 7 P.M., and the meetings generally go from 7 to 9 P.M., with a featured guest speaker and a "Tech Time" presentation on a particular gun or shooting discipline. We have regular attendees from as far away as Springfield, Decatur, Lincoln, Bloomington, Danville, and many other cities.

One more very important way you can help: if you have land suitable for a Burma Shave style sign set, or know someone who does who would want to help us out, we want to hear from you. Our sign coordinator is David Pike, at 217-352-6405, or e-mail him at

pike2020@gmail.com.

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact Dan@rffm.org

Comments to RFFM.org's blog which include ad hominems or personal attack will automatically be rejected. No hyperlinks allowed.

Champion News Editor Shares Views on Illinois Politics: John Biver, In His Own Words

Dan Zanoza, Executive Director of RFFM.org, interviews John Biver, Editor of Champion News, formerly Family Taxpayers Network. 

Biver answers questions on the state of Illinois politics and specifically addresses the Republican Party's demise in recent years.  Biver also delves into the roles of conservative activists and how individuals and groups can help conservatives turn the tide in state politics.  Biver's thoughts on GOP politics apply at a national level as well.

BIOGRAPHY

John Biver is an Illinois writer, researcher and activist, who is the editor of Champion News, where his column, Dispatches, appears.  Biver has worked in politics and government both in Washington, D.C. and in Illinois.  He is an elected Republican Precinct Committeeman in Kane County, and recently served as the president of a non-profit organization focusing on public school reform issues.

JOHN BIVER  --  IN HIS OWN WORDS

Q.  Recently, Family Taxpayers Network changed its name to Champion News.  Could you explain what, if anything, this change represents to those who look to your organization for information.

A.  FTN (Family Taxpayers Network) was a PAC, Champion News is an LLC, reflecting a change in mission.  Rather than providing campaign assistance, our job now is to help get information out to as many people as we can regarding the facts on the ground.

It’s important to note that we’re not pretending to be some large journalistic enterprise.  We’re a small group of people attempting to reach more citizens with better information about the sad state of political and governmental affairs in Illinois.  Illinoisans need to be encouraged to engage and take responsibility for the state of their state and their party.  They will only do that when they learn the extent of the rot, and the incompetence of the current players.  As Thomas Jefferson said – a “reformation in government will follow a reformation of opinion."   

Q.  In the past, your organization has been very critical of both political parties in Illinois.  In particular, the GOP has taken much fire from you and Champion News.  Can you tell us why?   

A.  It’s easy to whine about Governor Blagojevich.  But Democrats and liberals who offer nothing but higher funding for the failed status quo aren’t the real problem in Illinois.   

We recently tallied up the number of years of combined service of our Republican General Assembly members.  Over seven centuries!  Yet despite all those years on the job by all those talented people, few Illinoisans know what would be different if Republicans were in charge.   

Republicans in Illinois should have, by now, outlined an aggressive reform agenda, based on the many good examples being set by Republicans in other states.  The fact is they haven’t and show no indication that they have any desire to do so.   

The real work is building a statewide political movement that can change minds and produce votes.  That building won’t take place with the current Republican leadership.  If it was going to, we would’ve seen signs of progress by now.  It’s helpful to remember that these people work for us – both as Republicans and as citizens of the state.  We stand ready to cheer good efforts.  Right now there isn’t much to cheer about.    

Q.  OK, that's quite a summary of what is wrong with Illinois politics.  What needs to be done to fix it?   

A.  We need new people engaging the process.  Last year we launched the Republican Renaissance Project, which will, on an ongoing basis, continue to argue for the need as well as to outline specifics for how people can participate in politics.   

The failed “conservative movement” and most of those elected Republicans appear impervious to the simple suggestion that different behavior is required if different results are to be seen.  Delusion is common in political activist circles.  They block out the unpleasant reality that all their efforts haven’t produced much and instead lash out at those who engage in straight talk.   

If any of the current players on the political scene expect to be of any use, we would hope that they would, at a minimum, discontinue their enabling of the current failed leadership.  A lot of individuals in Illinois conservative politics have chosen to trade in their principles for ongoing access to those who hold important party and government offices.   

It would also be helpful if fewer “activists” were doing harm.  It doesn’t bother us when the media or other advocates of the political left spread false information.  Rational people can consider the source.  One of the larger problems we have now in Illinois is that blogs that purport to be “conservative” post false information under fake names and revel in a type of anonymous postings that reminds me of what we’d hear from the sewer, if rats could talk.  That’s probably being unkind to the rats.   

Q.  What should Illinois residents look for from their elected officials?   

A.  Leadership, information and courage to step aside if they’re unable to get the job done.   

In a piece I wrote a couple of years ago, I referred to an old movie, “The Last Hurrah,” which was about an old Irish-American political boss whose era was coming to an end.  We’ve recently passed through another transition, but most of our Republican leaders still don’t realize it.  Many of them still think they’re elected clerks who can spend all their time on the details of legislation and the work of constituent service.   

Over the course of the past few decades, the enormous growth of government has made it so that those who profit at taxpayers’ expense are the single largest special interest group in the nation.  By their sheer size and dedication, they dominate the news and the information that reaches many busy Americans who work in non-government jobs.   

Elected Republicans have yet to get serious about countering this behemoth.  Any Illinois resident who is serious about supporting reform had better think about doing two things:  1) holding their elected official to a higher standard, especially regarding that official’s efforts to move public opinion in support of GOP principles, and 2) consider running for office themselves.   

Our elected officials are the front line soldiers – and like it or not – we won’t gain ground if they are expecting to follow others into battle.  They must lead.   

Q.  I don't want to point fingers at any particular individual, but today our most talented people seem to be going into endeavors other than politics.  Why?   

A.  Politics requires not only talent, but vision and will.  Take the Chicago business community as an example.  While those who make up its ranks inhabit all political points on the spectrum, how many of them realize that they have the power, money, and resources to bring real reform to their city and county government?  The Chicago City Club’s nonpartisan forums and debates are typically packed to the gills with attendees with more than enough ability to do something about the waste and corruption that’s all around them.  But it’s not a priority for them, and I’d guess a good number of them think of themselves as serfs, rather than as free men and women.  They choose to put up with it, make money and pay the corruption tax.   

If this state is ever to climb out of the hole it’s dug, it’ll be done with the help of dedicated men and women who have decided that “we the people” really means “we,” not just somebody else.  Even Plato referred to the problem of being governed by your inferiors.  It’s clearly not a new phenomenon.   

Q.  How do we encourage better people to get involved in the political process?

A.  I’d argue that finding the answer to that question is the premier question of our times.  Right now we’re governed primarily by the high school student-council types who enjoy the social game, or those with big egos who thrive off of the notoriety and attention.  Clearly the average ability level of the political office holder must be increased rather quickly, if we’re going to avert governmental disaster both in foreign and domestic policy.

The good news is that the talent is out there.  Our society still produces plenty of people with the ability to see politics and government for what they’re supposed to be--rather than some kind of arena for self-fulfillment and personal profit.   

As long as this nation continues to produce men and women willing to serve like those in the armed forces, to cite one example, there’s hope for doing the same in the far less dangerous arena of politics.   

The challenge is for those of us on the field to convey the importance of this fight to those preoccupied with living or who are struggling through life.  It’s possible to find that “vitalizing spark” for the soul, as General George Patton called it, which is the secret to victory on the battlefield and in politics.  Right now our side might lack the right kind of leaders, but it’s my view that they are out there and they will be found.    

Q.  The Illinois Republican Party seems to be in shambles at all levels.  I don't know where to start regarding this question, but perhaps you can tell RFFM.org's readers how this came about.   

A.  It’s a long story – too long to touch on here.  Where we’re at now has its genesis in the 1960s and 1970s with the wrong people with the wrong mentality gaining a foothold in Illinois GOP politics.  But that’s not the worst part.  Republicans who take the limited government/traditional values party platform seriously have had multiple opportunities to overthrow the "Ancient Régime.”   

The reason they haven’t isn’t that much different from why the Chicago Cubs haven’t won a World Series in a hundred years: personnel.  Although there have been good players on the field, they just haven’t gotten the job done.   

In the past few years, not enough so-called “conservative” “activists” have understood how they were contributing to the continuation of the problem.  I use quotation marks because I’m not sure a person is truly conservative if they’re exercising bad judgment and offering to assist knuckleheaded candidates who can pay top dollar.  And I’m not sure they’re truly “active” if their participation doesn’t include real party and campaign work.  You’ve heard of a RINO.  Well, there’s such a thing as a Conservative Activist in Name Only.   

Q.  What needs to be done to fix the problem?  Please be specific.   

I’ve already addressed the simple fact that our elected leaders and activists must change their behavior if they expect a different result.  When it comes to the party, obviously we need new people on the playing field there, too.   

Specifically, I think just as the RNC and any effective state party organization outlines its issues, so also township and county organizations need to start telling voters how their party approaches township or county government.  You asked for specifics and so do I.  Too often, Republicans work to elect Republicans who govern like Democrats. 

We’re not going to grow the party apparatus, if all the activity is really about the ambition of individual knuckleheads (if I may be blunt).  Wonder why the Republican Party lacks energy and numbers?  It’s because it’s not about anything important to real citizens.  If these local party organizations don’t set a standard and get serious about reaching out to the people in their communities for involvement and support, don’t expect anything but more of the same.   

The party organizations must also hold the locally elected officials responsible for their performance.  Otherwise the party is a social club support group for the politically ambitious.  For too many years we’ve been electing Republicans that wind up failing us and the parties just keep nominating the same goofs anyway.  The purpose of the party isn’t to elect Republicans.  It’s to elect Republicans that will truly advance GOP platform principles.    

Q.  In the past, some African-American churches have come under criticism from those who believe these houses of worship are participating in politics and violating the rules regarding tax-exempt organizations.  However, you have said it would be wise to remove the tax-exempt status from all churches whether they participate in politics or not.  Can you explain the rationale for your thinking?

A.  Church folks may say they’re not interested in politics, but that’s like saying they’re not interested in there being enough of a supply of clean water or clean air.  We live the consequences of politics every day – culturally and economically.   

Christians are free to detach their spiritual life from the world if they want.  They can continue to think that what takes place in church on Sunday is somehow not directly related to myriad foreign and domestic policies they support or oppose.  But make no mistake, the left and their various pseudo-religions (the extreme environmentalists, the socialists, and the homosexual and gender confused communities) don’t separate their perverse “faith” from government. They attempt to drive policy actively and they raise and spend many million of dollars doing so.   

All that takes place while Christians take the bribe.  By being tax-exempt, the government allows them to keep all of the money they raise inside the church.  When you compare that to the cost culturally and economically, I’d say it’s a bad deal.  Those few extra bucks the church has to buy those extra nice pews won’t mean much when the country around them goes to hell – and I’m not talking about the hell that’s located in the hereafter.   

My recommendation to Christians is to get real and stop being bought off.  Build a more modest church and tell the pastor get a part-time job so they can rejoin the fight to defend Western Culture.  If you think it’s not under siege, let me recommend a couple of books I recently read: Bruce Thornton’s “Decline and Fall,” and Mark Steyn’s “America Alone.”    

Q.  If our churches become a conduit for political energy, many will claim this violates their purpose.  Can you understand the resistance that would be sure to come regarding your proposal?

A.  There are a lot of manifestations of “political energy” in this country and I’d argue that most of them right now are working against genuine Christian values.  Most uses of the term “politics” these days imply something unclean, which is not surprising because the results of most political energy leads to a negative end.   

Each individual and every church will have to decide whether they want to continue to delegate to others the culture and the workings of their government.  I’m not here to answer “what would Jesus do” specifically when it comes to this policy or that.  But a better airing of the real world facts regarding the consequences of government policies and how they relate to the teachings of Christianity seem to be in order.  Those who prefer to ignore the taint of cold hard governmental and cultural problems can form their own denomination and apply for that 501(c)3.  Let others unilaterally disarm.   

Christians are living in a dream world, if they think everybody else is playing by the same rules.  The left wing proselytizing that goes on in the public schools isn’t going to be properly checked, to name just one example, if churches are hiding behind their tax-exempt status.  If they think church is primarily about the hereafter, I’d suggest that this century might play out in a way their children and grandchildren might not appreciate.   

At the end of the day, we’re talking about money.  No one has convinced me that this tax exemption doesn’t work perfectly for those who want to undo the very values that are preached inside most Christian churches.    

Q.  As a media service, will Champion News endorse candidates in the future?  If so, what criteria would a candidate for office have to meet, in order to obtain a Champion News endorsement?   

A.  We will endorse candidates.  The most important criteria beyond the viability of the candidate and their level of commitment to the party platform will be our estimation of their intention to modernize their approach to their job.  Public opinion is job one.  Their assisting in real party building is not an option.  While some people might think we demand ideological purity, I’d suggest they examine the record.  Corrupt or ineffective Republicans, no matter how conservative, do not help the cause – they damage it.    

Q.  Do you have any major endorsements in mind for November that you can share with RFFM.org's readers?

A.  Not yet, but it’s clear what types of candidates we don’t endorse.  We are a part of the new media that doesn’t pretend to hide its political views behind a façade of impartiality.  But as discussed above, just because a person has an ‘R’ next to their name and they have an acceptable voting record doesn’t mean much to us.  The behaviors that were once acceptable to right-leaning media organizations no longer suffice for the challenges ahead.  Former Speaker Dennis Hastert was a conservative with a relatively good voting record, but he was a disaster for the nation because he failed to provide the kind of leadership that aggressively attempted to win public support of the right kind of policies.  If leaders aren’t building, they’re not leading.  And in a time of war, there is no excuse.   

Q.  There has been a huge increase in participation among Democratic primary voters this year.  What do you think this says about November's general election?   

A.  A lot can happen in the next five and a half months, but clearly Republicans and conservatives are facing the consequences of their failures.  Speaker Hastert and President Bush had an historic opportunity that was by and large squandered.  I like to say – it’s all about what the public knows and when they know it.  If enough Americans can be introduced to the real Barack Obama, John McCain will become the next president.  Republican members of the Congress and the Illinois General Assembly, however, probably don’t have enough time to learn what they need to learn before election day.  As I said, going forward they have to approach their jobs differently, not merely brokering deals between bad and worse policies.   

I’ve written a lot about this topic on our website.  There is enormous Republican talent on Capitol Hill, it’s just not properly utilized.  They can turn this thing around by 2010 if they start now.  If they decide they’re going to leave it up to the media and a rag tag network of conservative interest groups to get their message out they should get comfortable in their minority status.   

Q.  Finally, what would you like to see Champion News accomplish in the next year?  Have you set any goals for the organization and, if so, what are they?  

A.  This is a very good question, because having worked many years in the private sector, I’m always amazed at how little attention is ever given to measuring progress in politics.  It’s all about getting the latest guy or gal elected and reelected.  It’s not adding to a list of actual government reforms achieved, or building lasting public support.   

Since our goal is to reach more people with better information so they’ll get involved, Champion News will be able to measure how many folks are doing just that.  We’ve already begun to see results, but we’ve got a long way to go.   

This month we’re launching Champion News Talk Radio, a one hour show that will run on AM560 WIND in Chicago, and will be posted in podcast form on our website.  Since none of us aspire to be radio stars, we’re doing it to reach more people and encourage action.  Too much talk radio is mere political entertainment.   

Our show will be geared towards moving people off of their couches.  If Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingram would’ve concentrated more on activating people to engage in the process and less time informing the already informed, we wouldn’t be in the straights we are in right now as a party or as a conservative movement.   

Website:  www.championnews.net 

E-mail:  jbiver@championnews.net 

Call:  1-847-428-9138

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact Dan@rffm.org 

NOTE: Comments to RFFM.org's blog which include ad hominems or personal attack will automatically be rejected.  No hyperlinks allowed.

Respected Academician and African-American Theologian Gives Her Views on Black Liberation Theology

Rev. Lainie Dowell, Five-Fold Minister, Columbia, Maryland

"In Her Own Words"

Dan Zanoza, executive director of RFFM.org, interviews Rev. Lainie Dowell on Black Liberation Theology.

Rev. Lainie Dowell, 67 years old, was born and educated in Baltimore, MD.  Rev. Dowell and her husband, Dorian, reside in Howard County, Maryland. They have 4 grown children, 2 granddaughters & 2 Goddaughters.

- Civil Rights Advocate & Community Activist (over 40 years)
- Former NAACP Secretary and Activist (Howard County, MD)
- Former Singer, MD Suburban Mass Choir
- Filed lawsuits, Pro se (Higher Education, Commerce, Industry, Church, State)
- Recipient of MD Botony Cross Awarded by Sons of Confederate Veterans
- Ministerial Advocate for Christian Clergywomen (over 20 years)
- Playwright/Author unpublished original writings (musical, manuscripts, poetry, prophetic)

Q.  Whenever the topics of religion and politics are mentioned in the same breath, controversy is sure to follow.  When we add the subject of race to the scenario, things can get out of hand very quickly.  As you know, Sen. Barack Obama's spiritual leader, Jeremiah Wright, has been in the middle of a heated debate in recent weeks.  You have been quite outspoken regarding what some people are calling black liberation theology.  Can you describe what black liberation theology is?

A.  For me, your question has forthrightly described the dilemma in which modern-day Christian religion and politics have converged to create controversy wherein you have stated, "regarding what some people are calling black liberation theology."

Merriam-Webster dictionary describes such related terms quoted here, as, Liberation -n - a movement seeking equal rights and status for a group (i.e., blacks, women, etc.). It further describes as Liberation Theology, 1972, a religious movement especially among Roman Catholic clergy in Latin America that combines political philosophy usually of a Marxist orientation with a theology of salvation as liberation from injustice. And, Theology - n. - 14th Century, is defined as, (1) the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world. (2) Marxism - n. 1887, Marxist - n. or adj. - a move ultimately to a classless society. It defines Marxism-Leninism - n. 1929, as a theory and practice of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Marx. The more traditional, Systematic Theology - n. 1836, is defined as a branch of theology concerned with summarizing the doctrinal traditions of a religion (as Christianity) especially with a view to relating the tradition convincingly to the religion's present-day setting.

Professor James Cone is an African-American Academician. He is credited with spearheading, in the early 1970s, the movement of "Black Liberation Theology." For the sake of brevity, I will leave it to the reader to search out Prof. Cone's biography.

Q.  Now that we know what black liberation theology is, do you think it is a good thing?

A. "Black Liberation Theology" is an oxymoron of gigantic proportions. It is anything but theology or liberating apart from the Great Liberator, Jesus, for either blacks or any other race. That is a term long used as an institutional gateway into the minds of blacks in America and their sympathizers in an ongoing effort to interject Marxism and communism into every area of American society. I believe that radical change takes time, and radicals have built in the time that it takes to change this nation into its ultimate goal of becoming a "classless society," whereby dissenters would be unceremoniously cast aside as being "different." Is there any doubt about why opponents are treated with such disdain by proponents of this "new religion?"

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, many black preachers became caught up in the teachings that their congregants needed to be separated and kept apart from the wider Christian community (i.e., the white people) to be free. And, that in order to help that come about, they either knowingly or unknowingly believed it would be necessary for them to stress from the pulpit how much black people needed to free themselves from their perceived white oppressors (whether religious or political) with the help of the black preacher. So, then, it seems to me that systematic theology and Jesus became an afterthought in the black church and Christianity became a hybrid religion with various mixtures of black racial pride along with black political enforcement and unquestioning acceptance of anything and everything, except biblical truths.

Christian theology teaches us that, by faith, the acceptance of Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord of one's life is freedom for everybody who desires it. And, that it is available to all who have faith to believe in the Lord Jesus beyond their race, color, creed, national origin, and gender (i.e., whether male or female).To my understanding, mankind has yet to decisively define what "Theology" actually means in terms of our spirituality. For mankind, and the academician more so, theology has been deemed to be "man's study of God" (i.e., Theos = God + ology = the study of). However, a closer spiritual look reveals that the opposite is true, whereby Theology is, instead, God's study of man! For, what man, woman, or child can know the mind of God beyond what He has already revealed to man? Even the minds of men have been filled up with nothing but the knowledge of other men who, themselves, have been taught by men and can know nothing of substance apart from being tuned into the mind of God to know His voice, will, and purpose. Man has yet to understand God is real and that He speaks even today. However, when surrounded by all those with their black fists in the air, those men and women who may feel safe in the midst of a crowd are later found to be cowards on their dying day.

Q.  Many who are not African-Americans are wondering how many black churches hold to this teaching in the United States.  Could you give it a percentage?

A.  I am not an academician. I have not researched that subject. And, I have not given any thought to it in terms of "percentages." However, I personally witnessed plenty of it by colleagues. But, the school of thought could probably best be ferreted out in libraries of institutions of higher learning and in bookstores across this country. But, even then, how much of that output could be counted on as being reliable? While most black preachers may have purchased a best seller about the black church and black preaching, I don't believe the vast majority have veered that far from systematic theology, when they are in the pulpit. However, even the minimum number put forth would be too large, when we think of the devastation across this nation, which has resulted from that mindset.

During the past 20+ years, that I have associated with black clergy, I found many had as their only existence, "To preach as a dying man to dying men who shall never preach again." (quoted: the late Rev. Dr. Eddie Wilson, Baltimore, MD). That's the voice of systematic theology. For the most part, I have found black clergy who are called by God, quiet and unassuming. Their demeanor is such that they could easily be overlooked in a crowd. They go about their day as if invisible. They know they can do nothing until and unless God Himself directs them. And, their enthusiastic deliverance of God's word is borne along by God's Spirit to their spirit in the preaching moment. They realize that all things really do come from God. And, I have come to personally understand, as well, that just because mankind may not like or accept what is being preached, that does not mean that God is nonexistent or that He lied. God is alive, and whenever the preached word is delivered, it is up to the hearer to discern and test what they hear, but it cannot be done with a physical or emotional understanding. It can only be fully comprehended with a spiritual ear. I daresay from the ongoing confusion among believers, it would appear the majority of the Christian community has not yet fully attained to that degree of the supernatural realm, and that includes many preachers.

Q.  It is clear Sen. Obama's relationship with Jeremiah Wright has hurt his chances to become president of the United States.  There was always a certain number of people who would never vote for a black man.  But I think the Wright situation has led many to say they could never vote for this particular black man because he has used poor judgment regarding Jeremiah Wright.  What is your opinion on this?

A.  In actuality, Sen. Obama's chances to become President of the U.S. were almost nil from the start, except, the news media went practically a whole year infatuated with this particular Black man who learned the game very well and knew how to play it. He is the modern-day "Spook Who Sat By the Door." He knew how to make himself smaller than he really is (i.e., "Out of sight, out of mind"), with his unspoken theme of, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." So he slipped under the radar of journalistic scrutiny because he was "an articulate black man" who had as his Ace in the hole, a white mother and her relatives that he knew he could bring out, whenever the going got rough(er). And it has worked to his advantage!

Barack Obama has espoused a platform whereby he wants to do away with what he calls, "Labels." Under his administration, there would no longer be political, religious, class, or gender distinctions. How arrogant and how ignorant is that, especially from a man who describes himself as being ready to take over the White House in 2009?! Whether or not he has taken a page or two out of his pastor's book, I cannot tell. However, I do know that Obama cannot have been around Rev. Jeremiah Wright for as long as he has without having his mindset rub off on him. If, as Obama has told his now worldwide audience, he was not present in church during any of the pastor's controversial rhetoric in the guise of Sunday sermonizing, then as a friend, Obama sat with him out of the hearing of the congregation when they could engage in "real" talk about black race relations and the white man's foot on the black man's neck! If Obama was a friend to his pastor and vice versa, then he would have felt comfortable in freely speaking his mind with Obama in private. It is also unbelievable that Obama has never purchased tapes of his pastor/friend's sermons at one time or another.   

Many black people know what it appears most white people either never knew or have forgotten, which is to say regardless of how much white ancestry is in their genealogical background, a black person is still black and is no more or less intelligent than anyone else. But, apparently, race still matters, depending on who says it does or does not. Within Obama's camp, it has been one long roller coaster ride in the political and religious arena whereby white people have become wary of even whispering Obama's race out loud for fear of being called, racist. On the other hand, when Obama and various black pundits bring up either the subject or race, they make it appear as if they are the only ones qualified to do so by reason of their race. Now, how confusing is that?! This is done by design to keep anybody who might think Obama is unqualified to be President from declaring it out loud and exposing him as not being up to the task. Furthermore, it has nothing whatsoever to do with his race. Why do you suppose Sen. Hillary Clinton and the "Saturday Night Live" program exposed the fact that she was always asked a question before Obama during the debates; and, during his turn, as one TV news pundit said, "He was 'me-tooing' all over the place." Understand? 

Q.  The Rev. Wright has certainly frightened many who see his preaching as hateful.  Do you think Wright has damaged race relations in our country?

A. I believe the recent revelation of Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.'s taped sermon during the Democratic primary may have opened the eyes and ears of many people. However, this nation has a short attention span. The damage to race relations was done a long time ago from many black pulpits across this nation. Black religious, community, and political leaders were given carte blanche to run ripshod over even politicos by the elected and appointed leaders who turned a deaf ear and blind eye to complaints. When it was not popular to do so, 20 years ago, I spoke out against the same kinds of rantings about white people preached by my black pastor and other black colleagues. In an attempt to intimidate me and shut me up, he conspired with co-horts and filed false police reports and court documents to have me arrested inside the church. And the courts helped him despite overwhelming documentation to prove he did not tell the truth, such was and still is his influence in the state and county where I live. What has sustained me all these years since is knowing I am innocent and have documents to prove it.

Because of the lack of accountability of black leaders, they became emboldened to misuse and abuse, with impunity, the goodwill of trusting parishioners and anyone else who did not shut up and go along with their unlawful ungodly actions. As a result, individuals and whole families were left to fend for themselves without any avenues of redress. The result was massive bitterness and hopelessness, which drove people away from the faith. In particular, the entire church focus changed into one of church politics. And, youth who witnessed how church had contributed to hurting their families became angry and vowed to never step foot into another church again. And, whereas they had once gladly participated in various church activities, they fell away and had no net to catch them while believing one church to be as bad as the next. And, for the most part, they were right. If their parents could not protect them in such an environment in God's house, then where else could they turn? The streets claimed many a tender soul while black preachers claimed more for their coffers and personal satisfaction all from the pockets of believers who they promised a return on their money and they bought it much to their chagrin.

Q.  Do individuals like Wright put more pressure on other black preachers, including yourself, who have to counter his message?

A. The answer is a resounding, "Yes!" However, if nobody ever stands up and speaks out, then how will they get slapped down by the church? They won't. Black preachers who want to "advance" in ministry would not dare to antagonize the Black pastors who have religious and political clout. They don't hesitate to let you know that they can help you either with a word to inquirers about your work or by not saying anything. They know that, in that instance, their saying nothing also says volumes.

Over 20 years ago, I seemed to have been the only "insubordinate" preacher in both the whole black National Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated, and in the NAACP. In 1983, when I joined the church, there was a woman preacher in the church at that time. But, in 1985, I became the first woman (at that time) in the 87-year church history to be licensed by my pastor, Rev. John L. Wright (Columbia, Maryland). Needless to say, I was not accepted then as a preacher by, especially, women parishioners, because they treated women any way they wanted across the denomination while honoring and respecting male clergy. In fact, they did not recognize women as "clergy," preferring to call even themselves everything except, "clergy." God separated me from all of that political infighting and I had to affirm myself and my call. I also would not allow anyone to call me whatever they chose, but to recognize God is in total charge of my life and the church.

Therefore, 20 years ago, I became a ministerial advocate; and, in 1996, I started the first support network/resources for Firebrands Christian Clergywomen Online. In fact, I was the first one on the Internet to put the words, "clergy" and "women" together as one word. That came about, because Geocities.com signup did not allow separated or hyphenated words. And, that is how clergywomen and clergywoman became my personal Internet nicknames, among others.

Lonely and alone has been and continues to be my Christian walk. Yet, I do not have to field any of that pressure from any man, woman, or child either in, or out of, the church. My training ground was the church. I went through hell in the church and, try as they might, none could antagonize me enough that God did not keep me in His peace. And when I asked God about it, He told me that, like the song, "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere." I got a great laugh out of that and I knew it was true that once again I had heard from heaven.

Q.  I understand you have spent many years debating those who hold to the radical concepts of black liberation theology.  Has it come to the point where you see this as your calling from God?  Or is it just a part of your duty to spread Christ's true message of love?  Or is it both? 

A.  One black Baptist male pastor, who was a friend of my pastor, called me a "slut" during a church-wide institute in front of other ministers from a gathering where I had served as an officer. His words came from out of nowhere and the few who heard it turned away in silence. Once again I was left alone to wonder what had just happened and why? I later filed a written complaint with the leadership, but it went without response. I had another lesson in learning how to withstand every wicked way. But, as long as I knew I was doing God's will, nothing and nobody could persuade me to do otherwise. God Himself told me, "Not only will I not let anybody snatch you out of my hand, I won't even let you jump out!" God called me to preach in 1985, and only God can dismiss me or any other preacher that He calls to that task. Preaching is not speaking, talking, lecturing, singing, praying, or anything else but delivering that word either in or out of season from God's mouth into the ear of His beloved to be sent forth for His people. 

I have no need to argue, debate, cuss, or fuss with anybody about who I am and whose I am in the Lord. My comfort is in knowing how real God is in my life and in the world. Through all my trials, persecutions, prosecutions, like Paul, "I have learned whatsoever state I find myself to be content." Nobody has anything that I want that God will not provide, if I really wanted it, much less needed it. My only purpose is to trust and obey the Lord in all areas of my life. I do not seek fame, fortune, masses of followers, material things, or notoriety among men. My joy comes from knowing I am in God's will. How do I know I am? Because God confirms it, every time. My desire is to be a living sermon wherever I go, even if I never open my mouth. Mankind does not heal, but the Spirit of God does, when His vessel is open and willing to be used by Him. When God moves in the midst of impossible situations, it is to let that be as a witness to onlookers that He alone had moved away the obstacles.

People, in general, and church people, in particular, think they must "show and tell," they are Christian. If they are real, discerning spirits will know. If they are "pretending," then discerning spirits will know that, too. God's message is love. The gospel of Jesus includes "whosoever will . . . . come." We have no need to frighten or force people into the faith. If we let our "light so shine," then God will draw them in His own perfect timing. Many resist, because of fear of giving up whatever it is they do not want to let go. They don't understand that, if they could have, they would have. And, when they get down low enough is only when they will lift up their eyes to heaven and be willing to accept heaven's answer. They will know Him for themselves and wonder what took them so long to know it. My life is 24/7 in the Lord's face without shame or apology.

Q.  It does seem like much of the political energy in black communities runs through places of worship.  Why is this the case?

A.  I believe the historical context will bear out the fact that the black Christian church was, at one time, the hub of community activity. The black preacher was the one the community turned to for faith, advice, guidance, and help. That was when the black preacher was content to work a full-time job of their own (even digging ditches) and to be paid in chickens. They were not embarrassed to have "the sisters" raise money by cooking and selling chicken dinners or fish suppers. The black preachers were not too proud to accept coins from the penny jars of widows and a couple of cents from the tiny fingers of little children. They were not too egotistical to stand and preach from pulpits in storefront-size churches.

Now, where do you suppose their money comes from for them to ride around in big, brand new shiny automobiles? How is it possible for so many of them to parade around in hand stitched shirts and custom made suits and shoes that hardly touch the ground, because they are walking so high? When did it become unacceptable for the black preacher to comfort the weak, worn, weary soul with a word from heaven, albeit with messing up the King's English? Our Lord said it rightly so, "You have turned my Father's House into a den of thieves."

How can they not stop to think God is not pleased? Easy enough, if you think about it. As long as they wake up breathing and can get up and go, they think they have gotten away. Well, I have a dear Christian friend who puts it this way, "You might get by, but you won't get away!" The black preachers began to put their trust in politicians and community and religious leaders who appeared to have influence to get them bigger churches built, massive congregations to occupy benches where the church is full, but the pews are empty, and larger coffers with all that they bring, including security with guns to protect the money and the black preacher. Therefore, many churches have evolved to become the center of political activities. And all the money changing hands is done under cover of dark of night and even in the daytime away from the prying eyes of even the undiscerning folk. How now can religious, community, and political leaders disavow the thing that has caused so much pain, hurt, death, misery, disillusionment, hopelessness, poverty, and all that is anathema to what the Christian church was meant to be, regardless of race or any other man-made obstacle, except that they have no regard for either God or man and, instead, have set themselves up to be God?   

Q.  Many believe those who advance black liberation theology from the pulpit should lose their tax exempt status as a church.  What is your feeling on this?

A.  Every minister who uses their pulpit which professes to be Christian or Jewish or whatever religion they want to file and whether or not they "advance black liberation theology from the pulpit," or anything else that is against biblical principles, should lose their tax exempt status as a church. They are a bane to the existence of the Christian household of faith, because they leave no pattern for onlookers to emulate, which is pleasing and all to the glory of God.

Black liberation theology became widely advocated by James Cone, who is a professor, but not a theologian from the Scriptural perspective. For there to be liberation, there must also be a liberator. For the Christian, that Liberator is Jesus. And preachers in the academic environment (regardless of race, color, creed or gender) must remember they are under divine mandate to God. If man could do anything with his own life, then he could possibly qualify as a liberator. However, that has yet to evolve. For man has created a confused rather than comforting atmosphere in not only the church but also in the community and in the world.

It is not up to man to liberate anybody. Because, if he could have done so, then we would have no need to be discussing it in this century the same as we did in the last century. Was Professor Cone at the edge of glory to seek God's voice in his tome? Be that as it may, the academic communities of this nation have a lot to answer to God for. Their knowledge is their own and it is harmful, because they have not sought God's voice while forcing their own upon unsuspecting, feeble-minded individuals who sincerely want to hear from the Lord.

Though it may sound good, is it good for the recipient? History shall judge. In the meanwhile, what results have accumulated thus far tell us that it will not be a kindly report.

Q.  What do those of us who are not African-Americans need to know about what the average black man or woman thinks about faith?  Does race play too much of a role in the black religious experience or are the scars of history regarding slavery and are the legacy left behind from Jim Crow to hard to overcome for some? 

A.  "If Jim Crow is not dead, then surely he is limping along mortally wounded." -- Rev. Lainie Dowell

To this day, I believe that many black people accept at face value whatever the black preacher says or does. Moreover, many still do not believe white people know the Lord or that they are saved. Why? Because, until recent years, they did not witness any emotion coming from them during worship services instead of discerning that not all worshipers have the same response. What's more, when some people, regardless of race or color, are sitting quietly in a worship service, it can also mean they are listening to what is being preached or listening to the Holy Spirit in the midst of the worship.

If this nation wanted to move on from the untenable "Race Problem," it would do it. There are too many voices to get it done for there not to have been a positive response towards that end. However, I have come to the conclusion that, in the words of the 1960s marching song entitled, "We Shall Overcome," I have come to understand that "We HAVE Overcome," but there are just too many who refuse to let us come over. And, until they step aside (no matter what race or color), then the "Race" issue will continue to roll along without resolution even in God's house.

Besides, where would all the black liberation theology advocates go to be widely recognized and handsomely paid, if God's House was truly organized and managed the way God has declared and decreed instead of their continuing to allow it to be just another secular enterprise? In conclusion, people have turned away from the leadership of God to the leadership of man and woman and they have received the fruit of their own selfish desires rather than the total and complete fruit of the Spirit. And, they do not like what they are seeing.

"If my people who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14-22.   

Contact: revldowell-clergywomen@erols.com
Advocacy url: http://www.clergywomen.org/dowell_sundaysun.html
Ministerial callings: http://www.clergywomen.org/in_call.html

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The FAIR TAX Plan -- Just What Is It?

RFFM.org interview with Fair Tax Volunteer Midwest Regional Director Marilyn Rickert

Editor's note:  In the race to see who will represent the Republican Party in this November's presidential election, the Fair Tax plan has been discussed on numerous occasions.  RFFM.org feels it is important to delve into the nuts and bolts of this new tax initiative, so we decided to go to one of the leading proponents of the Fair Tax, Marilyn Rickert.

BIOGRAPHY -- MARILYN RICKERT
As the Volunteer Midwest Regional Director, Marilyn Rickert, became involved with Americans For Fair Taxation in the mid to late 1990's, two years before the FairTax bill was first introduced in Congress in 1999.

A long time community activist, Rickert co-founded Together We Cope, a non-profit social service agency with a mission to help families on the verge of becoming homeless. It was her experiences there which led Rickert to realize how our tax system had such a detrimental impact on American families.  While surfing the Internet one day, Rickert happened upon the FairTax website and decided to become a volunteer.

Mrs. Rickert holds a bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University.  She is a wife and mother of four sons.

Interview conducted by Daniel Zanoza

MARILYN RICKERT -- IN HER OWN WORDS

 

   

Q.  The subject of the Fair Tax has come up a great deal during the current Republican presidential primary campaign.  Can you give a thumbnail description of what the Fair Tax is?

A. The FairTax act of 2007, HR 25 / S1025 is a citizens bill which has a total of 74 co-sponsors in the U.S. House and Senate. The FairTax replaces the income tax, capital gains tax, social security tax, Medicare tax, corporate tax, estate (death) tax, self employment tax, and alternative minimum tax with a simple consumption tax collected at point of sale to the consumer, collected by the states. By adding a few lines to our current sales tax forms, the need for the IRS is eliminated. A prebate would allow all citizens and legal residents to consume up to the poverty level tax free.  The FairTax frees individuals from ever filing complicated tax forms, record keeping, and the threat of an IRS audit. The FairTax also restores a taxpayer's Constitutional Rights, plus we will bring home our paychecks free of federal payroll withholding taxes.

Our Founding Fathers understood the role of taxation in the lives of a free people when they wrote: "It is a signal advantage of taxes on articles of consumption, that they contain in their own nature a security against excess. They prescribe their own limit; which cannot be exceeded without defeating the end proposed, that is, an extension of the revenue".  Federalist Paper #21

Q.  It sounds like the Fair Tax is basically a sales tax.  What would not be included under a Fair Tax system?  For example, would doctor bills be subject to a Fair Tax?  What other services or goods would not be subject to the Fair Tax?

A. The important thing to remember is that the FairTax is a replacement -- not a new tax.  The FairTax tax replaces the hidden (embedded) taxes already in the price of goods and services.  The current income tax system acts like a Value Added Tax (VAT) in that taxes plus compliance costs paid by businesses are simply added to the price of goods and services as they are passed down the supply chain until the total cost is paid by the consumer.  With the elimination of the income tax, the free market system will drive the hidden tax component out of prices which will be replaced by the FairTax, thus making the true cost of government visible to everyone.

Under the FairTax, capital is not taxed.  Since no tax is owed until money is spent, your savings will grow 100% tax free--until you decide to spend it on a taxable good or service.  The complicated tax shelters of IRAs, 401ks, etc. are simply not needed.  You will be free to save and invest your money as you see fit without government rules and regulations.

Under the FairTax, new goods are taxed, used goods are not taxed.  This prevents the FairTax from becoming a VAT. Once the FairTax is paid on an item, it is considered used and never taxed again.

Under the FairTax, services are taxed -- but not capital. For example, on your mortgage, car loan, credit card debt, etc. the FairTax will be charged on the fee the lender charges you to make the loan.  The principal and the interest will be paid in tax free dollars.

Economic research indicates that your doctor bill is inflated by an average of 25% to cover current taxes and compliance costs. Most of that cost will be driven out by free market forces and replaced with the FairTax. Consider for a moment the cost of the "employer portion" of the Social Security tax paid by a major hospital.  With his cost removed under the FairTax, the savings could be used to lower prices or to buy a new CAT scan machine, for example, resulting in better health care.

Education would benefit from the FairTax; both government and private schools.
    *Government schools would operate free of federal taxes -- they would no longer be paying the hidden business taxes in the cost of goods and services they purchase nor would they pay taxes such as the employer portion of the Social Security taxes.  The result is lower costs for government schools which would make the savings available for lower property taxes or improving education.
    *Private schools would also operate free of federal taxes like government schools. Tuition would also be FairTax free.  The result would be up to a 50% reduction in the true cost of (tuition plus taxes) private schools.
    *Post-high school tuition would also be FairTax free.

Q.  We often hear about our current system being progressive or regressive and that terminology often confuses the public.  How is the Fair Tax indeed fair?

A.  A regressive tax is one where the poor pay proportionally the heaviest burden of taxation.  The current payroll tax deduction system is our most regressive tax.  A progressive tax system is one where the rich pay proportionally a lighter burden of taxation.  Most people think we have a progressive income tax system, but when you consider Warren Buffet, by his own admission, pays 15% Capital Gains rate plus 0% Social Security tax while a fire fighter is paying 33% tax rate plus an almost 20% Social Security tax burden, our tax system is anything but progressive.  These terms are easily manipulated by which taxes and exemptions are included or excluded in the calculation.  To decide if the FairTax is fair, we need to discuss direct versus indirect taxation.

There are only two types of taxes; direct and indirect. With a direct tax, the government holds the power.  The government tells you what, when, where and the amount of taxes to pay. This power is coupled with serious punishment for failure to meet the demands of the government.  The Income tax is an example of a direct tax.  With indirect taxes, the taxpayer holds the power. You, the taxpayer, decide when, where and the amount of taxes to pay.  Your decision is final -- as long as you follow the same rules as everyone else.

The FairTax is an indirect tax. You, the taxpayer, decide how much you are willing to give the government by your spending.  If you are doing well -- buy the new car and pay the FairTax. If you are short on money -- buy a used car and pay no FairTax.  The choice is always in the hands of the taxpayer.  As a taxpayer, I think this is a fair system of taxation and is consistent with what our Founding Fathers said regarding taxation.

Q.  It sounds like the more you buy, the more taxes you will pay.  For instance, if I had the money to buy a yacht, the Fair Tax would apply to such a purchase.  However, there is a great deal of concern regarding how the Fair Tax will impact the poor.  Can you talk about this aspect of the Fair Tax?

A.  As I sat in the D.C. office of Senator Obama talking taxes with his tax expert, we did come to agreement on one issue -- tax reform is the greatest anti-poverty weapon in our nation today.  Our tax system is probably the greatest barrier to upward mobility in our nation.  Think about it -- the longer and harder you work, the more you are punished in the form of higher taxes.

Traditionally, the greatest access to the middle class for our poor and immigrant population went through our manufacturing base. Not that long ago, a job at the steel mill could ensure a family a solid middle class life style.  This manufacturing base has all but disappeared due, in part, to our current tax system.

The U.S. has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world at 35%.  Our extremely complex tax code adds an additional burden in the form of very high compliance costs.  Compliance costs are the costs required to pay your taxes -- like tax lawyers, accountants, etc. -- not including the actual taxes paid. These taxes and compliance costs are included in the price when our goods are shipped overseas.  When our goods arrive overseas, they often carry additional taxes imposed by that government.  Goods manufactured overseas do not carry the burden of foreign taxes included in the price of goods because their taxes stop at the water's edge.  Goods manufactured overseas are shipped here virtually tax free and carry relatively little U.S. taxes. It is simply much more cost efficient to manufacture goods overseas and ship them here for sale.

Corporations will have a 0% tax rate under the FairTax.  This will make America the tax haven of the world for business. It is expected that the economy will expand with good paying manufacturing jobs and other support jobs flocking to our country.

Education is also an important portal to the middle class.  With federal taxation removed from our education system, access to private and higher education will become more affordable.  We expect private schools to flourish under the FairTax, thus making school choice more of a reality. Government schools will be less expensive and taxes could be lowered at the local level or the savings used to improve their quality.

Q.  This "prebate" you mentioned would benefit the poor taxpayer.  Just exactly how would the prebate work?  Can you get very specific?

A.  All valid Social Security cardholders who are U.S. residents receive a monthly prebate equivalent to the FairTax paid on essential goods and services, also known as the poverty level expenditures.  The prebate is paid in advance, in equal installments each month.  The size of the prebate is determined by the Department of Health & Human Services’ poverty level guideline multiplied by the tax rate.  This is a well-accepted, long-used poverty-level calculation that includes food, clothing, shelter, transportation, medical care, etc.
http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_faq_answers#3

At the beginning of each year, you will fill out a postcard sized form giving the names and Social Security numbers for the members of your family.  The exact method of paying the prebate is still under study.  The most likely method of payment will be through electronic transfer into your bank account or into a debit card for you to use as you choose.  The prebate is voluntary, so if you do not wish to receive the prebate that is your choice. In designing the FairTax, the maximum freedom for the taxpayer has been built into the system.

Q.  It sounds like the Fair Tax is indeed fair, but anyone who would try to make the Fair Tax law would come up against some strong obstacles, including the need to repeal the income tax amendment of the Constitution.  Do you see this as being a major obstacle, if a president wanted to install the Fair Tax as America's only system of taxation?

A.  The passage of the FairTax will be the greatest transfer of power from the government to the people in the history of our Republic.  This is why the FairTax has been called the "Second American Revolution".

The reluctance of those in power to relinquish their power to the people is the greatest obstacle to implementing the FairTax. We have progressed to the point where the economic research demonstrates that consumption taxes are better for the American people and the American economy. The debate has moved to one of what I would call "scare tactics" rather than debate over the provisions of the bill.

Some of the most common "scare tactics" are:
    * The FairTax is a 30% tax on top of everything you buy -- never mentioning the repeal of the income tax, payroll taxes, etc. or of the prebate or any other advantages of the FairTax.
    * The 16th Amendment must be repealed first -- without a tax plan already in place the "full faith and credit of the U.S." would be in danger.  How would the U.S. pay her obligations, if we are without a tax system, the world would ask.

We agree the 16th Amendment must be repealed.  We have the bill in Congress to repeal the 16th Amendment, House Joint Resolution 16.  The last thing we want is both an income tax and a consumption tax.  We urge all citizens and tax organizations to join us to actively support the repeal of the 16th Amendment H.J. Res. 16.

We feel that once the FairTax is signed into law, the people will be so happy the Income Tax is gone they will rise up and demand the repeal of the 16th Amendment.

Q.  Under the Fair Tax, it seems there would be no need for the IRS.  Is this true?

A.  Think of all the taxes collected by the government without the IRS.  The number of taxes seems limited only by the human imagination. It is clear that taxes can be collected without the intrusive and often heavy handed use of the IRS.

Most people do not realize the huge size of the IRS.  The IRS does much more than processing forms, but has its own court system and police force -- all unelected and unaccountable to the American people.  Under the FairTax, the IRS will be dismantled over a three year period.  Simply firing everyone would be unfair to the employees and would be a burden on our economy.  One of the requirements of the FairTax is that the IRS destroy all the records held by them on the American people.  I believe we are the only tax reform plan that takes this position.

The FairTax would be collected by the states.  The state would receive a small portion of every federal tax dollar collected.  If a state decides not to collect the FairTax, a state could contract with another state to collect and process the FairTax on their behalf.

The small part of the IRS duties that would remain would be absorbed into the Treasury Department. Its role would be to collect the FairTax from the states and collect any FairTax owed from international shipments. There would be no contact with citizens.

Q.  Most Americans would like to get rid of the IRS.  But with such institutions come a dogmatic system which includes tax lawyers, prosecutors, tax preparation businesses, etc., etc.  Wouldn't some of the greatest obstacles against the Fair Tax plan lie in the need for these institutions to defend themselves from obsolescence?  They would make quite a formidable foe, don't you think?  But can it be done?

A.  Replacing our unfair and inefficient tax system has got to be easier that landing on the moon.  Once Americans decide to get the job done -- it will get done.

You have touched on a good point about our tax system -- it has evolved to divide us as a people.  Through class warfare, hidden taxes and bribing people with their own money, our tax system has grown into the complex code that no one understands.  The FairTax is so simple, everyone can understand it.  With the FairTax everyone plays by the same rules without any special exemptions.  For the first time in my lifetime, everyone will see the true cost of government.

Yes, an entire industry has grown around our tax system.  An estimated 53% of all paid lobbyists in Washington, D.C. are working to manipulate the tax code. I believe as the American people learn there is a better tax system, they will demand it.

Q.  Let's say everything falls in place, we have elected a president who believes in the Fair Tax plan, and subsequently makes the Fair Tax initiative a priority of his or her administration.  How long would it take to implement the Fair Tax, in your opinion?

A.  Momentum is clearly on the side of the FairTax. It has been interesting for me to observe that candidates have announced their big tax reform plan to be followed shortly thereafter by their withdrawal from the Presidential race. Only the FairTax is growing in popularity and strength on a daily basis.

The FairTax bill needs to be passed by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President. Within 3 to 6 months after the FairTax bill is signed, the FairTax will go into effect.  For example, if signed by the President in June of 2008, the income tax will end at midnight December 31, 2008 and the FairTax will begin at 12:00:01 on January 1, 2009.  At that moment America will enjoy the greatest restoration of freedom that we have ever known in our lifetime.

Q.  You have spent many years working on the Fair Tax plan.  You may be closer today to realizing what many called a pipe dream just a few years ago.  Personally, how do you feel about everything that's going on right now concerning the Fair Tax plan?  In your heart, do you believe the Fair Tax will ever become America's only form of taxation?  If yes, when?

A.  Back in the early 1990's when we began our work on what was to become the FairTax, we knew one thing -- our tax system was a mess and needed to be fixed.  We started with a blank sheet of paper.  If we were going to design a tax system, what would it look like? We thought we were going to come up with some form of a flat income tax.

We began by asking average people what they wanted in a tax system.  Using standard sampling techniques, we asked people from various parts of the country, age groups, income levels, etc. for input. The data collected was then given to the smartest people we could find from Harvard, Stanford, MIT, CATO and elsewhere.  We used super computers, economic forecasting models and the latest in economic theory to come up with a tax plan that 80% of the American people liked. After raising and spending over $20 million in private funds over the course of several years -- our conclusion -- the Founding Fathers were right!  Their ideas of freedom and taxation are still the ideals the American people hold today.  Yes, I believe the FairTax will become law with the date only dependent on the time it takes to educate the American people on the issue.

Q.  If people want to find out more information about the Fair Tax, where can they go?  If people want to join the effort to bring about the Fair Tax system in America, how can they join your efforts?

To find more information about the FairTax bill, go to www.fairtax.org.  Our homepage changes often, so keep checking often.  We have state FairTax Yahoo groups which we use to communicate with volunteers within a state. To join a state FairTax yahoo group, send an e-mail to XXfairtax-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  simply replace the XX with your state code.  For example, to join the Illinois FairTax Yahoo group you would send an e-mail to: ilfairtax-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Most states also have state FairTax web sites. The website for Illinois is www.ilfairtax.org

We are currently working at the state level on state FairTax bills.  In Illinois we want to replace the state income and property tax with a state FairTax.

Volunteers needed!  No experience necessary!  Donations always appreciated!

IL Fair Tax
P.O. Box 808
Oak Forest, IL 60452
voice: 708-687-9412
fax: 708-687-4718

Captions for photographs (L to R): former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. John McCain, Rep. Ron Paul, former Gov. Mitt Romney

Huckabee is the only Republican candidate to say he would work for passage of the Fair Tax initiative, if elected president.

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact: Dan@rffm.org

John McNeal "In His Own Words"

"In Their Own Words" 11th in a series by RFFM.org featuring:

John McNeal, Chairman, Illinois Young Republican Alumni Network

To commemorate RFFM.org's 15 years of service to the conservative community, we have been conducting a series of monthly interviews throughout 2007 with some of the most influential leaders in the pro-family/conservative movement.  RFFM.org's national director, Daniel Zanoza, is conducting Q + A sessions with the aim of educating our readers as to some of the views held by those who work tirelessly to reach their stated goals.  The 11th installment features John McNeal, Chairman, Illinois Young Republican Alumni Network

Past Q + A's included interviews with Sen. Bill Brady, Sen. Chris Lauzen; Catholic Citizens of Illinois Founder Mary Anne Hackett; writer and conservative activist Dan Gura; ILCAAAP (Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems) Executive Director Anita Bedell; property rights advocate Joyce Morrison; Americans For Truth Founder and President Peter LaBarbera; Illinois Right to Life Committee Executive Director Bill Beckman; Ann Scheidler, Executive Director, Pro-Life Action League and Nedd Kareiva Director "Stop the ACLU Coalition.  To read any of these interviews, click on the "In Their Own Words" category on the RFFM.org home page or go to: http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/in_their_own_words/index.html.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

John E. McNeal, a graduate of Chicago’s Mount Carmel High School in 1960, worked in the construction industry while attending college and law school.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management at DePaul University and his Juris Doctorate at Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago Kent College of Law in 1971.

In January 2003, he retired from government service and returned to the private practice of law in which he was previously engaged, representing private citizens and small business owners for over a decade.

McNeal retired as Assistant Illinois Attorney General, enforcing Illinois law in the areas of charitable fraud, financial crime, consumer fraud and environmental protection.  In prior government service, he served as a Special Assistant in the United States Department of Labor, Commissioner of the Illinois Industrial Commission and The Assistant General Counsel of the Illinois State Board of Elections.

As an instructor at the National White Collar Crime Institute, he has taught police officers and prosecutors various techniques of financial crime investigation.  He was the first American member of the International Prosecutor’s Association which was created to teach former communist prosecutors unusual concepts like: innocent till proven guilty.

McNeal is active with various organizations including the Elks, Kiwanis and Emerald Society and an active participant in Catholic, Jewish and Masonic charities.  He is a former member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers which raises the question: is he a welder with a law degree or a lawyer with a welder’s certificate?

McNeal has been a conservative Republican Party activist in every election since the 1964 Goldwater presidential campaign.  He presently serves as Illinois Chairman of the Young Republican Alumni Network, Board Member of the Illinois Forum, Secretary/Treasurer for the Republican Assembly of West Suburban Cook County and Chairman of the Republican Assembly of Riverside Township.

He served as the Republican Committeeman for Chicago’s 48th Ward for eight years and State Central Committeeman for the Ninth Congressional District for six years where he served as Vice-Chair of the Illinois Republican Party.  He was an elected Ronald Reagan Delegate to the 1984 Republican National Convention.

In 1980, he was the Reagan/Bush “Get Out The Vote” Director for Chicago-North and in 1984 he Chaired the Reagan/Bush Illinois Ballot Security Program.  In his formative years, he served as Executive Director of the Cook County Young Republicans and President of numerous Young Republican organizations

McNeal is married to Dr. Sharon Rae Bender-McNeal, retired principal of Carl Schurz High School in Chicago.

John McNeal "In His Own Words"

Q.  From your bio, you obviously have had a long and distinguished career in the field of law and politics.  In the series, I have tried to learn about the "why" behind what motivates people in their life's work.  Could you tell RFFM.org readers about why you first became involved with politics?  What is your motivation which has led you to such an extensive career involving the Republican Party?

A.  I grew up on Chicago's south side in an Irish-American-Catholic-Democrat home.  My paternal grandfather had been the Democrat Alderman from the Bridgeport neighborhood at the turn of the last century. (In fact, his name is engraved on the dedication plaque at City Hall).  Then, in 1960, as a senior at Mt. Carmel high school, a debate tournament friend and regular opponent from St. Catherine's of Racine, Wisconsin, recommended that I read a very important book.  The book was Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater.  The book's premises were based upon the value system that I had been taught from my mother's knee.  From that moment, I became a Conservative Republican activist and never looked back.  My friend went on to become one of the major founding fathers of the Conservative Movement.  His name is Paul Weyrich.

Q.  The Democratic Party currently holds all six statewide offices in Illinois.  They also control both houses of the General Assembly and the Governor's office.  Looking at things from the "glass half-full" perspective, what have the Democrats done to become so successful in Illinois state politics in recent years?

A.  There was a confluence of events that occurred about ten years ago which changed the color of Illinois politics from light red to purple to dark blue.  Don't forget that 13 years ago Republicans controlled all five executive offices, controlled the State Senate and were within striking distance of taking control of the House.  Then the perfect storm occurred in 2002.  First the Democrats, under Mike Madigan, took full advantage of the redistricted legislative map.  At the same time, death struggle infighting broke out at all levels of the Republican Party and four years later, the Democrats picked up all the marbles.

Q.  Do you feel the Republican Party has played a role in its demise and, if so, can you tell RFFM.org readers why this is the case?

A.  Around 2002, some members of the various wings of the conservative movement (traditional, social,  Neo, libertarian) began a bitter personal attack on each other and any Republican who did not agree with them 100%.  The term RINO (Republicans In Name Only) was used to vilify anyone who disagreed with them on any issue.  These fellow conservatives were placed on an enemies list, whether true or not.  At the same time, some Republican leaders (their identities are no longer important) demanded pledges of blind loyalty from candidates before slating them or placing them on the approved funding list.  The internecine war, that had been brewing for decades within the GOP, exploded.  Most people believe the battle was waged between conservatives and moderates or liberals.  In fact, it had been a battle brewing since 1976 (the first Reagan campaign) between conservatives and the professional politicians who have no ideology and are motivated only by the four "Ps": Power, Patronage, Profit and Prestige.

Q.  OK, we know what the Democrats have done well.  We know where the Republicans have failed.  What would be your prescription for the ailments which plague the GOP in Illinois?

A.  The first thing I would do would be to make the use of the term RINO a capital crime.  The very use of the term belies the very underpinnings of the democratic process, which requires discussion, debate and reaching a consensus if total agreement is unattainable.  Many Republicans have forgotten several old truths applicable to winning elections:  "Politics is a game of addition, not subtraction" and "Half a loaf is better than none at all."  The "all or nothing" mind set must be set aside.  We must reinstate and reinvigorate the Reagan concept that: "anyone who agrees with me 70% of the time is my friend."

Q.  Some believe SB600 could change many of the problems that have put the Illinois GOP in the position it currently finds itself in.  Can you talk about what SB600 would do and whether you support it or not? 

A.  Senate Bill 600, which I drafted and has been sponsored and championed by Sen. Chris Lauzen, would reinstitute a Republican State Committee that is elected by the Republican primary voters from each congressional district.  This tried and true method of selecting the members of the state GOP leadership team was dumped by the "Professional Pols" in favor of a system where the "Pros" appoint the state committee in back-room caucuses.  The elected system provided a balance between ideological conservatives and moderates and the non ideological Pro Pols.  The elected system provided a place at the table for all factions of the party to thrash out their disagreements behind closed doors.  Once the caucus method was established, it effectively gave control of the state party to the pro pols and a few moderates and locked out the conservatives.  The ensuing internecine war can not be ended by "outreach" programs.  It can only be ended by going back to an elected state party leadership team where Republicans of all persuasions come to the table as equals and are forced to work together.  I know of what I speak because I was an elected state committeeman under the old system and was part of the caucus that appointed state committeeman as a city ward committeeman.

Q.  If you had a crystal ball and could look into the future, what in your estimation will be the state of Illinois politics in ten years?  Has the state become a Democratic stronghold on a permanent basis?

A.  As a strong believer in the conservative view of government and history, I greatly fear that the internal war within the ranks of the Illinois Republican Party is so entrenched with a "take no prisoners" mentality that it will be a long time before the party can achieve parity with the Democrats again.  The traditionalists don't trust the Neo Cons, while the libertarians despise the traditionalists and even refer to the first Republican President (Abe Lincoln) as a despot and dictator.  Meanwhile, the Pro Pols sit in the driver's seat enjoying the fruits of power (however so diminished) and demand command and control of the party.  Fortunately, the Dems have their problems as well.  They have their own internal wars which are built around personality cults, not ideology.  Mike Madigan wants to elect his daughter Governor, while Dick Mel wants to oust his roundly despised son-in-law as Governor.  The people of Illinois are still pragmatic, salt of the earth, mid-westerners.  They will vote for Republicans--if we provide a united front.  It's almost as if the Illinois GOP is a third world nation involved in a bitter four way civil war.  The sitting Pro Pols must agree to "power sharing" with the traditional and Neo conservatives and the moderates.  They, in turn, must agree to stop the name calling and eliminate 100% litmus tests.

Q.  For a moment, let's look at the state of our great country.  We currently see a political and ideological divide in America that has probably not been greater since the times leading up to and during the Civil War.  First of all, do you agree with this premise and, if so, what has led to the situation we now find ourselves in as a nation?

A.  Your premise is correct, but American history tells of other times as dire as those we face today.  Interestingly enough, the most fractional time in our history was the Revolutionary War.  Only about one third of the population favored independence, another third were neutral, while the rest remained steadfast pro-British Tories.  After the revolution, many of the Tories were driven out of the U.S. to England and Canada.  In my opinion, that era most closely resembles the state of the Union today.  One third of our citizenry despise the U.S. and believe our nation's history to be one of evil, power hungry imperialism.  Another third could care less about the state of the Union or our history, but only think of "where's mine"?  The last group believes in the Reaganesque view of America being a great shining city on a hill as a beacon of freedom.  As you may suspect, I fall into the third category.  While I'm a national defense, fiscal and social conservative, I'm a Constitutionalist and believe that document makes national defense the primary purpose of national government. 

As an arm chair historian, I know that there has been a segment within Islam, from its inception, which is on a mission of world conquest and conversion.  When they aren't killing non Muslims, they're killing Muslims they believe are heretical.  Presently, these whackos are in a recurring ascendancy and are intent on our destruction.  They are not open to negotiation nor reason because, to coin a "Blues Brothers" phrase, they're on a mission from God.  Unlike the cold war, they look at nuclear war and mutual annihilation as a good thing.  Their enemies are sent to hell in a fireball which sends them to paradise.  Self-hating Americans believe we brought these evil days on ourselves.  They believe we can reason with the Islamic nut jobs and we are entitled to reprieve if we beg the world's forgiveness for U.S. plans of world domination.  Unless we wake up the "Where's mine?" Americans to the real threat, I believe our chances of survival as a nation are slim.

Q.  You are currently working on behalf of former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson's presidential campaign here in Illinois.  Could you talk a little bit about why you feel Thompson would make a good President?

A.  I support Fred Thompson because I believe he is correct on all major issues of the day when I apply my views and standards.  That said, when I give allowances for my own fallibility (something many conservatives fail to admit) and apply Reagan's 11th commandment (speak no ill will of a fellow Republican) and his 12th commandment (anyone who agrees with me 70% of the time is my friend), I must confess there are at least four or five GOP candidates who have the makings of a good President.  Since this year may result in the first open convention since 1940 (no candidate has it locked ahead of time) I believe GOP primary voters should select delegates who may not be pledged to their personal presidential choice, but are not from the moderate or Pro Pol wing of the party.

Q.  Let's say Thompson doesn't succeed and Rudy Giuliani becomes the Republican Party's presidential nominee.  The Rev. James Dobson, a highly influential pro-family leader, has said he would consider backing a third party candidate in the 2008 election.  Many other conservatives have echoed the same sentiments regarding Giuliani because of the former New York Mayor's positions on abortion, same-sex "marriage" and Second Amendment rights.  What do you think about Dobson's comments regarding Giuliani and the presidential race?

A.  What disturbs me, more than anything  else, are those conservatives who threaten to walk away or support a third party candidate if their guy isn't nominated.  Taking their marbles and going home will only elect a socialist or radical leftist as president.  Why wouldn't Dobson (or any other Social conservative) prefer Giuliani over Hillary or Obama?  The ONLY possible answer is: since they didn't get their way and/or candidate nominated, they're going to punish the GOP and the nation by electing a radical leftist or socialist.

Q.  For a moment, let me try to speak for Dobson, even though I might not agree with him concerning the 2008 presidential election.

Some social conservatives believe a Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama presidency would be disastrous for America.  However, they also feel if Rudy Giuliani were to win the presidency, the pro-life movement would, essentially, be dead in America.  The rationale behind this thought is the Republican Party will say the support of the so-called religious right is not needed in order to win the presidency.  Therefore, the abortion issue itself will be cast aside as simply another insignificant special interest issue.  Can you understand these fears and what would you tell this group to allay their concerns?

A.  That's not only egocentric, it's just plain crazy.  It is one of the inherent evils of single issue voters.  This is especially true at a moment in history (that probably won't happen for another 25 years) when we are one Supreme Court vote away from overturning Roe v. Wade.  I take Giuliani at his word that he will appoint strict and original constructionists to the court.  Don't forget that strict and original constructionists of the Constitution are on the same page whether they are dealing with law and order, national defense, homeland security OR abortion.  To elect Hillary or Obama (from a "that'll show em" mentality) puts a left wing nut in the White House who believes in criminal rights, Imperial America, negotiation with Islamo-Fascist AND ABORTION.

Q.  You are currently involved with the Young Republican Alumni Network.  Can you tell RFFM.org readers what this group is all about?

A.  It has been estimated that there are 250,000 former Young Republicans across the nation, who are still alive and kicking.  They were the shock troops of the conservative movement in the seventies and eighties.  Many of them retired from politics believing the war was won and went back to their careers full time.  They forgot the battle of good over evil is never finished.  The purposes of the Young Republicans Alumni Network are to locate and enlist as many of the missing Young Republican brothers and sisters to raise charitable funds for scholarships and to provide a fraternal and social re-union network on state and national levels.  If the renewed contact and camaraderie leads to reactivation "at the front", it's an extra added attraction.

Q.  If anyone wants to become involved with the Young Republican Alumni Network, what do they need to do?

A.  They can contact me at YRAlumniNetIL@msn.com
Include:  Name,  Address, E-mail & Phone and identify YR or College YR with which they were ever affiliated.  Dues are $50 per year.  ($25 national. $15 State and $10 charitable fund)

Ann Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League, "In Her Own Words" 9th in RFFM.org series

To commemorate RFFM.org's 15 years of service to the conservative community, we have been conducting a series of monthly interviews throughout 2007 with some of the most influential leaders in the pro-family/conservative movement. RFFM.org's national director, Daniel Zanoza, will conduct Q + A sessions with the aim of educating our readers as to some of the views held by those who work tirelessly to reach their stated goals.

Those previously interviewed include:  Sen. Bill Brady, Sen. Chris Lauzen; Catholic Citizens of Illinois Founder Mary Anne Hackett; writer and conservative activist Dan Gura; ILCAAAP (Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems) Executive Director Anita Bedell; property rights advocate Joyce Morrison; Americans For Truth Founder and President Peter LaBarbera; and Illinois Right to Life Committee Executive Director Bill Beckman.  To read any of these interviews, click on "In Their Own Words" under categories on the RFFM.org home page or go to: http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/in_their_own_words/index.html.

The ninth interview in RFFM.org's series continues with Ann Scheidler, Executive Director, Pro-Life Action League.

Mission Statement from the Pro-Life Action League website: http://www.prolifeaction.org/about/

The Pro-Life Action League was founded by Joseph M. Scheidler in 1980 with the aim of saving unborn children through non-violent direct action.

We are doing all we can to stop the killing and the exploitation. Some of our key activities are:

* Abortion Clinic Presence
* Public Protest
* Confronting the Abortionists
* Promoting and Defending Activism
* Broadcasting the Pro-Life Message
* Youth Outreach

Biography:

League Executive Director Ann Scheidler's involvement with the pro-life movement began in 1973 when her husband, National Director, Joe Scheidler began to work full-time in pro-life work. In 1980, she helped found the League.

In 1990, Ann began working part-time at the League as Assistant Director, a position which gradually became full-time. Since 2000 she has served as Executive Director, and is closely involved with all aspects of the League's work, from public relations and development to activism and outreach.

Ann is a frequent speaker on pro-life activism and sidewalk counseling, and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. She travels extensively conducting sidewalk counseling training sessions.

Ann holds a bachelor's degree from Mundelein College. She is the mother of seven children, including League staffers Annie Casselman and Eric Scheidler.

"In Her Own Words" -- Ann Scheidler

Q.  Recently, the Pro-Life Action League won an important legal victory.  I don't want to get in to the particulars of the case because there still may be legal issues pending.  However, I'd like to ask you what kind of impact this stressful experience had on you, your family and the organization itself.  Did the experience change the way you think about the fight against abortion?

A.  We won the NOW v. Scheidler RICO case first in January 2003. NOW (National Organization for Women) quite incredibly appealed the U.S. Supreme Court decision, claiming the Supreme Court had not ruled on all the issues. So it went back to the Supreme Court again and we got another, unanimous, victory in 2006. I think the brunt of the stress was really felt more by our children than by us. For the first several years of the case (it was filed in 1986), we really paid no attention to it. We let the lawyers handle it. But once it was certain that the case was going to trial, it became more of an intrusion into our lives and our mission. For one thing we had to try to raise enough money to pay the law firm that Tom Brejcha (lead lawyer) worked for. Americans United for Life took on much of the expense initially, but they were not able to absorb the cost of trial and bowed out when we got to that stage. Tom's firm also finally bailed, leaving him with the choice of continuing to represent us or staying with the firm. He opted to stay the course with our case, which led to establishing the Thomas More Society Pro-Life Law Center.

But back to the kids. Things affect different people in different ways. Some of our kids were more sensitive to the fact that their father's job was pretty controversial and were aware that we was being sued. They weren't sure how their friends would react to the situation, or how they felt about abortion in general. Our own kids have always been strongly pro-life, but some of them are more reticent about discussing it. All of them had to face comments and criticism for what Joe had chosen for his life's work. It is hard to have to be on the defensive so much of the time.

The experience did have an effect on the way we approach the fight against abortion. We know personally the financial cost of having to defend yourself in court and we would not want to ask that of other people. We would want to be sure that anyone who gets involved in pro-life activism is aware of the potential for battles in court, especially now that the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) is on the books. FACE was a direct result of Operation Rescue and the blockades of abortion clinics, which was a main aspect of the RICO case. We have always believed that it is possible to save lives and impact the culture without being arrested. Since the RICO case experience we are ever more committed to lawful activism--sidewalk counseling, picketing, Face the Truth Tours. We are also determined to preserve our First Amendment Right to protest and speak out against abortion. This will mean filing lawsuits against municipalities that try to restrict our rights, but it is paramount that we confront illicit police action and unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and assembly.

Q.  You have been standing for the rights of the unborn for many years.  Can you tell RFFM.org readers why you feel so passionately about the subject?

A.  Both Joe and I come from large families that value the gift of children. When Roe v. Wade came down in January 1973 I was pregnant with our fourth child, who also turned out to be our first girl. I couldn't believe that America would declare that the baby in my womb had no value unless I chose to give it value. We vowed to get involved and do something to turn things around. At the time, we were naive and thought that all we had to do was show the American people that the unborn baby was a human, and people would rise up in indignation and oppose abortion. That, of course, did not happen. We had no intention of spending the rest of our lives doing pro-life work. I'm not sure when it became apparent that that's what it would take, but certainly since 1980 we have known there would never be any other path for us. That's when we founded the Pro-Life Action League to specialize in activism as opposed to political action or educational efforts--both of which are great, but activism is the grassroots effort to save lives.

Q.  Since the Roe v. Wade ruling, handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 which legalized abortion in America, the nation has certainly become polarized regarding the issue.  In what direction do you think the nation is heading?  Are Americans coming to the understanding that abortion is the taking of human life or is the pendulum swinging the other way?

A.  For many years it seemed the country was headed deeper and deeper into immorality. And, on some fronts, it still seems headed that way. But, on abortion, I think the national psyche is changing. The pro-life movement has kept the issue at the forefront for over 34 years. People know more than they did in 1973. The debate over the partial-birth abortion ban educated a lot of people. The women who speak out about their own abortions are having a profound effect. I believe that, in addition to those who speak out publicly, there are thousands of women who quietly and privately tell their own friends, daughters and nieces that abortion was the biggest mistake they ever made and they advise other women to choose life. That's part of the reason that the numbers of abortions are down. Most people of child-bearing age now have an ultrasound photo of themselves in their baby book. They know that the baby in the womb has a heartbeat and fingers and toes. They can see the baby's eyes in the picture. It becomes much more difficult to call that baby "fetal tissue" and "a glob of cells." Our Face the Truth tours educate thousands of everyday Americans who would never go to a pro-life website or read a pro-life publication. But they see the graphic display of what abortion does to the baby--as they drive down the street--and it can't help but get into their brain that abortion is ugly. That image will be there if they are ever faced with a decision about a pregnancy and they will have to reckon with the truth when they make their choice.

Q.  You once told me something which I felt was a challenge to those who think abortion should be outlawed in our country.  We were discussing the huge crowds which turn out in Washington, D.C. on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.  But you intimated people needed to do more than just show up at annual rallies.  You said something to the effect that the big crowds in our nation's capitol were fine, but pro-lifers needed to do more when they went back to their communities.  Could you elaborate on that?

A.  It is invigorating to go to the March for Life on January 22 in Washington. People feel good about doing it. But they should not feel so good about it that they go home and do nothing else for the rest of the year. It should mark the first thing they do in the year, with a commitment to get more deeply involved in changing the culture. The politicians have gotten used to the annual march. They pay no attention. And, for the most part, the media pays no attention. So we have to do more. Everyone who marches in Washington should follow up by calling and/or writing their senators and their legislators, asking them to sponsor and vote for pro-life bills, asking them to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood and any other entity that commits abortions. They should volunteer for a CPC (Crisis Pregnancy Center), learn how to sidewalk counsel, protest the presence of an abortion clinic in their own community, like what is going on in Aurora, organize or join a respect life committee at their church, hold prayer services and discussion panels on life issues, read Joe Scheidler's book "CLOSED" for a host of ideas on how to spread the message of life, talk to their own family and friends about the value of life and the reality of abortion.

Q.  Many right to life supporters believe we are one Supreme Court Justice short of seeing the reversal of Roe v. Wade.  Do you think this is true and do you think that day will ever come?

A.  I think the Court will ultimately reverse Roe v. Wade because it is bad law. That will probably take a while longer, but it will not erase abortion from the nation. Many states have brought their own abortion laws into line with Roe v. Wade, which will mean that if the ruling is overturned the state law allowing abortion will still be in effect. States like Illinois, New York and California with many, many abortion clinics will become abortion destination states. So we will have years and years of pro-life work ahead even when Roe v. Wade falls. That is why it is important to get restrictions on abortion, things like right to know laws, parental notice laws and 24-hour waiting laws. These don't end abortion, but they assure that the woman seeking an abortion has to think a little longer about it and she will have to know more about it before she goes through with it.  The battle will become more localized as pro-life activists and politicos work to restore a respect for life in their own states. I believe the day will come when abortion is unthinkable, but just like with slavery and segregation, which were taken for granted for decades in this country, it will take a long time and a change of attitude on the part of Americans. Anyone in America would be appalled now to see a sign on a drinking fountain reading "Whites Only." In 50 years, I think people will be appalled to see "Abortion Services" on a medical building.

Q.  Pro-abortionists have successfully advanced the myth that if Roe v. Wade was struck down, abortions then would be illegal in every state.  You briefly touched on this in your last answer, can you elaborate a bit more on this issue?

A.  I think I addressed that in the prior question. A Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade would simply return the matter to the states, where it had been prior to 1973. Before the 1973 decision several states had legalized abortion and Michigan was trying to return to the days of prohibiting abortion in the state. Once again, each state would have to legislate abortion. That is why it is so important to elect state representatives and state senators who are pro-life and who will support laws to restrict or outlaw abortion.

Q.  Do we have to change the culture before victory can be declared in the fight against the taking of innocent human life or does the fight center around politics?  Or are the issues not mutually exclusive?

A.  The fight does not center around politics. For every baby whose life is spared by the intervention of a sidewalk counselor or a crisis pregnancy center or by an individual who offers compassion to a friend, Roe v. Wade is essentially null and void. Whether the politicians catch up or not, we can build a culture of life. We can create an environment that welcomes children and supports pregnant mothers and fosters saving sex until marriage. We must strengthen the family. Pro-life families serve as examples in their communities of how a family should be structured. And since pro-life families continue to grow, while pro-abortion folks have few or no children, we are bound to win by attrition if nothing else!

Q.  What are your feelings about other right to life issues, including euthanasia?  Do you support the death penalty and, if so, could you elaborate on your position?

A.  There are many issues that involve attacks on life: euthanasia, assisted suicide, artificial reproductive technology, embryonic stem cell research, homosexuality, sex education and capital punishment. Wherever life is devalued, we must try to enkindle a reverence for life. Many people do not realize that creating human embryos for the purpose of research is an assault on a human life. Many people have no clue that artificial insemination and invitro fertilization are wrong because they take the process of creating new life out of the context of married love and put it in a science lab. It is a challenge to try to educate people on these complex issues and it will take a long time to make the average person understand. Often they think it is compassionate to end the life of a terminally ill person, or to artificially aid the conception of a new life, forgetting that it is God's job to begin and end a life.

As to the death penalty, I think it is moral from a biblical perspective, but in a modern society like the United States it is unlikely that we actually need the death penalty in order to assure the safety of the public, but it is important to make sure that a life sentence really means a life sentence in the case of criminals who pose a serious danger to the public. Our prison system is so deeply flawed it is hard to know how often someone is wrongfully imprisoned, even for very serious crimes. The possibility of executing the wrong person is so disastrous that I believe it is better to choose never to execute anyone than to risk making the wrong move.

Q.  During my study of the media for the last 15 years, I have found many politicians who claim to be pro-life hold that position solely for political reasons.  With many in the dominant media supporting abortion, the truth about the voting records of elected officials is often hidden.  For example, some politicians claim to be pro-life, but their actions are not consistent with their stated views.  Obviously, pro-life voters need to know all the facts, in order to make informed decisions about who they're voting for and this takes work.  But, as you know, most people do not take the time to look into the record of political candidates.  I see this as one of the major reasons why abortion is still legal in America.  What are your thoughts on this very complicated subject?

A. For a committed minority the position of candidates on the issue of abortion is the defining issue. But for most voters, it comes down to the politician's likeability, ethnicity or name recognition. We should try to educate voters on the issues, but it will always be an uphill battle because the pro-life movement operates on a shoestring. The bigger challenge is to get pro-life politicians to really understand how to articulate their positions. Too often they are reticent to bring up the issue. They send out position papers to the general public without any mention of abortion and a separate paper to pro-lifers about how they support efforts to restrict abortion. They have to learn to be proud of standing for life. If they would take the time to sit down and talk with actual pro-life activists, they could learn how to do this and would get much more support from the pro-life community. Pro-lifers are willing to work hard for a candidate they are sure is with them, but when a candidate cannot talk intelligently about the issues or turns around and votes against a pro-life initiative for some lame reason, the support vanishes, as it should.

Q.  What can people do if they want to get involved with your organization? 

A.  Go to our website: www.prolifeaction.org to find out what we're all about, make a donation, learn how to sidewalk counsel, order our materials. We can put people to work in the movement.

Q.  If people want to send contributions, where can they send them? Pro-Life Action League, 6160 N. Cicero Ave., Suite # 600, Chicago, IL 60646

CONTACT THE PRO-LIFE ACTION LEAGUE

Web site: www.prolifeaction.org

Phone: (773) 777-2900

Address: 6160 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL 60646

Anita Bedell, ILCAAAP, "In Her Own Words"

"In Their Own Words" 8th in a series

To commemorate RFFM.org's 15 years of service to the conservative community, we will be conducting a series of monthly interviews throughout 2007 with some of the most influential leaders in the pro-family/conservative movement. RFFM.org's national director, Daniel Zanoza, will conduct Q + A sessions with the aim of educating our readers as to some of the views held by those who work tirelessly to reach their stated goals.

The eighth interview in RFFM.org's series continues with Anita Bedell, Executive Director, ILCAAAP (Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems)

Mission Statement: 

The Mission of ILCAAAP is to open doors to freedom from addictive behavior for individuals and families in Illinois through public information, education, and legislation.

Biography:

Anita Bedell is a graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in Business Education.  Bedell did her graduate work in Human Development Counseling at Sangamon State University--now UIS.  Bedell also taught Junior High and High School.  Bedell has worked for ILCAAAP since 1990 and became executive director in 1994.

Bedell currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the American Council on Alcohol Problems and served on the board of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion for three years.  Bedell served on the Governor’s Alcohol Abuse Task Force and has testified before many Legislative Committees about alcohol and gambling issues.  Bedell leads the statewide coalition to oppose the expansion of gambling in Illinois and the Sangamon County Coalition on Underage Drinking.

Anita Bedell and her husband of 38 years have two married sons and six grandchildren.

Q.  Can you elaborate on why you think gambling has such a degrading impact on our society and who it hurts most?

A.  I first saw the impact of gambling on children and families when I was in Junior High. I was asked to baby-sit for two little girls, ages 2 and 4, when their family moved into town. Their parents bought the biggest house in town, drove a Cadillac and owned race horses. Appearances are sometimes deceiving, because the cupboards were bare, they had very little furniture and few toys for their children. The mother bought a few groceries a few days later when she won $50 betting on the horses. While both parents worked, at the end of the week they had no money to pay me. A few months later the bank foreclosed on their house and they lost their car for non payment due to their addiction to gambling.

I started working for ILCAAAP in 1990--the same year the Riverboat Gambling Act became law. I was surprised when newspapers focused on the amount of revenue that would be generated from gambling, and wondered why no one was speaking out about the potential harm to families, gambling addiction and crime. Rev. Tom Grey approached ILCAAAP in 1992 and asked our organization to help oppose casino gambling. ILCAAAP hosted a Round Table and I heard new information about crime and the economic costs of casinos.

The following year, I attended a two-day seminar about gambling in Mississippi. One of the speakers was a pastor who had been hired by the casinos to minister to their employees. Famous for their “southern hospitality”, many of the workers had a difficult time when they saw gamblers losing all of their money. The pastor arranged for us to tour two of the casinos. This was the first time I had been in a casino. One of the workers asked us why we were smiling and seemed so happy. Gambling is touted as “entertainment”, but we didn't see any smiling faces. We saw people with slot cards hooked to the machines, almost trance-like, putting coins into the slots. Even when they won, they were expressionless and simply put their winnings back into the same slot machine.

One of the casinos had a state of the art day-care center for children as young as 6 months of age. The casino had only been opened for one month, yet they planned to enlarge the day care center because of the long waiting lines on the week-end. The children did not interact with each other and did not seem to be having fun, even though they were surrounded with toys, video games and movies. This experience made me even more determined to oppose casinos and to educate others about the problems of gambling.

Q.  Of course your organization attempts to tackle other addictions which plague our culture.  Why, in your opinion, does it seem Americans are so prone to addiction?  Some people are addicted to work, which can be a negative thing, if it is taken to an extreme.  Then, there is alcoholism, drug addiction, obesity, etc.  Could it be we are a society which has it too easy because many of these problems are not encountered in third world countries that simply have a hard time feeding their people.

A.  Instant gratification is part of the problem--we want what we want, and we want it now!

I believe the predatory marketing practices of alcohol and gambling companies and the accessibility and acceptability of these potentially addictive products entice and encourage people with addictive tendencies. Young people, who have never known a time when gambling was illegal, are attracted to gambling when they see celebrity poker tournaments or watch poker on ESPN. Betting lines are published in newspapers, Lotteries are promoted on the nightly news, and the money is used to fund education.

The younger people begin to gamble and drink, the greater the likelihood they will become addicted. The National Research Center estimated that as many as 1.1 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 are pathological gamblers, which is a higher percentage than adults.

Senior Citizens are offered bus trips to casinos as an inexpensive outing, and some will become addicted. Women, who are caregivers and widows, gamble for escape. Gamblers are rewarded for losing money when they use their player cards. The frequent rewards make the gamblers feel like they are winning, and they keep gambling.

Making gambling more accessible increases addiction. While people once had to fly to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to gamble, now they can drive to a casino in an hour or two. Gamblers can go to Off-Track Betting parlors in their neighborhood to bet on the horses daily/weekly instead of traveling to the racetracks. Studies have found the presence of a gambling facility within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers. Men and women, who had never been in trouble with the law, have been convicted of embezzling money and robbing banks to fuel their gambling addiction.

Q.  What is currently going on with gambling in the legislature?  What should Illinois residents who care about the negative effects of gambling be aware of as far as what's on the docket in the Illinois legislature.  And if there are things not yet on the docket, but looming in the future regarding gambling, could you tell us about them?

A.  Every year gambling interests try to expand--additional casinos, more gambling positions at casinos, slot machines at racetracks, and video poker. Recently bills have been introduced to legalize gambling on the Internet and in bars.

The Senate passed a gambling package that included Account Deposit Wagering at race tracks, which would legalize horse racing on the Internet. People could place a bet over the Internet or from their cell phone and lose their house while betting at home!

While the General Assembly has rejected the Governor's proposal to sell or lease the Lottery, Rep. Saviano recently introduced HB 4128 to legalize Lottery games on the Internet. The types of games could expand without legislative approval--Video Lottery and Keno. People could lose thousands of dollars with a click of the mouse. The fast-pace of Internet gambling is very addictive. The age to gamble on horse racing and the Lottery is 18.

The Governor recently vetoed HB 1124 to legalize gambling in bars on video games. Young people, who have grown up playing video games, could become addicted to gambling by playing in the video game “contests of skill”. Alcohol impairs judgment and these young people will gamble until all of their money is gone. Making gambling more accessible by expanding into neighborhoods and communities statewide would increase the amount of addicted gamblers in Illinois. Organized crime and money laundering are additional concerns. We all pay for the high costs of gambling, whether you gamble or not. Coin machine operators will continue their efforts to legalize gambling in upcoming Legislative sessions.

Q.  In Illinois, it seems gambling has expanded in increments.  How has this happened?

A.  When the Lottery was legalized, a drawing was held once a month. Later the drawings were held weekly, then daily, then “instantly” with scratch-off Lottery tickets. The Lottery expanded to a multi-state Lottery and increased the prize--Mega Million--to entice more people to gamble.

The Riverboat Gambling Act limited the size of the boat, the number of gambling positions, the time to gamble (2 hour cruise), and required the boats to sail on a navigable waterway. Many Legislators did not want land-based casinos or want Illinois to become another Las Vegas. In 1999, casino lobbyists worked to pass legislation for dockside gambling. The boats no longer had to cruise or be located on a navigable river. This opened the door for casinos to build a “boat in a moat” . The Casino Queen in East St. Louis recently opened a new casino that was built in their former parking lot. The Hotel and Restaurants are built on land, and the gambling area is floating on water. There is room to expand--should the Legislature approve additional gambling positions. The casino in Rock Island received approval to move three miles off the Mississippi River to a former rock quarry, which is closer to the Interstate highway. Once gambling comes in, it continues to expand.

Gambling addiction increases as gambling expands and becomes more accessible and more acceptable. Almost half of the revenue at casinos comes from pathological gamblers. In Illinois over 4,600 gamblers have voluntarily placed themselves on the self-exclusion list and asked the Gaming Board to keep them from entering the casino because their gambling is so out of control.

Q.  Why do you think legislators keep pressing for more gambling, even though we all know the damage it wreaks on the personal lives of addicted gamblers and their families which totals in the millions.

A.  Prior to passage of the 1999 gambling expansion bill, the Economic and Fiscal Commission estimated the state would lose $14 million a year due to the subsidies to horse racing and funds transferred from the General Revenue Fund to pay for programs formerly funded by horse racing. Legislators told me that they didn't believe those numbers.

Money for campaign contributions seems to be the driving force for more gambling. Gambling interests have money and political influence, and they use both to introduce bills and get hearings on their issues during every legislative session. There is no public outcry for more gambling, but ILCAAAP leads the statewide grassroots opposition calling for NO MORE GAMBLING.

The greed of gambling interests is another factor. They continually want to expand to make more money.

Legislators ignore the costs of gambling and focus on inflated revenue projections as an argument to expand gambling. Illinois has never conducted a study to determine the cost of gambling. For every dollar gambling interests indicate they contribute in taxes, it usually costs taxpayers $3 in social welfare, criminal justice and regulatory costs, according to Prof. John Kindt. Professor Earl Grinols determined the average cost to society per pathological gambler is $13,586 per year.

Q.  Do you believe the horse follows the cart in Illinois politics, meaning:  Do politicians think of big projects and then look to the expansion of gambling to pay for them?  If you agree with this premise, can you explain how it has worked in the past?

A.  Politicians use their desire for more money as an opportunity to expand gambling. Gambling cannot pass on its own merits. It is only when Legislators are being pressured at the end of the session to believe that gambling is the only solution left that it has a chance of passage.

In 1999 Gov. George Ryan worked with the Senate and House to pass a capitol bill to fund construction projects for roads, bridges, schools, etc. “Back room deals” were worked out, and Legislators received projects in their district, help with their campaigns, help passing legislation, etc. for voting for the gambling expansion bill.

A similar “package deal” was worked out in the Senate this year during the final days of the overtime session. Republicans voted “present” on the bonding bill when the “memorandums of understanding” were not written into the legislation as promised, and this bill failed. The gambling bill--which was to be voted on next--did not have enough votes to pass and was not called for a vote.

Q.  According to some of the information put out by ILCAAAP, there are special scratch-off's on Lottery tickets which fund projects other than education.  Can you explain how this is legal, since the Lottery was first presented to Illinois residents as a tool to fund schools?  Or have we gone beyond legality regarding the Lottery to where, essentially, anything goes?

A.  Voters approved the Lottery more than 30 years ago to help fund education. The law was changed in 1985 to assure that 100% of the Lottery money went to the Common School Fund. The General Assembly makes the laws and they can change the laws. Two years ago Legislators approved two special scratch-off tickets to benefit breast cancer and Veterans. These tickets have generated $23 million in sales, with $3.4 million to Breast Cancer and $2.8 million to Veterans. While Lottery sales increased from last year, the amount of money transferred to the Common School Fund had decreased 10.87% as of April, 2007. 

Two additional scratch-off tickets to benefit HIV/AIDS (SB 774)and MS (SB 764) passed this year. The Governor recently issued an amendatory veto, limiting the number of special purpose lottery tickets to two per year for no more than nine consecutive months.

Q.  The latest gambling initiatives include installing machines in bars, restaurants and even grocery stores.  In South Dakota, nearly every gas station has a casino attached to it.  The word casino is misleading because these dingy rooms are usually filled with nothing more than slot machines and people sometimes playing two machines at a time.  Can we eventually expect this type of thing in Illinois?

A.  I certainly hope not. Grassroots activists in South Dakota have tried to repeal that law because of the harm to individuals and families, but the state is too dependent (addicted) on the revenue. It's important for citizens to contact their Legislators to voice their concerns about gambling. ILCAAAP has talking points on this issue and information about the problems of gambling that can be shared with your elected officials.

Q.  I know education is important regarding the dangers of gambling.  Our schools have programs designed to inform young people about the devastating effects of alcohol and drugs.  Are our schools doing anything to educate our children concerning the terrible impact gambling can have on individuals and families?

A.  Some schools brought in speakers when teens started playing poker or saw teens having problems with gambling. Some parents have asked that “Casino Nights” be eliminated from After Prom parties. Schools have many issues on their plate besides basic education. School Prevention groups and health classes are areas where gambling could be addressed. Churches could play a key role in educating children and adults about the harm of gambling. ILCAAAP has bulletin announcements and materials to help churches.

Q.  What else can average Illinois citizens do to fight against the plague of gambling?  And how can they start grass roots organizations to fight against gambling in their own neighborhoods?

A.  They can get to know their Legislators and tell them their concerns about gambling. Write a Letter to the Editor to share your views with others.

They can link up with ILCAAAP (www.ilcaaap.org) for technical assistance and resource materials. ILCAAAP is the umbrella organization for grassroots groups opposing gambling in their communities.

Q.  How can the public support what ILCAAAP is doing?  Can they send donations?

A.  Your prayers and financial support are always welcome.  Send donations to ILCAAAP at 1132 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, IL 62702.  Donations to “Illinois Churches In Action” are tax deductible.

www.ilcaaap.org

Call: (217) 546-6871 or (877) 204-6863

Fax: (217) 546-2814

Sen. Bill Brady "In His Own Words"

August 5, 2007

"In Their Own Words" 7th in a series
by Sen. Bill Brady "In His Own Words"

To commemorate RFFM.org's 15 years of service to the conservative community, we will be conducting a series of monthly interviews throughout 2007 with some of the most influential leaders in the pro-family/conservative movement. RFFM.org's national director, Daniel Zanoza, will conduct Q + A sessions with the aim of educating our readers as to some of the views held by those who work tirelessly to reach their stated goals.

The seventh interview in RFFM.org's series continues with Illinois state Sen. Bill Brady

State Sen. Bill Brady
   

"In His Own Words"

State Sen. Bill Brady, a mainstream conservative recognized for his state budgeting expertise and for challenging the status quo in government, has represented the citizens of seven Central Illinois Counties in the 44th Senate District since 2002. He previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001.

Senator Brady currently is the ranking Republican on the Senate Insurance Committee, the leading Republican on the Senate Pensions and Investments Committee, and a member of the Revenue and Public Health committees. He also serves on the General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and is a member of the board that governs the state’s CHIP (Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan) program.

A lifelong resident of Bloomington, Brady and his brothers have owned and operated real estate development, property management, mortgage, insurance, home construction and broadcasting businesses in Central Illinois for more than a quarter century.

Senator Brady graduated from Bloomington’s Central Catholic High School and Illinois Wesleyan University. He and his wife, Nancy, have three children – Katie, William and Duncan – and will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary later this year.------------

Q: Our readers can learn some things about you from the biography above, but there are some things that do not fit into a bio regarding personal motivations, etc. For example, what made you decide to pursue public service through elected office? What kind of impact would you like to have on our state and nation and what kind of legacy would you like to leave behind?

A. My parents always taught their children to be involved in their community and to contribute to society. I chose to give back a portion of the successes I have had through public service by helping to make the lives of others better. I got into government because of my frustration with Democratic policies that trap people into a cycle of government dependence and give them a false belief that government can cure all their ills. I know Illinois can do better, I know that Illinois families can do better when government sets an example of fiscal discipline and encourages personal responsibility.

Like many other parents, I want my children and grandchildren to choose to raise their families here in Illinois, and I want them to be able to afford to stay here and do just that. Every generation wants to leave a better life for the next generation, whether it’s financial security through a strong economy, a cleaner environment through policies that protect our water, our air and our land, or a society that promotes new opportunity for self-development.

Q: In a state dominated by the Democratic Party, you have emerged as a leader of the conservative pro-family movement and the Republican Party on the whole. In fact, many experts see you as one of the GOP's brightest hopes for the future. I know modesty would prevent you from acknowledging some of this evaluation, but to the best of your ability, please address some of the responsibilities that come with being one of the most recognizable politicians in the state.

A. Thank you. I am proud of the work I have done for families in Illinois, and I am humbled by the faith and trust that people from all walks of life have placed in me. One of the biggest challenges is staying focused on providing common-sense solutions to the challenges we face as a state. Rather than just attacking the easy, we must try to answer those difficult challenges with positive solutions that move Illinois forward.

Q: Every day we hear about the abuse of children and children being abducted. It seems to be a social disease that is sweeping our nation. You were instrumental in the state legislature addressing this problem through the consideration of "Jessica's Law" which is named after a 14-year-old Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford, who was abducted, raped, tortured and buried alive by a convicted sex offender. Obviously, this issue touches your heart. Can you talk about your personal thoughts concerning this subject and Jessica's Law as it is written in Illinois? In your opinion, what else can be done by legislators and the public to protect our most valuable and vulnerable treasure, our children?

A. There is nothing more important than protecting our most vulnerable citizens, our children. The horrendous torture and murder of Jessica Lunsford scorched our nation. Unfortunately, the brutal death of Jessica is not an isolated case. Far, far too many children and young adults are abducted and sexually molested every year in Illinois and in the country as a whole. Far too many sexual predators and molesters are released from prison and somehow manage to thwart the attention of our law enforcement community. Jessica’s Law, first passed in Florida and now enacted by two dozen other states, will become law in Illinois with the signature of the Governor.

Simply put, the legislation passed by the General Assembly increases the prison sentences for these repeat sexual predators and gives law enforcement new tools to monitor them after their incarceration. It will upgrade criminal sexual assault to a Class X felony if the predator has previously been convicted of any sex offense; currently it is only a Class X felony if the offender had been previously convicted of criminal sexual assault. It also will change the conditions for the release of sex offenders by requiring them to take an annual polygraph exam, maintain a log of their travel and obtain prior approval of their parole officers before driving alone in a motor vehicle. It also requires convicted sexual predators who are subject to GPS monitoring to pay for the cost of monitoring.

Jessica’s Law, which I was proud to introduce and sponsor, is another step toward making our children’s world safer. I pray it will protect our children from the evils of predators and prevent future tragedies such as happened to Jessica and other girls and boys. As lawmakers, parents and citizens, however, we must recognize our own responsibilities to our youth. We must be ever vigilant about our children, our most precious resource. We must be aware of our children’s activities, alert to their use of the Internet and watchful of their surroundings. We need to challenge ourselves to protect our children to the highest degree possible.

Q: Recently, some of the most contentious work dealt with by the Illinois Senate involves the end of the rate hike freeze for ComEd and Ameren customers which has led to some central and downstate residents having their electric bills tripled. By the time you are answering this question, the Senate may have come to an agreement regarding the power companies and what Illinois consumers can expect in the future. Could you share your feelings regarding the end of the rate hike freeze and the process which has led us to where we are today?

A. As you mention, the General Assembly has acted on this contentious issue, and the matter is now on the governor’s desk. Unfortunately, I do not believe the so-called solution is in the best interests of Illinois consumers. Our citizens needed real rate relief in addition to a reliable supply of electrical power.

Our consumers suffered doubling and tripling of their electrical bills for months while the Democrats did nothing. Finally, in the eleventh hour of an overtime legislative session – not in January, not in March, not even in May -- did they think this was important enough to end the shell game of one chamber passing a bill unacceptable to the other and present a proposal drafted with precious little, if any, input from Republicans. The bill crafted by the Democratic Attorney General, the Democratic Speaker of the House and the Democratic President of the Senate does not offer real rate relief. It is a sell-out of our consumers who, two years from now, likely will see rates back exactly where they are today. This plan provides consumers $1 billion over three years while it allows the power generating companies more than $6 billion in windfall profits. It is not enough. I also voted against the bill because it creates a new government bureaucracy to deal with energy issues. We certainly do not need the Attorney General and a new Illinois Power Agency to determine utility rate issues; that’s the responsibility of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Illinois consumers would have been better served by phasing in gradual rate increases. We need to do everything we can to ensure that Illinois has a reliable source of energy, but it must be brought to the consumer in an affordable way, not by this ill-conceived measure.

Q: Illinois seems like it is in a perpetual budget crisis. Can you address why you think this is the case and what needs to be done to create some sort of fiscal responsibility in the state?

A. Illinois has both a revenue problem and a spending problem. This year, for example, while the General Assembly has met for 61 days in overtime sessions to date, Illinois has nearly an additional $1 billion in natural revenue growth available. Nearly $1 billion in new money. But it’s not enough to satisfy the demands of many in the Democrat majority of the House and Senate. And it’s not nearly enough to satisfy our Democrat governor who proposes new program after new program without the revenues to pay for them. No matter, he says. We’ll raid the pension funds, we’ll sell off the Thompson Center or the Lottery, we’ll raise taxes on business, he says. We’ll expand gambling and riverboats, says Senate President Jones. A modest income tax increase may be necessary, says Speaker Madigan. Rather than looking at how we spend our taxpayers’ precious dollars, they want more. Rather than scaling back government and saying no, as Governor Edgar did in 1991, they expand government with new programs and new agencies. Rather than implementing a patient-centered care system for the state’s Medicaid clients, they maintain an expensive status quo system…and don’t pay health care providers adequately or on time. Until we rein in spending and voters demand a greater fiscal discipline, Illinois is going to have budget problems.

Like most families do, government needs to live within its means. I believe government needs to reorder its priorities. Government should not and cannot be all things to all people. I believe we need to say no to expensive new programs that sound good, but sap the state treasury. Should we make health care more accessible? Absolutely. Should the state spend billions of its resources to do it? Absolutely not. More government means less opportunity for our citizens. I believe we need to look at the budget top to bottom and determine how our tax dollars can best be spent to move Illinois forward while still providing a safety net for our citizens who need temporary assistance.

Q: It is apparent when it comes to the budget the only answers some legislators have is to increase taxes and fees or increase revenue from the expansion of gambling. Obviously, there are many conservatives who have a problem with both of these solutions--if they can be called solutions at all. And it seems like the problem exists every year. The schools need more money. The state's infrastructure crumbles while billions of dollars are spent yearly on these issues. In your opinion, where is the system breaking down?

A. It is breaking down because the Democrats who now control the House, the Senate and the Governor’s office all believe in bigger government. They believe in a “feel good” government that promotes policies that entrap people into government assistance – at a higher cost for Illinois taxpayers. They believe in a tax system that will push jobs out of Illinois with burdensome taxes unseen in other states that understand that jobs translate into natural revenue increases for government. Tax increases are not the answer; aggressive economic development is. Illinois is the fifth largest state but, over the last five years, has become the eighth worst job-producing state in the nation. The 500,000 jobs we have lost to other states over the last five years would have generated an additional $2 billion in revenues for Illinois. That growth that would have allowed Illinois to fund necessary programs, help pay our shameful unfunded pension liability, provide cost-of-doing-business increases for social service providers and offer tax relief to Illinois homeowners and taxpayers.

Q: Families balance their budgets all the time, while it is true many spend more income than they have coming in. Is this something that has become a part of our culture or is there another answer to this question?

A. Many of our families struggle to get by. They cinch up their belts, tighten their budgets and they make do. But I am concerned that overspending has become part of our culture for too many families. We have become a nation of borrowers. Saving for a rainy day just isn’t part of the financial plan for too many of us, even when we have the financial resources to do so. And a big part of the blame for that falls directly on government in Springfield and in Washington, D.C. Our government should be an example of fiscal discipline to live by, not an example of overspending that encourages families to follow their ways. I’m also concerned that some Illinoisans believe they have somehow become entitled to government assistance, whether it’s low-cost mortgages, financial aid for their children’s college educations or other government aid programs, regardless of their household income. Those programs are essential for our less fortunate citizens; they are not essential for “where’s mine?” families who have maxed out their credit cards on non-essential or extravagant purchases. Again, it’s a question of personal discipline and sometimes – like government should do – of making do without the extras. And government certainly should not become a bigger part of the problem by raising taxes and taking more money from the already-stretched household budgets of many Illinois families and businesses.

Q: Anyone who follows politics knows you are pro-life and a friend to the pro-family movement. I'm sure these issues rank highly on your political agenda. However, what other issues do you see as pressing for the people of Illinois? Are there things that are flying underneath our collective political radar that should be given more attention?

A. I don’t believe there is any greater pro-family value than ensuring our citizens are able to provide for one’s own family through a job. As I talked about earlier, the economic and tax policies of this administration have cost Illinois some 500,000 jobs. That’s 500,000 families who are not enjoying the quality of life that a job provides. That’s 500,000 families who right now don’t have the opportunities they would have with a job here in Illinois. Instead of promoting job policies, this administration proposes the largest tax increase in the history of this nation – a gross receipts tax of $7.6 billion – that would further undermine the economic strength of our state and the financial security of our families. This administration raises the minimum wage to the highest in the country, another effort that ultimately will cause business to take their business elsewhere. That’s not the way to promote independence and financial security for our families; it’s not the way to build a strong economy that guarantees a better quality of life for all our citizens.

Q: We have seen Illinois evolve from a state that was led by two political parties not too long ago. Today the Democrats dominate state government, even though many believe Illinois is not that liberal. From a positive standpoint, what does the Republican Party need to do to get back on even footing in Illinois?

A. Republicans did not fare well last November. As a result, the Democrats control every element of state government. But let’s remember that a decade ago, Republicans held every statewide office and had majorities in both the Illinois Senate and Illinois House. So, the pendulum swings. But there are some things I think the Republican Party can do to ensure that pendulum quickly swings back to GOP control. I believe we need to go back to the values and principles of Abraham Lincoln – responsive and limited government, low taxes, personal responsibility. We Republicans must stand for integrity and ethics, policies that invite and encourage business growth and job creation, and tax strategies that reduce the burden on our citizens. I believe a majority of Illinoisans would agree with those priorities, yet we must become better messengers of that agenda. The Republican Party must reach out to all areas of Illinois voters with that message, including Reagan Democrats, independents who are fiscally conservative, and minorities. Nearly a quarter of the vote cast for governor last November was cast by Latino and African-American voters, yet our candidate for governor received only 14 percent of that vote. Minorities by and large are church-going, pro-family citizens who share our Republican philosophy. We need to make them feel welcome in the Republican Party.

Q: We've addressed some serious topics in this Q + A so far, so let's get on the lighter side, if we can. What do you do to relax? Do you have any hobbies or family activities that you really enjoy?

A. Because I spend a great deal of time away from home on legislative and political matters, Nancy and I try to make time with family and close friends a priority, whether it’s visiting our daughter in Pennsylvania or cheering our two sons at their athletic games. I like debating politics and discussing current events over friendly dinners, reading, hunting and bicycling. I also enjoy getting out on the golf course, though it will take a while to get my game back after spending two months of summer in overtime session in Springfield.

Q: Your name is constantly being mentioned for higher office. I don't expect you to make an announcement regarding future political plans here--even though it would make for a great exclusive--but I would be remiss if I did not take a shot at it. So, here goes. Can we expect Bill Brady to be running for the U.S. Senate or Governor in the near future?

A. I have been very fortunate to been able to be a voice for Central Illinois residents in the General Assembly over the past 15 years. I treasure that experience and the many friendships I have made through my service in Springfield. As I traveled the entire state of Illinois in seeking the Republican nomination for Governor in 2006, I heard firsthand the dreams and the disappointments of the citizens of Illinois. I know some of their challenges can be resolved only with the leadership of a Governor working in a cooperative spirit with the legislature. Some of the things I want to accomplish for the people of Illinois can only be accomplished as Governor.

Right now I am focusing on my re-election as the state senator for the 44th district next year and offering my assistance to Senator Fred Thompson’s bid for the Republican nomination for President, and I hope to be in a position to offer my vision for the future of Illinois to our citizens during following campaigns.


Contact: Sen. Brady can be contacted regarding state issues at his legislative office (309) 644-4440 or regarding political matters at his political office (309) 644-8544. He maintains two websites, www.senatorbillbrady.com and www.citizensforbillbrady.com. E-mail Sen. Brady at bill@citizensforbillbrady.com.


COPYRIGHT RFFM.ORG 2007

Sen. Chris Lauzen "In His Own Words" 6th in a series by RFFM.org

"In Their Own Words" 6th in a series by RFFM.org

by Sen. Chris Lauzen "In His Own Words"

To commemorate RFFM.org's 15 years of service to the conservative community, we will be conducting a series of monthly interviews throughout 2007 with some of the most influential leaders in the pro-family/conservative movement.  RFFM.org's national director, Daniel Zanoza, will conduct Q + A sessions with the aim of educating our readers as to some of the views held by those who work tirelessly to reach their stated goals. 

JUNE 28, 2007

The sixth interview in RFFM.org's series continues with Illinois state Sen. Chris Lauzen

Sen. Chris Lauzen  --  "In His Own Words"

Chris Lauzen has served in the Illinois State Senate since his election in 1992 and has championed issues that matter to families and businesses. Senator Lauzen was raised in Aurora, Illinois. He earned a B.A. in Management Science and English from Duke University in 1974. Senator Lauzen continued his education at Harvard, graduating with an MBA degree in 1978. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) awarded by the University of Illinois.

While Senator Lauzen is proud of his accomplishment as a businessman and lawmaker, he is most proud of his role as a husband and father. Senator Lauzen and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of four boys: Ted, Elliot, Hans and Robbie.

Q.  You are currently celebrating 15 years as a member of the Illinois General Assembly.  How do you feel your service has impacted the community?  What kind of legacy do you think you have left behind for others to follow?

A.  These days I don't really feel that I'm "celebrating" 15 years of service, but I am still trying to do my best for my constituents and their families. Sixteen years ago, when I first ran for office, I promised three things. There were no promises of jobs for friends, cushy contacts for contributors, or even a road through anyone's town. Instead, I promised to work hard, stay honest and use common sense in making the decisions that affect 212,000 people in the district I serve. Those promises have been kept.

I try to set a good example by listening to people and responding to every contact from those who send me to Springfield. I return every phone call and answer every piece of constituent correspondence personally. I have scrupulously avoided enriching myself or any friends by my public service. In fact, where I used to be paid by clients seven times what I'm now paid by the state -- and my clients used to do what I suggested (!) -- I lose sleep some nights, just like my constituents do, about how I'm going to get the bills paid with two sons in college. But, in a way, that's how it should be because I can truly understand the anxiety of those who call my office.

Q.  What do you believe have been your most important accomplishments as an elected official and what would you like to accomplish in the future?

A.  The best years of my career so far were those when there was an active core of truly committed majority senators - the "Fab Five" - Fitzgerald, O'Malley, Rauschenberger, Syverson and me. We were successful with the help of many other conscientious legislators in pushing budget process reforms like "Truth-in-Budgeting" where we effectively would have only one set of books in Illinois, rather than two, i.e. one going to the New York bankers on the thorough accrual method of accounting and the other set sent to the folks back home on the incomplete cash basis. We also led the fight for fiscal responsibility in "Truth-in-Pensions" where we passed into law a 50-year "mortgage" to fully-fund the amounts that had been raided by previous administrations and general assemblies. We paid every cent on that mortgage for 10 years. Naturally, I was disappointed when many of these reforms were not reinforced by the Executive Branch after 1998. And, now the public pensions have been raided for a staggering $2,300,000,000 by Chicago Democrats and their enablers.

In the future, I hope to continue to hold big spenders accountable and liable for the disastrous consequences of their irresponsible actions through my work on the Appropriations and Revenue Committees and as co-chairman of the Legislative Audit Commission. Winston Churchill once quoted Alexander the Great as saying, "The people of Asia (in his time) are slaves because they have forgotten the meaning and how to say 'No'." I have many weaknesses; but the inability to say "No" when needed is not one of them.

Q.  What are the most urgent issues or problems facing Illinois today?  What are the chances these issues will be resolved?

A.  The Ruling Majorities are handing a financial mess to our children and grandchildren in an environment that reminds many of a circus rather than a self-governing legislature that good men and women have died for. They are destroying the working middle class by strangling small business initiatives while expanding a pathetic entitlement attitude by a growing number of Illinois residents. The current administration lies without shame, diverts funds without rationale like $650M per year in gas taxes, and attempts to intimidate those who resist.

But, the worst crime of all is what is happening to the education of our kids. You cannot read important books on social justice and education in America without becoming furious and despondent. How can we consistently say that we love all children in society when decades of evidence demonstrate that we condemn tens of thousands of students each year in Illinois alone to self-serving and stagnant education bureaucracies? The sentence meted out to innocent children by adults in charge is a litany of failure. As Jonathan Kozol wrote in Savage Inequalities in 1991, "If one knows the future that awaits them (kindergarteners), it is terrible to see their eyes look up at you with friendliness and trust -- to see this and to know what is in store for them"(Pg. 45). The ugly obvious truth is we really don't love all children. We may love our own, but we certainly don't love all children.

Until we treat "all" like we treat "ours", we will not be absolved from the travesty that monopoly centralization has created. Until our tax money follows each child and every parent is empowered with the resources that are currently assigned to education bureaucracies, there will continue to be deep social resentments and failure. Only the equal opportunity and true freedom of "educational choice" can guarantee justice. Why especially minority political leaders don't embrace this important truth is just beyond my comprehension.

Q.  You have a reputation of being an independent spirit in the Illinois General Assembly.  Has this helped or hindered your efforts as a legislator?

A.  Although my independence has hurt me politically in Springfield, it certainly helps me back home among my constituents and allows me to sleep comfortably. It amazes me that the way to advance in the political environment 200 miles away from constituents is to break promises of fiscal conservatism and to vote for tax and debt increases. Like hungry hyenas, those who destroy the financial condition of our state tear apart our carcass and feed with selfish appetites. In the first twelve years of my work, the defining moment of truth, in terms of independence, came when I was the only senator in either party to speak against George Ryan's "Illinois First". As gently and respectfully as I could, I pointed to Ryan's pre-election promise to not raise taxes, the lack of any list where $11 Billion was going to be spent, and no concessions - from especially road builders - that we would get a better product than roads that buckled after seven to eight years, like patches on Lake Shore Drive and the Stevenson Expressway. After I got the threatening call a day later from Ryan and his reminder that he had given me a $10,000 contribution during the state-wide campaign, I started the three-month process of raising the money to voluntarily give him (Ryan) his money back. "If that's what your contribution meant, you'll get your money back."

One of the many current struggles in Illinois is the direct election of Republican central committeemen. It cannot be more obvious that the existing Republican Party leadership has delivered embarrassing and dangerous total failure, i.e. all constitutional offices held by Democrats, a substantial majority of Democrats in the House, and an incredible super-majority in the Senate. Yet, they desperately hold on to their power for personal gain.

Instead, the people who vote in Republican Primaries should elect the party's board of directors. Democrats do it this way. Republicans did it this way before Jim Thompson consolidated his power in 1986. And, we are fighting a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, in part, over the principle that the people, not the politicians, should be sovereign. I sponsored and the Senate unanimously passed SB600 two years ago that contained the necessary reform language that would allow every citizen who votes in a Republican Primary to select the Republican Party equivalent of our board of directors.  Again, recently I inserted this common sense improvement for Republicans in HB1752. In both cases, reformers had cooperation from Democrats, but Tom Cross and “Skip” Saviano, in the first attempt, and Andy McKenna, either directly or indirectly in the more recent case, frustrated the efforts to put Republicans back into an effective two-party balance of power.

Q.  You have been a longtime advocate for pro-family legislation in Illinois.  With the political setbacks Republicans have experienced recently, do you look to the future from a positive perspective or do you see great setbacks for the conservative agenda in the state?

A.  I am hopeful. It takes a while but the great "silent majority" of people in this state and America mobilize when they finally understand what some leaders are trying to do to them. This fact is evident in policies toward immigration policy and homosexual behavior. John F. Kennedy said, "Our nation is founded on the principle that observance of the law is the eternal safeguard of liberty, and defiance of the law (in this case, immigration and employment laws) is the surest road to tyranny. Americans are free, in short, to disagree with the law but not to disobey it. For no man, however prominent and powerful, and no mob, however unruly and boisterous, is entitled to defy a court of law." We are seeing the impact on our county's social harmony and even on wage rates of disregarding this advice. But, the people are pushing back.

The so-called cultural elite are trying to convince, especially our youth, that homosexual behavior is natural, and even "cool." Yet facts are stubborn things. Even though it seems that our spiritual leaders have not been successful in making the convincing moral argument in what is becoming an amoral society, physical science is confirming that life expectancy for those who practice homosexual behavior is substantially reduced. Once this information is freely and openly distributed the great majority of Americans will see this destructive choice for what it really is. My hope is that this realization and others will help us turn back to respect for traditional family values and self-discipline.

Q.  Obviously, there are many people who would like to see you run for U.S. Congress.  What are your plans in this area?

A.  On June 1, my wife Sarah and I filed papers to run for Congress. Once again, I will promise to work hard, stay honest, and use the same common sense that you do in the conduct of your family and business affairs.

My priorities in serving the 14th District will be faith, family, and American competitiveness. To me, faith is not judgmental and dogmatic. It is divine assurance that there is order in the universe and politicians are not the center of that order, and that the fundamental command given by Jesus' life's example is to love our neighbor the best we can. A nurtured family is the gift that keeps giving. Love and duty within a family are the most effective and efficient energies to raise healthy and happy children to become productive adults and to care for our elderly. I came from a very dysfunctional family growing up and felt the pain. I'm grateful everyday for the answer to my prayers as a boy that Sarah and I have been happily married for nearly 26 years, caring for each other and our four children.

Finally, American peace and prosperity requires American strength and competitiveness, good health, sound education and a focus on American jobs. I was taught in business school that we produce wealth by growing it, mining it, manufacturing it, storing it, or counting it. But, life is teaching me that the foundation to all of this is freedom and responsibility. How we implement these core principles in a competitive global economy is one of our crucial challenges in the 21st century.

Q.  From your point of view, what are the most important issues facing America at this time?

A.  To grow in faith, to strengthen traditional families, and to recognize the need to compete against a global standard in order to prosper are the most important challenges facing America. We should not squander our strength by centralization, protection of bureaucracy and status quo, or complacency that someone else will take care of us. Self-reliance, individual responsibility, liberty, control of a limited government, free enterprise and traditional values are the bedrock of our future growth.

Q.  What are some of the most important lessons you have learned in life?  Please explain how you apply these lessons in your work as an elected official.

A.  The most important test of the past 15 years of my life has been perseverance. Although I was not blessed with an abundance of the virtue of patience, the lesson that I have been taught through hard experience is that the person who disagrees with you feels every bit as strongly about the correctness of his/her opinion as you do about yours. Feeling what they feel -- fear, pain, humiliation, love and exhilaration -- is the beginning of communication and hope.

Finally, I thank Dan and Julie Zanoza for their years of friendship and service to others. And, I extend my best wishes to each of you and your families. Life is short, be patient, persevere, trust in God.

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Sen. Chris Lauzen can be contacted at his legislative office: (630) 264-2419

Website: www.lauzen.com