American Majority

Facebook Privacy Video 2: Settings

Austin James — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:42:34 +0000

This is the second video in a two-part series on Facebook privacy settings. The video series was designed to compliment our Facebook Beginner’s Guide. To view video one, click here.

Facebook Privacy Video 1: Friends Lists

Austin James — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:40:58 +0000

This is the first video in a two-part series on Facebook privacy settings. The video series was designed to compliment our Facebook Beginner’s Guide. To view video two, click here.

Fort Worth, TX Candidate Training

Raz Shafer — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:18:47 +0000

Every elected official, from school board member to state legislator to the President of the United States plays a vital role in shaping the policies and direction of our communities, states, and nation. These offices deserve men and women who are grounded in the principles of liberty and individual freedom. American Majority’s political training is designed to enhance your campaign effort through targeted education and resources.

American Majority Texas is hosting a Candidate Training on Saturday, April 10th at the Dallas/Fort Worth Holliday Inn located at 14320 Centre Station Dr. in Fort Worth, TX 76155. The training will run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with registration beginning at 8:30 am. Morning coffee and lunch will be provided.

Regardless of campaign experience, American Majority’s Candidate Training Program makes running for office easier! American Majority Candidate Training Seminars are designed specifically to educate candidates on every level how to run effective and victorious campaigns and prepare them to become successful elected officials.

The Candidate Training Program includes:

Lectures* from campaign veterans, including:
- “Your Campaign Plan to Win: Planning for the Time, People and Money to Win.”
- “Dollars and Sense: Fundraising for What You Need, Not What You Can Get.”
- “New Media Engagement: The New Ways to Talk to Voters and Engage Supporters.”
- “Grassroots Action: How Ordinary People can get Extraordinary Results.”
- Instruction on opposition research.
- Personalized communications training.
- Interaction with individuals and experts thoroughly involved with the issues confronting your state.
- The opportunity to network with other liberty-minded candidates.
- A complimentary resource guidebook full of material designed to further assist candidates.
Upon completion of this political training seminar, candidates will receive continuing education materials, access to podcasts and other presentations, communications curriculum, and suggestions to help them utilize think-tank resources.

The cost is $50 per candidate/first attendee in advance or $75 at the door and $25 for each additional attendee (spouse, campaign staff, campaign volunteers, etc.) or $40 at the door. Pre-registration is encouraged as space is limited.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions, please contact Raz Shafer at Raz@americanmajority.org or call 254-592-3361.

Alea Iacta Est

Brett Farley — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:39:22 +0000

In what is arguably one of the longest lasting and stable constitutional republics in human history, we have witnessed a markedly unstable and rather tumultuous political landscape in just a few short years. This government evidenced by a separation of powers with checks and balances has seen fit to challenge those sacrosanct institutions in every way imaginable. How shall we respond?

We have witnessed the rise and fall of political dynasty. The people have endured the rigors of an impeachment of a national leader. Elected officials have proposed the dissolution of representative democracy in favor of a purely democratic system. Citizens have been subjected to endless partisan rancor. Each of the three branches of government has attempted to exercise undo supremacy over the others. The people have been subjected to multiple proposals by the legislature to grant mass unconditional citizenship to aliens. Myriad lives and untold treasures have been spent in an unending war in the Middle East. And one party has sought to gain hegemony over the other by a blatantly unconstitutional legislative decree.

Of course, I’m referring to the end days of the Roman republic which culminated in a bloody civil war before finally arriving at the appointment by the Senate of Julius Caesar as Dictator Perpetuum.

I took pause to ponder this history in recent days with the thought that the United States House of Representatives may very well move to upend the Constitution, which grants them their limited powers, by “deeming as passed” the largest federal entitlement program in the history of mankind.

Considerations of whither health care reform aside (because at this point they are really very moot), we have witnessed a decades-long assault on the U.S. Constitution of the sort we have learned from the proverbial frog in the pot. And because we as a people have refused to recognize how very hot the water is, our constitutional republic is poised ultimately to boil to death on the heels of this so-called Slaughter Rule. And after all, it is an appropriate moniker given that it threatens possibly to deliver the final death blow of what has been a deliberate slaughtering of that “venerable document” and the freedoms for which our founding fathers pledged their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.”

We have learned all too well that Americans’ regard for lessons in history goes back as far as yesterday’s lunch. Nevertheless, we stand watch on the precipice in hopes that this great republic will not go the way of the last one. And in that spirit we ready ourselves with a sobering recollection of those immortalized words:

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

Whether the “deem as passed” scheme is executed, that we have witnessed its serious consideration warrants another revolution. Not of munitions and soldiers, we are now duty-bound to return to a government by consent of the governed, and in this revolution November is our battlefield and the ballot our weapon. To that end, the Post Party movement marches onward, adding to its ranks every day.

Jesse Helms Center Hosts Lecture on Moral Foundations of Free Enterprise

Douglas Price — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:13:03 +0000

About 100 students, faculty and members of the community filled a lecture hall at rural Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina to hear Houston Baptist University Provost and former Assistant Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Dr. Paul Bonicelli speak about democracy around the world. The program, funded by a grant by BB&T, was part of the Jesse Helms Center’s annual lecture series on the Moral Foundations of Free Enterprise.

Dr. Bonicelli’s main argument was that people desire democracy, that is, to self-govern and practice political freedoms and without fear of government reprisal. People also want to shape their economic destinies for themselves and for their families without overbearing government policies or authorities that deny them that ability.

Bonicelli presented examples from history and from his own experiences at USAID of places where there have been gains in economic freedom and social development, which he claims is a logical consequence of economic freedom, on account of democracy. Places like South Africa, Nicaragua and moderate Islamic states like Saudi Arabia have seen societal development and economic prosperity coincide with democratization. These examples give him hope for a country like Iraq that has already overcome nearly every negative prediction about democracy’s short term sustainability.

Examples of the opposite, where centralized government control has stifled development both economically and socially, according to Bonicelli, include Cuba, Venezuala, and Russia. Nations like China and Chile, who have, at times, enjoyed economic success, he considers to be outliers. He believes the Chinese economic growth is unsustainable with and oppressive government that continues to practice gross human rights abuses and that we could see a movement against the government within our lifetimes. He also pointed out that General Pinochet in Chile allowed a free market system, but since the system was full of cronyism, the economy in Chile has been subject to wild swings, often erasing what development was achieved.

Speaking about the moral foundations of democracy and free enterprise, Bonicelli consistently presented what some would consider a pessimistic view of human nature, consistent with what Thomas Sowell would call the “constrained view.” Because humanity tends to seek their own interests and can seemingly practice as many vices as they can virtues, democracy provides the proverbial “check” on their authority. In places where there is not that check, there is more prevalence of government abuses, kleptocracy, and less concern with the individual needs of the people. Bonicelli believes that history demonstrates that we cannot count on leaders to act virtuously without these constraints.

The event closed with questions from the audience. Several students were interested in Bonicelli’s own take on the healthcare legislation before Congress as well as some of his personal experiences working for USAID.

I commend the Jesse Helms Center for hosting these important lectures for students and community. It is not often that college students get to hear about the benefits of democracy of capitalism since, as studies show, the vast majority of college professors hold views that are far left of the average American.

Thoughts on our American Inheritance

Beka Romm — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:17:45 +0000

When I was growing up, my grandma always displayed a refrigerator magnet that read “I’m spending my children’s inheritance.”

I’m a big fan of inheriting things. In fact, my husband and I kept our last names when we married specifically to pass down to future children the inheritance of our respective family legacies. One can inherit jewelry, possessions or money- but one can also inherit bad habits, problems or pain.

It turns out that I have good company: our founding fathers and mothers happened to believe in passing on a strong inheritance as well. In Joseph Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution, he wrote, “Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence.”

But today, our government is spending our inheritance. My home state of Kansas recently joined the ranks of states whose unemployment insurance funds have run dry. Our state legislature currently faces millions of dollars in deficits as members try to hammer out a balanced budget- and they’re looking to raise taxes every chance they get. From increasing taxes on gasoline to alcohol to soft drinks, everything appears to be on the table this year. Meanwhile, how will KS fund unemployment claims when the insurance well has run dry? By borrowing from the federal government of course. A national government which is so mired in debt that I honestly can’t even calculate what our total is. Go here; you’ll see what I mean. The government I support with my tax dollars is spending my inheritance- at an increasingly alarming rate. Legislators are gambling on the productivity of future generations, and saddling the backs of my parents’ great-grandchildren with a burden that will become too heavy to pay.

Despite these issues, I feel hopeful about the future, both for our state and our nation, after last Saturday’s training session in Salina, KS. The training specifically focused on the structures, duties and electoral calendars of local, state and federal government. Of the 40 people who attended the training, 11 were under the age of 18. I won’t lie- several of them were there to earn extra credit for a Government 101 class. But as I talked with them and read their evaluations, I grew more and more impressed. Not only did they pay attention during the training, but several of the individuals who weren’t there for the extra credit were actually taking notes. They nodded as I explained the importance of monitoring your county commissioners and local school board members; the day after the training, I had new twitter followers as they went home and signed up to tweet.

I feel more hopeful because of those 11 students- and I feel more compelled than ever to fight, not just for my inheritance, but for theirs too. Because this nation that we live in is great because it is good, and that’s an inheritance worth passing on. Remember that- and follow Josh, one of the 11 students who’s brand new to twitter.

Who’s Looking Out For Your Healthcare Freedom?

Carrah — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:14:17 +0000

For those who are seriously concerned about government intrusion into our health care, the latest question on many minds is “What do we do if this thing passes?” As the battle rages in Congress over passage of health care reform legislation, many state and local leaders are looking ahead at ways for states to protect their citizens from the worst aspects of the legislation, should it actually pass.

Legislators in 37 states have passed or are considering legislation to preemptively protect their citizens’ freedom to choose their own (or no) health care and health insurance. Earlier this month, Virginia became the first state to pass a law objecting to the federal mandate to obtain government-approved health insurance expected to be contained in any health care reform bill. Virginia’s governor has indicated that he will sign the legislation. Just yesterday, Idaho’s governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state’s attorney general to sue the federal government if the state’s residents are forced to purchase health insurance. Idaho’s Governor Otter noted, “What the Idaho Health Freedom Act says is that the citizens of our state won’t be subject to another federal mandate or turn over another part of their life to government control.” In addition to some of these preemptive strikes, Arizona voters will vote in November on a measure passed by that state’s legislature to amend the state’s constitution to provide that no “person or employer” can be compelled to participate in a health care system or insurance plan or pay a penalty for not participating. While some legal scholars have expressed the opinion that these state challenges will not be successful, they are certainly of symbolic importance, as they indicate a critical mass of states sending the message that this health care legislation is an inappropriate and unwanted overreach by the federal government.

There will certainly be many more legal challenges to the constitutionality of the health care reform legislation if it passes, and to the state measures mentioned above. There will be individuals and organizations who refuse to comply, at some risk to themselves. These are battles that must be waged if states, localities and citizens are to confine government to its appropriate, limited role in our lives. Good for the Commonwealth of Virginia that its leaders are looking out for its citizens’ rights. As a Texan, I will urge my leaders to take action quickly to protect health care freedom in our state. What about your state? Who’s looking out for your freedom?

Sunshine in the Sooner State

Brett Farley — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:14:14 +0000

A good friend of mine recently quipped, “We have to hold government accountable. But if we don’t know what they’re doing in the government, how can we hold them accountable?” This is certainly true in Washington with bills that go unread, negotiations and deals being struck behind closed doors, and legislation being “deemed as passed.” But it’s equally true of local government. Enter the recent report by Oklahomans for Responsible Government that exposes the lack of openness and accountability in Oklahoma’s municipal websites.

In their report OFRG details the hits and misses of websites for the 75 largest municipalities in the state. There are some startling revelations. In this 21st century, some cities have no website at all while others borrow space on the sites of local civic organizations. And of the ten criteria for evaluating the sites, open records, lobbying, and taxation posted the worst ratings. Only fifteen of the 75 cities successfully met six or more of the ten criteria for an open and accountable website.

It should be noted that in this evaluation, only the websites for towns and cities were included. School boards and counties were not included in the study. I’m willing to wager that, had they been included, the results would be stupefying. It comes then as no surprise to learn of the recent scandal in which a small school district paid over half a million dollars to a contractor for janitorial supplies, in many cases paying four times the prevailing market price for some items.

All the more reason for American Majority’s recent successes in Oklahoma school board elections wherein 19 of 25 AM-trained candidates won their races. And we’re just getting started…

A Unique Event: Why Everyone Should Take Note

Michael Yost — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:43:39 +0000

Standing outside in the cold for several hours is an uncommon occurrence and yes, even in Minnesota, most would consider this to be a bit crazy. When asked by friends in warmer climates how do you handle the cold, my response is pretty simple – we just stay out of it. It is no wonder then when folks like myself, who are directionally challenged and have yet to figure out the skyway system in downtown Minneapolis, take to the streets on a winter day and often catch glimpses of strange looks from faces looking down upon you.

Minnesotans love to take advantage of these skyway systems or underground tunnels and heated parking garages. They have an uncanny knowledge of how to play just about every board game on the market and often model their homes around one single feature, a fireplace. Warmth is extremely valued in this state and people should take notice when
Minnesotans go against this reasoning and elect to bear the harsh winds and cold to attend an outdoor event during a Minnesota winter.

Such an occurrence took place last Saturday, March 13, when thousands of individuals (not hundreds) lined the steps and surrounding area of the Capitol in St. Paul to attend a “Kill the Bill” rally. The exact number attending nor the title of the event is as important as is the fact that few have witnessed a crowd of this proportion in recent memory gathering to address an issue of such substance: The future of our nation’s health care. What is so noteworthy about this event is that the individuals attending weren’t organized by one overarching group, they don’t belong to a particular political party and could have been doing so many other things on a weekend, yet they decided to show up in the cold. The voices heard weren’t voices of anger in so much as they were voices of concern. The crowds in St. Paul and throughout the country over the weekend will undoubtedly continue to gather should they remain largely ignored by our political leaders. It is now our job to make certain that our elected officials remain accountable for their actions.

Much like this group in St. Paul, most of the staff at American Majority has witnessed passionate people across the country uniting for the cause of limited government, often braving the elements to stand up for what is right. While I don’t expect you to battle a harsh Minnesota winter, I do hope you won’t let their efforts go in vain. It will take all of us, working together, to turn this country around. I hope you will join us.

DeQueen, AR Activist Training

Laurie Masterson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:10:27 +0000

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people. Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Arkansas and Americans for Prosperity Arkansas is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Friday, March 19 in DeQueen, AR to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at the Sevier County Court House Court Room 115 N 3rd Street from 2:00pm-3:30pm

Registration opens at 1:30pm. The cost is $5.00 if you pre-register online and $10.00 at the door. Space is limited. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training includes:

Building Coalitions and Reaching Your Community (ideas and practical steps to engage your community and organize a coalition of volunteers)
Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
Effectively Communicating Your Views (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)
Prosperity 101 (learn why freedom works, how government spending affects your family’s prosperity and job security and all about Arkansas government spending)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Laurie Masterson at 501-258-6353 or e-mail laurie@americanmajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.