Donald K. Allen for President

Top of the Week

August 4, 2008

One of my favorite quotes comes from Thomas Paine (1737-1809), one of the Founding Fathers of this great Nation. In his “Common Sense” series, published in 1776, he stated that, “anyone could grasp the nature of politics and government; all that is required is common sense.”

It seems today that our members of Congress have lost sight of this quality, if, indeed, it was ever a factor in their judgments. Assuming they had some sort of common sense when elected, we wonder how that normal native intelligence was ever lost? Common sense would tell you not to take money from lobbyists or special interest groups, even if it were to be applied to your reelection campaign, which begins the first day in office. Taking money would obligate you to their causes, and take your eyes off the needs of we the people. It would make you favor them over everything else. How could this be considered “right?”

Some citizens would say that not all members of Congress behave this way. Certainly not. But they quickly realize that this is the way the organization works, and in order to get along, you have to go along and not rock the boat. Too many fortunes are at stake to be endangered by the moral goodness and ethical superiority of a new member of this elite ruling class. If you want to leave Congress a millionaire, it’s quite simple: go with the flow. Your vote is important to get the next bill and all its earmarks passed, and if the bill itself is not lucrative for some faction of our populace, the earmarks certainly are. So even voting against your conscience to further the ambitions of more senior members of Congress, you are compromising your common sense and the welfare of the Nation (i.e., we the people again!).

“But surely,” you might say, “this doesn’t apply to Senators Obama and McCain?” Well, let me think. They’re both solid party people and professional politicians, well-learned in the machinations of legislation, with thorough understanding of what’s best for all of us. Senator Obama is a former community organizer from the school of radical leftist Saul Alinsky of Chicago. He’ll likely lead us down the road to a socialist state, and part of the New World Order, where everyone (except the elites) will be equal. From his point of view, America needs to sacrifice in order to elevate Africa, Mexico, and other continents and countries out of poverty. He will follow the tenets and doctrine of the Council on Foreign Relations, which has formulated a Master Plan for the future of the world. If elected, he will likely do whatever is necessary to get reelected.

Senator McCain, with 26 years in Congress, is certainly a well-tuned Congressman who is willing to go along with members of either major party to get the job done. He doesn’t need the money, but it seems that the more you have, the more you want, so it’s likely he will continue to be a favored former Congressman and will keep all his links to corporate interests as President. He knows on which side his bread is buttered.

So how do we find someone who has “sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like,” as “common sense” is defined in Webster’s? Perhaps the secret lies within that definition; perhaps the word, “independent?” Consider what 150 years of party Presidents have done for this country, and think about the good for us all that an independent candidate, with plenty of common sense, could do instead.

This weekend I went to the Mahoning-Shenango Valley Kennel Club’s “Steel Valley Cluster” dog show at the Canfield Fairgrounds Sunday morning. I met a lot of people from all over Ohio both showing and viewing dogs. I explained who I was and that I am running as an independent candidate for President, then mentioned that one of my objectives is to eliminate puppy mills by thoroughly enforcing the Department of Agriculture laws and regulations, as well as educating Americans about puppy mills. This generally met with great approval, and their only concern was differentiating between puppy mills and regular breeders and show dog owners. I explained that the difference was very clear to me, and that I would protect the hobby and show breeders. It soon becomes obvious who is breeding for income and who is in it for love of the breed.

I also went to the Greater Youngstown Italian Fest to meet people and get signatures for the petition to get on Ohio’s ballot. I need at least 5,000 signatures for ballot access here, and would sincerely appreciate it if those living in the Youngstown area would stop by my practice at 4501 Market Street, Youngstown, OH, and sign the petition. Every signature counts, and they advise getting an extra 20 percent, or 1,000 more, just to be safe. If I have only 5,000 and they throw a few out because they are invalid, I’m off the ballot. Please make it a point to stop in during the next two weeks. The deadline is Aug. 21, and I’m planning on taking the petitions to Columbus the day before.