Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or
the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
--
John Adams
Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.
-- Thomas Jefferson
The Media
Journalism, the fabled Fourth Estate, was once guided by the dictum: Comfort the Afflicted and Afflict the Comfortable. Today, millionaire anchors, caked in
makeup and competing for the best hair on the air are bored readers of
teleprompters. As newspapers, TV and radio are gobbled up by huge conglomerates fixated on maximizing profits, investigative journalism, digging for stories,
recedes into memory. If information is key to the healthy functioning of
democracy then what happens when the focus is on Scott Peterson and Martha
Stewart? And when White House and Pentagon press releases are accepted as fact? A textbook case of journalism's decline is Iraq. Reporters were a conveyor belt
for administration fabrications. Many of them went a step further, they became
embedded. -- Bill Moyers
RestoreUS.Org's actions / goals regarding business, the media and Sinclair
Trust
The people's trust in the their basic institutions (government, media) has plummeted in recent years. As people grow further and further removed from their institutions so does their level of trust. Just as Jefferson and other founders envisioned, the only way for the people to trust their institutions is to be active participants within them.
Election paper trails - local governments have become unaccountable in carrying out elections by hiring irresponsible firms.
Diebold Admits Fraud - AP
Open source - computer programs are hidden from public view. All government paid for software and programs should be available for review.
Open Source Voting Machine with Verification
It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.
-- James Madison
The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
-- Tacitus
Campaign Finance Reform, Tax Reform, Social Security Reform & other seemingly noble undertakings
Yes, reforms are needed in these and other areas. But, are these true reforms or just a sleight of hand to temporarily calm the waters? Whenever reforms are enacted with more laws and regulations be wary of The Law of Unintended Consequences
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety,
deserve neither liberty nor safety.
-- Benjamin Franklin
Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the
subjects of it... The history of liberty is a history of limitations of
governmental power, not the increase of it.
-- Woodrow Wilson
All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the
majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be
reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must
protect, and to violate would be oppression.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Liberty / Rights
Freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, privacy, the right to congregate, these are rights we hold dear and basic. We still have them, but are they being eroded? The only way to preserve and restore all of our most basic rights is for the people to rise up and demand they not be taken away.
Yes, times have changed. But, the people will have to decide what type of world they want to live in. Is it worth living in a world where are citizens are treated like criminals and schools are taking on characteristics of prisons?
These are questions the people will need to address and answer. RestoreUS.Org will be a facilitator in leading the debate.
Here is what Teddy Roosevelt says about criticism and being patriotic:
"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public
servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is
warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or
inefficiency in
rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole.
Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty
to tell
the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame
him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude
in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there
must be
no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right
or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally
treasonable to the
American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one
else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant,
about him than about any one else."
An Involved Citizenry
Local Politics - You need to be involved in your community. We can show you how to effectively change the dynamics within your own community. Get our pamphlet "Effective Advocacy in Your Community" free when you become a member.
Business and Politics
Should political contributions be part of a business model?
A Divided America?
Controversial issues need not be divisive. Agendas of corporate America and special interests frame issues in a divisive manner.
Abortion - Pro Choice vs. Pro Life
Gun Control - For Gun Control vs. 2nd Amendment Rights
War in Iraq - Support our troops vs. Questioning and Non Patriotic
International Relations - Globalist vs. Isolationist
In reality, each of these issues have common ground in which 70% to 80% of Americans could agree.
A vast majority of Americans believe abortions should not occur for many legitimate reasons. A vast majority of Americans also believe pregnancies caused by rape or incest should not be brought to full term. This is common ground from which to build upon.
Our founders understood that a standing government army could be a threat to its citizens. Further they wanted to ensure citizens could keep and bear arms should the need arise. Today most Americans agree on keeping the intent of the 2nd amendment while keeping dangerous new technology out of the hands of criminals. This is common ground from which to build upon.
Whether in war or commerce, because of technology, our world has become much smaller. Facing this reality does not necessitate that one has to choose to be a globalist or an isolationist in all instances. Different situations require different responses. Likewise, military conflicts are each unique and must be weighed on their own merits. Support for our troops is nearly universal. But lack of questioning our policies out of respect for our troops is neither wise nor patriotic, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Supporting our troops while questioning our foreign policies is common ground from which the vast majority of Americans could work.
What Can Be Done?
We are an organization of action. There is a time for talk
and there is a time for action. It is time for action.
We are providing a vehicle for our citizenry to act collectively.
We will do this in a variety of ways:
- Educating our populace
- Providing tools for effective advocacy
- Organizing participants into taking significant actions
- Expanding our themes and numbers through media exposure
We will speak and take actions in the universal language which corporate America and special interests understand - economics and power.
We will impact their bottom line and impact their sphere of power, forcing them to reevaluate their processes, motives and agendas.
