1000s will descend on Austin wearing red sending the message.
By Texas Author Carol Sewel 7th in a Series
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas At the very core of America is its citizens. Throughout the course of our history there has always been a remnant of citizens who value & cherish the foundational principles upon which this nation was founded. These are the ones who go about their lives working hard raising families and supporting their communities. They are normal people doing what is expected of them and asking little in return. They are the silent majority.
Those of us in that group love this nation and what it stands for in terms of life liberty the pursuit of happiness and private property rights. We understand it is the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence along with a strong work ethic that guarantees each individual can achieve the American Dream."
When we elect our representatives we expect that they take their oath of office seriously and with humility. However because we work hard pay taxes go to church raise families serve in the military and contribute to our communities we get busy and most have failed to pay attention to what our representatives are actually doing. Since the advent of mass communication especially television it has been harder to make decisions regarding the men and women running for office because now we can actually see them and not just hear them or read what they write.
When we could just hear what they were saying and/or read what they say we were not distracted by the drama and staging the goes into the big media events of today. In the last 60 years we have fallen prey to good looks charisma or personality sound bites fear mongering etc.
As a result many place their votes from motives that are shallow and self-serving.
We have failed to critically think about the issues of the day and how best to solve our problems for the long term and not just for the present. Quick fixes have become the order of the day. Putting band aids on problems that really need major surgery results in the destruction of the future for our grandchildren and their children.
The Conservative movement began quietly in 1964 with Goldwaters candidacy for President. In 1976 we saw it begin to emerge on a broader scale which culminated in the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. This occurred after 4 years of an inept and liberal Carter administration. The Christian Right was birthed during this time as a result of a number of court decisions that effectively began to strip everything Christian from the civic arena.
This propelled Christians to action as they realized they had a responsibility to be involved in the political process.
Unfortunately there has been a conservative voter pattern of engaging during presidential cycles but going back to their busy lives for the years in between without holding the elected representatives accountable.
Without accountability our representatives get sucked into the big government mentality and the establishment or ruling class mentality that government is capable of solving all problems whether Constitutional or not.
Since 2006 we have witnessed the sleeping quiet majority come to life to protest the over taxation and excessive spending of the federal government. Anger over the federal governments and state governments ever encroachment into our lives is at the root of this awakening. President Obamas election solidified this protest into the TEA Party movement which was responsible for the conservative sweep in November.
I was thrilled beyond measure at the outcome of the November election both nationally and in Texas. However because of past experience I wondered if this movement will slowly fade away once conservatives have the majority.
This past election was only the beginning as there are still many in both parties holding office in Congress that need to find other employment. Not just in Congress but in the state houses around the country.
The establishment thinking has to be exterminated from our government offices. We need strong principled representatives to reign in government agencies and the courts from regulating us to death.
It will take all of us staying diligent and engaged putting pressure on our representatives to stay true to what they said they would do when elected and why they were running for office in the first place. They need to know we are watching their every move. This will take a sacrifice of our time to stay informed and let them know how we feel on legislation on which they will be voting.
But also we will need to sacrifice financially to help our representatives pay off campaign debt because if we dont do it the lobbyists will.
They represent us and not special interests.
I am quite optimistic that we are up to the task and was very excited to hear of all the plans being made for the opening of the Texas Legislative session. The conservatives of Texas sent a strong message in November and they are not going to be denied a conservative speaker of the Texas House without a fight.
So next week thousands will descend on Austin wearing red to send the message that we expect them to vote for the strongest Conservative candidate for speaker. If you have not yet called your representative regarding the Speakers race to ask them to vote for a conservative and not Straus then do so immediately.
Remember to be polite do not threaten.
For the first time in years I am encouraged that We the People" are finally stepping up and taking responsibility to hold our elected leaders accountable. We will have to keep up the pressure in order to see to it they heed the will of the people.
Power corrupts; therefore we must be all the more diligent.
William Prescott one of the Founding Fathers warned:
Our forefathers…spent their blood and treasure that they might enjoy their liberties both civil and religious and transmit them to their posterity… Now if we should give them up can our children rise up and call us blessed?"
We owe it to our children and their children to secure their liberties and to set the example of good citizenship by being engaged in policy issues and holding accountable those who set policy. For us the buck never stops here because each generation must be taught to accept the responsibility to hold policy makers accountable and then pass it to the next generation.
That is how we secure our liberties for the future.
On Monday both parties meet in their caucuses to elect their candidate for speaker.
Then on Tuesday they will be sworn in and then the first order of business will be to elect a new Speaker of the House. This will be the most important vote of this session.
When they do this they will be surrounded by a sea of red reminding them that conservative Texans elected most of them and gave them a huge majority so they need to vote accordingly. Far too many conservative representatives are supporting Speaker Straus because they want his favor if he wins and they believe Straus has the votes.
Where are the principles in that? If the true conservatives united behind true conservative candidate they would win. We want principled conservatives not political hacks willing to sacrifice their values and principles to get ahead.
If you havent already made plans to come to Austin next Monday and Tuesday I encourage you to come and be a part of history by letting your voice be heard.
Carol Sewell is the author of We the People: Know the Past Understand the Present Secure the Future" with foreword by David Barton.
