We should all agree that democracy is the best political option. However, our democracy, developed by our founding fathers, fought for by the colonists and preserved by generations of veterans has lost its way. To date, no blood has been shed in this political civil war, but it will take a massive effort to snap our nation out of this downward spiral and rejuvenate our great democracy.
Are you proud of our government and the partisan bickering over the past decade? Do you think our current government equals the greatness or potential of our nation? Are you comfortable with the monstrous national debt? Do you believe our government serves us, or the money, when in 2008 over $5.3 billion was spent on federal elections? When will the fabric of our nation tear as the political extremes rip our nation apart in the escalating civil war for political power?
What about our current government and money-driven political system makes your blood boil? Companies too big to fail, negative campaign tactics, corruption, Iraq, taxes, on and on it goes, you can add the next dozen. How long are you going to tolerate this? In 20 years do you want to face your children, grandchildren or yourself with the knowledge that you just made excuses for not trying to end the suffering caused by this political civil war?
Some say work from within one of the two existing parties, but I doubt all of the money in New Hampshire would make much of a difference. So we need to do something else, such as create a new option for ourselves. We can either accept this challenge or continue to passively hope that polarized political parties will actually change. We have a better chance if we decide to change what we do and through conviction and personal commitment get an independent party on the New Hampshire ballot for 2010. Whether it is in Concord or Washington, a small independent party can force a legislative body to focus on practical and common ground solutions.
The New Hampshire chapter of the New American Independent Party (NAIP) is working to get on the New Hampshire ballot for 2010. Once on the ballot, active and engaged citizens can recruit representatives who would be dependent on grass roots support, not out of state money. NAIP candidates would be free to represent us, not compromised by other people’s money, they can build coalitions of Republicans and Democrats committed to getting the business of government accomplished in the most cost effective manner possible.
Getting a new political party on the ballot in New Hampshire will make a loud and clear statement that can shake voters out of their apathy in New Hampshire and across the nation. However, we must work hard, smart and efficiently to quickly get the New American Independent Party on 2010 New Hampshire ballots. The nomination ballots are available at www.newamericanindependent.com and we need lots and lots of help to get the over 21,000 validated petitions completed.
You can be mad, upset and frustrated, but unless you get off the sidelines and get active, nothing much is going to change. We need help developing, organizing and implementing the ballot nomination signature process. We will need to present NAIP and our plan in every town, city district, secondary school and group to educate, motivate and inspire our fellow citizens.
Once the ballot obstacle is cleared, we get to recruit individuals who have the skills and abilities to succeed when inserted smack in the middle of dueling political forces. To win, our representatives (state and federal) will be dependent on our grass roots network to counteract the flood of money that will pour into New Hampshire to keep the ruling parties in power. If in 2010 NAIP candidates capture at least 4.5 percent of a statewide race (governor or senate), then we do not need to repeat the ballot petition process for 2012.
As the politically aware “First in the Nation” state, we have a unique opportunity we can either leverage or squander; the choice is up to us. So, if you chose to invest your time, unique skills and abilities to help rejuvenate our democracy, now is the time to step forward and contribute. We will need a strong team of motivated students at UNH if we are going to succeed. So please visit the NAIP website or contact the New Hampshire Party Chair directly at nhd1naip@yahoo.com and let’s get to work to make America, American again.
Steven Borne is the New American Independent Party New Hampshire Chairperson and a member of the UNH class of 1986.
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