I came to Phoenix today to put before you an idea for building a party.  The voters in America are not apathetic, they are not lazy.  THEY ARE DISGUSTED.

They are so sick of politicians and would be politicians telling them, give me a chance, I will lower your taxes and raise your salary.  I'll straighten everything out for you.  They have heard this all their lives only to help elect someone and then see him or her become just like all the rest, in a very short time. We all know that some good people are elected into a bad system and are soon corrupted.  The voting public knows this. There are many political parties out there trying to build a party.  They are all doing basically the same thing.  Their platforms are all saying what everyone want's to hear.  What aspiring party is doing something different?  Something DRASTIC, something that immediately grabs everyone's attention, something that gets the attention of the press.  I'll tell you who.  NO ONE.

I'm going to tell you a very short but true story to make a point. In New Jersey a very popular mayor, you could tar and feather him and ride him out of town on a rail and he would make it look like he was leading a parade.  This mayor appointed himself borough administrator at a $35,000 dollar a year salary.  A citizen got up and said, mayor you can't do that, that's a conflict of interest and that he couldn't wear two hats unless he had two heads.  The mayor persisted and when told that something would be done about it said, Go ahead do what you have to do. The citizen and his wife went to the judge's law library in the county seat and researched conflict of interest cases but couldn't find one like it.  So they drew up their own brief and found a lawyer to appear in court for them using their brief.

Within two weeks they were in court.  I won't take up your time with a long story.  The judge ruled on the brief and the case was won.  And now to the point I want to make.  After the ruling the citizen asked the judge, judge how could this happen in the first place? The mayor and the borough attorney must have known this was wrong. The judge said, it happens because there are not enough people around like you and your wife that will spend their own time and money to right a wrong.  He said, let me put it another way.  If you get mugged and robbed on the street, and you don't report it, YOU WERE NOT ROBBED. The judge said, let me congratulate you.

We all know that laws are being broken every day, fraud, kickbacks, payoffs, buying of influence, accepting campaign money from foreign interests.  I could go on and on but the public is reading about this every day, some of this stuff is treasonous.  Nothing is being done about it.  Is it any wonder that the voting public believes that most people trying to get a foothold in politics are only trying to go where the easy money is?

As a party you could make it your business to spend your time, your efforts and your money to prosecute or cause to be prosecuted every case you could find, see that it gets to court and a conviction is obtained. Here are the benefits of this kind of action.

1.  The undivided attention of the press

2.  The undivided attention of the politicians.

3.  The undivided attention of the voting public.

4.  You would make room for citizen legislators.

You could campaign for office with a proven track record. You could promise to change the laws, let the punishment fit the crime.  Make the fines equal the theft.  No more stealing 10 million dollars and getting two years in a country club and paying a thousand dollar fine. One of the worst crimes is stealing from those who trust you. One other thought, the money they will have to spend of their ill gotten gains defending themselves will really hurt.

Those left in office will have to straighten up and fly right and the new ones will have a mighty DISINCENTIVE to steal your tax dollar. I know that as soon as this news gets out there will be thousands of potential new members flocking to join our party and contribute to our efforts.

They are not apathetic, they are not lazy and they are not stingy. Ladies and gentleman you are being robbed every day and you know it but you are not doing anything about it.  When is enough, enough? Don't you think it's about time to do something about it? I for one am not going down fighting .

I'M COMING OUT SWINGING

Just remember, one little lady from a trailer camp, almost, and may yet, bring down a president.

By Roy Downing, Vice Chairman of the ARP