NY Times 11.15 In House Many Spoke with One Voice: Lobbyist, Robert Pear

Obviously these pseudo representatives either can't think for themselves or enjoy a special, cozy, financial relationship with lobbyists perhaps? It's a sad day and failure of our democracy when lobbyists are at the top of the influence pyramid with elected officials in place of the American people. I continue to advocate that the nation, in addition to the conventional politician pool for nominees look elsewhere. On my blog is an article entitled Occupations of the Founders. These men wrote a constitution, founded a nation, instituted principles of limited government, practiced careful spending, guaranteed individual liberty and gave us a democracy envied by the world. These framers of the nation came from a variety of backgrounds, many of whom were not office holders. Is it not time to look to Americans who have been successful in business, education, investments, farming, science, ministry, science, construction, banking, for future leaders? In far too many cases, in today's elections, "professional politician" equates to the word "incompetence".

As a grandfather I have several concerns that drive my interest in serving the country.

If things aren't changed my five young grandchildren will be straddled with debt, they did not create, for generations, and many currently serving in office don't seem to care,

America due to non level field foreign trade agreements continues to export jobs for China and other foreign countries, but none for my grandchildren or those in Detroit,

A higher education is becoming more expensive each day and more than likely it will not be available at a "reasonable" cost for my grandchildren, leaving them unprepared for the 2lst century,

Rights of extraordinary access and due process are available to illegals, incarcerated inmates, those of privileged and minority backgrounds, and yet none of these seem available to my grandchildren, in fact they may be penalized through the use of quotas and affirmative action. Of my five grandchildren, four are boys, will they be penalized for their race and gender during hiring years?

Massive tax supported programs, from healthcare to climate control will take from me as a grandparent, the ability to assist my grandchildren financially in their pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,

Due to excessive state and government deficit spending, incarceration and prison populations will have to be decreased through early release programs putting back onto the streets of America, dangers and threats to our grandchildren at play, in our parks and on our streets,

Unless changes are made in our present national direction, the world will be less safe, national security more difficult to guarantee, and the freedoms and liberties that I enjoyed as a grandchild will be severely limited or controlled by incompetent bureaucrats and subsequently unavailable to my grandchildren and yours,

I love my grandchildren and our country. My five are accustomed to honest, ethical grandparents who love them and their country. My background has been one of hard work, higher education and the confrontation of many seemingly impossible challenges. I have begun to visit various parts of our country, speaking and defending our freedoms and those of our grandchildren. I was recently asked to identify my party of membership, and I indicated that presently I am a member of one of the two major parties, yet above all else I am an American and proud of my country. I missed it however by not including the fact that I am a grandfather and proud of the fact that all five of them live in America. I want my country, its freedoms and liberties around for them for decades to come.

As a great American President once wrote "Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears; to your confidence rather than you doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way." Ronald Reagan

I hope to my legacy might be added these words, "As a grandfather, I saw fit to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution and its guarantee of liberty and freedom to all of America's grandchildren, yours and mine, and those yet to come."

Dr. Phillips
Bloomington, IL