Posted by JohnKern on 11/06/09 10:54 AM Last updated 11/05/09 11:45 AM [Newer: American Flag Bumper Sticker 3" x 11.5"] [Older: End The Fed Bumper Sticker and Desktop Background]

Let me start by saying, I am in this for the long haul. I learned very quickly upon getting involved politically, that one must look at the big picture. Goals will not be achieved overnight, but this is not to say that goals will not be achieved. Through the hard work of every concerned citizen, we will accomplish our goals. What are those goals? to oversimplify it, they are to return the Federal Government of the United States back toward principles of Individual Liberty, Constitutional Government, Sound Money, Free Markets, and a foreign policy of Armed Neutrality (noninterventionist). Once this is done, States and localities will begin to pick up their proper roles again, and we can focus our efforts where they belong - at home, where it most affects us. This can only be completed if you and I educate ourselves and begin to tell others what we have learned. No one is going to do this for us, or even tell us where to start. That is why I am taking the initiative, and asking you to do the same. Together and with the help of Campaign for Liberty, we will help America find her way back to the principles that have made her great.

Like many other people involved in this effort, I was unengaged in politics prior to the 2008 Presidential elections. Although I have always voted since becoming eligible to do so, I never took the time to fully understand the issues facing our country. Besides occasionally listening to some talk radio, or picking up a local newspaper, I had few sources of information. Because of that, I followed those around me, many of whom where just as blind to the truth as I was. Blind leading the blind is a good way to describe the actions of many American's when it comes to politics. November 4, 2008 changed all that. I knew something was wrong with what I was hearing out of the mouths of both candidates vying for my vote. Every speech left me thinking "did he even say anything just now?". That sour taste in my mouth led me to seek out additional and better information. I bought a copy of "The Revolution - A Manifesto". Honestly I bought it because the cover caught my eye, and the synopses on the back sounded like it may be something worth reading. Despite not knowing who Ron Paul was, or having any recommendation to read the book, I did. "the red pill" is what I like to call that book. The pill that will awaken you from an unconscious stupor, and let you see America for what it truly is. Prior to reading that book, I don't know when the last time was that I really thought about Freedom and Liberty. Those were words on our money and in our pledge and stuff, but what did it mean to me? Now, I can't get those words off my mind. Everywhere I look, I see something that impedes my freedom, or Someone who doesn't care to defend their own. My eyes are forever opened.

Posted 10/30/09 12:57 AM Elaine Prairie City, OR

It is so gratifying to hear your story and to know that people are waking up! Thank you for sharing your story.

Posted 11/04/09 11:41 AM ChristinaGomez Orlando, FL

Wow. That gave me chills.

Posted 11/06/09 11:00 AM cjwalker Sharon, MA

Welcome to the club, so to speak. I think a huge number of us here went through the same thing, myself included.

Posted 11/06/09 11:32 AM lexslexus Moorhead, MN

John, thanks for your story. I was "awakened" in much the same way after 36 years of blind wandering behind whichever conservative talked the loudest. My dad introduced me to Ron Paul, I read "The Revolution" and it's been an amazing trasformation from sheep to newly elected city council member (just Tuesday)! Freedom (liberty & responsibility) is a message that resounds with the average Joe and it sells itself if you can stay consistently on message. The groundswell has started and we MUST continue our efforts or the risks we now face will only intensify. Way to go!

Posted 11/06/09 11:41 AM jwfox1965 Las Vegas, NV

Great post John and thanks for your story. Reminds me of my own "political awakening" many years ago, except for me it was "Conscience of a Conservative" by Barry Goldwater. The message of liberty is indeed a powerful message to the average American when they hear it put to them the right way, since I believe that in the vast majority of Americans there is a libertarian just waiting to surface.

Posted 11/06/09 11:45 AM uttles North Charleston, SC

The only place I disagree with Ron Paul is noninterventionism. Let me just say this: I am 100% in disagreement with nation building. I'm also in 100% disagreement with just war theory. I believe in annihilation war theory. Whenever we face a direct threat, it is our government's duty to annihilate that threat. This is what should have been done after 9/11. We should have identified the threat of Islamic Totalitarianism and annihilated all of it's participants. We should have started with Iran and worked our way around the middle east until all of the nations either stopped funding/arming/training terrorists in the name of Allah or were destroyed. After said destruction, the people of the country could do whatever they want... except threaten America. It would be perfectly clear that doing so would bring nothing but destruction. This would be called interventionist, and I am in favor of this tactic.

Posted 11/06/09 11:56 AM Lynn B Panama City, FL

Yes! Welcome to the Club! Now you will forever wonder how the rest of the country can be so ignorant and blind to the potential represented by Ron Paul's message.

Posted 11/06/09 12:39 PM gozinator West Bend, WI

Great story..It sounds like you read my mind and put the last year of my life online!

Posted 11/06/09 12:46 PM Reminder Los Angeles, CA

uttles, so it's OK for America to fund/train terrorists in whatever-name they choose (selfishness and greed in wanting to control and bleed the Middle East dry of oil, I think, when all is said and done) but not for others to fund/train terrorists in the name of religion? Why are "your" terrorists the lesser of two evils, then? Your "theory" doesn't hold water. Terrorists are terrorists, regardless of motivation.

Posted 11/06/09 1:09 PM ChristinaGomez Orlando, FL

Cool. I know John personally! Way to go you're on the front page.

Posted 11/06/09 2:01 PM GSPriestley Northumberland, PA

I somewhat agree with uttles in the fact that we should not nation build. The problem with his theory was that Islamic world is in the position it's in because of our foreign policy over the years. Instead of killing all in the way, it would be much better to change our foreign policy to protect ourselves and prevent those angry with us from attacking us. Now, when war IS necessary - which most of the time shouldn't be but is because of our policy - I agree with the tactic of going where we need to and getting it over as quick as possible. That's my two cents, though it's not formulated entirely.

Posted 11/06/09 2:22 PM ChadSweigert Annville, PA

That almost brought a tear to my eye, I am so proud of you for realizing those feelings and sharing them with people around you!

Posted 11/06/09 3:28 PM uttles North Charleston, SC

I am not talking about our past transgressions, and there are many. I'm talking about how to handle current threats. Yes, we are not perfect as a nation, but that doesn't mean we should allow ourselves to be killed to make up for it. As to "our terrorists" I'm not sure what the hell you're talking about. Changing our policy to protect ourselves and prevent those angry with us from attacking us is precisely what I'm talking about.

Posted 11/06/09 8:54 PM take your stand Carlsbad, CA

Uttles, the point is not to get to that point in the first place. Those terrorists attacked us because we were meddling around in that region. Our CIA trained these people so they would fight the soviets for us by proxy in the cold war when they were invading Afghanistan. At some point a rift caused old "allies" to be new enemies... And then they fly a plane into our buildings because they aren't a nation and don't have any real firepower. Not being a nation, instead of declaring a war with governments in that region, we should have put up bounties and hired private mercenaries to go after the people who took responsibility. If we put up a bounty even a fraction of the size we spent on all this messy war stuff, their heads would have been on a plane to DC years ago, and there would be more fear of a real surgical strike against even small aggressive groups with a potential for damage. Instead we get several messy wars getting involved with coups and power struggles and destruction with regimes and people we have no business messing around with, with all sorts of controversies, and countless lives lost which is going to only cause more of a rift between both people and cause MANY MANY more of them to get pissed at us and want to get vengeance. Letter of marque. It's specialized for this situation, cheaper, legal, and is far less likely to catalyze many more people. If some crazy guy from the US blew up some stuff in Europe, most people wouldn't care if they came here and nabbed him. We'd be outraged if they started dropping bombs in our backyards. It's like trying to get a nail into a wall with a jackhammer.

Posted 11/06/09 9:07 PM take your stand Carlsbad, CA

Also, as far as "current threats" I don't know if you heard but were bankrupt. We can't keep fighting there indefinitely whether we want to or not. And a "War against Terror" is an indefinite war. You can't defeat an ideology, ideas live beyond death and murder tends to be contagious.

Posted 11/06/09 11:35 PM Mike in Virginia Fredericksburg, VA

Welcome to the fight, John. We have all arrived at it from different paths, but in the end we have all realized that liberty is the desired result. I myself was somewhat of a neocon for many years, but was awakened by a combination of Ayn Rand, Ron Paul, Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, and Lew Rockwell.

Posted 11/07/09 02:15 AM Colten OMalley Greenville, SC

I'm glad to see people are waking up! I myself have been on the same journey you mentioned. It's almost like a national awakening from the amnesia that has been placed upon us! I applaud everyone who participates in this movement. We don't have any other options, and we definitely should NOT accept anymore bogus options. As for take your stand - "It's like trying to get a nail into a wall with a jackhammer." Beautifully put! I am stealing this from you.

Posted 11/07/09 05:51 AM Reminder Los Angeles, CA

Well, use your brain uttles; "YOUR" terrorists would be the ones you seem to think are ok to be trained/funded - you know, the ones that are trained/funded by America to fight for American agendas for a time... only to turn on them down the line. Your idea of preventative bombing of countries doesn't hold water, because if that were the case, the first bomb America should be dropping should be on itself, because it has for a very long time, and continues to, train/fund terrrorists for it's own greedy ends. I won't continue this discussion with you; I've made my point as clear as crystal - if you can't understand it, see it, and accept it, you're in denial.

Posted 11/07/09 12:23 PM galtgulch9 Southborough, MA

My awakening occurred when I overheard a conversation between young resident doctors discussing potential job actions if the city of NY didn't meet their demands for a pay increase! (It was 1968. I had finished an internship in SF where I lived in the hospital and earned $4000 that year! My residency paid $6000!) The question was an ethical one. One fellow said that "No man's need constitutes an obligation on the part of another man to fulfill that need." That led to a argument. He recommended that I read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The "liberal, progressive Democrats" are all to willing to sacrifice you for the benefit of others so that their needs are fulfilled. They consider the fulfillment of others needs takes precedence over your right to your own life and the product of your effort. Do you have a right to your own life or are you a sacrificial animal? Both parties treat you as if you belong to the state or that the needs of others justify forcing you, taxing you, mandating, requiring, regulating, compelling, drafting, did I say taxing? Ayn Rand's philosophy teaches that Man has a right to his or her own life and that all interactions among men must be by mutual consent without the initiation of force. Check your premises! Wm

Posted 11/07/09 1:36 PM BillNM Carlsbad, NM

If you haven't read galtgulch9's recent blog on Legal Tender Laws I recommend you do so right away. I see fiat currency coupled with Legal Tender Laws as the key to all of our problems. With these two devilish tools the central government empowers itself to do whatever it pleases; create enough fiat currency out of thin air to pay for the adventure; and leave the bill to be paid by the people through inflation and the attendant rising prices of goods and services. If they had to visibly tax us in real money to fund their adventures, they would be SOL.

Posted 11/09/09 11:48 PM MichaelKoffenberger Stewartstown, PA

We share almost an identical story in finding our way here to the C4L - welcome aboard!