Saturday, 21 November 2009

• Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

  At some point in time one has to make a decision of whether they are going to act on their beliefs or not. One has to ascertain if the causes they advocate are worthy of the time commitment that they demand ; as well as the focus and energy they rightly deserve if undertaken.

  Many rightly decide they do not have either the time to study and discuss the issues, but can effectively support others who have dedicated themselves to action. In most instances, people who have made the decision to get involved on a grass roots level atypically represent the views of many other people who are not able to that commitment.

  As many of you know, or have read, I became involved in a local 527 grassroots organization, Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters. Our local group is represented by two state Representative districts. Last week we met with Rep. Matt Gabler who represents my district in Clearfield County. This week we met with Pennsylvania State Representative Sam Smith who represents the Jefferson County district.

  Below are some pictures of our meeting today with Representative Sam Smith with a description beneath each photo 

  

  Pennsylvania Freedom Fighter Second Amendment Committee Chair Jim Wicker expresses his outrage at how far we are away from a Constitutional government and the need to HAVE to pass legislation like the Castle Doctrine. (Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters were expressing their support for HB 40 to Rep. Sam Smith) (link)

  Mr. Wicker also questioned Rep. Smith on his positions on the Continental Congress and the role of the county Sheriff needing to be placed back into the Executive Branch in Pennsylvania.

  In this photo: Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith ,Patty Fish  , Jim Wicker and Provoking Thought (me)

  

  Rep. Sam Smith responds in the affirmative to Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters Healthcare Committee Chairman and Blogger Provoking Thought's request for support of HB 2053( link).
  John further reiterated the core issue of his concern is highly focused on the individuals right to freely enter into contracts being abridged by the government and that this would set a precedent that was unacceptable.
  Rep. Smith shares above that he likes the terminology used in this bill as it is both timely and specifically addressing a corrective measure for residents of the Commonwealth

  In this photo: Rep. Sam Smith , Patty Fish , Jim Wicker , Provoking Thought (me) and  businessman  Scott Boyer .

  

  Rep. Sam Smith reacts to some specific challenges made by Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters during their 90 minute meeting on Friday November 20, 2009.

   

  Rep. Sam Smith was encouraged that individually and collectively that Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters members not only took him to task and had specific complaints, but that they also offered specific corrective measures as alternative solutions.

   

  Besides specific suggestions, Rep. Smith was also reacting to the groups notice that as a registered 527 we have members who have expressed interest in seeking elected office to challenge those who are no longer representing we the people .
  
  The meeting was attended by Pennsylvania Freedom Fighter founder Patty Fish. Second Amendment Chairman Jim Wicker and businessmen Scott Boyer and Ed Gazarick . Not pictured is Healthcare Committee Chairman and Blogger "Provoking Thought" -camera in hand,

  In this photo: Ed Gazarick , Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith  and  Patty Fish 

  

  Rep. Sam Smith positively responds to Patty Fish, organizer of Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters explanation of the founding principles and core mission of Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters.
  Patty Fish, community organizer and founder explained the composition of the group and the number of people we represent that hold the same core dedication to bringing about change in government, as well as our disdain for officials who ignore the tax paying public.
  Patty Fish asked specific questions of what we can do on three pieces of pending legislation 95 (link) , HB 2053 and HB 40 and where our energy as a group could be most focused on helping Rep. Smith bring these items out of committee and to a vote. Rep. Smith shared that this has been a unusual legislative term where all focus was on the budget and very little else was done legislatively.
  Above, Rep. Smith shares how Representatives are bombarded at times from true "astrologers and paid advocates" and the challenges that creates in the sifting through process of who is actually a constituent and who is not. He also expressed he understood the importance of the visit and that we took time away from work and families to discuss these issues with him.
  He further shared his uncertainty about how Senators view input from their constituents due to the sheer number they represent and the number who mass mail, mass petition, and mass email on a regular basis.

  In this photo: Ed Gazarick , Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith  and Patty Fish

  

  Pennsylvania Freedom Fighters met with State Rep. Sam Smith at his Punxsutawney office on November 20, 2009 from 10:30-noon.
  Rep. Smith is responding to Scott Boyer and Ed Gazarik's remarks that Highway signs marking the federal stimulus package were actually projects which were funded before hand and in specific cases they cited that had began prior to the stimulus package.
  Rep. Smith remarks this is one way the federal government is tracking how jobs are created or saved. Rep. Smith is a eleven term representative from Punxsutawney.

  In this photo: Ed Gazarick ,Scott Boyer ,Rep. Sam Smith , Patty Fish  and Jim Wicker 

   

  For reference the legislation we were discussing was PA House Bill 40 (link) , 2053 (link) and House Resolution 95 (link)

  The one thing I am finding in dealing with politicians is that you really have to focus on "what is being said in between the rhetoric." While we are best in a proactive and focused mode, we must always use care to ascertain what is really being said in meetings and that may require that you adjust your approach (or not) in the future

   

  Last week when we met with Matt Gabler, he was emblematic of a man who had just had enough and chose to run against the incumbent who had become a good old boy crony and won. This week Rep. Smith's is atypical of one of having been in office for 22 years. Each while sharing similar concerns, come from different worldviews shaped by their inexperience and experience. I noticed different reactions to the same statements that were reflective of that experience.

   

  But what is the one thing I walked away from both meetings with that I can share with you? Everyone has a right to oppose pending legislation for whatever reason they see fit. It is our right to grab a sign and go to a protest.. In fact the ability to redress our grievances came at a very high cost and must be protected. In fact, our representatives in both Harrisburg and Washington are confounded by the conservative movement because protesting and organizing in our community is not typical of conservatives. Rep. Smith said in fact, they are used to seeing dial-a-mob so in retrospect this is something new to them.The last real protesting was on the college campuses in the '60's and 70's

   

  The opposition that garners the most attention today are the ones who bring alternative solutions to the table. The career politicians are in tune to the political tide and the way they read the tea leaves is that effective community organizations offer a solution, so when you are protesting be prepared to offer a solution, otherwise you will just be discounted as a nay-sayer.

   

  Where have I heard that before? That's right--Rules for Radicals. "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative."

   

   

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