10 March 2011
A 'Common Man' writes and blogs
Ric Wells of Wilton is a diligent writer to newspaper letter columns. His latest effort appears in today's Troy Record. In it, he announces his creation of Common Sense Citizens for America, an organization dedicated to the interests of "the Common Man." The letter directs readers to Wells' new blog, www.commonsensecitizensforamerica.blogspot.com, where today's letter is the latest post. Wells intends his group as a home for "fiscal conservatives and social moderates" whose mission is "To re-establish common sense political solutions for our states and nation in accordance with the principles of our Founding Fathers as stated in our Constitution." The "Common Man" letter may clarify whom Wells identifies as his ideal constituents.
Not every common man fears God, of course, but it isn't clear whether Wells would insist that we all do so. On an alternative blog under his own name, Wells called Common Sense Citizens an "unknown union" and clarified its professedly nonpartisan nature.
What Wells means by "equal representation," and how it might be implemented, remain unclear. Last fall, demoralized by the prospects for the New York state elections, Wells composed a manifesto defining his political priorities.
Fiscal conservatism is a constant theme in Wells's writings, but he is unconvinced by Republicans' or Tea Partiers' avowal of that principle. Wells' own conservatism on that score doesn't necessarily mark him as a "right winger." On his profile page he includes among his favorite books Rousseau's Social Contract and Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States, neither of which are usually found on conservative bookshelves. Another favorite, however, is The 5000 Year Leap, a reported favorite of Glenn Beck. Wells is no conservative if that means fidelity to an intellectual establishment. Like many an apparent autodidact, he seeks information from authors, like Zinn, who claim to reveal suppressed truths, Zinn's affirming a left-wing reading of history. A construction worker, Wells needs no academic credentials to realize that something's wrong with the country. There are probably millions like him, and that makes him a common man. Whether that means his answers, once he articulates them, are automatically right is another story. For now, it's hard to argue with his profile assertion that "the only way to correct [the] misdirection of this state and country is to express how we feel." That alone won't do it, but we probably can't do without it.
The Common Man is in all of us. He and she are the hard working individuals who get up every day and are proud of their work. He and she are 'we.' We love our state and country. We believe in the Constitution. We hate injustice. We hate lies. We are seekers of truth. We are deeply concerned with the direction our state and county are taking. We are God fearing and God loving individuals who live by the Golden Rule. We are loyal to the principles our Founding Fathers have given us. We are everyday individuals who are frustrated in our non-representative form of government. We are the new Vocal Majority.
Not every common man fears God, of course, but it isn't clear whether Wells would insist that we all do so. On an alternative blog under his own name, Wells called Common Sense Citizens an "unknown union" and clarified its professedly nonpartisan nature.
We are tired of special interests, big business and government siphoning the fruits of our labor. We number in the millions and are organizing to reverse the trend of unfair representation. We demand people in office that will lead. We demand politicians with vision. We demand a political structure that will represent us. We are hard working citizens of this state and country that demand common sense in laws, budgets and policies. We are formally organizing to combat the inequities in the political structure. Republicans, Democrats and Tea Partiers are too self-absorbed to recognize the power of the people. We have recognized this fact and will be silent no more. We are frustrated. We are organizing to be represented according to fundamental constitutional principles. We demand to be represented on our terms. We will change the laws for equal representation. We will abolish corrupt fiscal policies. According to our constitutions this state and country belong to us. We are taking it back.
What Wells means by "equal representation," and how it might be implemented, remain unclear. Last fall, demoralized by the prospects for the New York state elections, Wells composed a manifesto defining his political priorities.
For better or worse the time for change in the New York political structure is now. It's time for the people to throw off the shackles of an obstructionist government and take back the power. We must find and elect leaders who are not afraid to represent the majority of the electorate instead of acting like prostitutes to satisfy their money supply. We must elect leaders that will realize higher taxes only drive small businesses away. Tax breaks to large corporations are only made up on the backs of the people. Issue driven politics are short-sighted solutions with no long range plans or goals. Increasing budget deficits only serve to decimate the economic stability of our state. Adhering to mandates handed down by the federal government are unconstitutional if we have no say in the parameters of said mandates. This is just another form of taxation without representation. Not having a balanced budget prepared and passed by April 1st is a direct violation of the New York State Constitution. We need leaders that realize government by the few and for the few is detrimental to all New Yorkers.
Fiscal conservatism is a constant theme in Wells's writings, but he is unconvinced by Republicans' or Tea Partiers' avowal of that principle. Wells' own conservatism on that score doesn't necessarily mark him as a "right winger." On his profile page he includes among his favorite books Rousseau's Social Contract and Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States, neither of which are usually found on conservative bookshelves. Another favorite, however, is The 5000 Year Leap, a reported favorite of Glenn Beck. Wells is no conservative if that means fidelity to an intellectual establishment. Like many an apparent autodidact, he seeks information from authors, like Zinn, who claim to reveal suppressed truths, Zinn's affirming a left-wing reading of history. A construction worker, Wells needs no academic credentials to realize that something's wrong with the country. There are probably millions like him, and that makes him a common man. Whether that means his answers, once he articulates them, are automatically right is another story. For now, it's hard to argue with his profile assertion that "the only way to correct [the] misdirection of this state and country is to express how we feel." That alone won't do it, but we probably can't do without it.
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