The following full-page article was placed in the Akron (OHIO) Beacon Journal on August 30, 1990. The article was brought to my attention by my family, who all felt it worth reading, and for that matter, supporting. I am in no way connected with the author of this article, other than that I sincerely agree with him on every point, and have committed myself to help in my own small way. That is why you see this article retyped here as a text file, where it will (hopefully) be read by many thousands of people. Please copy this text and bring it to the attention of others. The article pretty much speaks for itself. As a note, _Time_ Magazine named Jack Gargan (the author of the article) a "Hero of the Week" in a recent issue (first week of September). I do hope you will take the time to read the article, and give it some thought .... and maybe even your support. -K.J. Huntington- ============================================================================= ============================================================================= The following article was written by: JACK GARGAN ============================================================================= ============================================================================= GRASSROOTS PETITION This is for Evan, Eric, and Lindsey ... Love you, Grandaddy! (and for YOUR grandchildren and future grandchildren, too) I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! Hello, my name is Jack Gargan. I'm just a recently retired "working stiff". Like most of the people I talk with, I'm fed up with members of Congress who care more about getting re-elected than they do about what's happening to our country. Specifically, I'M APPALLED that Congress continues to hock the future of our children and grandchildren. Our national debt is now over 3 TRILLION dollars, and going higher by the minute. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I'M BITTER that more than half of all our income taxes go just for the annual interest on that national debt (it's not just some outrageous amount we stuck our children with). I'M OUTRAGED that Congress even talks about further raises in our taxes while totally ignoring the ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY BILLION DOLLARS IN SHEER GOVERNMENT WASTE as documented by the Grace Commission report. I'M ANGRY that, after being told by the American public that their existing salary was already an overpayment on their abilities, they turned around and arrogantly voted themselves the biggest raise in history! Then they had the gall to insult our intelligence and call it a "vote for ethical government." If they have to be paid to be ethical they have no business being in public office. And, if it is such a lousy job, how come every one of them works so hard to stay in office term after term? I'M INCENSED every time I stand in the checkout line behind someone with designer sunshades, designer jeans and $100 sneakers who pay their bill with food stamps, their vote bought and paid for by a congressman who knows how to use federal giveaway programs to keep themselves in office! (I have no quarrel with food stamps going to truly needy people.) I'M EVEN MORE LIVID when I discovered this same Congress then screwed our retired senior citizens by taking 52 BILLION dollars out of the Social Security Trust Fund using voodoo economics to make the federal deficit look not quite as outrageous, while slipping the trust fund an I.O.U. in return. God forbid we have even a mild recession, or our retired folks will also end up holding the bag! I'M ENRAGED when I see money pouring in to incumbents from PACS, special interest groups who use their money to stifle public interest, to congressmen who will sell their soul for another term in office. I'M DISGUSTED at the number of shady dealings by members of Congress who get nothing more than a slap on the wrist from their peers when they get caught in the act. Something's mighty wrong with the system when 98% of incumbents are re-elected. The other 2% don't lose. They either go out feet first, or in total disgrace for conduct too embarrassing even for congressional standards! I'M FED UP with Congress' "to get along, you've got to go along" philosophy. I'M SHOCKED that the world's richest nation can become the world's biggest debtor nation, all within the space of one generation! I'M REALLY HACKED OFF that Congress has permitted, and in some cases actually abetted, the S&L rip-off which will now cost every American family an estimated EXTRA $30 per month for the next 30 years ... and not even prosecuting the scoundrels, their friends, who have stuck us with this bill! I'M TIRED of paying for the "franking privileges" (postage) and printing costs of blatant advertising disguised as newsletters to the voters back home, subsidizing congressmen for everything from haircuts to lunches to health insurance plans, and paying for an army of over-paid congressional "aides" (more than 32,000 at last count). Talk about an "aides epidemic"! I'M INSULTED that Congress, who exempted themselves from Social Security laws, has set up a pension plan that will pay a congressman in six years what the average American under Social Security must work a lifetime for (and there are 14 CONVICTED FELONS currently drawing fat congressional pensions - up to $80,000 per year! - and 6 more waiting in the wings to reach retirement age. But mostly, I'M SAD that we as a nation have thrown up our hands in surrender to the politicians and bureaucrats who have put us in this predicament. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE IN TO THOSE CLOWNS! Maybe one person can't make a difference, but you and I together can! And here's what we must do: The root of all our problems is elected officials who use their incumbency to put a stranglehold on their office. They devote most of their time and energy to raising money for re-election, rather than to running the country properly. I propose that we simply rise up and VOTE EVERY INCUMBENT SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN OUT OF OFFICE! Further, that we only elect new people who will pledge to strictly limit the term of their office and to prohibit the federal government from spending money it does not have, except in a bonafide national emergency. Won't you help me by supporting this initiative? You CAN make a difference (and this just might be your last chance to do it peaceably). Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. Just simply pledge to VOTE EVERY INCUMBENT SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN OUT OF OFFICE. There's no way we could end up with anything worse than what we already have! Our effort will initially be against federal incumbents. If this works, we can then go after state and local problems where they exist. don't worry about the 5% of good representatives who will tossed out with the bad guys. There are literally thousands of other public service opportunities for them to move to with open arms. I've set up a non-profit organization, T.H.R.O., Inc. (Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out). I've borrowed my life's savings to seed the venture and am working without pay (as are the scores of volunteers who are helping with this project). You can help by doing the following: 1) Complete and return the pledge below so I can determine how many of you share my anger and WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Don't worry if you can't send a contribution. I am more interested in your VOTING support. 2) If you can afford a contribution, no matter how large or small, it will be gratefully accepted and go entirely to keeping this initiative going. These full-page ads cost up to $60,000 a pop so we need all the help you can give. 3) Get with your local Supervisor of Elections and get voter registration drives started in your area. Then, make sure YOU vote and get as many people to the polls as you can. 4) Write letters to the editor of every newspaper you can, promoting the T.H.R.O. campaign. Send me a clipping on anything about T.H.R.O. that gets published. 5) Use U.S. flag postage stamps pasted upside-down (distress signal) on all your mail - especially that going to Congressmen and elected officials. Let's send those jerks a message and flood the mail with U.S. DISTRESS signals! 6) Let me know if you, as an individual or as a group, can underwrite the cost of an ad in your local newspaper, shoppers guide, newsletter, etc. If so, I'll provide a "camera-ready" copy to the publication. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | | BEFORE COMPLETING AND RETURNING | A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION | | | YOUR PLEDGE, PLEASE PHOTOCOPY OR | #N38495 CHARTERED IN FLORIDA | | | FAX TO AT LEAST 2 FRIENDS. ------------------------------ | | | | | | Yes, I'm for real and this campaign is for real! I'm not running for any | | political office, nor am I supporting or endorsing any individual or | | party. This campaign is also not directed against any individual or | | party. It's the "good ol' boy"/seniority system which is corrupt and | | corrupting our representatives. Our only hope for a cure is a CLEAN | | SWEEP, and start over from scratch. The only party I'm for is the huge | | party this nation is going to throw on election day when we throw those | | arrogant bums out on their collective butts! I have an impeccable | | lifetime personal and business history and can withstand the closest | | scrutiny. Check me out. | | | | This full-page ad has already been placed in the following major | | newspapers: ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, TULSA WORLD, DENVER POST, SAN DIEGO | | UNION/TRIBUNE, RICHMOND NEWS LEADER and RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, PORTLAND | | (MAINE) TELEGRAM, COLUMBIA (SC) STATE, MIAMI HERALD, and ST. PAUL | | PIONEER PRESS and 3 others. I HAVE 112 MORE TARGETED OVER THE NEXT 90 | | DAYS. With some of these ads costing upwards of $60,000 each, I need all | | the support I can get. PLEASE HELP ME. | | | | | | TO: T.H.R.O., Inc. (Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out!) | | 4127 W. Cypress Street | | Tampa. FL 33607 | | | | Yes, Jack Gargan, I'm also fed up with self-serving congressmen and | | senators who will do anything to stay in office. I therefore pledge to | | vote against all incumbents, and only vote for new candidates who pledge | | to strictly limit the term of office and to prohibit deficit spending | | except in case of real national emergency. | | | | | | __ I am not a registered voter, but will get registered and vote for this. | | __ I sometimes vote, and will promise to vote for this. | | __ I always vote, and you can count on me for this one. | | __ Please contact me, I want to play an active part in this campaign. | | | | -------------------- | | Name ______________________________________________ | IF THIS IS GETTING | | | | ILLEGIBLE FROM | | | Address: __________________________________________ | PHOTOCOPYING TOO | | | | OFTEN PLEASE WRITE | | | City/State: ________________________ Zip: _________ | FOR A FRESH COPY | | | -------------------- | | Phone Number: _____________________________________ | | | | | | OPTIONAL: Also, Jack, if you can hock your life's savings and work | | without pay to get this thing started, I can send something to keep it | | going. Enclosed is my contribution of $ __________. | | | | Please make checks payable to T.H.R.O., Inc. Thank you. Your | | contributions will help buy another full-page ad in another city. I will | | NOT sell or give your name to any person, organization or mailing list. | | | | All contributors of $10 or more will receive a cheap Charter Member | | certificate which we think is sure to become a collector's item worth | | much more. | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------