So here is the place where I explain to you why a 30 year old lab tech with no political experience got the idea to run for the Utah State House of Representatives. Ever since I turned 18 and could register to vote, I have been interested in America's political process. Over the last 12 years I, like most in America, have become more and more disappointed with the so-called leadership of our elected officials. As frustrating as it can be, however, I always vote. Whether or not I think that my vote will matter at all, I never give up the right granted to me by our Constitution to have a voice in our government. On my links page, I have posted the website for Utah Voter Registration. It has all the necessary information to help the citizens of Utah take advantage of their rights. I strongly encourage all Utahns who are 18 or will turn 18 before the next election to register.
Simply registering is not enough. Voter turnout is usually around 55% in America, and typically 10-15% lower when we aren't voting for President. I would hope for at least 75%, and expect more. Some people say that if you don't vote, you aren't responsible for what happens. I think the opposite is true. Voting is a right, and we as Americans have a responsibility to choose our own course, as we have the freedom and liberty to do. By not voting, you let other people take the power out of your hands.
In our Declaration of Independence, it states "That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government". It is important to note in this passage that their powers require our consent, and that when the government becomes a hinderance to our righs of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is our right to change the government. I am not suggesting anything drastic, only that we need to take a look at our elected officials and what they are doing.
George Washington, first President of the United States, gave his farewell address from his second term in the form of a letter to America. In it, he gives some very valuable advice to the young nation; advice which we have ignored over the last 200 years. He urges us to preserve and defend our nation, and our Constitution with what he called. "jealous anxiety." He asks us to watch for those who would divide us among ourselves, and to guard against attempts to disrupt the union of all Americans towards a common goal.
"The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government."
"17 All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
18 However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
20 I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.
21 This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
22 The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.
23 Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
24 It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
25 There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume."
With these words, Washington foresaw the events currently taking place in our government. We have watched and done nothing while the Republicans and Democrats have taken control. We were warned not to let the parties divide us. He speaks of the truths that they will deliberately attempt to convince us that the other party is wrong, and that action must be taken to stop them at all costs, which will weaken our nation. He tells us that it is in our best interest to discourage the gathering of power by these parties, because there is a danger that someone among them will try to use their influence to take the power away from the people and claim it for themselves.
This cannot be allowed to happen. We the people have a duty to our country to defend our liberty and our right to choose what is best for ourselves. This is why I seek to be elected to our government. I feel that few in our government now are willing to defend our rights as they should. They have stopped listening to us, and rather than use our power to vote to remove these people from office, almost half of us stay at home and let them do things for us. America needs a Congress that remembers they are chosen by the people to represent them to the rest of the nation. America needs people who remember that when government fails in its duty to represent the will of the people, we must use the power of the vote to replace those elected with people who will do as we ask them.
I have posted links to the House and Senate websites on the links page. I urge you all to contact your Representatives and Senators, and let them know that you will no longer tolerate a government that tries to abandon its people. We need to tell them that the time has come for them to let go of their associations with special interests, and to set aside their differences as members of separate parties, and act as one government, elected by a united nation of people, striving to achieve the best for us all. If you feel, as I do, that those in office now will not do as we ask them, then I ask you to consider casting your vote for me in November 2010. With your support, I can begin to work for you, and all Americans, to bring the power of government back to you, where it belongs.
Sincerely,
Ryan J. Kelly
