By Nicholas Contos
I grew up listing to talk radio in my grandfathers lawnmower repair shop. As such, I received a first-rate education in the “AIN’T-IT-AWFULL’S”. I learned that “republicans are just as bad as democrats”, “They’re just two wings of the same bird”, and “All political parties are corrupt”, yada yada yada.
It wasn’t until a neighbor invited me to come participate in the local Republican Party that I came to understand that political parties are actually grassroots organizations. The Republican party (the actual organization – not just the politicians claiming that name) is basically just us. It’s precisely what we make of it – for better or for worse.
No one owes you a political party that matches you perfectly and suits your needs. You’re not entitled to have an organization just existing out there that does exactly what you want and nominates the perfect candidate that you desire.
The truth is, they’re all unpaid volunteers from neighborhoods just like yours, and if not enough good people like yourself step up, those organizations get filled up with people who have ulterior motives – like the politicians themselves. When that happens, the “AIN’T-IT-AWFULL’S” become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
We need political parties though. That’s how our voices get heard in a democratic society. Standing alone and shouting about your freedoms is a good way to lose them. Instead, our system of government requires people to join hands, compromise, and work toward common goals in order to be effective. It’s hard messy work, but it’s the only way.
Local political parties re-organize themselves every two years, and the only thing you have to do for a chance to participate on behalf of your neighborhood is file a simple form. You can even do it online now.
If you’re a conservative who cares about preserving our God-given liberties, I would encourage you to join me as a Republican Party precinct volunteer. It’s not a big job, but you are desperately needed.
The deadline is this Friday, so don’t delay. Get it down now.
