I want to say upfront... I hope I don't offend with my language on the issues at hand. I truly believe in making this about policy and not people.
But i'm going to hit and hit hard on policy and when people step over the line. I openly pass on my phone 770 312 6736 and email jim.nichols@gmail.com. And have contacted many leaders in the Henry County Republican leadership and spoke directly to this issue early on in the election season.
But as someone who spends a lot of time studying philosophy of language and cognitive science. These divisive words have huge impacts on our minds. 90% of our thought process goes on subconsciously. One example used in cognitive science is the phrase "don’t think of an elephant"
Like "Obama is playing the race card" It’s a clever way to say something without saying it directly. And behavioral economics and cognitive science have shown the impacts of bias we don't even recognize.
Many democracts, especially party folks may disagree with me on this. But as someone who volunteers a whole lot of their time I’ve earned the right to brun a few bridges. Maybe my children can make up for my sins.
My mentor has taught me sometimes you kick someone out it they aren’t willing to work on their problems. I don’t know if I’m taking his lesson in the right way.
But I do know there are people sitting in psychiatric wards because we have a Health Care crisis on our hands and are undertreating them, I do know we have solders and vets sitting shrivvled up in corners from post-tramatic stress disorders we are failing to treat. We... we are doing it. We are accountable, and we are responsible. I know these things. I've seen the impacts first hand.
Democrats have to fight. And if the Republican Smear Machine wants to fight dirty then lets go... it has taken a repsectable party and turned it into a machine that divides our country.
Its time we fight back. So when I see Obama being charge with treason (what else do they mean by, "he wants to lose the war, so he can lose the election" or Lynn Westmorland calls him "uppity") i'm going to call a spade a spade.
I mean no disrespect to anyone Republican or Democrat if they are offend and will certainly take the time to discuss the issue to the full extent with those who so desire.
Most people want to talk policy and change the divisiveness in our political culture. I comend them and hope they begin running for office and writing letters to the editors.
But this is too important to let slide. This is about those without health care, this is about those without good schools. This is about those who have failed to get Osama and have only harmed on national security in the process. This is about 30 years of conservative economic policy that has taken one of the strongest economies in the history of the world and run it into the ground.
I just wanted to try to preemtively speak on this issue in advance. The right wing smear machine must be stopped. Bush/McCain won't do it. They lack the leadership.
Its time for change!
Its time for Democrats to knock on every single door. And make every single phone call they can.
Call me or email me to help out... I'm still behind on some requests and we're working to address that ASAP.
Your Chairman
Jim Nichols