In the history of humanity, great wealth has always bought great power.
But when people talk of the American revolution, they often miss the most revolutionary part of the whole thing. The real revolution was not the separation of our government from our colonial masters in England. It was the revolutionary idea that the people could govern themselves. The concept that each person had a right to say how their lives should be ruled.
This was the real American revolution.
At the same time, these visionaries we call our founding fathers, realized how fragile their new idea was. In 1812, Thomas Jefferson wrote to a friend, "Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power."
I believe we have reached that point where we no longer retain control over those we've entrusted with power in our government. That this entrenched power structure has sold our rights and liberties, our needs and concerns, our very future—in the pursuit of more power and more wealth for themselves.
But Jefferson did not despair, and neither should we. He said, "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government. Whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights."
The people in power in our country have done all they could to keep you from noticing just how far wrong things have gone. Big corporations and defense contractors own most of the traditional news outlets. The Bush administration has taken state secrecy to a level not seen since the Iron Curtain fell. Government officials have lied to us about matters great and small.
But you and I know we've been mislead. It's criminal how they've gutted public education while saying they are leaving no child left behind. It's criminal how they have spoiled our land, air, and water—all the while calling it Clear Skies, Healthy Forests and Clean Coal. Of how they've shortchanged us on everything from disaster relief to real homeland protection, on healthcare and drug costs, on road repairs to real investments in future industries—all to send more profits to their corporate donors. Of how they've sent our jobs overseas and our children off to die in foreign lands to protect their profits.
And our congressman is right in the thick of it—working hand-in-hand with those pillars of civic virtue Tom DeLay and Duke Cunningham.
As Jefferson predicted, once I knew what was going on, I had to try to set things right.
This is why I took on an incumbent congressman in 2004 with a write-in primary campaign I funded partly with equity from home. It's why I'm running again now to represent you in Congress. Not to represent them. I am running to set our country right. To rebuild our economy and our educational system. To refocus our foreign policy to work with the realities of global interdependence. Not to use our military might in a vain attempt to suppress it.
I believe, as Jefferson did, that when you see what those in power are doing to our country, when you realize how they are damaging our future, you will work with me to change it.
We are a great nation.
But our greatness is not measured by size or by force of arms. Our greatness has been and is based on the greatness of our people. You and I deserve a government that supports that greatness.
Now we are at a point in our history when we will either seize that greatness, or let it slip from us—possibly for generations to come. I believe we can seize it. That we can build on our past toward an even brighter future. That we can invest in the future of our country to become, not just feared, but true global leaders.
I ask you to work with me. To renew your commitment to the future of our country.
I'm Jerry McNerney and I want to represent you in Congress.
