Tonight, I will attend my first county Republican Party meeting since being duly elected precinct committeeman on February 2^nd. It just so happens that tonight’s meeting is the convention for the Illinois Republican Party groups. I don’t know what the process will entail to vote on officers, state central committeemen, etc. I’m going into this meeting somewhat blind, but with my eyes wide open.

I did not run for precinct committeeman to play the role of partisan puppet. The idea of being a marionette of the party leadership is repulsive. The thought of going door to door in my precinct to disburse information which I view as inadequate or misleading is abhorrent. I sincerely hope that neither of these scenarios is included in the expectations of a Republican Party precinct committeeman, especially in my rural southern Illinois county.

The elections and the subsequent consequences that have occurred since I became politically aware spurred a confused desire to do my part. Confused, because what average citizen knows what he or she can really do? Most have their plates full with the obligations and necessities of daily life, a condition which is not conducive to activism. Apathy is a common result of being busy with everyday life, but unfortunately it is apathy that deserves the blame for much of our current situation.

This past Summer I became aware of a movement to mobilize Illinois citizens to become precinct committeemen and take an active role in the decisions of the party. Is it naïve to believe that a regular guy can have an impact? Perhaps, but complaints ring hollow if the complainer is not willing to make an attempt to make a difference. The rapidly deteriorating level of freedom and the rapidly encroaching reach of bureaucratic entities beyond that which our governing documents define as legitimate combine to create the need to play defense.

The primary reason for my decision to run (albeit unopposed in an apathetic precinct) was the need for defense. It is clear that the simple existence of an “R” on a ballot does not indicate the name of a conservative candidate is next to that “R”. There were even eight Republicans that voted for Cap and Trade in the House last year. Of course, the one from Illinois got rewarded by the party with the nomination to be our candidate for the U.S. Senate! This alone is a prime example of the need for average men and women who possess common sense and a respect for individual rights along with corresponding individual responsibility, to take an active role in party politics.

Illinois is in danger of rivaling California in its budgetary nightmare, having been led into the ground by liberals (not necessarily limited to one party). Entitlements, unsavory politicians, and an environment hostile to business have become prevalent in our state. Of course, there are fewer unsavory politicians in our state than there used to be, but that is only because so many have moved into the White House and this current administration.

The question regarding the ability of an average man being able to make a difference remains unanswered in my mind. This is why I became a precinct committeeman and tonight I begin the process of learning the answer.