BUCK-ing 'The System'

Nothing changes when nothing changes

By Tom Kovach

"The man that says a task is impossible should get out of the way of the man doing it." — Chinese proverb

Much of my life has been spent doing things that other people have said were "impossible." Now, it's time to reach for yet another "impossible" goal. The difference is that, this time, you can help.

The list of "impossible" achievements includes launching an invention for the military while on active duty, surviving (and returning to a fairly normal life) after a high-speed parachute malfunction, publishing a book without a literary agent, and beating lawyers in court without having gone to law school. Right at the moment, I'm in the middle of a lawsuit. Again, I'm representing myself in court. The defendant is the governor of Tennessee. And, despite all the naysayers, I'm making progress in an "impossible" situation.

But, there is a snag.

Despite my ability to do things that people tend to regard as "the American dream," I'm not good at earning or raising large amounts of money. (If I were, then I would've been elected to Congress by now.) I've learned ways to do a number of things "on the cheap." But, in the midst of this lawsuit, I'm running out of money. Even if it were possible to suddenly drop the lawsuit, there are court costs to pay. But, I can't drop the lawsuit. (Not only because dropping it could subject me to sanctions for filing a frivolous action. The larger reason is principle. Somebody has to tell the governor to stop playing with our money.)

So, I'm asking for your help.

Now, a lot of people have turned me off with fundraising appeals over the years. They ask for large amounts of money. They imply that everyone has that amount of money just lying around. They imply that anyone who doesn't have money just lying around doesn't deserve to have a voice in America (or, that they are not a "good" Christian, etc.). I don't make any of those implications, nor do I ask for a large amount of money.

All I'm asking from you is one dollar.

Now, granted, if someone wants to send me ten times that much, I won't turn it away. But, given the power of Internet fundraising — as proven by the Ron Paul "money bomb" — I believe that it is possible for one person to make a difference by asking for one dollar from anyone that believes in that person's cause. I'm very disappointed that I'm the only citizen in the entire state of Tennessee that is suing the governor to stop him from building a pet project — requested by his wife — for a $19-million underground party hall at the Governor's Mansion. I'm disappointed that, when I ran for Congress on the Republican line in 2006, operatives of the Republican Party went around the area telling Republicans not to vote for me. (For a number of reasons, my modest level of personal income among them, I'm considered an outsider.) I'm disappointed that so many modern voters put party over principle. I'm disappointed that so many people are willing — actually eager — to merely sit on the sidelines and complain instead of taking a stand to make things better. That, of course, leaves an awful lot to be done by those of us that consider activism a true calling from God.

In the 1990s, there was a bumper sticker that said, "Militia — if you're too scared to join, then just leave food on the back porch." This column is an appeal to that sentiment. I'm locked in a courtroom fight with the governor of the state. By savvy (and God's grace!), I've managed to catch the attorney for the state in his own trap. We are going back into the courtroom in a few weeks. (Another "impossible" feat.) But, my bills are mounting at home. Sure, I could deny my calling, let the bad guys win another round, leave the activism for "someone else," get another job. (That is, if there were any decent jobs to be found, or if there were anyone else doing what I'm doing.) Or, I could ask for help.

In America today, there are far too many people that waste money for frivolous entertainment. Those same people yell at the TV news, and wonder why their taxes are going up again. But, will they get involved themselves, or lift a finger to help someone that is working to make a difference? Will they expend a mere one dollar to take a stand and tell the governor to stop reaching into our pockets for "blow money"? Or, will they quietly turn the lights out and go to bed — because they must get up early to work two menial jobs, because that's the only way to pay the taxes that they already have?

If you think it's worth one dollar to "just say no" to political arrogance, please send it to the address on my Web site, linked below. Let's get together and BUCK "The System." Thank you.

© Tom Kovach