to the grand rapidian powers that be.

Photo owned by The Grand Rapids Press

To the Grand Rapidian Powers That Be:

First things first, do not panic.

I know the initial instinct upon witnessing an act of free expression is to suppress it. This is a perfectly natural response for those marinated in lifelong conservatism, lightly sauteed in self-righteousness.

The “graffiti” currently gracing your beautiful city streets is what us “common” people call art. [READ MORE]

an open letter to the body politic (part one).

Before beginning this post, I must make a rather blunt statement regarding the perspective from which I am writing it: I despise politicians. I despise big government. I loathe bureaucracy. That is all.

To all my elephants and all my donkeys:

Let’s start off with being honest with one another about the “issues”:

Social Responsibility
The concept of social responsibility is not dying — it’s dead.

And fat-fingered, money-hungry politicians (yes, that’s you); along with lazy, self-serving, entitled citizens (that’s us) on both sides of the fence are at fault.

By systematically stripping the states, and thus the local communities that comprise their cultural fabrics, of decision-making power; you have created a hierarchal, bureaucratic, impotent and disconnected decision-making “class” of politicians. Most of these so-called representatives are doomed to become increasingly removed from the very communities and constituents they are sworn to serve; as the body politic refuses to establish term limits on itself, and the populace is too distracted and unmotivated to force it to do so.

Re-visiting and re-inforcing the concept of states’ rights would solve most, if not all, of our country’s most deeply-rooted problems.

For example … [READ MORE]

mobilization.

Hello All,

I know it’s been a while. I am currently engaged in mobilization training. Between now and Winter 2012, I’ll be completely engrossed in supporting my comrades in accomplishing our mission in Afghanistan.

Please feel free to e-mail, Facebook, Tweet, and/or text. When I have the time and capabilities, I will definitely be checking!

Stay safe, stay well, keep writing, and continue to challenge yourselves to bigger, better things!

Love, Love, Love,

dante.