Dr. Gaski, with his new book, after addressing Michiana 9/12 group at the Bristol American Legion on September 8. (Photo by Jim Nickel)
On Tuesday, September 8, about 160 people filled the meeting room at the Bristol American Legion to hear Notre Dame professor, Dr. John Gaski, speak about several of the problems facing America today. The event was organized by the Michiana 9/12 Project, of which Scott Jones is the founder and head organizer.
Jones and his wife, Candy, started the local chapter of the 9/12 Project in March 2009. Based in Elkhart, the group now numbers over 460 members, one of the largest such chapters in a nationwide movement. The group meets in various locations, so the September 8 gathering was the first such event hosted by the Bristol American Legion.
The national 9/12 Project was begun by Glenn Beck, who hosts a national radio talk show and the Glenn Beck Program on Fox News Channel. Sensing that patriotic Americans were feeling isolated and alone, he urged them to link up with like-minded citizens to emphasize that “We the People,” who celebrate the heritage that made America a great nation, are in the majority, and that “We Surround Them.”
The term “9/12” comes from remembering how we all felt on the day after September 11, 2001, when Americans came together to stand against our enemies. It also refers to 9 principles and 12 values around which supporters of America’s constitution can unite. A listing of these can be found on the website: michiana912.org.
Scott Jones (seated), the leader of the Michiana 9/12 group, with one of the audience members at the September 8 meeting. (Photo By Jim Nickel)
Dr. John Gaski began his speech to the group by saying “you are a resistance movement.” In doing so, he recognized that most of the attendees were politically active for the first time in their lives. Not only had many in the room attended local Tea Parties to protest federal taxes and spending, but also about 20 of them indicated they planned to attend the National Tea Party in Washington D.C. on September 12, which drew hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors from all over the country.
Gaski, who is a professor of marketing in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, stated flatly that “socialism doesn’t work.” It has failed everywhere it’s been tried, whereas capitalism has succeeded in bringing more prosperity and more freedom wherever it has been allowed to operate without government tampering.
Gaski also took issue with critics who say capitalism consigns many people to a life of poverty. The claim that 12% of America’s population exist below the poverty line indicates a problem of definition. He asserted that those below the “poverty line” in America enjoy a higher standard of living than most of the people in most of the world’s nations. He also noted that, if all income and other benefits are included, the true poverty level is actually only 2 or 3%.
The current “financial mess,” the speaker stated, is not caused by capitalism. He said that greed is a constant of human nature, regardless of economic system, but the variable is the amount of government intervention. It is the latter which has forced banks to make “liar loans” and distorted the markets with intrusive regulations.
Gaski, a self-described “registered Democrat,” warned that non-partisan individuals should not blame all sides equally. While all politicians deserve some blame, he said that “the Democrats are wrong on almost everything,” and that they “are ten times worse on fiscal policy” than the Republicans.
Gaski called the attempted government takeover of the health care system “the biggest hoax of all.” If current proposals are enacted, he predicts that there will still be millions of uninsured Americans, and that costs will eventually increase dramatically. Since the stated goals of proponents cannot and will not be realized, Gaski concludes that “power is the real motive” driving the politicians who are urging a government-run system.
After his 40-minute address, Dr. Gaski called attention to his new book, Frugal Cool: How to Get Rich—Without Making Very Much Money, which includes a foreword by Ara Parseghian. Interested persons can order it online at Corbypublishing.com.
The next meeting of the Michiana 912 group will be held this Monday, October 5 at 7 P.M. at the Elkhart First Methodist Church at 400 W. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart. Visit: michinana912.org. for more information.
Okay, you’ve got a site like a whole lotta other 912 sites where it’s hard to get a message thru’. Is it because the message is controlled by someone other than you or is it ’cause you don’t wanna hear any message other than Glenn Beck’s? I’m hopin’ you are not Glennwashed in the membrane. Perhaps you, like me can see the man coming apart at the seams. That does not mean that the overall philosophy is tainted…perhaps we need to speak to each other outside of the mainstream all together. let’s get down to what’s real….love