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Why Education Is Essential

by William S. Hahn, Chief Executive Officer

All of us want to see success — success for ourselves, success for our families, success for our friends and neighbors, and success by preserving American freedom by making large strides in our mission.

JBS founder Mr. Robert Welch wrote about how to achieve this success in The Blue Book, the presentation given at the founding meeting of the Society on December 8-9, 1958. He wrote a postscript for the fifth printing of the book on March 15, 1961, which included the following:

All we have really done so far is demonstrate rather convincingly that we have the formula for ultimate success. And it is a very simple formula indeed, as must be the basic plan of every movement that changes the course of history. We must grow into an army of sufficient size, fighting with facts and truth as our weapons, until the enemy with all his ruthless cunning, gigantic organization, limitless resources, and entrenched power, still cannot withstand the total impact of our unified strength and dedicated labors.

He reiterated many times throughout the years that we are an educational army. In the April 1959 Bulletin, he wrote, “Let us repeat also that we are an army fighting with facts as our chief weapons. Most of our members are far better informed than is the general public concerning the Communist conspiracy. But to acquire still more and more dependable knowledge is to be still better armed.”

To be better armed, Mr. Welch asked members to read at least one book every month from our recommended reading list. Our new member packet contains a recommended personal library of books, booklets, videos, and audio CDs. Plus, as you well know, we have no shortage of content being cranked out on a daily basis. Consuming some of this to keep yourself informed is a good idea. However, don’t get too focused on consuming all our content, as there will be no time left for Birching activities.

At our National Council Dinner in Dallas last October, I had a candid conversation with a gentleman who had emailed me regarding the amount of content we published. He said he was unable to keep up with all that we were putting out. I agreed with him and told him I couldn’t either. Who can? While it’s important to stay informed, we must not allow it to occupy all our time. If we did, when would we have time to Birch?

Our strategy of pumping out as much content as we do is based on reaching a wider audience. In the digital world, content drives traffic. The more you can publish, the more traffic you generate. In an era of such blatant censorship from search engines, social media, and Big Media, our Web traffic continues to grow, given the diversification of where we publish the information and how much content we create.

More content means more traffic, which means more prospects, more subscribers, and more members — basically more pullers at the oars. Please don’t try to keep up with all the content. However, please do focus on staying up-to-date with the monthly Bulletin, the print issues of The New American, our newest educational tools for the action projects, and our legislative alerts sent via text, email, or both. The Bulletin is geared toward sharing best practices and identifying our top priorities and recommended actions.

Let’s not define success as being the smartest person in the gulag (because we didn’t have time to do the real work: Birching!). Rather, let’s ensure we all stay informed and then engage in action, doing our part to build educated electorates within our localities.

One of our newest action tools is actually a throwback to the TRIM (Tax Reform IMmediately) days. We’ve adapted data from the Freedom Index to create individual Congressional Scorecards that report specific votes and the financial impact of each vote to taxpayers/households, and have added space to customize the scorecard by adding your contact information. These scorecards are available as digital downloads at TheFreedomIndex.org, allowing you to print out three different formats. Be sure to check out the User Guide at https://thenewamerican.com/freedom-index/user-guide/ for details, as well as the articles throughout this Bulletin giving you more details and direction.

As we posted on the site, “The Freedom Index is an educational resource provided by The New American magazine. We do not endorse or oppose candidates. The Freedom Index is intended to inform the American people, candidates, and elected officials about the rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution of the United States.”

Share the Scorecards throughout districts within your local electorate to give voters an idea of how well their U.S. representative and senators are adhering to the Constitution. Distributing these Scorecards is a great way to help hold elected officials accountable and to help educate voters about the impact these votes in Washington, D.C., really have on American liberties, freedom, and the Constitution. Regular distribution by active chapters also provides great recruiting opportunities, as you are visible in the community, especially if this is part of the 100/10/6 program. This plan — distributing literature at least four times a year to 100 households, targeting at least 10 opinion molders, and recruiting at least six prospective activists — has the potential to reach thousands of voters, creating tremendous influence. Is your chapter currently active in the 100/10/6 program? Review the video The Power of 500: Informed Electorates That Work! at https://youtu.be/47vf04LlHYY to get in-depth information on how this plan can work.

As Robert Brown discusses in the video, each Freedom Index (or Scorecard in this case) can be a mini-lesson on applying the Constitution to current issues, helping others to determine what is constitutional. Nowhere else will voters get this type of candid information. U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said the Freedom Index is the best scorecard because it doesn’t notify congressmen ahead of time of the votes that will be used to tally the score, as do many other competing scorecards.

Building an educated electorate is not rocket science, but it is essential and foundational to creating understanding of the issues and what concerned Americans can do. This works to keep elected officials accountable to the Constitution, offers immediate solutions to government usurpations of power and tyranny (such as nullification), and teaches the principles of limited government under the Constitution. Where else are Americans getting this? Where else are they being organized to expose the enemies of freedom and to right the Republic?

Success in 2022 begins with education. Educate yourself, educate others, and take action. Just don’t let the “educate yourself” portion consume all your time. Rather, focus on cranking up your chapter’s monthly activities. If you’re not in a chapter, host a video showing of Overview of America or a “Constitution Is the Solution” workshop to bring like-minded people together for the purpose of starting a chapter. Organized efforts will definitely produce fruit and success!

Why We Need to Recruit

by Tom Munds, Field Coordinator for Southern Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Western Nevada

I am a simple man. What I mean is, as a child I grew up remembering the biblical scripture that we are to have the mind of a child. As I became older, I realized this scripture wasn’t meant for God’s people to be ignorant but rather to keep simple things simple and trust God in the things that are self-evident without overthinking them like man typically does.

I am sure we can all agree that biblical history and God’s plan for the world are for the most part simple. Only in man’s arrogance and his subconscious does the willingness to abandon God and become God unto himself overcomplicate things. As I thought about this more, I thought I should ask the readers, are we making things more complicated than they need to be? If we are, as people with a fundamental adherence to God and the fundamental truths, may I ask why, and is it even consistent with the worldview we claim?

As I was speaking to a group in North Idaho late last year, I brought up the fact that this global culture war may not be as complicated as we often think it is. What I left out, however, was that as long as we recognize the fundamental truths and act upon them, nothing is as complicated as it seems.

We all recognize this globe has major problems. We also recognize that that these problems came from people desiring to do evil.  What we seem to have forgotten though is that good and well-intentioned people aid in the perpetuation of evil through apathy, ignorance, and tangents. Am I wrong?

So, if we know evil people desire to do evil, and good and well-intentioned people can aid in the furtherance of evil, and we think in the simplest terms of what fundamental truths will minimize or eliminate evil, what would those truths be?

Evil will reign wherever it can until the light shines upon it. When this happens, evil attempts to disguise itself and when it can’t, it flees. If God says there is only good and evil and we understand what evil looks like, how hard then is it to shine the light upon it? The difficulty isn’t necessarily shining the light. For some, it is rising above the ignorance to see evil and misdirection where it is, to others it is finding out what that light is and focusing on it, and to some it is finding those willing shine it. Additionally, let’s keep in mind, the brighter the light, the faster the darkness will flee.

So, if what I say is true, how hard is the task at hand? Is it as easy as educating yourself on the truths that JBS espouses and has for more than 63 years, educating others, and building education-and-action armies across the country that focus on key areas? We members know we focus on history, because we know those that don’t know its mistakes are doomed to repeat them. We relate current events to history, so we understand when history is repeating itself. We stress understanding our Constitution, so we understand when truth and power are being abused. We also pride ourselves on the one crucial area no other group will consider: understanding and exposing the conspiratorial elements undermining American liberty and their desire to subjugate the world.

I believe this is why JBS has always had recruiting as its number one agenda item — because the more people that understand the truth, or in the words of Robert Welch, “when enough people are sufficiently educated,” the easier our success will be.

What this means to me is simply to consider one more truth. In the 63-year history of JBS, if more people would have become Birchers or would have remained members without deviating or focusing on tangents that strike at the branches rather than the root of the issues, the world may not be suffering the way it is today.

Quite simply, the future is in the hands of those who want it the most, who understand the urgency of the times and are willing to do something about it. JBS states that truth is easier to carry than a lie; we don’t expend money and energy to cover it up, and in the end truth always wins. But although this is true, it doesn’t mean we don’t need more people to expedite our education and actions.

People typically act on emotion or when they are personally affected, and when the emotion or issue goes away, so do they. This is why continual education and concerted action are key, and no one does it better than JBS. If one catches the most flak when they are over the target, then the truth is that for more than 63 years we have always been over the target!

If we want to save our country, we better act like it, and we had better recruit like our lives and freedom depend on it! We have the best people and an education and action infrastructure unlike any other organization in the world. Now all that’s left is to act!

Successful Birching in Dallas

by Heather Hobbs, Field Coordinator for Northern Texas

States all across the country have JBS Chapters fighting for freedom, and Texas is no exception. Our Chapter Leaders and members have some key characteristics that have aided them in their growth. Though JBS is strong and vibrant throughout our state, we will focus on our Dallas Business Chapter.

The Dallas Business Chapter has been the backbone of our growth in the area. It has offered a place for all types of people to come together consistently to gain inspiration for the local Chapters. Monthly meetings are held at a local hotel where attendees can enjoy a buffet with the seminar, which also features a speaker. The turnout is continually great! This can be modified for different areas — local restaurants or church potlucks — but food is a wonderful way to bring people together.

Featured speakers have varied, from constitutional sheriffs, local political leaders, Field Coordinators, and TNA contributors to JBS leaders. The meetings are always exciting, and at our latest meeting, we also welcomed nine new members. All those members have been actively engaged and eager to learn. Having a speaker or a guided meeting is crucial in sparking the fire within the hearts of our patriots. Planning will aid you in being successful!

I have challenged the members in the Dallas Chapter to always bring friends who are not members, and many of them have taken that challenge and opportunity to heart. You must remember that this is just like missionary work. We acknowledge and promote truths that other organizations do not. To not share this amazing organization is like not sharing a treasure that could help save the world. We know that The John Birch Society has solid intel and effective resources, and we act! Do not deny others that blessing.

To summarize, here’s what our amazing members in Dallas are doing: consistently having guided meetings with a speaker and an opportunity to eat together, inviting nonmembers to every meeting, and taking action on local issues. If you want to increase your membership and effectiveness, remember to share the truth we hold, as though it were a beautiful gift, with all who are willing to hear. You will make a difference.

Growing Our Influence at the Reawaken America Tour

by Heather Hobbs, Field Coordinator for Northern Texas

The Reawaken America Tour has been crisscrossing the nation. In December we were blessed to be able to attend the Dallas conference with tables for The John Birch Society and The New American magazine. It was a three-day event featuring well-known speakers, many of whom we interviewed, including Dr. Peter McCullough, America’s Frontline Doctors, Alan Keyes, and Allen West (you can watch these and other interviews at https://thenewamerican.com/video/).

Our JBS booth had a sign-up sheet for those interested in more information about what we do, and it led to many new members or attendees at our meetings. It was a remarkably busy event that had over 4,000 people gather to hear the truth about what is occurring in our country. We had a lot of materials go out to guests, and because of our presence we received invitations to the rest of the Reawaken America Tour events. Not only were we successful in sharing our organization, but we also were successful in growing our influence!

The Freedom Index … And Now Our New Congressional Scorecard

by Gary Benoit, Editor-in-Chief, The New American

Because of the importance of Congress, The John Birch Society has for many decades published a congressional scorecard via its affiliate magazines that rates how every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate voted on key issues. This scorecard, which predates The New American, was originally called The Conservative Index, but was renamed The Freedom Index: A Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution (Freedom Index for short) to make the scorecard’s perspective crystal clear, particularly during the era of “neoconservatism,” when the word “conservative” means different things to different people.

Our newest Freedom Index, the second for the current Congress, appears in the January 31, 2022 issue of TNA. As always, we ask you to use the index to find out how faithful your own U.S. representative and senators have been to the Constitution, the document they pledged to uphold; to let your own congressmen know what you think of how they voted on particular legislation, as well as overall; and to inform others about how their congressmen are voting and encourage them to contact their congressmen, as well.

Over the years our Freedom Index has been an eye-opener for many. Congressional candidates don’t run for office promising to shred the Constitution; if they did, they would not get elected. There is often a big gap between what a politician says and what he does, and the “Freedom Index” exposes this gap by shining the spotlight on the latter. Also, because each vote description explains the proper (constitutional) position, each description is actually a mini-constitutional lesson!

The Freedom Index packs quite a punch. However, it includes the voting records of all 535 U.S. representatives and senators in a single edition, as opposed to showing the record of just a single member of Congress.

Veteran members who joined as recently as the early 2000s will likely recall the TRIM (Tax Reform IMmediately) Bulletins that showed the voting record of just one U.S. representative on the fourth page of a single sheet of paper folded in half. This was effective because the actual congressman whose votes were shown depended on the congressional district where the Bulletin was being distributed. And because of the inexpensiveness of printing and folding a single sheet, distribution of these Bulletins sometimes numbered in the tens of thousands in a single district.

Now, the basic concept of the TRIM Bulletin has been brought back in the form of our new Congressional Scorecard.

Congressional Scorecard

In fact, the basic concept has been enhanced in two important ways. First, unlike the old TRIM Bulletins, which only showed how U.S. representatives (one per Bulletin) voted on big-money bills, our new Congressional Scorecards show how representatives and senators (again, one per Scorecard) voted not only on big-money bills but also on other bills of importance to the freedom movement.

Second, the process of printing the new Congressional Scorecard has been greatly simplified, thanks to today’s technology. The old TRIM Bulletins were originally printed by local TRIM committees via commercial printers on legal-size paper (8.5 x 14 inches). Our new Scorecards can be downloaded from TheNewAmerican.com by anyone and printed on a home printer on letter-size paper (8.5 x 11 inches).

These new Congressional Scorecards are in addition to, not a replacement of, the Freedom Index. Just as a carpenter needs different tools in his toolbox to best accomplish particular tasks, so does the active Bircher. And now the Birch toolbox includes both the Freedom Index showing the voting records of all 535 congressmen in the same edition, and the smaller Congressional Scorecard, showing the voting record of a single congressman.

To learn more about how to use both tools effectively, go to https://thenewamerican.com/freedom-index/user-guide/. In addition to the written guidelines on this page, there is also a three-minute video tour. Please watch the video. And before exiting the website, please complete your “tour” by downloading and printing out a PDF of a Congressional Scorecard showing the voting record of any congressman you select, so you can find out firsthand just how easy the process actually is.

Exposing Who and What Is Behind a Con-Con/COS

by Christian Gomez, Research Project Manager

When communicating with others about the dangers of a constitutional convention (Con-Con), or “convention of states,” as some call it, an important question to address is, “Who is behind it?”

An excellent tool for this is our TNA reprint by C. Mitchell Shaw, titled “Who’s Behind a Constitutional Convention?” originally published in the September 3, 2018 issue of the magazine. Copies of this reprint are available on ShopJBS.org. Purchase at least one pack (25 reprints). Make sure that the offices of your legislators receive a copy of the reprint, as well as the office of every legislator who serves on the key committee(s) overseeing Article V convention-related resolutions and bills.

It’s important that we arm our lawmakers with this information so they are better prepared to oppose new attempts to petition Congress to call an Article V convention. In his article, C. Mitchell Shaw identifies the source of Mark Meckler’s COS Action’s large financial contributions. Shaw also identifies some of the Deep State globalists behind the push for a convention under the guise of wanting a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) added to the Constitution.

We encourage you to also go to TheNewAmerican.com to download and print (at least) 25 copies of Steve Byas’ recent online article titled “Convention of States Board Member Co-authored Anti-2A ‘Conservative Constitution,’” posted on December 20, 2021. In this online article, Byas exposes how Robert P. George, a supposed conservative, member of the glob­alist Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and legal advisory board member of COS Action/COS Project, has already drafted a so-called “Conservative Constitution.” According to Byas, George’s “Conservative Constitution” is anything but conservative, as it would actually empower the federal government beyond the limitations set forth in the current Constitution and would eviscerate the Second Amendment.

Use the above articles to continue educating state lawmakers and those in your community about the dangers of a Con-Con. Also, if your chapter has not yet done so, visit “Freedom’s Voices” on JBS.org to book our latest Con-Con webinar, titled Dangers of a Con-Con. In this brand-new presentation, we examine some of the new proposed constitutions and how they would move us toward socialism. As Steve Byas writes in his article, “it is highly unlikely that we would have a better constitution than the one James Madison, George Washington, and the other Founders crafted back in 1787.”

Nullification: A Powerful Tool to Enforce the Constitution

by Peter Rykowski, Research Associate and Bulletin Editor

In light of the many unconstitutional actions and proposals emanating from Congress and the federal executive branch, it is imperative that state legislators utilize the constitutional tool of nullification.

In its first year, the Biden administration — without any congressional authorization — proposed or implemented multiple actions that are blatantly unconstitutional or contrary to congressionally enacted statutes. Such actions include the administration’s federal “vaccine” mandates, its mask mandates for public transportation, its nationwide eviction moratorium, its many pro-illegal-migration actions, and much more.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are seeking to pass legislation that tramples on the Constitution’s clear meaning. This includes gun-control legislation, the Build Back Better Act, and multiple anti-election-integrity bills.

Under Article VI of the Constitution, state legislators have a duty to nullify these unconstitutional actions. Article VI makes clear that, “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof … shall be the supreme Law of the Land.” Accordingly, laws or federal actions that violate the Constitution are not “the supreme Law of the Land.”

As an example of nullification, state legislators can “pre-nullify” the various bills — including those on gun control, elections, and environmentalism — being considered by Congress by passing legislation ensuring they cannot be enforced in their states should those bills be enacted. Furthermore, state legislators must nullify the Biden administration’s mask and vaccine mandates, if they have not already done so.

Accordingly, regularly contact your legislators, and educate both them and your fellow citizens about nullification. You can educate your legislators by visiting them at your state capitol or by attending townhall meetings where they’re present.

When meeting them, be sure to bring the following materials: “Rein In Big Government With Article VI, Not V” slim jim, “Nullification: What States Can Do” slim jim, “Nullification: What State Legislatures Are Doing” reprint, “Federalism Is the Best Step” reprint, and The Founders’ Brilliant Solution to Big Government: Article VI booklet.

Additionally, you can educate your fellow citizens by hosting educational events in your area. In addition to having at least 25 each of the above materials available at the meetings, be sure to show Robert Owens’ new webinar presentation Nullification: Military Tactics Applied to Legislative Action.

Although we live in a dangerous period of federal-government overreach, we also have a great opportunity to educate others to take appropriate and effective action on the state and local levels. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity and enforce the Constitution.

Adapting the 100/10/6 Plan to Restoring Election Integrity

by Kurt Hyde, Council Member

The 100/10/6 plan for educating and influencing the public can be adapted for our Restore Election Integrity (REI) action project. The first step is to identify the 100 households that you and/or your fellow JBS chapter members will visit at least twice in 2022. If you live in a state where the voter registrations are public information — as they should be in order to keep the public informed and to protect against ballot-box stuffing by election insiders — you should be able to find 100 households of active voters, specifically those who are active enough to vote in primary elections. Be sure to compile this list and save it as a computer file if you can. That will make it easier to organize by street name and then sort by number.

You don’t necessarily need to confine your search to only one political party. I once belonged to an election-integrity group associated with a political party. Members of another political party wanted to join our group, as they were suspicious of election fraud in their own party’s primary elections, but, unfortunately were not allowed to join because of our party’s rules. The John Birch Society, however, is built on educational principles, not partisan political priorities. Anyone who sincerely wants to restore election integrity should be welcome.

If your state restricts the usage of voter registration lists, there are other ways to find prospective households. You can check political donation records or search nearby neighborhoods looking for political signs or parked cars with political bumper stickers. In that case, however, you might need to settle for a lesser number of households that you can commit to visiting at least twice this year.

The best thing to drop off on your first visit is a copy of the slim jim “9 Ways to Restore America’s Elections,” along with a note explaining how you can be contacted. If you have a computer, it should be easy to write a simple note and print it when needed. If you don’t feel comfortable using your personal contact information, use your JBS chapter’s contact information (e.g., a chapter email address or P.O. box) instead. Make your second visit a personal visit and, if the prospect is interested, be prepared to give them the February 15, 2021 TNA reprint “Restoring Election Integrity.” If the prospect is not available, drop off an REI slim jim along with a note asking if you can arrange a personal visit.

You should also make a list of 10 community opinion molders. This would include religious leaders, community leaders, and respected business owners. Try to arrange personal visits with them. Bring the “9 Ways” slim jim or the “Restoring Election Integrity” reprint. Review them beforehand and be prepared to discuss them.

If you have a list of six patriots you are currently recruiting for JBS membership, you can visit them with either the slim jim or the TNA reprint. Election integrity is a major issue for many Americans, so they should be interested. When you talk with them, emphasize that The John Birch Society, particularly via The New American, has been warning of dangers to election integrity for decades, and that the JBS’s solutions are based on historically sound election procedures. We don’t need new technology. What we need is to restore time-tested, proven election procedures from the past, when American elections were among the most open and trusted in the world.

Influencing Your Local Community

by Matthew Rhodes, Field Coordinator for New Hampshire and Maine

Question: “How do I help launch a patriotic resurgence in my community?”

Answer: To bring a patriotic resurgence into your community, first make sure you are a patriot. There are many wonderful facts about our country’s founding and its cultural icons. As JBS members, we have an obligation to not only educate others about Americanism, but to show everyone we know why we love America.

The first thing to do is to assess your battleground, which for you is your town, city, or district. In large cities, you may only be able to work in a small quadrant. The point is to establish an area where you can be the most effective and not bite off more than you can chew.

Begin by researching your town’s founding and its place in American history. This includes researching war heroes, prominent patriotic leaders, and other Americanists in spirit and action. You must be an expert on your locality’s history. The local historical society is usually a treasure trove of wonderful facts, perhaps gone fallow in the minds of many townspeople but waiting to be brought to light once more. Make sure to take advantage of this tremendous resource.  Americans love their history and their towns. Because The John Birch Society’s educational focus is on the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, these are equally good starting places to begin choosing your American heroes. Keep yourself a running list of men and women you wish to honor and the events you wish to call attention to.

Now you are intellectually armed, having gathered all the information you wish to share with your community. The best way to keep track of this information is in a personal calendar of events; it will be your guide throughout the year. Be ready to adjust as your town’s needs change.

Next, find out what kind of activities your town already partakes in. All of the following places should be under your purview in terms of patriotic activity: the town or city hall, library, police station, fire station, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, American Legion, Am/Vets, and other similar institutions. As JBS President Emeritus John F. McManus would say, “start a conversation.”

At the library, bring attention to upcoming American holidays or the birthday of one of our Founders. You can also suggest books that could be brought out on a special table, request to show a video about your topic, or even pursue more creative ideas such as hosting a play or having the kids make a banner about a Founding Father. Get your entire JBS Chapter involved, and offer to help where needed and be a humble guide.

For an Elks Lodge or similar place, suggest a community event such as a barbecue or bake sale. Raising funds is important to such groups. Talk about JBS’s pro-American and pro-Constitution agenda. Each event should have an honorary recipient or topic, such as a prominent American historical figure or event.

At your town/city hall or library, offer an adult education class about American history and/or a “Constitution Is the Solution” class.

At any event or location, distribute JBS literature that is topical and relevant to the event. And finally, remember that you are not there for controversy, but to show others how much you love America and to offer solutions.