“Truth persists and illuminates, even if there is no one to utter it.“

Government is not the solution; rather, it is causing the problems.  The below slides (view at Scribd) highlight the economic situation, updated from August and May presentation.  I’ve written about the solutions to the unemployment problem, the deficit, Social Security, and the high costs of health care which are linked below.  Thanks to Lee Trembley for providing some of the research and slides.

A giant land mine is about to go off in the United States, and those responsible walk the halls of our nation’s highest political offices and the Federal Reserve.  I know how to cushion the people from most of the damage.  I have the courage to explain reality to the Republocrats, that is why I am running for Congress.  And it is certainly not all gloom and doom – there is a very bright future for America if we just return to what made our country great – individual liberties, sound money, accountability and the rule of law.

I humbly ask for your vote on November 2nd to stop the endless debt and perpetual wars.

For Liberty and the Constitution,

Jake Towne

Will the real national debt please stand up? The national debt published in the papers and online – which is closely tied to the USTreasury market is now over $13.6 trillion.  Current government plans include massive deficit spending through 2013, and the government’s optimistic projections of a return to “normalcy” after 2013 are not anchored in reality.  Source of budget data.

However, the true national debt is hidden by the cash-based accounting method government uses.  The true national debt is over $120 trillion when GAAP (Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles) are used to identify future taxation sources and future debts such as Social Security and Medicare.  That’s around $400,000 for every man, woman, and child in the country.  Massive reductions in spending and taxation are necessary if America is to regain its financial sovereignty, my proposals are outlined here and in “Guns or Health Care?“

As seen in the official USTreasury report on page 178/254, the total unfunded liabilities for Medicare and Social Security is a jaw-dropping $107 trillion over the future of these programs.  While I predict the Democrats may bear the brunt of the blame for the collapse of Medicare, one must not forget that it was the Republican’s massive expansion of Part D’s prescription drug plan under Bush that severely worsened Medicare’s fiscal situation.  While the situation in Medicare will continue to worsen under the new healthcare legislation – some of my proposals to maintain Social Security are outlined in “Social Security or Insecurity?“

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.” – Declaration of Independence, 1776

The quote above from the Declaration is far more true in 2010 than it was in 1776.   Not counting the millions of government contractors, the government’s Republocrat-controlled work force is currently 22.1 million bureaucrats.  This is America’s largest single job sector, and remember, the taxpayer bears the full cost to keep these bureaucrats employed.  Like something out of an Orwell novel, the Washington Post estimates 854,000 bureaucrats are employed to spy on and keep tabs on the rest of us and the world.  Lisa Benson’s cartoon says it all.

Keep in mind bureaucrats make nearly twice the average wage of the private sector, and have better benefits.  My solutions?  First, lead by example.  I will refuse the elite congressional pension and healthcare plans when elected, and keep just the median income for a salary and donate the rest of the $116,000 to local non-profit hospitals.  Second, I favor either a temporary income tax holiday, or simply halting the income tax on the median income, which will abolish the income tax for about 50% of the population and only result in a 3% drop in the taxes collected by the income tax.

Next, notice about 1 in 7 Americans is on food stamps, or 41.8 million people.  USDA link here.  Note the strong rise in number of SNAP food stamp recipients during the past year.  One would expect to see this number dropping or even flat-lining – along with employment rising – if a recovery were underway.  The annual projected cost is now $67 billion, paid for by the ever-diminishing work force.

No jobs, no recovery. BLS link here.  Note that while the “newspaper” unemployment rate is still 9-10%, the U-6 figure – which more accurately describes total unemployment is 16% – a depression statistic.  An estimated 1.6 million will file for bankruptcy this year.   I’ve described the common sense solutions to end the rampant unemployment created by the government almost overnight in the campaign’s Jobs plank.

Since the BLS drops off workers from its U-6 figure, the real unemployment rate is likely greater than 17%.  Shadowstats estimates the rate at about 22%.

The number of new housing starts has reached a 5-decade low, while about 25% of all residential mortgages are underwater.  Note that in prior recession cycles, a quick rebound occurred while this depression looks more like a dead cat bounce.  This is because….

The Federal Reserve bailed out the bankers and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The above is built from the Federal Reserve H.4.1 data here.  The black line is the total (reported) balance sheet of the FED, which has more than doubled since the time of the Banker Bailout.  While the original TARP bailout (not shown) accounted for much of the initial sharp increase, most of the debt has been replaced by $1.12 trillion of mortgage-backed securities (the yellow line).

This graph shows the nationalization and propping of America’s entire residential housing industry. The yellow and green lines show the cumulative totals of USTreasury and USAgency debt held by the FED.  While the Federal Reserve has admitted it will take losses on the MBS debt, the question remains as to how much and when.

The purchasing power of the dollar has lost well over 94% since FDR took America off the classical gold standard in 1933 through monetary inflation.  The monetary inflation is caused by the Federal Reserve.  They debase the dollar by creating more and more irredeemable paper dollars, which is of increasing concern since China has stopped buying Treasury debt.  A major reason why healthcare now appears so expensive is this money-printing, as I highlighted in my article “Health Care Solutions.”  Graph provided by Bloomberg Financial, 2009.

The relentless rise in the paper gold price from 2000-2010 is not due to any special circumstance with gold – nor is it a bubble yet – it is solely due to the money-printing and credit expansions of the world’s central banks.  Gold is insurance against the failure of unbacked paper currencies, and this is why all central banks – and more and more individuals worldwide – hold gold reserves.  I’ve written extensively on the Federal Reserve and how sound money effects jobs here.

Now, where do the government and bankers spend a good portion of this currency they created from thin air?  In a word, WAR.  The United States spends more on military expenditures than the rest of the world combined, and the military-industrial-congressional complex that Eisenhower warned about now serves as the world’s largest arms dealers.  Check out this movie clip from “The International” on debt and control. (Graph source and data here)  There are far better solutions to capturing the criminals who attacked America on 9/11 which I write about in my Afghanistan War plank.

To cap off the situation with the dollar, the latest quarterly banking profile from the FDIC state the deposit insurance fund (DIF) is bankrupt.  While consumers at failed banks still receive “insured” funds, the losses are presumably filled in with dollars from the FED, as reported last here.  The current FDIC “watch list” rose to 775 banks, or almost 10% of all FDIC-insured banks in the US per p. 3/26.

CAUTION: LAND MINES

In summary, do not expect a recovery until the Republocrat ruling elite are removed from power or are forced to address the problems the rest of society faces.  As the extravagant $5 million Bill Clinton wedding under heavy security – possibly paid for by the taxpayer – and $7 million John Kerry yacht (and avoidance of >$500,000 in taxes) demonstrate, the elite are not exactly suffering.

The “Great Recession” still has a firm grip on the economy, and the situation continues to deteriorate, now matter what cherry-picked news is shared in the mainstream media.  Sadly, the truth is the situation in America will not improve until the government removes its jackboots from the throat of the economy.  Ceasing all special privileges to special groups would help as well.

That Freedom Shall Not Perish,

TOWNE FOR CONGRESS

Article Archives

As those who have been following the campaign are aware, my independent candidacy was recently endorsed by a major local newspaper, the Express Times, and I destroyed my opponents in the debates, the last one you can watch here or 8 pm this evening on Channel 69 WFMZ-TV.  Momentum is all on the campaign’s side, and anyone in the area is encouraged to spread this issues flyer.

I’d like to conclude with a quote on youth by Randolph Bourne, which explains why the younger generation has to step forward to converse with the older generations.

“Youth is the incarnation of reason pitted against the rigidity of tradition; youth puts the remorseless questions to everything that is old and established – Why? What is this thing good for? And when it gets the mumbled, evasive answers of…… the defenders it applies its own fresh, clean spirit of reason to institutions, customs and ideas and finding them stupid, inane or poisonous, turns instinctively to overthrow them and build in their place the things with which its visions teem. . . .

“Youth is the leaven that keeps all these questioning, testing attitudes fermenting in the world. If it were not for this troublesome activity of youth, with its hatred of sophisms and glosses, its insistence on things as they are, society would die from sheer decay. It is the policy of the older generation as it gets adjusted to the world to hide away the unpleasant things where it can, or preserve a conspiracy of silence and an elaborate pretense that they do not exist. But meanwhile the sores go on festering just the same. Youth is the drastic antiseptic. . . . It drags skeletons from closets and insists that they be explained. No wonder the older generation fears and distrusts the younger. Youth is the avenging Nemesis on its trail. . . .

“Our elders are always optimistic in their views of the present, pessimistic in their views of the future; youth is pessimistic toward the present and gloriously hopeful for the future. And it is this hope which is the lever of progress – one might say, the only lever of progress. . . .

“The secret of life is then that this fine youthful spirit shall never be lost. Out of the turbulence of youth should come this fine precipitate – a sane, strong, aggressive spirit of daring and doing. It must be a flexible, growing spirit, with a hospitality to new ideas and a keen insight into experience. To keep one’s reactions warm and true is to have found the secret of perpetual youth, and perpetual youth is salvation.”

Lastly, a grassroots supporter sent this in to commemorate the campaign’s upcoming victory on November 2nd.  I have a dream as well, thanks to Arianne Elinich for the use of her song.

Jake Towne for US Congress PA-15 – Economy in Pictures (OCT 2010)

Upcoming Events

• Rally to Restore Sanity, 12 PM- 4 PM on Saturday, October 30 at Porter’s Pub, 700 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18036.  MAP.  The Comedy Central march in DC will be televised from 12-3 pm and Jake will be taking questions from 3-4 pm.  This is not a campaign sponsored event.
• Slatington-Walnutport Halloween Parade: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Replay of “Debate at the State”, 8 PM on Saturday, October 30 on WFMZ Channel 69.

• Easton-Phillipsburg Halloween Parade: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Allentown Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Bethlehem Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.
  • Post-Election Victory Party for all volunteers and supporters at 8 PM on Election Day at Pies On Pizzeria at Front and Pine Streets, Catasauqua!!!!

I am very honored and humbled to have received the endorsement of the Express-Times, a major local newspaper in the 15th congressional district, this morning.  Under a headline, “Mr. Towne Should Go to Washington” the Express chose to endorse my candidacy rather than Republocrats Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan after my clear victory at the Debate at the State (footage here, photo courtesy Sue Beyer of the Express-Times).

I have also been very humbled to see strong support from the entire community, and I believe the race in the voting booth on November 2nd is going to be very close indeed and the skewed polling by the Morning Call will be proven to be highly inaccurate.  (The campaign has polled at 8%, 5%, and 3% so we are heading in the right direction. Unlike a two-way race, likely only 35-37% is necessary to win, and all of the skewed polling took place BEFORE the WFMZ debate and Express-Times debates.  Unlike the Express-Times, the Morning Call banned me from their debate.)

Volunteers are still needed to help out at the polls.  Polling materials can be picked up tonight at the American Sandwich Company in Coopersburg from 5-8 pm, or at the Rally to Restore Sanity at Easton’s Porter’s Pub on Saturday afternoon, campaign event details here.  An issues-oriented flyer is available to download or share from here.

From the Express-Times:

“Jake Towne started his congressional campaign more than a year ago on a shoestring budget and an idea — that a straightforward, third-party message could resonate in the Lehigh Valley, especially if the Republican and Democrat got into a divisive fight over which major-party candidate should represent the politically diverse 15th District.

We’re disappointed to see Towne’s independent candidacy hasn’t gained a lot of traction. He’s still in single digits in the polls.

Yet Towne is the best choice in this race, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy. He pledges to set a high ethical standard. He disdains the garbage passing as dialogue on the airwaves.

And he’s for real.

Republican incumbent Charlie Dent has done a credible job, but we need a break from mainstream Republican politics that caused the nation to rebel and elect Barack Obama in 2008. Democrat John Callahan has put together a defensible record as mayor of Bethlehem, but his approach in this race is less than inspiring.

We believe both men are capable of representing the Lehigh Valley, but we also feel we’re being played for suckers in this million-dollar investment in attack ads — you know, the ones that call someone a “disaster” or tax-raise worshipper or a George Bush clone.

We’re tired of the same old crap.

Finally, when The Express-Times’ editorial board had a chance to prod and observe the candidates at Monday’s Debate at the State Theatre — and after examining their records — we concluded, simply, that Towne is more than just a viable alternative. His platform is somewhat libertarian, ardently constitutional, fiscally conservative, socially live-and-let-live, and radically pointed in areas in which we wanted to hear real answers — such as the need to end nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. He is a member of the local Tea Party group, but is not a Tea Party candidate.

Like most candidates, he puts job creation and deficit-cutting at the top of his list. Unlike other members of Congress, he would be free to pursue and vote on those issues without having to check his campaign-supporter list. His assessment of the “two-headed, one-party system” we operate under rings true.

On some issues, he’s closer to Republicans, such as extending the Bush tax cuts, opposing the health care bill, opposing restrictions on gun ownership, redirecting the military to defend our borders. On others, he’s closer to Democrats, such as supporting a woman’s right to have an abortion, allowing gay marriage, eliminating income taxes for households making under $41,000, and eliminating the “Halliburton Loophole” so states such as Pennsylvania can regulate natural gas drilling via the Safe Water Drinking Act.

On other issues — phasing out the “War on Drugs,” questioning the loss of civil liberties under the Patriot Act, pledging to serve two terms, refusing to enlist in federal health care and pension plans — he’s distancing himself from the status quo and setting an example of independence that many people would like to see in their elected representatives.

As a third-party candidate with libertarian leanings, coming out of nowhere, accepting no big political-action-committee contributions, Towne faces a public as wary of newcomers as it is weary of the major party candidates. And that’s a fair suspicion. Towne, who grew up and lives in the Nazareth area, has worked as a chemical engineer in this country and China, and is involved in his community. He’s articulate and, when given the chance, has injected energy and dimension into the 15th District debate.

Callahan and Dent aren’t spending much time or money worrying about Towne. Based on his well-run campaign and his embodiment of qualities people say they want in a congressman, maybe they should be.

We think voters should send a strong message about change — including independence from special interests and typical Washington gamesmanship — by electing a candidate with a steely populist streak.

We think Jake Towne can do the job.”

Upcoming events are listed below, and anyone wishing to make a donation to cover more TV advertisements can make it below.

• Northampton Community College Forum, October 28, 11 AM till perhaps 12:30 or 1 PM.  Open to public, Q&A. Location Changed!! Location is in the Student Life Zone on the 2nd floor of the College Center.  3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, PA 18020.  Campus Map.
• Live interview on WDIY, 6-7 PM on Thursday, October 28.  Listen locally at 88.1 FM or here online.
• Rally and Poll Materials Pickup, 5PM-8:30 PM on Thursday, October 28 at American Sandwich Company at 7001 Route 309, Fairmont Village Shopping Center, Coopersburg, PA 18036.  MAP.  A volunteer will be there to hand out materials from 5 PM on, Jake will arrive around 7:30 to talk for a bit.

• Rally to Restore Sanity, 12 PM- 4 PM on Saturday, October 30 at Porter’s Pub, 700 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18036.  MAP.  The Comedy Central march in DC will be televised from 12-3 pm and Jake will be taking questions from 3-4 pm.  This is not a campaign sponsored event.
• Slatington-Walnutport Halloween Parade: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Replay of “Debate at the State”, 8 PM on Saturday, October 30 on WFMZ Channel 69.

• Easton-Phillipsburg Halloween Parade: 12:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Allentown Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.
• Bethlehem Halloween Parade: 1 p.m. Oct. 31. Help hand out flyers before the parade begins!!  Contact the campaign at 610-392-8156 or towneforcongress@gmail.com for meetup details.

• NOVEMBER 2nd ELECTION DAY!! Volunteers are needed to hand out literature outside of local polling stations, please volunteer here and share your name, phone #, city, and if you live in the district, your current polling location.
  • Post-Election Victory Party for all volunteers and supporters at 8 PM on Election Day at Pies On Pizzeria at Front and Pine Streets, Catasauqua!!!!

Jake Towne Issues Flyer Oct 2010

Independent congressional candidate Jake Towne claimed a clear victory at the “Debate at the State” – held and co-sponsored by Easton’s historic and beautiful State Theatre.  The Express Times was the main sponsor, and is commended by the campaign for its commitment to hear all candidates.

When Towne challenged Mr. Dent on the constitutionality of his support of the War on Terror and the PATRIOT Act’s civil liberty violations, the incumbent had no coherent response and the 20-year career politician pitifully resorted to accusing Towne as believing in 9/11 conspiracies, a complete and utter lie.  Towne also challenged Mr. Callahan on HIS unflagging support of the unconstitutional War on Terror and endless nation-building.

Towne’s closing statement was met with by far the most applause, which is quite significant since most of the crowd were not previous supporters and were converted by the debate.  While the Republocrat candidates were busy with negative mudslinging, Towne focused on offering solutions to the problems the country faces.

The debate will air on Saturday, October 30th on WFMZ-TV, Channel 69.   Watch footage from the Express Times Debate below, and also from the previous WFMZ debate here.  (Photo courtesy Sue Beyer/Express Times)

Closing statement from Jake Towne (below left)  Towne questioning the constitutionality of Mr. Dent’s support of the undeclared wars and PATRIOT Act. (below right)

Towne asking Mr. Callahan to pledge to take a paycut and give up the congressional perks.  When Mr. Callahan first attempted to dodge the question, snickering from the crowd led him to address the question… and say he would think it over.  (below left)  Towne asking Mr. Callahan why he supports the endless and unconstitutional War on Terror and nation-building.  (below right)

To Towne’s delight, Mr. Callahan asked him a question on the federal department of education.  (Below left)  Towne outlines his stance to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and highlights the contrast on bailouts.  (Below right)

Jake takes a moment to state his stance on Cap and Trade and highlighted hydraulic fracturing as the key environmental risk to the district.  Read his solutions with hydraulic fracturing here.  (Below left)  All candidates share their stances on jobs.  See Jake’s plank here.  (Below right)

All candidates are asked a question about troop withdrawal.  Only Towne answers the question while Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan mudsling at the expense of our veterans.  Only Towne has published a veterans plank.  (Below left)  Towne answers a question on healthcare. (Below right)

Lastly, all candidates are asked a question about negative campaigning.  True to form, Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent answer by mudslinging, while Jake responds by saying, “I think you see so much negative campaigning because they have no new ideas.”  Jake outlines his “Our Open Office” idea.  (video)

At the WFMZ-TV debate last Tuesday, independent congressional candidate Jake Towne challenged both Mr. Dent and Mr. Callahan to take some kind of paycut, not enlist in the pension plan and pay for their own healthcare. With all the job losses and paycuts in the private sector, the least either of these career politicians could do is give up a few perks.  Watch the video here.

Congressmen should buy their own healthcare on the marketplace just like everyone else. The Constitution does not entitle Congressmen to free healthcare or lucrative pensions paying up to 80% of their $174,000 salary, all at taxpayer expense.

Since both Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent spent most of their camera time bickering about Bethlehem finances, and who resembles Nancy Pelosi the most (Mr. Dent’s voting record matched 70% with Ms. Pelosi’s in the 110^th Congress), a 15-minute shortened version of the WFMZ debate is now available.

Watch the “All You Need to Know From the WFMZ Debate” here. The full debate is here.

Towne is a chemical engineer who worked in the semiconductor industry prior to running for office as an independent private citizen, including the past 4 years in China. Towne has promised to accept only the median household income and not enlist in the congressional health care or pension plans. The $116,000 remainder of the $174,000 salary will be donated to local non-profit hospitals after taxes. He also champions sound money and a novel-yet-simple form of accountable and transparent government, “Our Open Office.”

And don’t miss “Interview with Two Zombies!!”

“Your parties have betrayed you.  Your parties have failed you.  Your parties have let you down.  Your parties aren’t even here!!” – from my closing statement last night

Yesterday I was kindly hosted by the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a group of women educators, at Cedar Crest College in a crowded room.  As Mr. Callahan first accepted, then canceled last-minute, and Mr. Dent refused their invitation, I immediately declared myself the winner by TKO and the debate instead became an informal forum like the campaign’s “Towne halls” offered to the public over the past year.

While both Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dent may publicly laud debate and democratic elections, the truth is that they wish to escape to November 2nd with as little scrutiny from the people as possible.   Mr. Dent had the first debate cut from 2 hours to 1 hour.  These Republocrat career politicians are living on taxpayer money, without new ideas of their own, and are dished out political welfare simply due to the ‘D’ or ‘R’ next to their names.

Citizens should question Republocrat career politicians who do not deign to explain themselves to those they wish to serve.   There is no higher responsibility of a candidate than to listen to the public and explain themselves.  I challenge both men to set aside an entire weekend afternoon in October and answer questions from the public in a neutral forum.

Ironically, only my campaign has been excluded from a major debate sponsored by the Morning Call, PBS-39, and the Chamber of Commerce.   After reading the Morning Call’s explanation that TV time was limited, this week I requested the opportunity to answer the questions to the audience after cameras clicked off, and this request was denied as “disruptive.”  While I respect an organization’s ability to invite or not invite candidates to their events, political expression should be preserved by the media, not denied, especially in times of political economic suppression.

Supporters are encouraged to write – or resend – a letter to the editor to the Morning Call or Express-Times or share their opinion with the Morning Call debate organizers below, and inform them I was the only candidate to show up at the last debate.  I am the only candidate who has pledged to balance the budget, stop the endless wars and endless debt, plus has the ideas that will work to solve the unemployment problem.  If you would like a yard sign, please leave your name, address, and phone number here.

PBS Channel 39 Viewer Response Line: 610-867-4677 ext. 111
Peter Leffler   MCall Content Editor/State   610-820-6567
Kathy Reinhard  MCall Content Editor/Suburban    610-770-3751

I extend an open invitation to groups in the community to allow me to speak and listen to your group.  Footage from the event is below, and the remaining debate schedule is here – next event is October 4th.

Introduction and Open Office Idea (Plank)

On Personal Liberties – for a more in-depth explanation, see “Philosophy of Liberty“

On Public Education.

On Health Care, part 1 and part 2.  See also my articles “Healthcare Solutions” and “Healthcare Plank“  After reviewing the footage, I found I failed to adequately define a cartel, so “CARTEL – n. a combination of independent commercial or industrial enterprises designed to limit competition or fix prices (per Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)”

On the dollar.  Sound Money and Jobs Plank, Federal Reserve Plank

On the debt.

On my future plans and campaign donations.

Last week I appeared on the Gunther Show, where we had a spirited discussion on the War on Terror.  (Iraq War plank) (Afghanistan War plank)

The first debate just concluded a few hours ago, PCN was taping the event but had technical difficulties so the first half is missing.  See below for part 1 and part 2 that was taped.  A volunteer videotaped the event so we hope to have footage soon!  It was the first debate of my life, and went great!!   The event was mobbed with people — after the first several hundred people, the event staff had to turn away scores of residents.  Now that I have debate experience under my belt, I can hardly wait for the next debate on September 24th at Cedar Crest College!!!   Debate schedule here.

Today is the September 14th Money Bomb, put together by grassroots supporters.  The last money bomb in August raised exactly $3000 from 52 donors, and was used to purchase yard signs.

It is expected that all money raised today will go towards radio ads, which are affordable on the local favorite radio stations.  A 30-second spot costs roughly $30 depending on the time and will reach thousands of listeners.  The campaign’s first radio buy commences today at 6 AM, you can listen to the ad and share it below!

The vast majority of the money spent already was used to build the campaign enough momentum to get to this point and finish the arduous petitioning process for ballot access.  I cannot highlight enough how at this point a little money goes a long way. Thank you very much for your support!!



Monday, Sept 13 Candidate’s Night, College Hill Neighborhood Association

Time: Monday, September 13,  7-8 PM  (Shortened from 2 hours to 1 hour, exact reason unknown)
Location: Lafayette College.  Oechsle Hall, Room 224 (#62 on this map, Parsons and Hamilton Streets on College Hill in Easton)

I will be appearing with the two Establishment candidates for the first time.  Doors open at 6:45 PM, debate begins very promptly at 7pm.  Recommend arriving early as seating is limited to several hundred.  Free admission.  Press Release HERE.

For those unable to attend, event is streamed and playbacked online here from the CHNA website.

Also my panel appearance on “Business Matters,” a show on WFMZ-TV, Channel 69 is scheduled to be aired for the first time at 8 PM.

The campaign’s radio advertisements will also begin.  To keep the campaign on the airwaves, a Money Bomb will be held online on Tuesday, September 14.

You can help the campaign secure airtime during rush hour on the district’s most popular radio stations for as little as $30 per 30-second ad.

Incumbent Republocrat Charlie Dent likes to bill himself as an “independent leader,” when the reality is anything but. A hard look at the record reveals that 6 years in federal Congress and over $1 million in salary later, Dent has achieved little besides renaming a few post offices and helping plunge the nation into an economic depression with endless debt and war.

Jake Towne, a true independent, notes Dent co-sponsored two bills by following Towne’s lead in the 111^th Congress. Within 48 hours of an open letter Towne sent, Dent co-sponsored HR 1207, a bill to audit the Federal Reserve for the first time in its 97-year history. Within 24 hours of Towne issuing a challenge to Dent sign Discharge Petition #11 on the healthcare plan, Dent backed down and complied with Towne’s request.

Dent is now avoiding debate by refusing Northampton Community College’s debate request. The other Democrat candidate, John Callahan, and Jake Towne will now be hosted in separate forums per the college.

While Callahan was kind enough to name Towne in his press release, his continued efforts to label Jake as a “Tea Party candidate” are a sad attempt to avoid his own absence of ideas.  Towne has never claimed to be a Tea Party candidate, and the local Tea Party has not endorsed any candidate in the race.  Towne is a true independent and will report directly to the people with his novel “Our Open Office” idea, not the Democrat or Republican parties and lobbyists.  Towne has requested both Callahan and Dent copy this idea to their platforms for over a year.

Towne looks forward to debating John Callahan on the wars abroad (a topic he has avoided for 14 months), hydraulic fracturing (Callahan has no stance yet, see Towne’s here), and protecting our civil liberties, which the Republocrats have failed at.

The first debate is Monday, September 13^th at 7pm at Lafayette College with the College Hill Neighborhood Association and League of Women Voters.  Full debate schedule here.

Towne challenges both Callahan and Dent to lead by example and accept only the median household income and not enlist in the congressional health care or pension plans.

Released to the press on September 9, 2010

Check out the campaign’s new radio ad below!!  All contributions received in the next week will go directly towards radio ads!!

In July, I interviewed with Reading Eagle reporter Mary Young on the wars and also on my campaign.  In August, this article was featured in their Sunday paper, the main newspaper for the Berks county region of the 15th congressional district.  Ms. Young struck me as solid journalist, taking notes a mile-a-minute in shorthand (which looks like an alien language), and asking hardball questions on the economy and the wars.   Take a look below.

The newspaper also requested a 2-minute audio intro of the campaign, which I provided in the below video.

Third-party candidate opposes wars in Iraq, Afghanistan

By Mary E. Young

“Truth persists and illuminates, even if there is no one to utter it.“

Government is not the solution; rather, it is causing the problems.  The below slides (view at Scribd, backup PDF) highlight the economic situation, updated from a May presentation.  I’ve written about the solutions to the unemployment problem, the deficit, Social Security, and the high costs of health care which are linked below.

For Liberty and the Constitution,

Jake Towne

Will the real national debt please stand up? The national debt published in the papers and online – which is closely tied to the USTreasury market is now over $13.3 trillion.  Current government plans include massive deficit spending through 2013, and the government’s optimistic projections of a return to “normalcy” after 2013 are not anchored in reality.  Source of budget data.

However, the true national debt is hidden by the cash-based accounting method government uses.  The true national debt is over $120 trillion when GAAP (Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles) are used to identify future taxation sources and future debts such as Social Security and Medicare.  That’s around $400,000 for every man, woman, and child in the country.  Massive reductions in spending and taxation are necessary if America is to regain its financial sovereignty, my proposals are outlined here and in “Guns or Health Care?“

As seen in the official USTreasury report on page 178/254, the total unfunded liabilities for Medicare and Social Security is a jaw-dropping $107 trillion over the future of these programs.  While I predict the Democrats may bear the brunt of the blame for the collapse of Medicare, one must not forget that it was the Republican’s massive expansion of Part D’s prescription drug plan under Bush that severely worsened Medicare’s fiscal situation.  While the situation in Medicare is worse – and changing daily due to the new healthcare legislation – some of my proposals to maintain Social Security are outlined in “Social Security or Insecurity?“

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.” – Declaration of Independence, 1776

The quote above from the Declaration is far more true in 2010 than it was in 1776.   Not counting the millions of government contractors, the government’s Republocrat-controlled work force is currently 22.8 million bureaucrats.  This is America’s largest single job sector, and remember, the taxpayer bears the full cost to keep these bureaucrats employed.  Like something out of an Orwell novel, the Washington Post estimates 854,000 bureaucrats are employed to spy on and keep tabs on the rest of us and the world.  Lisa Benson’s cartoon says it all.

Keep in mind bureaucrats make nearly twice the average wage of the private sector, and have better benefits.  My solution?  Lead by example.  I will refuse the elite congressional pension and healthcare plans when elected, and keep just the median income for a salary and donate the rest of the $116,000 to local non-profit hospitals.

Next, notice that more than 1 in 8 Americans are on food stamps, or 40.4 million people.  USDA link here.  Note the strong rise in number of SNAP food stamp recipients during the past year.  One would expect to see this number dropping or even flat-lining – along with employment rising – if a recovery were underway.  The annual projected cost is now $66 billion, paid for by the ever-diminishing work force.

No jobs, no recovery. BLS link here.  Note that while the “newspaper” unemployment rate is still 10%, the U-6 figure – which more accurately describes total unemployment is 17% – a depression statistic.  An estimated 1.6 million will file for bankruptcy this year.   I’ve described the common sense solutions to end the rampant unemployment created by the government almost overnight in the campaign’s Jobs plank.

Since the BLS drops off workers from its U-6 figure, the real unemployment rate is likely greater than 17%.  Shadowstats estimates the rate at about 22%.

The number of new housing starts has reached a 5-decade low, while about 25% of all residential mortgages are underwater.  Note that in prior recession cycles, a quick rebound occurred while this depression looks more like a dead cat bounce.  This is because….

The Federal Reserve bailed out the bankers and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The above is built from the Federal Reserve H.4.1 data here.  The red line is the total (reported) balance sheet of the FED, which has more than doubled since the time of the Banker Bailout.  While the original TARP bailout (not shown) accounted for much of the initial sharp increase, most of the debt has been replaced by $1.12 trillion of mortgage-backed securities (the purple line).

This graph shows the nationalization and propping of America’s entire residential housing industry. The yellow and green lines show the cumulative totals of USTreasury and USAgency debt held by the FED.  While the Federal Reserve has admitted it will take losses on the MBS debt, the question remains as to how much and when.

The purchasing power of the dollar has lost well over 94% since FDR took America off the classical gold standard in 1933 through monetary inflation.  The monetary inflation is caused by the Federal Reserve.  They debase the dollar by creating more and more irredeemable paper dollars, which is of increasing concern since China has stopped buying Treasury debt.  A major reason why healthcare now appears so expensive is this money-printing, as I highlighted in my article “Health Care Solutions.”  Graph provided by Bloomberg Financial, 2009.

To cap off the situation with the dollar, the latest quarterly banking profile from the FDIC state the deposit insurance fund (DIF) is bankrupt.  While consumers at failed banks still receive “insured” funds, the losses are presumably filled in with dollars from the FED, as reported last here.  The current FDIC “watch list” rose to 775 banks, or almost 10% of all FDIC-insured banks in the US per p. 3/26.

In summary, do not expect a recovery until the Republocrat ruling elite are removed from power or are forced to address the problems the rest of society faces.  As the extravagant $5 million Bill Clinton wedding under heavy security – possibly paid for by the taxpayer – and $7 million John Kerry yacht (and avoidance of >$500,000 in taxes) demonstrate, the elite are not exactly suffering.

As Stuart Carlson’s great cartoon shows, the “Great Recession” still has a firm grip on the economy.  Sadly, the truth is the situation in America will not improve until the government removes its jackboots from the throat of the economy.  Ceasing all special privileges to special groups would help as well.

That Freedom Shall Not Perish,

TOWNE FOR CONGRESS

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Jake Towne for US Congress PA-15 – Economy in Pictures (AUG 2010)