This is the third item in a three-part series about The John Birch Society and the impact that it has had and will have in the future.

Our task over the next 50 years is to do the successful things we have done, and more, in new ways with better tools. This may seem mundane to some, but our Founder Robert Welch established a winning formula which we will continue to implement.

And we will continue to use all the means at our disposal: technology, organization, personal relationships, etc. We have no clue as to what the future will produce in advancing technology. It could very well be that what we know as the Internet may become as much a dinosaur as the dial telephone is today.

We do not know, but what we do know is that whatever it is, we will take advantage of it.

We must all decide here and now that we have to have a vision that is fantastic. I hear all too often that we need to set realistic goals. That statement has within it the germ of defeat.

What if Columbus had realistic goals, to sail just beyond the horizon? After all, most sailing vessels in those days stayed relatively close to shore, with the exception of men who understood geography in waters like the Mediterranean Sea or Indian Ocean. If he had set only realistic goals, we may have been a country founded by Chinese explorers rather than European-based adventurers — who knows?

Something that is as unknown, as the “new world” discovered in 1492, may by future hindsight seem just as fundamental about something we do not see today. We have to stay on top of the wave. Rather, we must create the wave. For instance:

There are indications that the Insiders (for those unfamiliar with the term Insiders, Robert Welch coined this term in 1966 to describe the establishment clique of globalists working to strip away America’s sovereignty, further the number and depth of foreign entanglements, and take away the constitutional rights of Americans, thereby destroying the Republic as created by the Founding Fathers) may be phasing out the idea of the United Nations as the main overt body of international control. If this is the case, you may take the blame, for it has been the work of the JBS over the years that has diminished the UN’s reputation in the minds of the American people by our dissemination of literally millions of pieces of literature, videos, recordings, media appearances, etc.

Since it is the American people that the Insiders fear the most (they also fear our Society because of our effect on the American people), they have to do all they can to keep this sleeping giant ignorant of the dangers to liberty. Since the American people have lost faith in the UN, the Insiders may need a new “con” game.

While new, it will be the same formula. It is rather like Hollywood with their successful formulae for Westerns and romances where boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. There are formulae that  Conspirators use because they have been successful with them for centuries.

The Insiders need some entity outside of the control of the American people to help them subjugate our country. There have been major speeches by neo-conservatives such as John McCain advocating a new organization of world “Democracies.” If they head in this direction, we will have to adjust our efforts and start anew our efforts against foreign entanglements.

Developments like this make it obvious that we need to intensify our efforts to show people that this is a Republic, not a democracy, and why we need to keep it that way. As veteran members know, it has been the efforts of the Society that has kept this truth alive. And, we welcome the help of new advocates of this vital national foundation who have coalesced around the Campaign for Liberty and other similar freedom organizations.

We often stop talking about the basic things because we grow tired of listening to ourselves say the same thing over and over again. But it does not diminish their importance.

One of the goals we need to achieve is to send our Overview of America DVD to every school teacher of civics, history, government, etc.: all of the schools, public, private, religious, home, etc. A huge project. And one that will go a very long way toward spreading understanding.

And spreading understanding is what we have to do. We are not a Reader’s Digest-type of organization. Summaries and short stories do not always create understanding. If a quick quote of Mark Twain’s makes the point so that it is logical, principled, and offers a true solution, then fine. If it takes a book, well then that is what we shall recommend. In either case, nothing will work unless it is driven by a focused, active organization.

Continuing the positive, we must do all we can to promote the study of classical liberal arts. Only in this way can we create the necessary foundation about why our Forefathers gave us such a grand document as the Constitution. In ages past there have been periods of great intellectual activity elevating the education of man. Examples have been the era of philosophy in Athens around 300 B.C.; the flowering of the arts in Florence during the Renaissance; and in our own American Colonies regarding the growth of liberty in the middle 1700s. The War for Independence and our Constitution were the result.

Part of the process must include the idea of civic responsibility: that we have been the inheritors of a wonderful legacy and we owe it to our children to pass it on intact. Not only to pass it on, but for our children to be intellectually equipped to protect it and pass it on in turn  to their children. Part of this is eternal vigilance.

In all we do, we must inculcate people with the idea that in addition to individual responsibility, they have a civic one as well. This is why Mr. Welch said, “Less government, more responsibility, and — with God’s help — a better world.” One of the subtle but dangerous ideas we have seen being used in regard to this motto is the mention only of individual responsibility.

How often have you been responsible as an individual but could not get a group you are associated with to assume its responsibility?

While the individual should always be responsible, so should the community organizations, the local governments, churches, etc. It starts with the individual, but it will most likely be manifested in an organization one way or the other. Stating the motto as an individual action takes away the focus from the fact that all we do, both as individuals and as part of a group, must be to assume responsibility.

One of the teachings missing from the churches and synagogues of today is the idea that in addition to being a good citizen by obeying the Ten Commandments, we cannot be a good citizen unless we oppose evil. Not just talk about it and vote against it, but be part of active opposition.

The largest segment of society today that does not take responsibility, yet will have the most to answer for later, is the churches. Once they accepted the idea of legal tax deductibility, they began the process of becoming a slave to government.

Responsibility is the word, for all people and every entity. And, it may be the hardest job of any we will do over the next fifty years to have people accept their responsibility. For taking responsibility almost always demands sacrifice.

For example, the Welfare State is a direct attack on responsibility. People do terrible things in order to stay on the dole. I have said, as an extension of an old saying, that the youth are liberal until they get their first pay check and see the taxes deducted from their pay. Then they become conservative. They remain conservative until they get their first Social Security check, and then they become liberal, concerned about how they will live without it, needing more than they are getting, and voting accordingly.

It is the same with the churches. In order to maintain their tax deductibility, they have a fear of speaking out that influences their actions. We have free speech unless it’s tax deductible, then it is regulated free speech.

These examples, perhaps, are the most illustrative of the problems we will incur as we try to ingrain in the American people the idea of responsibility, and that the solution to the problems they see starts with their involvement.

We must educate the people so that they understand that the long-term consequences tomorrow can be worse than the short-term sacrifices they will need to make today.

So far I have discussed only the basics: a republic versus a democracy, and responsibility verses inaction. Yet these are the building blocks, as well as others, that must form the foundation for what we do over the next 50 years. And, we need to understand that we have to expend a great deal of effort, time, and money to reach these goals if we mean to win.

We cannot save our country if the people do not understand these very basic concepts. They have to know what is right if there is any hope of getting them to recognize true versus false solutions for problems that they see.

The Germans were an enlightened people when Hitler offered them solutions for their problems — and look what happened. They lacked the fundamentals of what constitutes liberty, and still do. We see the same type of teaching becoming ingrained in the American people due to the decline of the quality of American education. And, by no means is it a problem confined to the public sector.

I might mention that it is not necessarily the fault of the teachers. They only teach what they have been taught and from the books supplied for them by the school board. This is why it is important to have them receive our Overview DVD. And for good people to get involved in government.

While there is a growing layer of strength in terms of education being imparted in many religious schools and home schools, nonetheless they have a problem which presents an opportunity for us. They need to understand three things that by and large are not being taught. One, the idea of civic as well as individual responsibility. Two, that the Biblical admonition to occupy means to get involved, not simply vote. And, three, that there are those working in concert to circumvent the Constitution.  Mr. Welch called this a conspiracy of evil.

Though the good people of this country have strayed mightily from the foundations of liberty, many are coming back, but they have to understand the conspiratorial aspects if they have any hope to survive the wiles of those who mean to enslave us.

If we do not also educate them about the goals of our enemies, we will lose. We will lose because good people judge others by themselves. Since they are good, they are too trusting when it comes to government and organizations that claim to be part of the solution.

This is not to say that we should not be trusting. But since our duty is to protect our country, we have to be aware of its enemies. And, we are talking about all enemies, foreign and domestic. And, an enemy is one who not only attacks us militarily; it is one who wants to trash the Constitution.

We have our work cut out for us. The neo-conservative movement is an example of how the religious Right can be used to support false solutions to problems all agree exist. I can think of two major documentaries, widely disseminated, that have the problem down pat, but the solutions offered are seriously flawed and will lead to greater problems than the ones they profess to solve.

We have to get people to understand that it is never the “whereases” of the problem, but the “therefore” of the solution that is most important. Just because one agrees that a problem exists does not always mean that the solution offered is sound.

So it is a two pronged task: We have to educate people on what is right, and we have to get them to understand that their professed friend may not be a real friend.

After all, how did we get the term “con man”? It is short for confidence man: A person who gains your confidence so he can swindle you. He will say and do anything necessary to gain your confidence until he walks away with whatever he wanted. And, it will take a lot to even get the victim to understand that the con man is to blame. After all, he is such a nice guy — he wouldn’t do a thing like that!

When it comes to politics, never listen merely to what a politician says. He will always tell you what you want to hear. Listen to what he does not say. What does he not discuss? What will he decline to discuss when asked? How does he vote, and what caused him to vote that way?

If all of this seems fundamental, it is. Many of us remember (particularly those of us near Green Bay, Wisconsin), the words of the famous football coach, Vince Lombardi, when he first took over the Green Bay Packers. He told the players, “This is a football.” They went back to the fundamentals, going on to become the world champions.

New people come along. New generations are born. It may get tiresome to us, but the fundamentals are new to others. Never get tired of laying down the foundation. If you do not build a solid foundation, the building will not stand.

Regarding people, if you miss a basic truth, you will lose the person you are trying to educate and involve because somewhere along the line, he or she will not understand what you are offering as a solution.

It will always be about the fundamentals.

Now one final point. It is most important so I leave it with you as the last point. It is the need for organization.

You have to organize. Truth, justice, and the American way will not prevail unless the superman of organization comes to the rescue.

It has to be organization that is national with local units right down to the neighborhoods. It has to be monolithic to keep its focus and protect it from infiltration by those who would destroy it.
Focus is essential for many reasons, but three stand out.


1. To create enough synergy to achieve success.
2. To concentrate on weaknesses in the Insiders’ plans and strengths in the American people.
3. To prevent outside influences from diverting our efforts.


The John Birch Society is a proven organization. While the average American may not see our involvement, our Society nonetheless has a proven track record of success. We will continue that success over the next 50 years.

The war will never be completely over. Eternal vigilance will always be necessary to protect liberty.

Most of us here now will not be here to celebrate the second 50 years, the 100th Anniversary of The John Birch Society. But some of you will. It will be up to you and those you will enlist in the cause to carry forward the banner of liberty so that we can have, as Robert Welch envisioned, “Less government, more responsibility, and — with God’s help — a better world.”