Join the new world

This article was originally published in Grano de Arena and is reprinted here courtesy of Arjay Phoenician, a former Socialist Freedom Party member and current congressional candidate in Bolivia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The very first friend I ever made at eRepublik was Robert Bayer. At the time, he was running for President of the eUnited States, but I contacted him concerning my political path. Not only was he polite to someone here all of a day or two, he had answers to my questions. He presented himself as professional, but not aloof; friendly, but not a chatterbox; knowledgeable, but not elitist: and generous, but not coddling. Everything is in balance with Bayer, I noticed this in him from the very start.

After a previous stint in Congress, Bayer finished a respectable third in the most recent Presidential election. He is in South Dakota to run for Congress again, armed with a wealth of experience, professionalism, and respect for his constituents. I encourage every voter to read his paper, the Weekly Broad-Axe, where you can learn more about where he stands on the issues that face all Americans.

In my travels through the Socialist Freedom Party, Mark Valshannar has been a constant source of support, a positive staple, and a caring soul. I am excited to see him making a run for Congress in Alabama, and I want you to be excited as well, because Alabama is going to get someone who isn’t looking to selfishly work his way up the political ladder, or pad his pockets with gold or experience points with “lulz” legislation. His platform can be read in full at his paper, The Wandering Eye.

While I consider Bayer a mentor in the truest sense, and I think of Valshannar as a colleague and peer, they will always be special to me, no matter where I do in this world.

Now, why is a citizen of Bolivia, making his own run for Congress and dodging the PTO thieves every step of the way, taking a moment to tell you about his brothers in his former American party of choice? Considering the last article I wrote, you’d think Arjay’s got his hands full. If he left the US, why does he continue to talk about it?

I am happy to tell you about them, as individuals and as former party brothers, because the Socialist Freedom Party is a special party, filled with extraordinary citizens who care. Bolivians have heard me talk like this before, about people who care. The SFP is jam-packed with such people, willing to travel across the world to fight in wars of defense and resistance, or pay for a newbie’s ticket across the country. They aren’t looking to rack up the sort of mega-numbers you see other parties shooting for; rather, they look to cultivate quality in people, not generate quantity of people. I encourage any US citizen, situated to the left of center, to take a good, hard look at the SFP, and to talk to party leadership.

The SFP is a brotherhood, in the best sense of the word. Expect a future with more quality individuals looking to improve their country, doing the US proud and showing everyone what the SFP is all about.

Bayer and Valshannar are stellar examples of the kind of citizens populating the SFP, and I am deeply proud to call them not just peers and partymates, but genuine friends.

There are a lot of people out there who are tired of business-as-usual politics and are looking for candidates who are genuine, committed to serving a cause other than self-aggrandizement. For these two, going to Congress means more than getting a new light to light up on their profiles; for them, it means service. Commitment. Proving that the democratic process can indeed put quality people in positions where they can do the most good for their country, not just keeping the same old hacks in power, cycle after cycle.

Vote for Robert Bayer in South Dakota!

Vote for Mark Valshannar in Alabama!

Vote for Arjay Phoenician in Central West Chaco, Bolivia (did you really think I wouldn’t slip in even one shameless plug for myself?)!