This Time if Never Before

My name is Tom Achterberg, and my wife, Beth, and I have lived in the Cedar Grove neighborhood since August 2011. For the first time in my life, I joined the TrumpForce47 campaign as a volunteer to do what I can to put Donald Trump back in the White House next January. To help with that effort, I volunteered to be the Crenshaw Manor Neighborhood Captain located in our local North Carolina Precinct 19-15.

Alan Terrano our Precinct Co-Chair asked me to write a few words about what prompted my decision to join in the effort to amalgamate and energize our precinct to ensure a Republican landslide in the Presidential and Congressional elections this November.

As a retired Federal employee who worked for the Congress for seven years, I can attest to the vital importance of getting out the vote this year. When I retired in 2011, the Obama administration policies were distasteful to me. And I’m sure many of you, like me, would shake our heads in disgust or, at times, chuckle at some of the foolishness of decisions coming out of Washington, DC. While there, I tried to work from within the system to move my little part of the bureaucracy to a more taxpayer-focused position. But, it was futile. Reversing a rushing river is virtually impossible in the stifling structure of government. The culture was so oppressive, I retired and got on with my life, still shaking my head and complaining. Other than voting, I was not actively involved with any political organization or movement.

Now, 13 years later, the trajectory of our country with regard to immigration, the economy, our energy policies, and the safety of our communities is spiraling even more downward. The decline is now untenable. I could no longer sit in front of the TV and listen to the depressing news being broadcast 24/7. It is time for all of us to come off our recliners and do our part to fight back against the evil that pervades our government. It’s time for each of us to do what we can, no matter how small the contribution. Collectively, we can make a difference. Only as a group can we turn the river of tyranny. One member of my former organization on Capitol Hill summed it up best with this statement, “If the American people really knew what was going on here, they’d tar and feather every member of Congress and run them out of town.”

Tarring and feathering politicians is no longer an acceptable way to voice our grievances with government. But motivating our friends and neighbors to study the issues and vote accordingly are. And if you think that doesn't work, look at two very recent events that surprised quite a few people. Both Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, two members of "The Squad" were summarily removed from the general election this November because they lost in their respective primaries. Together, this November, we can begin to take back our traditional American values and stop the tsunami of socialism just like the voters did in Missouri and New York.

Our precinct is full of talent. If you can spare just a sliver of your time and talent to assist with the effort to bring some common sense back to our government, I encourage you to join our team of volunteers -- this time if never before -- to aid in winning Republican elections up and down the ballot with numbers that are too big to rig.