What follows is an email John Manley sent out on Wednesday, November 21. The subject line of the email was "The Most Important Email of the Year." The email has nothing to do with copywriting, yet I believe it is as important as John claims. By the way, as you read, keep in mind that John is Canadian, which makes his message that much more powerful.
[Email starts here.]
WARNING: This email may get a few people angry. The video link at the end may really tick some people off. Sorry. The rest of you will probably consider it the most important email I've written this year.
THAT SAID: I encourage you to read every single last word. I'm not selling you anything. I'm not warming you up to sell you something later. Consider this a "public service" message of the highest importance, to your future, your children's future, your success as an entrepreneur, and your freedom as a human being. If this message offends anyone's viewpoint, please overlook it or unsubscribe yourself.
Dear Reader,
Many marketers say you should never talk about two things with your subscribers: politics and religion.
Yet, I know some of the most successful online and offline success personas don't hesitate to talk about either.
Today I wanted to talk about a political issue that affects us as copywriters and entrepreneurs (as well human beings).
First... As much as I have tried in the past to not be apathetic about politics (both national and international) it tends to happen to me. I think it's sort of a self-defense mechanism. There is such corruption, greed and unforgivable behavior going on amongst many of the world's governments. I'm not pointing any fingers at any particular nation, party, leader, etc.
I didn't even vote in the last Canadian election because I simply didn't want any of them in office. I didn't think any of them were offering much change. It seemed like I would be doing my country a better favor by staying home with my family.
But Canada is in trouble.
The United States is in even more trouble.
The Auditor General for the States predicts that the country will be bankrupt in 15 years. You can keep on printing money... but the rest of the world bases value on gold and silver, not paper.
Most of my income comes from the States. A year or so ago I would go to bank with a $7,500 USD check and it would become a $10,000 CAD deposit (after transfer fees). Now, I come to the bank with a $7,500 USD check and it turns into a $6,900 check.
One of the reasons I see this happening...
I slowly see our free market society creeping into a socialist mentality. I see people making six figures incomes having to pay 40-50% of that to the government in taxes, while people making $20K a year owe nothing and instead receive money from the government.
As Dan Kennedy said in his most recent No B.S. Marketing newsletter...
I am profoundly frustrated at the public's eagerness to accept schemes such as Hillary's proposed gifting of every baby born with a $5,000.00 bond intended to provide paid-for -- i.e. "free" -- college education or home down-payment, thus initiating entitlement and dependence on government, a looking to others to give you things literally cradle to grave, at birth, just as I'm bemused by people believing that such things as a $170-million product launch days are a matter of luck, thus undeserved and unearned.
I've been on all sides of the fence in my short life, with the government. Receiving a mere $425 a month (barely covered rent) when I fell very sick and had to go on welfare for two months... to sending them checks that represented nearly half of my year's labor. Either side is grim.
Michael Moore recently praised Canada's government funded health care system in his movie SICKO. I don't know what he was talking about. The system is falling to pieces. It sounds good in theory, and works well for emergencies... but when people know they've got health coverage, they are far less willing to prevent sickness.
And how does the U.S. government expect to pay for its rising health care costs with the approaching baby boom. Especially when the President is spending trillions on a "preventive" war that goes against the country's Constitution.
Right now the U.S. is borrowing millions from China and Japan. But they will only lend so much before they want to collect. I wonder what Congress is using as collateral?
Anyway, the point of my email is to bring your attention to a Republican congressman who is running for president in 2008. Even though he is a Republican, he has voted against most of his parties decisions. His name is Dr. Ron Paul. He spent most his life being an OB/GYN delivering thousands of a babies. He has been married to the same woman for 30 years. He sends back part of his "salary" to the U.S. treasury. He votes consistently and with integrity on issues. He has received more money than any other candidate from military officers. He has the largest self-propelled Internet campaign in the history of politics.
He has ended my apathy about politics.
I'm supporting him financially, as well as using my various email lists to promote him. I do this at risk of annoying, offending and repelling subscribers who would purchase items from me in the future. I may very well lose money from this email.
I don't care.
More important things at stake.
In short, Ron Paul's campaign focuses around...
- Getting rid of income tax.
- Putting an end to foreign intervention and "empire building."
- Sticking to what the founding fathers outlined in the Constitution.
- Getting the troops out of Iraq (a third world country with no army, no "weapons of mass destruction" and little to do with September 11th--the Taliban are in Pakistan!).
- Reducing the involvement of government in people's lives.
- Removal of government regulatory boards, such as the FDA (extremely corrupt and harmful) and the proposed committee to censor the Internet.
- And much, much, more, all around returning freedom to people and taking away control form the government.
As an entrepreneur I strongly resonate with what Ron Paul is saying.
If you have been working as a copywriter for long, you know that earning money isn't a matter of luck (95% of the time). You know that those receiving six- or seven-figure incomes worked very hard and earned every penny (95% of the time).
You also know they should be able to decide what they want to do with that money. The government shouldn't be taking ownership of their lives. Money is earned by sacrificing your life in the form of time.
Some people proclaim they we must have a welfare state in order to survive. What about poor and disabled people?
Well, the welfare state can't sustain itself, first. Secondly, there were a lot less poor people when we lived in a true free market society. At least, as far as I can tell from the history books and listening to my grandparents.
I also know that when people are able to keep more of their money, and aren't forced to struggle to meet bills, etc., they are much more generous. Seems like there used to be a lot more charitable organizations many years ago. The hospital where my son was born is lined with black and white photographs from when the nuns of St. Joseph were managing the place.
Would the type of America Ron Paul proposes be free of problems? No.
That's reality. But I think it would have a lot fewer problems than it faces now.
And it would certainly have none of the problems that are looming on the horizon.
Here is a short CNN video about Ron Paul, I'd appreciate it if you would watch it...
==> Ron Paul Video
And here is his website where you can see more videos, radio ads, and read (in plain English) about his platform...
More info at Ron Paul's main web site.
If you're from outside of the United States, I'd encourage you to consider donating money (even $20) to his campaign. Canadian naturalist and writer, Farley Mowat, once said, "South America is the U.S.'s field slaves, and Canada is its house slaves." Interpret that as you will. But if we can get a man of integrity like Dr. Ron Paul as President of the United States it will set an example that will spread all over the world.
And, if you are American, I simply ask that you look into Ron Paul and consider electing him President of your country.
I think he is your last hope.
Sincerely,
John C. A. Manley
http://www.realitycopywriting.com/online
P.S. "We have allowed our nation to be over-taxed, over-regulated, and over run by bureaucrats. The founding fathers would be ashamed of us for what we are putting up with." - Ron Paul
P.P.S. That video link again...
==> Ron Paul Video
[Email ends here.]
Ryan's Note: If you'd like to support Ron Paul and protest excessive taxation at the same time, consider participating in this year's Boston Tea Party on December 16th. It's going to be fun.
