Why are we trying to change government?

Because government no longer works.

The T.O.S.S. Party believes that all American government - local, State, & Federal - can and should work efficiently, effectively, and economically, and that it should work for us. And we make the claim that most government today does NOT work that way.

But how is that possible?

In America, we have the right to vote. We elect our government (some of it anyway). We choose the people that participate in government on our behalf. We choose the people that represent us. Through them, we express our opinions on issues that affect us. They ensure our views are known and considered by government when it makes decisions. When it passes laws. When it enforces those laws. When it spends our tax money. So here in America, our government works for us. The people we elect, and the people they appoint, work for us.

Don’t they?

HELL NO! Why not? There are many reasons, all of which play a role in keeping government from working the way it should. There’s the nature of government itself. There’s the lack of choice in our political process. There’s the lack of qualified candidates running for, and being appointed to, major political office. Most importantly, there’s the problem of special interests. Each of these is discussed in greater detail elsewhere. But for now, let’s get back to the problem itself.

The problem of government in America.

As indicated above, the T.O.S.S. Party makes the claim that most American government today does NOT work the way it should. But we haven’t really offered any proof to back up that claim. Why not? Because we think the problem is obvious enough that the claim doesn’t need proving. Think of it this way. If you look outside and there’s water falling from the sky, you can probably figure out for yourself that it’s raining. Do you really need a weather expert monitoring weather radar, viewing weather satellite imagery, and coming to you live from a weather-related television network to confirm it’s raining before you’ll believe it? Or do you simply think you’re smart enough to figure that out on your own?

So it is with our claim about government.

We believe we’re simply pointing out something most people have already figured out for themselves. But don’t take our word for it. Look around. How do you think government is doing? If you believe government isn’t working quite the way it should, would you believe it more if we, or someone else, were to produce page after page of facts, figures, statistics, studies, and sworn expert testimony?” What sort of evidence would you need? How much would you need? Do you really need someone else to convince you of what you’ve already figured out for yourself?

Do you need someone to tell you it’s raining?

We don’t think so. Besides, “evidence” is for trials, and we’re not putting government in America on trial. We’re putting government in America on notice. On notice that we the people—well, some of us anyway—are actually watching and listening again. That we do not approve of the way government is handling the people’s business—our business. That we are done waiting patiently (and in vain) for government to get its act together and start solving its own problems. That we are now taking matters back into our own hands. Why? Because we have no choice. Because we have to. After all, who else is going to fix what’s wrong with government in America?

The government?