SoMd PIGs reject the trough

March 28, 12:29 PMLibertarian ExaminerTrevor Bothwell

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A friend and former co-worker of mine, Jon Sola, has started a non-partisan grassroots political organization in Southern Maryland that goes by the name "PIG" -- Political Interest Group -- through which he seeks to help restore principles of limited government by attracting supporters ranging the political spectrum, but who likewise have become fed up with the increasing usurpation of individual liberties at the federal, state, and local levels.

At the behest of Jon, I attended the inaugural meeting last Wednesday night, and while the group is not nearly radical enough for my tastes, it is a political reality in this country that we're not going to be able to simply flip the proverbial light switch and recapture freedom lost to the ever-expanding state and its goon squad. Therefore, though I wish more people would reject coercive government out of hand, if we're to make any headway in beating back the state, we have to play within the system we've unfortunately created.

Of the nine attendees at the meeting, the majority identified themselves as either a Republican or independent, but almost to a person everyone had become dissatisfied with the big-government policies of the GOP; expressed a palpable fear of what's to come in light of the all-Democrat federal and Maryland state governments; and recognized that most politicians, no matter what their affiliation, ultimately join forces against the citizenry they ostensibly serve.

The SoMd PIG is a libertarian-leaning organization that rejects the "Democrat vs. Republican" politicization of the issues, and instead aligns itself more with Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty, Glenn Beck's 9-12 Project, and the "tea party" movements that are sprouting up across the country to protest the direction the country is headed.

This group is in its nascent stages and is looking for participants willing to volunteer some of their own time in working toward goals of 1) identifying pro-liberty candidates interested in running for local, state, and federal office, 2) formulating a well-organized network of like-minded individuals willing to publicly challenge our current officials, and 3) eventually putting an end to local government corruption.

Like Rep. Ron Paul, the SoMd PIG holds the U.S. Constitution in high regard and hopes to effect a return to some of the core values present at the time of the country's founding. While limited government clearly is preferable to the federal behemoth and its satellite nanny- and police-states we're currently shackled with, I hope to see this group eventually move in a more radical direction.

One thing that was evident at last week's meeting was the overall intelligence and open-mindedness of prospective members. Given that I've become personally acquainted with people who, through only a little self-study have finally started to realize that the Constitution and so-called "democratic" governments we install are themselves responsible for the very bloat and oppression we currently protest, I see no reason the SoMd PIG can't embrace a big tent of supporters who may differ when it comes to the particulars, but who nevertheless understand that individual liberty is ultimately impossible unless we (at least ideally) embrace the notion of self-government and reject the idea that we must be ruled by a political elite.

If you live in Southern Maryland and you're interested in joining this group -- or even if you live outside Maryland and wish to network with the SoMd PIG to strengthen your own local efforts -- shoot me an email at bothwelltj - at - yahoo.com and I can put you in touch with Jon Sola.