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About the national
Web site: http://thenationalgadfly.com
Location: Lakeview
Joined: 43 weeks 1 day ago
Last active: 1 day 5 hours ago.
the national's Bio
The Gadfly is the alter-ego of Arvan Reese. I come to activism via a long and circuitous route. I was in the US Army Special Forces (MOS 18D) from '81-'89. I found myself fairly trusting of the inherent "good" of the United States. Although I served during the Reagan administration, I was not a fan of the jingoism or racist subtext of the Republican party. I was very disappointed with the Iran-Contra affair and felt betrayed as an American and as a member of the military.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" - Samuel Johnson made this remark while lambasting false patriots of his day.
I do not believe that waving a US flag makes a person into a patriot, beyond reproach. I have seen liars, plunderers and thieves wave flags and religious icons at the crowd like slight-of-hand artists. I believe as Teddy Roosevelt did that no one is above reproach. No one.
I do not have any problem with people accumulating wealth or seeking public office. Quite the contrary. I have great respect for those that choose to honor their part in the contract. Public office and private enterprise are both social contracts within society. Individuals in such positions are bound by an agreement with the population at large. These agreements reward public and private enterprise service with payment in money and/or status. People in such positions that honor their commitment to the general public have my deep respect and admiration.
However, when the trust is broken and the public is misled or made to suffer solely for the personal gain of those in public or private positions of power; then the contract has been broken. Respect and deference are not due to these individuals, no matter how many flags they wave. It these individuals that The National Gadfly seeks to expose, harass and annoy.
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