A Different Direction for Granite State Politics

Hope from the Constitution Party of New Hampshire

I was given a unique opportunity in modern times, a grassroots political party meeting that wasn’t centered around destroying our country and the values it was based on. Strange, right?

I have never hid my idealistic affection for the Libertarian movement, even though so many appear to value national separation and literal anarchy, but I have always pushed for adherence to the US Constitution as the cornerstone to keeping our nation together. Enter a party with it right in the name…

The Constitution Party of New Hampshire is officially four years old and I had the opportunity to attend their state convention at a small community church. It bled New England, down home politics from top to bottom. From the craft fairs that fund their work (instead of the corrupting PAC money that mainstream parties breed) to the focus on educating future generations in God and our nation’s ideals. I felt like I had traveled back in time to before cable news and the internet’s destruction of our discourse.

Why don’t we see more movements like this? Pragmatism can breed cynicism, something I am definitely guilty of. Our political duopoly and their requirements of fundraising dollars to be platformed is detrimental, something CP of NH’s Chairman Edmond Laplante puts as the cornerstone of his current run for US Senate. Although he polled highly with right-wingers in his previous attempt to run on the Republican ticket, he was denied the debate stage from all media outlets. Even the New Hampshire Republican Committee, who should be no friend to the media, gladly accepting this roadblock.

I felt hope seeing a country church filled with motivated community members that are focused on future generations and preparing them to take their place. This is the polar opposite to the current climate in DC, caring solely on the donors that grease the palms of the boomers. Half of this program was focused on homeschooling resources and where to get quality materials for our future leaders. From phonics to presidential history. Even a pilot idea for raising money for the party through educational resources. Not to mention the summer camp that brings families together under the banner of our founding document at Camp Constitution.

If our nation can’t stand on founding principles, we are doomed to fail. It is essential that we stand under the stars and stripes as a united people, not looking for a victim or oppressor. There will always be issues in our nation that we will disagree on the solution to, but a level of nationalism under a common set or rules is what keeps this all from unraveling.

I hope we can learn a vital lesson from a small, Sunday meeting. That although we might approach our nations issues from different perspectives and income brackets, we don’t forget why we are in this grand experiment together. Our common set of rules written in the Constitution can allow us to recenter and write off the chaos as just useless feedback of our online discourse. I remain optimistic to the future, as I hope you will, too.