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Health & Fitness

The Radical's Blog: The Berry Stratagem

The Berry Stratagem is simple and probably sounds a lot like most other Gloucester Township parents: Make the world my children will inherit a better place and teach them by example in doing so.

Here at Radical Central, we often hear a lot of rumor and speculation. Sometimes it is completely true and I am left wondering how they knew, and sometimes I am left scratching the back of my head wondering if the person telling me the rumor du jour is on new meds or ate too many paint chips as a child. By the time this blog is published, I would have turned in the petitions to force pay-to-play reforms. Getting to this point has taken a lot of time from me and a group of individuals who were canvassing with us. I have been hearing a lot of speculation as to why I did this and why I continue to uncover and press our local officials on their governance. There is talk of a grand Berry Stratagem I am unfolding like pieces on a chess board with my true hidden political agenda known to only a select few.

There is an old saying I have been teaching members of South Jersey Citizens. In its original Spanish it is “El ladrón juzga por su condición.” In English it is translated “The thief thinks everyone steals.” This quote originated in the human psychology of reverse empathy: Projecting your own self on to others. The thief—being someone untrustworthy—assumes that everyone else is like them and thus believes they will try to steal from him. It also describes why trusting people are often victims because they assume others are trusting as well.

During the past year of being active in local politics, I found that phrase describes the psychosis that has enveloped both political parties. They are so focused on the next election or are so power hungry they assume someone who stands up and fights for what is right is doing so because that person must be as corrupted as they are and are only looking for some kind of material gain. No wonder they think I am plotting to take over the world, because that is their mentality and how they operate. The reality is my “political agenda” has been published on the South Jersey Citizens website since last May. There has been nothing secret about it. We displayed it at the Pumpkin Festival for all to read and offer comment. 

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Both parties fail to grasp the obvious. As a “Daddy” to three boys and a “Joshie-Josh” to my girlfriend’s daughter, I have a moral responsibility to educate all four of them not only on how to read and write, but how to be good citizens of our town and our country. We teach our children to become engaged. We teach our children to help others. We watch cartoons together where the hero fights for truth, justice and the American way. We put the fear of Santa Claus in them to “do good for goodness sake.” I did not learn these lessons magically one day from the Wiki. They were taught to me by my family and teachers growing up and I hope my children pass them along to their children. If we teach our children to be good citizens, why would anyone be surprised I grew up and actually lived those lessons? Has it ever occurred to the partisan hacks that I am involved and fighting for good government because it is the right and moral thing to do? Has it ever occurred to the “haters” that I am teaching my children about civics by showing them; not just letting them read it from a display in a museum or sanitized page in a textbook?

As a parent I am the most influential teacher my children will ever have. I believe as a man of conscience that it is my duty to correct what I see as wrong and to lead by example. I am not always right and am often quite inappropriate especially when I am tired or angered or trying to crack a joke to break the tension in the room. I know I am far from perfect.

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The Berry Stratagem is simple and probably sounds a lot like most other Gloucester Township parents: Make the world my children will inherit a better place and teach them by example in doing so. They are looking up to me more than I probably realize. The political insiders of both parties can speculate all they want. I have hidden nothing. Last year we laid out our agenda and we are following through on it. No games. No gimmicks.

Maybe both political parties are so used to their deceit and power plays they cannot comprehend someone who is asking for nothing in return and has published his real agenda. Remember the thief thinks everyone steals.

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