About a month ago, our barber mentioned a book he was reading.

“Sounds interesting.” we said.

He volunteered it to us during the haircut; after reading a few pages, we agreed it was “good reading.” Then our long-time barber said, the guy who wrote it is coming in for a haircut in a few minutes. We agreed that waiting to meet the author would be a worthwhile plan.

And that’s how we met Jim Bednarski … you may recall reading his name in this week’s Lancaster Sunday News. Jim’s book, The Free Market Manifesto, gets really good reviews in the comments section at Amazon.com. We did get a copy of the book and will agree that Jim has hit the nail squarely on the head. During one of our conversations, he said, “You could have written this book.” We do not think so, but Jim’s point is that some relatively straight-forward things need to be remedied in government. His point was that if we do not address some basics of the American economy; we most certainly are facing the end of the greatest nation on earth. “The crisis we face has the potential to destroy our republic.”

At Columbia news, views & reviews, we have been consistent in reminding our elected “public servants” about integrity, honor, ethics and duty to country and community. We have been consistent about the need to have transparency, accountability, responsiblity and “blind” consistency in government, for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises.

Integrity can be defined as “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” Its antonym is dishonesty.

Our take-away after several discussions with Jim Bednarski is that he is a person with an “adherence to moral and ethical principles.” We believe that Jim is a person who does not sway to the pressures of special interest groups; the promise of money or power; the prestige of holding office; the complacency and comfort of making “politics” a career.

Jim Bednarski, we believe, has decided to run “as an independent for the 16th Congressional District seat” because he wants to make a difference by bringing ethics and principles to Congress. Jim wants to do the right thing. 

Don’t you want all of the folks who represent you at the national, state, regional and local government levels to do just that? How many of the ones who do represent you are doing that? How many of them are kowtowing to special interest groups, lobbyists, GOBAGs*, $money$ … ?

What’s our point? We are not peddling Jim’s book (though you may find it a good read) and we’re not asking you for money (though Jim’s determined to have a “low-key” campaign, money is a real issue. Jim has stated, “My campaign team and I have become increasingly certain in the past months that we will be able to stick to our guns on the minimal or NO campaign funding.”). We are asking, though, that you hold your elected local, state and national “public servants” to principled standards (so when election time comes, you may want to cast a vote for Jim Bednarski).

*GOBAGs are “Good ole’ boys and girls.”

[NOTE: Jim has also authored a book on scouting entitled “Scouting For Boys Centennial Edition: A Handbook for Scouters and Scouts For the New Millennium.]