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This July 4th marks the 232nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an unprecedented document that heralded a bold new vision for a young country. But more than just the foundation for this nation, its ideas inspired the world.
Today, as we celebrate the freedoms conceived long ago and safeguarded for two hundred years, we would do well to remember the last clause of that declaration. Determined to succeed against overwhelming odds, our founders dedicated all that they had to this new nation, declaring, “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Our founders understood that leadership is not simply sending an army to war. It is committing a nation to war. The same principle holds true today. Our men and women in uniform are again at war. They have sacrificed willingly and they serve nobly. But our government has declined to engage the nation. In efforts to avoid acknowledging the costs of war, our government has even refused to honor commitments to our veterans when they return.
Too many elected representatives followed meekly or looked the other way as our government denied the need to match the needs of veterans with adequate provisions. Steve Buyer, the incumbent congressman from this district, served as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee and is now its ranking member. He has been in one of the best positions in Congress to stand up for our veterans. But instead, he aggressively led the effort to cut veterans benefits, even proposing an unprecedented tax on veterans to pay for access to their Veterans Administration healthcare.
That is not all. In a false hope that the war would be won at little cost, our government failed to provide adequate body armor and IED-armored vehicles until thousands of troops were unnecessarily wounded and hundreds were killed. Ill-considered budget cuts and lack of congressional oversight led to the 2006 Walter Reed scandal. Just last month, a new low was reached with the revelation of Veterans Administration testing of experimental drugs on veterans without informed consent or the mention of life-threatening side effects.
Almost seven years and more than 4,000 lives and trillions of dollars into this war, let us on this 4th of July, determine to right some of the wrongs that have been done. We cannot un-ring the bell that led us to where we are in Iraq and Afghanistan. But we dare not stay the course of dishonoring our commitments to our veterans.
We in this generation should be committed to match our founders’ pledge. We should commit of our fortunes and our sacred honor to fulfill our sacred contract with those who have already committed their lives in our service.
Friends,
I want to share with you an incredible example of the sacrifices that hard-working Hoosiers are making to send the message that the people of this district are ready for real leadership and genuine representation in Washington.
Today, I received in the mail a check in the full amount of the “economic stimulus” payment that a Hoosier from Lawrence County received from the federal government. The generous contributor sent this handwritten note:
“Pres. Bush said to use this $600.00 to help stimulate his failed economy. There’s no better way to do that than to give it to you – so you can go to Washington and stimulate the economy for a long time!”
I can’t even begin to express my gratitude that in this tough economy, someone would send his entire stimulus check to help get me elected to Congress.
That level of sacrifice is inspiring – and it makes me realize how much Hoosiers are clamoring for change and for real representation. The people want real economic recovery, not just a one-time check from Washington in an election year.
After 16 years in Washington, Steve Buyer has lost touch. He’s not created solutions. He’s not led others, but instead has blamed his opponents for the nation’s problems. That’s not leadership, and it’s not brought us results.
During those same 16 years, I’ve represented real people. I’ve listened to them. I’ve created solutions. I’ve stood up for the rule of law and for the “little guy” against abuses of power by big government and by big corporations.
I’ve had a career of standing for principle, bringing people together, and getting results. That’s the same representation that I want to give you in Congress.
I believe that if we all work together, regardless of party affiliation, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.
I’m ready. I know you’re ready. Let’s make it happen.
Yours for a new Congress,
Nels
P.S. It’s going to take a lot of financial support to make sure our message of change is heard. If you can afford to make a contribution, any amount would be appreciated. You can donate on our website, www.nels4congress.com, or by mailing a contribution to Nels Ackerson for Congress, 49 Boone Village #266, Zionsville, IN 46077.
Friends,
Last week, I publicly criticized Steve Buyer’s 16-year record in Congress of failing to protect our veterans and provide them with the health benefits they need.
In an article printed this past weekend in the Hendricks County Flyer, Buyer chose to lash out at me instead of addressing his record of pushing to cut funding for our troops once they return home.
It’s a sad indication of politics as usual when a member of Congress responds to criticism of his policy record with false allegations and a personal attack.
The truth is, I volunteered to serve my country in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967, but I was ineligible to serve due to a severe back injury.
Steve Buyer’s personal attack that I sat idly by is false. I tried to join other Americans who were willing to put their lives on the line.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get back to the issues.
Steve Buyer doesn’t want Hoosiers to know that he has repeatedly proposed increasing the fees veterans must pay to receive the health care they deserve. He wants to call it an enrollment fee, but in plain English, it’s a tax on veterans.
Steve Buyer doesn’t want Hoosiers to know that as Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, he aggressively fought to cut funding for veterans health care and education benefits.
He underestimates Hoosier veterans if he thinks he can hide his record behind a personal attack. They deserve to hear the facts about his record, and I’ll be sure they do.
I’m ready to provide leadership to give veterans all that we have promised them; I consider our commitment to our troops to be a sacred contract.
I sincerely hope Steve Buyer will join me in an honest debate that focuses on those issues, not on untrue personal attacks.
Yours for a new Congress,
Nels Ackerson
Thanks to Gregg Terhune. His letter was published in the Reporter-Times of Martinsville and Morgan County, Indiana.
May 28, 2008
Recently the U. S. House of Representatives passed an undated version of the GI Bill. The bill must now go to the Senate for approval there.
Both President Bush and presidential candidate John McCain spoke out against the bill. President Bush implied that that the benefits in the bill were too expensive and that he would veto it if it passed in the Senate. Senator McCain said that the educational benefits in the bill would encourage the troops to leave the service so they could take advantage of those benefits, so therefore, he intends to vote against the bill. John McCain is just out of touch. When I enlisted in the Army in 1965, it was the educational benefits that drew me into the service in the first place.
Nels Ackerson, candidate for United States Congress in Indiana’s 4th District, said this: “Education is one of the benefits promised to our military veterans since World War II. With unemployment rates for veterans much higher than the rest of the population, it is crucial to provide adequate education and job training to individuals as they transition from active duty back to the workforce.”
Where Mr. Ackerson sees this bill as just one way that we can honor the service men and women for the sacrifice that they are making on our behalf, President Bush and Senator McCain don’t seem to care about the troops.
President Bush says that the GI Bill is too expensive, but there are several sources showing that the educational benefits of the GI Bill have paid us back seven times over. The following Web sites all say that the original GI Bill turned out not only to be the right thing to do, but also to be a good investment:
http://www.intel-dump.com/archives/archive_2008_01_27-2008_02_02.shtml
http://freehighered.org/h_gifact.html
http://www.gibill2008.org/news/
We need people like Nels Ackerson serving Indiana in Congress to support our troops and our values.
Gregg Terhune
Community activist
Twelve hours to visit twelve counties. That was the plan for Primary Day and I’m happy to say that thanks to a dedicated staff we were successful. My wife, Sharon, traveled with me, making the day even more enjoyable.
We started the day talking with voters in Lawrence County before the sun came up. St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Bloomington was our next stop. After that it was on to Martinsville, Greenwood, Plainfield, and Avon. By then it was clear that the voter turnout was going to be huge on this beautiful spring day in Indiana.
Shortly before lunch we made it to the Westside of Indianapolis. Many people do not realize that a portion of Marion County is in the 4th District, including parts of Decatur, Wayne, and Pike Townships. Voters in these areas deserve much more attention than they have received in the past.
Sharon and I made it to Boone County before noon and stopped at the Zionsville Town Hall. To stay on schedule we had to eat on the run as we continued to Crawfordsville and then to the Fire Station in Veedersburg.
At Suncrest Elementary School in Frankfort we arrived just as the kids were running out to the buses. We met with members of the local press and talked with voters making their way to the poll. Here again we received the report that turnout was high. I’ll confess I was beginning to hope for big numbers. From Clinton County we moved on to the 4H Fair Grounds in Lafayette.
Confirming the kind of attention Indiana’s Primary was getting around the world, we talked with two French reporters in Lafayette. It was also a treat to speak with Lars, a native of Denmark, who was casting his first ballot as a U.S. citizen.
Finally we reached the end of our twelve county trek. At the White County Building in Monticello we greeted voters and discussed our campaign until the polls closed at 6PM.
It was a marvelous day, very satisfying, even before we learned of the incredible results. Getting past party politics is important to me so it was encouraging to talk to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who were voting for new leadership. My expectations were exceeded as the numbers kept adding up. It wasn’t long before we knew we had gotten almost twice the number of votes of the incumbent.
Early on Wednesday morning we sent out a press release announcing that I had outpaced my fall opponent. At this point I believe more strongly than ever that we, working together, will win in November.
I am deeply grateful for all everyone has done to get us this far and look forward to these next six months with excitement and confidence.
Last Sunday my granddaughter Campbell took her first halting steps. Warily, she looked across the distance of about four feet to outstretched arms and took a step. She then took another and another, until after five uncertain, tottering steps she had reached her father, then to her mother, her grandmother, and me. Wow! What a moment for this Grandpa!
Campbell’s confidence grew and her steps became more sure with each new walking experience. She was beaming as applause from her parents and grandparents greeted each new success. Campbell loves to clap, and she joined the applause as she gave us that special, big smile that melts our hearts.
Back on the campaign trail, we are working energetically to create for Campbell and for all of our children and grandchildren an inheritance of prosperity, security and hope, rejecting the politics of fear and cynicism. We must leave for them what earlier generations provided for us: a principled nation, with freedom, justice and opportunity for all to fulfill their boldest dreams.
In this campaign we have taken our first steps with confidence. As your nominee, we now move forward with brisk steps that are increasingly sure and confident. Together we can bring our dream to reality. We can make a difference. And we will.
It was a good week!
Torrey Washington, a student at IUPUI and volunteer with the campaign, joined Nels on a recent trip to Lawrence County to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King. He shares his thoughtful reflections on that experience. (more…)
We’re in the Christmas season, a favorite time of year that holds many memories of family and friends. It is a season when we come together to celebrate not only with gifts but also with our time and our community.
Last week I took a little time from campaigning to attend an old-fashioned neighborhood holiday party here in Zionsville. Everyone who lives in the village was invited to the Sullivan Munce Center. We each brought a plate of snacks, some favorite recipe dishes, or a dessert. There were lots of desserts! In the midst of busy schedules, we took time out to meet together and to talk about the things we care about: our families, our jobs, our community, the lessons we’ve learned in the past year, and our hopes for the year to come. In a world that changes rapidly it is important to remember the common struggles we all face, and to celebrate our common joys, accomplishments and victories.
I’ve enjoyed the charm of Zionsville from the time my parents brought me here as a boy, from our family farm a few miles away. Now I enjoy living here in the old village. While casual visitors may see only the picturesque shops and charming restaurants in the cozy downtown village, or perhaps the fine homes and estates nearby, I am reminded daily and was again reminded at last week’s event that there is much more.
Like so many other communities when you get to know them, ours is a vibrant community of people with a wide range of age, faith, politics, jobs and backgrounds, persons of modest means and humble lifestyles, struggling young singles and couples, hardworking families, and others well established, newcomers and lifelong residents. We are all members of a common neighborhood, enjoying our differences as well as shared ties, getting to know each other, and working to make our community better.
There was a sense of genuine caring as we celebrated this evening together. It was vision of strength, hope, and trust in each other as we celebrate a very special holiday season, prepare to say farewell to the old year and together begin planning for the year ahead. Christmas is a time for optimism. Despite bad news that dominates much of the airwaves and newspapers across the nation and around the world, there is still an underlying spirit of determination and hope in communities like ours. In a cold season, it’s a warm feeling that inspires.
May this Season be a source of inspiration and hope to you in the coming New Year.
September 14th, 2007
This is a quick note to thank the many people who joined us in West Lafayette for the official kick-off of our campaign. For those who missed it, it was a very enthusiastic crowd and I left even more energized! Among the 80 plus people who joined us were a number of friends and family from all over the 4th District, including my 93 year old Aunt and several other lifelong Republicans. (more…)
Improving America’s Schools: A Bold Endeavor
by Nels Ackerson, Montgomery County Journal Review, August 22nd, 2007
History is being made this week as America’s first teacher-astronaut circles the earth. Barbara Morgan’s trip on the space shuttle Endeavor marks the culmination of 20 years of patient work, hope, and dedication, values demonstrated each day by our nation’s teachers. While we look skyward in recognition of her achievement, we should also look for a more profound understanding of the efforts of the thousands of other teachers here with us. We should listen to what these teachers are telling us: that we must fix America’s schools. (more…)
