It has been a privilege serving the residents of Edgefield County on Edgefield County Council since January 2017, having been elected in November 2016 to serve the Merriwether District, District 5.

I am pleased to announce I am running for re-election.

Since my arrival in Edgefield County in 2013 I have openly shared the fact that due to our family history in the county dating back to the 1800’s, I have from a far watched with keen interest the demographics and activity of the entire region since my High School days.  Graduating in 1987 means I have been watching the region for over 30 years, even though I have lived here only five years.

One of the phrases I used numerous times when speaking with people about Edgefield County since arriving here is “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and that, “if we plan for the rising tide, our future potential really is unlimited.”  I still believe that to be the case.

Personally, I believe we are living in one of the most exciting times to be living in the greater CSRA.  The region is experiencing unprecedented growth, which has the potential to impact Edgefield County in amazing and positive ways, if we plan appropriately. 

During the last year, County Council held a listening tour which included meetings in each of our five districts.  We held joint meetings with most of our boards and commissions.  We reworked our Strategic Plan and in 2018 we are already executing activities to prepare a new Comprehensive plan.  As Chairman Dean Campbell mentioned in his annual report, it truly has been a team effort.  To see his report, please click here!

In December of last year, I hosted a seminar for Edgefield County Residents on the impact Fort Gordon is having on our region.  Executive Director Tom Clark of The Fort Gordon Alliance was the speaker.  I would encourage all residents of Edgefield County, indeed the greater CSRA region, to watch that presentation – as it provides great visuals of what is transpiring in our region. 

In closing, since my arrival in Edgefield County in 2013, I served close to two years on the Tax Appeals Board.  I served over a year and a half on the Edgefield County Hospital Board, where I still serve as County Council Liaison, since my being sworn in to County Council in January 2017.  I am proud of what our team has accomplished and I desire to continue serving the residents of Merriwether and Edgefield County.

If you would like to be on my e-mail distribution for County Council, please feel free to e-mail me at Scott@HScottCooper.com or call me at 803-293-5087.

Many reading this don’t have grandkids, let alone great-grandkids; therefore, they will wonder what’s the point.  The point is Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”  We can assume the opposite of this Proverb is also true.

Last week (linked), I highlighted this Proverb discussing our Federal Unfunded Liability Debt.  Our collective Unfunded Liabilities are over $ 111 TRILLION.  Stated differently, the individual taxpayer unfunded liability as of Sunday is over $ 922,000.  

One of the challenges we face in our republic is the education of our citizens on public policy issues.  A large percentage are taught via humorous, sometimes vulgar soundbites on shows like Jimmy Kimmel, Rachael Maddow and Dennis Miller.  Other’s get biased angry soundbites from sources like George Stephanopoulos, Joe Scarborough and Sean Hannity.  One could also debate the quality being received and the worldview being taught from most of our public educational systems.

The reality is only a very small percentage of American’s dig into the actual-facts behind the soundbites.  This year, I want to encourage each of us to do more fact digging vs. mud-slinging.  The reason ultimately returns to the proverb above.  Our ancestors bequeathed to us the most prosperous nation, with the highest quality of living and the largest middle class in the history of the world.  What will we leave to our heirs?

For my friends in South Carolina, if you don’t know Joe Dugan, and his team – I would like to introduce you to them.  In my opinion, they have done more to educate South Carolinians on Federal Public Policy issues than any other group I know of.  This weekend, Saturday January 20 – Monday January 22, is the 6^th Annual Convention where they have focused on polices / issues such as:

• Media Bias
• National Security, to include Muslim Brotherhood Infiltration, Antifa Activity, Marxist Activity, Immigration Security Issues, Terrorism, Threats from China and North Korea, and Electric Grid Insecurity.
• Deep State Bureaucracy / Shadow Government Activities
• Educational Issues
• Judicial Activism
• Voter Apathy
• National / State debt and unfunded liabilities
• Much, much more.

I would encourage each of you to check out the list of speakers participating in this weekend’s conference by clicking here!

As you can see, it is weighted heavily toward National Security speakers, which is encouraging to me, because I believe “Providing for the Common Defense,” as written in the preamble of our Constitution, truly is a non-partisan, non-respecter of person issue.  It should also be the primary function of the Federal Government.

For more details, please review Joe’s website by clicking here!  The link to register is at the top right-hand corner of the home page.

In closing, I am aware some will automatically tune out when they see the name Tea Party.  I would strongly urge you to look at the topics being discussed, and come with civility, a notepad, and a willingness to learn.  All speakers will be available for civil discussion during the course of the weekend.

Monday January 22^nd will deal specifically with South Carolina Issues.  Each Gubernatorial Candidate has been invited to the Gubernatorial debate.  You can look online to see who is currently participating.

I hope you have a blessed week!

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Last week my column discussed our collective need to work on “Improving Our Communication Skills.”  The previous editorial discussed “Starting the Investment,” specifically thinking about a summer reading list for those graduating from Middle School.  “Starting the Investment,” compared the relative maturity of young men and women graduating from the 8^th grade 100 years ago to today, and recommended a book, Do Hard Things, written by modern teenagers, sharing history of some heroic teens of other era’s, as an inspiration for today’s teens to initiate a “rebelution against low expectations!”  Yes, it’s a play on words, combining rebel and revolution.  Their website is www.TheRebelution.com.

This week, as Independence Day celebrations approach, we should remember the American Patriots who simply wanted individual liberty were considered rebels and that their effort began formally legislatively, but ultimately led to a revolution.  In that light as we consider how to improve our communication skills about our struggle for liberty today, I urge all of us to add two books to our summer reading list, which I believe will expand our thoughts about what the celebrations this coming weekend really mean.

The financial entanglements our ancestors fought against prior to our first Independence Day were far less significant than the financial entanglements we face today.  Today our central government rewards itself and “the players” both inside and outside of government for doing the exact opposite of what we celebrate this weekend.  Expanding dependency has become the largest byproduct of virtually every government program.  Yet this weekend we continue to celebrate independence and liberty, while at the same time embracing policies which limit choice and increase dependence.  I find this curious, and troubling.

The two books I recommend are:

• Rediscovering Americanism released this past Tuesday by Mark Levin.
• The 5,000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen

Future editorials will disc

uss the books in more detail.  I am confident that some of the polarized advocates I referenced in last week’s “Improving our Communication Skills” will have choice words about the first author.  When you find those, remember, they are attacking a person, but not the content.  Remember, that tactic is an effort to stop discussion by demeaning the person.  I call on all of us to do and demand better, and I hope you will too!

As you read the books and have thoughts about the content, I would love to discuss the thoughts with you either on the Edgefield Advertiser editorial page, where this will be posted, or on my Facebook page, where it will also be posted.

Here’s wishing you a very rewarding Independence Day Weekend Celebration with family and friends.

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The greatest challenge we have in our republic is avoiding consequences caused by polarized advocates who can’t hear each other.  The screaming from the extreme is so loud the middle can’t hear a clear message or see a clear path, even when we have a middle of the road compassionate leader, who is trying to articulate one.

One could say the extremes don’t want to hear each other.  Better stated, they don’t want you to hear.

Many have been trained to shut down debate as soon alternative views are shared, by calling names.  Spend any time in Social Media, and you will see this is true.  The name often ends with “phobia,” includes racist, or the individual is labeled uncompassionate.  Words like ignorant or snowflake are also commonly used, but the result is the same – the ability to hear the ideas expressed, if there are any legitimate ideas, is drowned out by name calling.

Some believe the tactic of name calling is utilized because the individual employing this strategy doesn’t really have a coherent message, or isn’t confident enough in their message to discuss it civilly.  I believe there is some truth to that.  Regardless of which polarized side uses the tactic, we need to demand better.

Most citizens, when this tactic is employed simply tune out.  I would urge more citizens to rather than tune out, that we toughen our personal skin, engage and demand better.  Let us NOT allow the polarized utilizing this tactic be successful, where the good patriotic citizen disengages, but rather may the good patriotic citizen stand up, demand more from the bully – enabling the bully to either hone their debate skills, or pick up their sticks and stones, and go home.

I believe the middle of our country, which is where our Commander-in-Chief, with his 8^th grade tweeting style regularly reaches, is up to the debate, and up to any required change we must execute to achieve a more unified, financially stable and sustainable republic.

The tactics described above, which are rampantly being deployed, lead to comedians like Kathy Griffin, plays like “The staging of Julius Caesar” by the New York City Public Theater, where a sitting President is assassinated, or the mass assassination attempt last week of the GOP Congressional Baseball team in Alexandria, VA.

These tactics must stop, or we will continue to see an escalation of violence.  The duty lies with us though, average American’s, to engage and put an end to it.  It won’t stop on its own in the media or on the University Campus.  It will only stop when the middle demands it to stop.

I hope you have a blessed and productive week!

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I watched three programs this weekend which I greatly appreciated, because I learned things I didn’t know which are worth appreciating. One was Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Michelle Obama.  One was the Fox News program Donald Trump: Objectified.  One was Breit Baier’s interview with Charles Krauthammer.  Each program highlighted these individuals for an hour.

Both Obama and Trump have raised accomplished children, who grew up with the tremendous pressure of living in the spotlight in a way 99.9 % of other individuals will never have to navigate. The poise and resilience their children demonstrate is indeed impressive and says a tremendous amount about their parents, which is positive.

Krauthammer is a man whose fierce determination as a very young man enabled him to complete Harvard Medical School while lying on his back in a hospital bed following a freak diving accident resulting in a broken neck.  A feat never accomplished by anyone before.  Krauthammer is a man who has worked for individuals at the highest level of political office on both sides of the ideological spectrum.

As a very young man Trump spent five years leading in many, many categories at the New York Military Academy, graduating in 1964 at the top of his class. Interesting.  Perhaps that is where he garnered so much respect for the military.

Obama has a legitimate concern of our food supply and its connection to healthcare, and attempted to speak out about it in a way not previously done.  Personally, I find it interesting her effort didn’t convey into the healthcare debate more than it did, and I hope it does in the future.

I could list more about these individuals; however, the main thing solidified for me this weekend is that our systems – media, political and educational systems specifically – foster environments where we don’t listen to others very well.  These systems spend more time demeaning and deconstructing people than trying to legitimately listen and understand them.

Also this weekend I thought quite a bit about Christmas 1986, 30 years ago.  That vacation at our family farm 30 years ago was spent reflecting on a year where I had eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner for close to 180 days with students from around the globe.  Literally all my meals at school were eaten at a table of 12 where I was the only American.  For example, the morning of the bombing of Libya on April 15, 1986, following the terrorist attack in Berlin, I was eating breakfast between my two Libyan schoolmates, both of whom had parents in Tripoli, who were unreachable.  I could invest over 500 words on that one breakfast alone! I elaborated on it in April. (linked).

The bottom line for me is we have some serious ideological worldview issues which are struggling for the dominance of our American culture. This struggle ultimately streams into education, media and politics; however we need citizens who can engage in the process thoughtfully, articulately and truthfully without degrading to name calling, which is so prevalent in today’s reality based culture.

As we think this week about “Peace on Earth,” I pray each of us, on both sides of the political aisle, will contemplate how we might get outside of our own echo-chambers and try to understand the human that is on the other side of our ideological divide.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Please click here to read the thoughts I had as I prepared to leave Cleveland after The Republican National Convention.

The link takes you to my Facebook Page, where I originally shared my thoughts.  If you agree, please “Like” and “Share!”  Also – I’d love to follow you!

Blessings!

With the passing of First Lady Nancy Reagan, I have been thinking about Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

President Reagan was 41 when he married Nancy, and they shared 52 incredible years together. She married him at a low point in his life, and helped him achieve amazing things.

To me, as I reflect on Nancy Reagan – I am thinking about the value of marriage. I am thinking about the importance of working as a team. I am contemplating about the amount of work it takes to become such a team, and the fact that it is accomplished not with emotions and feelings only – but by a steadfast commitment. A lifelong commitment.

The work I do with High Frontier, we reflect often on Reagan’s peace through strength strategy and his willingness to call evil, well – evil. We are thankful for his willingness to speak truth to power – and how that changed the course of nations – literally.

I think of Lech Walesa, an imprisoned electrician in Poland, due to his efforts in the labor movement, who later in life, after becoming President of Poland, shared how Ronald Reagan’s optimism and speaking truth to power inspired him, as he studied in prison, and listened to the American President on the radio.

Yes – Ronald Reagan impacted countless people – and the course of nations. This side of the veil, we will likely never know his full impact.

But we know one thing for certain – Nancy was at his side all the way and I believe God worked through Ronald in a greater way, causing him to be the effective leader he was in large part to Nancy being his side.

Thank you Nancy – for your service to our country. We greatly appreciate you!

__________

This was the fourth week I was published in The Edgefield Advertiser, the longest running continues paper in South Carolina, published March 16, 2016.

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Each week, I will share a little more about myself, while discussing some topic or topics of the day.  I feel that’s important because it will help you understand how my views have been shaped.  My writing will include my efforts to “get outside the box,” which hasn’t led to a change in my principles, but has helped me understand other’s viewpoints, and think hard about ways to reconcile the divisions our national leadership like to accentuate.

In last week’s edition I mentioned my belief that national leadership in both parties encourage the American people being divided as it enhances their ability to control us.  I believe we’ve evolved into a one party system in Washington, and both parties are leading us in the same direction, simply at different paces.  Divided, we cannot unite against the corrupt and sometime treasonous activities taking place in the faraway land, Washington, DC.  Thus, the hyphenation of America continues.

Since Ms. Derrick asked me to contribute to the Edgefield Advertiser, I’ve outlined a calendar for the remainder of the year.  There are forty-three weeks left in 2016!  I believe if you participate in these weekly editorials, you will begin to see recurring themes in my thought process.  I hope these will eventually be placed online, where discussion can take place.  I hope you will join the discussion, as the topics discussed will be broad indeed.

Also last week, I shared that I was in branch banking in the Washington DC market when in 2008 President George W. Bush decided “to abandon free market principles, in order to save the free market system,” and how that angered me, causing me to engage in the civic arena at the local and state level.  To put it bluntly, the bailouts pissed me off.  I can’t describe in less than 500 words everything I witnessed in the banking world, the correlating real estate bubble, as well as multitude of other issues that caused my blood to boil!

I stayed active until just after the 2012 Presidential election, an election where conservatives were forced to work for a man who really was just “The Lite Version” of the Democratic ticket.

Following that election, combined with a Virginia U.S. Senate Primary defeat in June, which was far more important to me, I needed to take a break from politics.

Over the course of the next year I began something I would encourage everyone who struggles with anger directed toward our civil magistrates to do.  I committed to read one Proverb and five Psalms a day.  I repeated monthly for over 24 months. remaining faithful 65 % of the time!

The process of reading King David and King Solomon’s words each day for over two years re-confirmed for me that there is “nothing new under the sun.”  It also reconfirmed for me that the majority of our issues are “non-respecter of person” issues, which should unite us, not divide us.  More on that next week.

Have a blessed week!

__________

This was the third week I was published in The Edgefield Advertiser, the longest running continues paper in South Carolina, published March 9, 2016.

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Anyone who has been my friend or has followed me for any length of time knows I have publicly stated my disdain for not only the leadership within both of our political parties, but the way they orchestrate the entire political process.  Therefore they are likely to find this title highly unlikely.

It is true though – I do have a selective respect for our elected leaders in Washington DC.

In the last four years I have helped folks running for elections at the following levels: School Board, County Supervisor, State Senate, United States Senate, and now I have the privilege of serving on the leadership team in my state for one of the Presidential Candidates, Ted Cruz.

When this journey began for me, as a middle aged man, it wasn’t because I wanted a career in campaigning or politics – it was only because after being in private industry for two decades, like millions of Americans, my infuriation with the way our national leaders led angered me enough to no longer sit and simply yell at the nightly news, but to actually try and do something to change the leadership of our country.

Having a front row seat in several campaigns, one of the many things I have learned is the personal sacrifice it takes, not only for the candidate and the spouse, but generally for his or her entire family, to seek the privilege to serve a constituency of any size.

When it comes to the elected leadership in Washington, regardless of party, at some point – whether for noble reasons or selfish ones – they and their families chose to enter the arena of public office, which to be successful requires a tremendous amount of time, personal energy and money.  Not to mention, it requires a willingness to undergo scrutiny beyond belief.  It has been said if you want to research your family tree, rather than pay for it or do the research yourself, run for office – your opponents will do all the research for you!  For these reasons – I respect them, even those I philosophically disagree with.

For those who have been in Washington for decades now, they have learned the art of political power: how to acquire, retain and wield it.  With a leadership structure based on seniority rather than gifts and talents for true leadership and statesmanship, as well as a financial and committee reward structure which protects the seniority based leadership, it is a skill which generally is acquired over a long time period.  While the process may disgust us, that willingness and ability to invest the time, which generally requires multiple re-elections, to move up the leadership rank does deserve some respect.

For the millions like me who engaged because we see the financial titanic we are on is about to hit the iceberg, as well as philosophical worldview issues we face – not for the purpose of “wielding power,” which under the current system takes decades to acquire, it is somewhere between the fifth and seventh paragraphs above where my respect is lost. Between the sentences where I state they sought “the privilege to serve” and “they learned the art of political power.”

While their willingness to enter the arena, and their understanding of how power really works in Washington does deserve respect, and while those who just in the last few years began entering the arena are still learning the power system of Washington, I am convinced that less than 5 % of those who have been in elected office in Washington over a decade should be there any longer.  They simply are too closely connected to the continual extension of debt on our national credit card.

Respect aside, we need a paradigm shift in the way leadership is selected within Washington.  Leadership by seniority has led us to the financial cliff.  It fosters and propagates the status quo – and the status quo is leading us to financial ruin.  Sadly, I am not confident we will be able to fix our existing spending problems under the existing structure. The paradigm shift in leadership selection which is required, likely won’t come until after a financial reset.

It is my prayer that hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans are today considering running for office.  We have over 3,000 counties and municipalities in our republic.  Each of these jurisdictions have at least two dozen elected offices.  The phrase “all politics is local” is so true. Many of the problems we face in Washington are also being addressed at local and state levels – and strong leadership at these levels is required if we ever have any hope of seeing a paradigm shift of leadership, as well as a new breed of leaders in Washington.  Will you join me in that prayer – up to and including putting your hat in the ring?

So, despite my selective respect for our elected leaders in Washington – I am praying for the future folks who are mentally, physically and spiritually preparing to earn that same respect.  I pray they will also earn our respect for truly solving the problems our country faces, something I am convenced very few of those currently in Washington will be able to earn.

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31 of my 46 years were spent in The Old Dominion – so I feel I would be negligent if I did not remind my friends in Virginia to see who is on the ballot, do some research in the next 72 hours and get to the polls to vote, if there is a Primary in either your local or legislative districts.

Click here for candidate listings for both General Assembly Primary Candidates as well as Local Primary Candidates.

The Founding Documents of our country are clear about who is responsible for our government.  We The People are.

It astonishes me that the vast majority of eligible voters do not vote in Primaries.

What grieves my heart even more, is that roughly 50 % of evangelical’s do not vote in general elections, because they are not registered – and of those evangelicals which are registered to vote – the vast majority do not vote in Primaries.

I first wrote about the importance of Primaries in 2011.

I want to make two points about Tuesday’s Primary:

First, neither the Republican Party of Virginia nor the Democratic Party of Virginia has Tuesday’s Election listed on the events page of their website.  Apparently, neither party thinks highly enough of the internal political process of being iron sharpening iron to inform visitors of their website of the upcoming election.  I found this troubling, but expected.

Second, in the General Assembly there are a total of 18 districts facing primaries: 9 Democratic Primaries and 9 Republican Primaries.

In my old stomping ground of Fredericksburg, perhaps the most publicized primary is taking place.  That is where the Speaker of the House of Delegates Bill Howell is being challenged by Susan Stimpson.  That district represents Stafford and Fredericksburg City.

I consider Bill Howell a friend.  We used to attend the same church, and I have met him a couple times to discuss policy.  I have respect for his service not only in the General Assembly but also to the community, especially through Young Life.

Friendship aside, being a great individual aside – I personally believe that one of the reasons our states and our country are in the financial situation we are in is because we have lost the vision of rotational leadership our founders provided for us.  Our founders desired a citizen legislature – where folks serve for a season, then return home to labor in an industry they helped to regulate.  This is not personal – but public service should be for a season, not for a career.  Delegate Howell has been serving in that seat since 1992.

In addition to Term Limits however, there are a several issues, which I believe each citizen needs to research before going to the polls on Tuesday.  Many articles relating to the issues on why Delegate Howell should be replaced by Susan Stimpson have been posted on the Fredericksburg Virginia Patriots Group Facebook Page – and I will refer you to that.  Click here to review!

Don’t Forget to Vote on Tuesday!

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