Information about this group has been coming to me for a few months. Lately, I’ve started watching for their messages because most of them are quite well written and make a lot of good sense -- from the American "mom, Flag and apple pie" point of view that we once called "the American Way." Besides, they echo so much of what I have been writing over the years that I feel I would fit right in with their group.

The group is national. As near as I can tell, they are now well formed and active in at least fourteen states. But, apparently, the group is still using two names, which somewhat complicates things.

In some areas of the country, they call themselves the "Fourth Way." An associated group in at least one area of the country goes by the "Fourth Brigade." For many reasons, we believe the "Fourth Way" is much more descriptive of the group’s goals and sounds a whole lot less like a radical group. After all, if the "Third Way" socialists think their name is acceptable, they should have no problems with a little one-upmanship.

Based on their own literature, the "Fourth Way" handle was intended to be a play off the "Third Way" socialist’s moniker. According to them, our "First Way" was the early colonial government under England. The "Second Way" was our Constitutional form of government as was originally intended by the Founding Fathers. The "Third Way" is the socialism starting with the FDR administration and now perpetrated by Clinton, Lieberman and their 150 or so Democrats in Congress. The "Fourth Way," then, is a citizen’s group intending to drive the central government back to a return to the original intent of the Founding Fathers.

That sounds very good on this end, of course. We’ve been proposing that for many years. Therefore, we fail to see exactly where the name "Fourth Brigade" fits here. However, it is still used by some.

The "Fourth Way" is a political group, of course. I have yet to see any messages about guns or paramilitary training. They are, however, doing considerable research on winning campaign techniques. They are also looking into political fund-raising.

One point I would make is that the "Fourth Way" might want to join forces with the quickly expanding Republican Liberty Caucus. Their goals seem to parallel nicely. And, the goals of both the "Fourth Way" and the Republican Liberty Caucus parallel nicely with most of the folks on the Free Republic web site.

Which brings us to yet another very interesting point: Free Republic and the Republican Liberty Caucus are becoming political forces that must be reckoned with by the left. Some members are active in both groups, which insures that information gets out to interested people nation-wide almost instantly. Free Republic was started, more or less, like a modern Liberty Tree where people could post news and views for discussion by many. Lately, though, Free Republic has sprouted off into a coalition of state and local groups -- each politically active in their respective areas. So, while the Liberty Tree aspect of Free Republic is still very active and growing, so is their political activism.

Better yet, the "Freepers" of Free Republic are having a great deal of fun with being political activists. Many readers will remember, during the second and third vote recounts in Florida, that protesters were outside the Vice President’s mansion every evening shouting, "Get out of Cheney’s house!" That was, of course, the D.C. chapter of Free Republic -- with a few "Freepers" from other chapters visiting periodically.

The Republican Liberty Caucus isn’t exactly into demonstrations yet, but that could change. A number of RLC members joined the "Freepers" in their outward expressions of displeasure with Clinton and Gore around the country. Even this scribbler drove down to the airport when Clinton came for a local fund-raiser. (In the interest of fair reporting, I must admit to being a proud member of both the Republican Liberty Caucus and Free Republic.)

People soon find that, although the vitriol of the left has disturbed us some, it has not infected us at all. The friendly people are on our side of the political equation. That’s because freedom and liberty are happy things.

Those looking for doom and gloom in politics should look to the socialists and Marxists. They seem to be able to find a problem with nearly everything in human existence. And, each of their perceived "problems" always requires yet another level of intervention by the central government. Most Americans now realize the fallacy of the left. That is why Liberty minded organizations are growing so fast.

And so we welcome the new "Fourth Way" (if they ever choose to go public) into the quest for Liberty. Come on in, folks. The water is warm, the conversation is spirited yet friendly and there is plenty of room for more good people. We look forward to you joining the fun.

Copyright © 2001 by Doug Fiedor.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission

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