Jeffrey Alexander Martin

Winning is often the end of an endeavor, but not always. In politics winning should not be an end in itself, only a step. It is the beginning of the true struggle for which the entire history of humanity has striven. There is a balance to be struck. The balance between the value of the group and the value of the individual. Often people like to side with the one or the other, because both are simple solutions. But the plain fact is that there is no group without the individual. So too there would be no individual person without society. The two must coexist. The society must value and protect the individual as the core foundation of itself, and the individual must value the cooperation of others in creating a unique and emergent order. Harmony is the aim, the ideal. How to get there is what all of the controversy is about, what it's always about. Great atrocities have been committed in the name of peace, time and time again. The idea that peace is just on the other side of war has ...

This election will change things throughout the United States, and in Dalton Township. Predicting what that change will be is more difficult. In Dalton there are three possible directions. Vaclav Havel led the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. He points out in 'The Power of the Powerless' that when you start to live in truth you put pressure on those in power. Government officials that have become overly controlling only have two ways that they can respond when people start taking responsibility and demanding recognition of their unalienable rights: repression or adaptation. If the current regime stays in power in Dalton Township they will have a choice to make. They can either repress people more, and gather more control unto themselves. Or, they can adapt to some of the proposals I've made to limit their own power and make themselves more transparent. Those are the first two options. The third option is to choose change via the ballot box...

Life is full of choices. Sometimes it's hard to know which choice is correct. Still, a path must be chosen. In Dalton Township, the choice is clear. Everyone is asking themselves, "What do I want to see happen in Dalton Township?" Here's what I think needs to happen. Real Choice We won! We have a real election happening this year. That hasn't happened in Dalton in a long time. Elections are one of the most important checks and balances in politics. A balance of power, and checks upon that power, are essential to protecting and defending individual rights. In Dalton, that will start with a choice by the people about who will be in office. Making that choice available is a civic duty. A burden that must be carried by a willing volunteer. Sixteen months ago I said that there would be a choice in this election. And there is. Restore Checks and Balances Make transparency and the Open Meetings Act a priority by broadcasting and recording meetings. Bef...

A real election is happening in Dalton Township. A real election with real choices. And that's a huge win. Elections are one of the most important parts of a system of checks and balances. And without checks and balances, individual rights are never protected. Dalton hasn't been having real elections. Whoever would run as a Democrat would simply win uncontested. The single party decided all positions of political power in the township. A rumor had even been started that no one other than a Democrat could run in Dalton. I broke through that myth when I filed for office. Others followed, and now we have a ballot full of options, for the will of the people to reveal itself. Personally, I do not think this is a small step, I think this a gigantic leap forward for Dalton. There are two more important leaps: replacing people on the board, and then making positive policy changes. And that process has already begun by having an election the way that it is supposed to happen. ...

When it is easier for those in power to violate the rights of citizens than for the citizens to seek redress for injustices, it's time for a change. Two things are necessary to save Dalton Township from the corruption and government overreach that has infected it: better people and better policies. In a civilized society elections take the place of revolutions. They allow for the peaceful transfer of power, and the reformation of policies. We've had brave citizens step forward to run for office. Without them no progress can be made, with them we have the opportunity to restore rights that have been trampled underfoot by the current township officials. A just government secures the freedom and property of its citizens, rather than attacks it. Now, we must look at what changes are needed to secure those rights. My mother has always extolled the virtue of balance, and it applies to government more than anything else. The United States was founded on the idea of individual r...

"A Republican can't win in Dalton Township." That's a statement that I've heard more than a few times recently. But, I'll show you why it isn't true. The idea that a Republican can't win an election in Dalton Township has become so pervasive that it's literally turned into a local myth. I've heard the rumor that Dalton has a special law, a law that somehow makes it impossible for a Republican to win the election. I'm here to dispel that myth. I could go through a lot of numbers, but I'm not going to do that. Just a few will illustrate my point. The last time a Republican ran for Supervisor in Dalton Township was in 2008. Things change over 12 years. And in Dalton, they have. Look at the numbers from 2016. In Dalton more people voted for the straight-party Republican ticket than for the Democrats, 842 versus 826. In Dalton more people voted for the Republican Donald Trump than the Democrat Hillary Clinton, 2308 versus 1589. The ...

An election where your option is one person isn't an election. It's an appointment made by the political party in charge of your government. That's true from Communist-controlled China to Democrat-controlled Dalton Township. The reason there isn't another option is that people are afraid. I have been personally told by more than half a dozen people that they are unwilling to run for office, or oppose the local government, because of fear of reprisals. That's not living life, that's being allowed to exist. After I helped expose the corruption in Dalton I had several people ask me to run for office. I said no. I have had some health concerns ever since I got sick in Kenya, Africa in 2015. I had further complications with my spinal deformities. And I continue to have issues with my heart and lungs. Nevertheless, there have been great men throughout history who pushed through physical difficulties. If Robert Louis Stevenson can become a great writer while suf...

What do you do if the government protects corrupt officials? I don't rightly know. I'll demonstrate some of the corruption, point out some of the broken laws, and some more lying. But, near the end I will include a fun poem. First of all, let's look at what you can do when you have the corrupt government on your side. This is a post that Hidden Creek Farm put up yesterday. Brought to you by Tony Barnes and friends. - - - - - - - Okay everyone, Lee and I would like you to meet our neighbor Kenneth Wentworth 1148 W River Rd. 49445. We have been quietly and kindly dealing with his stalking and harassment for months now. He disrespects our privacy on a regular basis. He didn't even have the dignity to let up with the picture taking while our best friend and companion Sophie was leaving this world, even though he was nicely asked. While we are just going about our daily chores we will look up to find him parked and taking pictures of us and our farm. This com...

Why pursue a Recall? Why do it twice? Why do anything at all in the face of government corruption? I have been asked these questions many times over the last few months, and the answer is simple: guilt. I will explain that in a little bit. First, let's look at the Recall. I proposed three options to the Concerned Citizens of Dalton Township Facebook group. Here's my post. - - - - - - - Let's think about new Recall wording. On May 8th, 2019 Dalton Township sued Hidden Creek Farms. On May 17th, 2019 Dalton Township Supervisor Tony Barnes stated to Fox 17 News, "Dalton Township has not filed any litigation against Hidden Creek Farm..." On May 8th, 2019 Dalton Township sued Hidden Creek Farms. On May 17th, 2019 Dalton Township Supervisor Tony Barnes stated to Fox 17 News, "Dalton Township has not filed any litigation against Hidden Creek Farm seeking to shut them down..." On May 8th, 2019 Dalton Township sued Hidden Creek Farms. On May 17th, ...

When I was laying on my deathbed in Africa I had a few regrets. One was that I hadn't written anything. That's why I write. Not many people get a chance to lay on their deathbed twice. And when I am laying on my deathbed next time, I don't want to have regrets. I would regret not having the courage to stand up to a corrupt government official like Tony Barnes. I would regret failing to defend individual rights. I would regret bowing in fear before a petty tyrant. That's why I take action. I received the official rejection letter for the Recall on Saturday, although I think the hearing went fairly well. Judge Pittman read the Recall that I had written. I was then allowed to speak for 2 minutes. The clock was started before Pittman had even finished giving me the instructions to state my name and address, so he had the clock restarted. He made several good adjustments like that. (Tony tried to speak after his lawyer and Pittman said that the lawyer had already pr...

David was never supposed to win against Goliath. David (a citizen of Dalton Township) is standing in the middle of this field looking at Goliath (the corrupt Dalton Township government officials), and thinking "I'm pretty sure this thing is rigged to be an unfair fight." The favorite weapon of corrupt government officials is the legal system. They buy lawyers as champion mercenaries and unleash them on you, with the idea of crushing you underfoot. This morning I woke up with an email from The Curcio Law Firm. They are representing Tony Barnes at the Recall hearing tomorrow. Nick Curcio attached a 7 page document to the email, a "Letter to the Election Commission" stating that there shouldn't be a Recall on Tony Barnes. The election commission is three people: Muskegon County Clerk Nancy Waters, Chief Probate Judge Gregory Pittman, and Country Treasurer Tony Moulatsiotis. Judge Pittman is the Chair of the Election Commission and responded to the emai...