The New Sons of Liberty at NewLibertySons.com

Dear campaign activists and members of the press,

We would say to you “sorry,” for much agitation was caused, but our only regret is that the cause itself was never addressed. No candidate would answer the questions we posed. No member of the press bothered to ask them. “Do you support legalized gambling in Alabama – electronic 'bingo,' the lottery, casinos?” We would wager that most citizens do not know where the candidates stand and most members of the press do not either.

The quickened hearts, wild speculations, and finger pointing reveled a group of men with fear in their hearts. Fear of exposure. Fear of weakness. “I want to be as successful as my father.” “I am loyal to money first and foremost.” “I was a Washington lobbyist.” “I have feelings I can’t control.” “I listen only to myself.” “I just want a job.”

Revealed as well was the weakness of the press. Not only did they fail to ask the candidates where they stand on gambling, reporters printed little more than rumors a lifetime after the blogs did so. The citizens are left in the dark on the future of legalized gambling, and they know nothing about the men who will decide the course of the state in which they and their children will live. Some basic background to elude publication or broadcast includes:

Where were these candidates raised and by who? Educated? What did they study and how did they do? Who are their closest friends? Heroes? What jobs have they held, groups they have joined, children have they raised? Where do they live, go to church, vacation, spend their free time? Lotteries they’ve played? Casinos they’ve visited? Books they are reading? Shows they are watching? Worst day? Best? What are their rules for life? And what are their priorities for the job they hope to hold?

Every poll taken and dollar raised becomes a story, while each of these questions, if only asked, would make relevant articles to shed light on the men who ask to be our leaders. We implore you (and you know who you are) to do a better job after next week’s election.

As for the only topic discussed thus far – who we are and where we get our money – again, that is of lesser importance than both the answers to the questions we posed and to the way this was dealt with. So leave that riddle before next Tuesday, and instead, allow us to depart with a math problem.

Signed in the name of the New Sons of Liberty,

William Wiley
Committee of Correspondence

William recently came into some money, and he would like to spend it to help the children of Alabama. He knows there are 350,000 voters living in precincts with a specially selected performance, and William has discovered accurate addresses for these fine people at 150,000 houses. If one piece of mail cost $0.475 cents, how many pieces of mail could William send to each household, if he had $1 million and didn’t spend any of his money to hire phone banks to call these loyal voters?