Hick Christian's Podcast

"The Heresy of Nice: When Christianity Loses Its Edge"David Rice and Gretchen Garrity examine what they call the "doctrine of niceness," arguing that modern Christianity has confused being "nice" with biblical love. They explore how Scripture shows that true love sometimes requires difficult conversations, rebuke, and even righteous anger. Drawing on biblical examples and church history, including ancient heresies such as Marcionism, they discuss how contemporary therapeutic culture has influenced the church's approach to confronting sin and evil. The hosts argue that biblical Christianity calls believers to speak truth boldly, even when it's uncomfortable, citing numerous scriptural examples where Jesus and the apostles used strong language against wrongdoing.Key Topics: Biblical definitions of love, church discipline, scriptural examples of confrontation, historical heresies, and the theological distinction between being loving and being "nice."Gretchen Garrity’s blog can be found here: Right to Win Ozarks and TikTok. Gretchen Garrity is a former journalist who has written boldly for years. She is a brave Christian conservative, but she’s most proud of being a grandmother.HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The doctored video that was originally uploaded on May 29th at 12 pm. Notice the editing jump after John Garrity speaks. This screen recording was created at 3:09 pm. The file was uploaded originally around 12:00 pm on May 29, 2025.The original link is now broken and you cannot go to it after I sent this email at 3:35 pm.The new link is here. This new video is 16 seconds longer than the original, meaning that the one edit I caught isn’t the only edit. This video is 1:11:50 long. The previous video is 1:11:34. Perhaps, they have edited other videos in the past?I did this screen grab at 9:09 am. 14 hours before 9 am on May 30th would have been 7 pm on May 29th.The new video was uploaded at 7 pm, past closing time for the branch to be open. They did this after hours. They have not responded to my email on who is responsible for uploading Public Records to their YouTube channel. "Caught Red-Handed: The After-Hours Cover-Up"The library's response to inquiry reveals the deliberate nature of their sunshine law violations. After I documented the edited video at 3:09 PM and sent a sunshine request at 3:35 PM asking who was responsible for uploading public records, the library immediately removed the doctored video.By 7:00 PM—immediately after the Nixa branch's closing hours—a new version appeared with the previously edited content restored. The replacement video runs 1:11:50, a full 16 seconds longer than the original 1:11:34 recording, indicating multiple edits were made to the public record beyond the violation documented by this investigation.The after-hours timing suggests library staff recognized the legal jeopardy their editing created and worked outside normal business hours to correct the violation. The library has not responded to the sunshine request identifying who handles YouTube uploads or acknowledged the editing of public records.This timeline proves they knew exactly what they were doing wrong and moved quickly to cover their tracks once caught. The 16-second difference suggests this is a pattern, not an isolated incident.The library's response timeline reveals consciousness of guilt. Within 3.5 hours of receiving a sunshine law inquiry about video editing, library staff worked after normal business hours to remove the doctored recording and replace it with a complete version. The corrected video, uploaded at approximately 7:00 PM, runs 16 seconds longer than the original—proving the documented editing violation was only part of the content illegally removed from the public record.What’s in the missing video that I first noticed, not mentioning the extra 14 seconds I haven’t had time to piece together?A flat out denial by interim Executive Director that the Library Board has statutory authority to review the Library’s Budget. I did another screen recording in case the video is again removed and or doctored. Garrity: “The statute requires I do it.” Pegram: “It does not. John. It does not.”John: “Do you want me to read it to you?”Pegram: “Sure. Go ahead.”Watch the clip and listen to the tone. You decide if the tone is one an employee should use with an employer. Or if an employee should fight so hard to hide documents that an employer has a right to see.Here is a link directly to the time stamp where it occurs. The edited content reveals why library staff worked after hours to conceal their sunshine law violation. The removed segment captured interim Executive Director Pegram directly contradicting board members about their statutory authority to review the library's budget.When board members asserted their legal right to budget oversight, Pegram responded with a flat denial: 'It does not. John. It does not.' When offered to have the statute read aloud, she replied, 'Sure. Go ahead'—the tone suggesting an employee challenging her employers rather than providing requested information.This exchange explains the systematic transparency obstruction documented throughout this investigation. If the interim director believes the elected board lacks authority to review budgets, her resistance to public records requests and video editing to hide confrontations follows logically.The Simple Request That Exposed the SystemOn March 29, 2025, I submitted a straightforward public records request to the Christian County Library, seeking basic budget information that taxpayers have a right to see. What followed was a masterclass in bureaucratic obstruction, revealing how public institutions can weaponize administrative processes to avoid accountability.The library's response? A staggering $185 fee estimate, justified by claims that the records were stored in "specialized and highly technical management software that entry-level employees are not trained or authorized to access."The reality is that the library uses QuickBooks.When QuickBooks Becomes "Specialized Software"In her detailed April 4 response, Interim Director Tory Pegram explained why taxpayers would need to pay $185 to see how their tax dollars are spent:"Many of the records you are requesting here are not just sitting in paper or digital files somewhere but will need to be pulled from bank and financial management tools that only administrative staff are trained and authorized to be able to access and use.""Administrator time will also be required to pull records from bank account and other financial specialized and highly technical management software that entry level employees are not trained or authorized to access or use."This language portrays a complex, enterprise-level financial system that requires specialized expertise to navigate. The truth is more mundane: the library uses QuickBooks, the same accounting software used by millions of small businesses nationwide—software specifically designed for non-accountants to use easily.Standard budget reports in QuickBooks can be generated with a few mouse clicks. Any administrative assistant familiar with basic computer operations could produce these records in minutes, not the 11+ hours the library claimed would be necessary.On May 27th, I finally was able to raise the funds to pay for the extortion like fees to get the budget information. I sent an email. This was two days before this video came out.After demanding $185 for budget documents, the library has failed to respond to this reporter's agreement to pay their fee. The May 27th email authorizing payment has gone unanswered, violating sunshine law requirements for timely responses to records requests.The timing raises questions: two days after the payment authorization, staff uploaded an edited video removing interim director Pegram's denial of board budget authority. Missouri sunshine law requires government entities to respond to records requests within three business days.The Supreme Court's Warning About Fee ObstructionThe library's fee structure directly contradicts recent Missouri Supreme Court precedent. In Gross v. Parson (2021), the state's highest court specifically condemned the practice of using excessive fees to discourage public records requests.The Court held that charging excessive fees "puts the transparency intended by the Sunshine Law out of reach for the average citizen and in some cases even deters requesters." The justices recognized that public bodies cannot be allowed to "test the determination of anyone requesting its records" by imposing prohibitive costs.In an earlier case, State ex rel. Missouri Local Government Retirement System v. Bill (1996), Missouri courts established that "forcing a plaintiff to bear the governmental body's expenses would effectively deny public access to documents" and that agencies cannot "test the determination of anyone requesting its records" by imposing excessive costs.The Christian County Library's approach fits precisely the pattern these courts rejected: claiming administrative complexity where none exists, inflating time estimates, and pricing transparency out of reach for ordinary citizens.A Pattern of Avoiding OversightThe fee obstruction appears to be part of a broader pattern of transparency avoidance at the library. Despite my explicit request that all communications be shared with the Board of Trustees and the library's attorney, standard practice for ensuring proper oversight, Pegram explained why she wouldn't comply:"There is nothing in state law that requires the board or contracted legal counsel of a government agency to be cc'd on sunshine requests or responses. In fact there are risks involved with openly cc'ing all five individual board members on any written correspondence..."This response reveals a troubling attitude: rather than embracing transparency and board oversight, the interim director actively seeks to minimize it, finding excuses to keep the governing body in the dark about public records requests.The Legal Framework They're ViolatingMissouri law creates clear obligations that the library appears to be systematically ignoring:Treasurer's Statutory RightsMissouri library statutes (RSMo 182.060, 182.640, 182.707) explicitly require library boards to elect treasurers and grant them specific responsibilities for financial oversight. RSMo 181.060 requires "the librarian of the library together with the treasurer of the library" to certify annual tax income and financial information to state authorities.The statutes mandate that budget approval requires "the affirmative vote of a majority of the full board of trustees." A treasurer cannot fulfill their statutory duty without access to financial information.Public's Right to InformationMissouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo 610.010 et seq.) "applies to all records, regardless of what form they are kept in" and creates a presumption that meetings and records should be open to the public. Budget documents are specifically designated as public records under RSMo 67.060 and are available for public inspection during reasonable hours.Missouri law requires that "no expenditure of public moneys shall be made unless it is authorized" and that budget documents "must be kept on file" as public records. The treasurer's oversight role is essential to ensuring legal compliance.Video Recording IntegrityMissouri law specifically provides for "the recording by audiotape, videotape, or other electronic means of any open meeting." Once they choose to record, they create a public record.The Sunshine Law applies to records "regardless of what form they are kept in," and public bodies "cannot avoid a records request by destroying records after it receives a request for those records." This principle extends to the alteration of records.More seriously, RSMo 575.100 criminalizes altering, destroying, suppressing, or concealing "any record, document or thing with the purpose to impair its verity, legibility or availability in any official proceeding or investigation." Video recordings of public meetings are official records.The Criminal ImplicationsThe evidence raises questions about potential violations of multiple Missouri criminal statutes:* Tampering with Physical Evidence (RSMo 575.100): Altering public meeting recordings to remove discussions of statutory requirements* Filing False Documents (RSMo 570.095): Misrepresenting software complexity and administrative requirements to justify excessive fees* Official Misconduct (RSMo 575.320): Public servants engaging in misconduct in their official capacityThe pattern is clear: when faced with legitimate oversight requests, the library both prices out access through deceptive fee justifications and actively edits public records to hide contradictory evidence.The Cost of AccountabilityWhen public institutions can charge $185 for basic budget information while simultaneously editing meeting videos to hide legal discussions, democracy suffers. The Christian County Library's approach effectively creates a system where transparency is available only to those who can afford it—and even then, only in the edited version the library chooses to provide.Consider the arithmetic: For many Missouri families, $185 represents a significant expense—money that could be allocated toward groceries, utilities, or other necessities. By pricing public information out of reach while doctoring the "free" video records, the library ensures that complete accountability remains largely inaccessible.Missouri Courts Have Seen This BeforeThe library's tactics aren't new. Missouri's Sunshine Law exemptions "are supposed to be construed as narrowly as possible to further the openness of government." Courts can award penalties up to $1,000 for unknowing violations and $5,000 for purposeful violations, plus attorney's fees to prevailing parties.The Missouri Supreme Court has made clear that government bodies cannot use administrative barriers to obstruct legitimate public oversight. The combination of fee obstruction and video editing suggests a level of intentionality that could trigger the higher penalty structure for purposeful violations.Questions That Demand AnswersThe Christian County Library's approach raises serious questions:* Why does a public institution claim that QuickBooks constitutes "specialized and highly technical management software"?* How can 11+ hours of work be justified for generating standard financial reports?* Why are public meeting videos being edited to remove discussions of statutory requirements?* What statutory obligations was Pegram discussing in the 2+ seconds cut from the public video?* Who authorized the editing of public meeting recordings?* What other information might be hidden behind prohibitive fees or selective editing?The Simple TestHere's how citizens can test their library's commitment to transparency: Ask who uploads public meeting videos to YouTube. This simple question requires no "specialized software," no extensive research, and no administrative review.If they can't answer that basic question promptly and without fees, you've learned everything you need to know about their attitude toward public accountability.The bottom line: The library cannot simultaneously claim to operate under Missouri law while denying access to information that Missouri law requires them to maintain and provide—and they indeed can't edit public records to hide discussions that contradict their public statements.I care enough about the Library and the Library Board to bring this transparency issues to light. My silence on this issue will not serve the community. No one pats me on the back for investigative journalism.The Christian County Library was contacted for comment, but did not respond by publication time.David Rice is the editor of HickChristian News and has been investigating government transparency issues in Southwest Missouri since December 2023. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I spoke with Sister Janine Van Tran from the order Congregation of Mary Queen about the 40 Days for Life ministry.40 Days for Life is a pro-life campaign in 2004 in Bryan/College Station, Texas, initiated by a group led by David Bereit. It’s a focused, peaceful effort to end abortion through prayer, fasting, and community outreach, typically held outside abortion facilities. The campaign runs for 40 days—symbolizing a biblical period of transformation—and occurs twice a year: once in the spring (often aligning with Lent) and once in the fall (usually September to early November). Sister Janine works in Springfield with the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese to help protect children. She does so through peaceful vigils, aimed at communicating redemption and care to those who need another option besides the one offered by Planned Parenthood or Abortion Clinics. Through the 40 Days for Life ministry, every child and mother is offered community resources, including safe places to stay, utilities, and other care. Our children aren’t meant to be lost but can be saved through the patient prayers of believers.While 40 Days of Life is a ministry, it works with everyone committed to helping save unborn children and rescuing mothers. As Sister Janine said, this is the most critical issue of our time.If you want to sign up, joining a vigil is quick and easy. It only took me about 3 minutes. Abortion is a polarizing issue. It is hard for it not to be. Any problem that is a choice between all or nothing will be polarizing. A child cannot be partially born and partially aborted. Because of this, Abortion ends up being an all-or-nothing issue. Yet, the children, women, and men affected are not an all or nothing for Christ who redeems us all. I am a sinner who should offer grace to those whom God offers grace. It is not my place to deny God’s gifts to anyone seeking them, even if they don’t know it yet. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The Starfish Strategy: How Missouri Democrats Plan to Regenerate After 2024 DefeatIntroduction: The Starfish MetaphorThere is an illuminating biological metaphor at play in the Democratic strategy for rural Missouri. Starfish possess a remarkable regenerative capability: when an arm is severed from a starfish and cast into a new environment, that limb can regenerate into a complete clone of the original organism. Through this process, starfish can effectively reproduce throughout an environment, establishing a growing presence in previously unoccupied territory.While the "Starfish Brigade" group publicly employs the heartwarming story about saving individual starfish by throwing them back into the water (suggesting the power of small, meaningful actions), the Democratic Rural Caucus efforts appear to function more like the starfish's biological reproduction mechanism – attempting to clone elements of the national party structure and messaging in every rural Missouri county, despite that same approach having failed to elect Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.The 2024 Election DefeatThe 2024 presidential election resulted in Donald Trump defeating Kamala Harris with approximately 74.5 million votes to Harris's 72.3 million in the popular vote – a margin of about 2.2 million votes. More decisively, Trump secured 312 electoral votes to Harris's 226, reclaiming key battleground states that Democrats had won in 2020. This electoral defeat represented a significant setback for Democrats nationally, raising questions about their messaging, policy priorities, and electoral strategy.Rather than pivoting or recalibrating their approach after this defeat, evidence from Missouri suggests that state-level Democratic organizations are doubling down on the same messaging and priorities that failed to resonate with enough voters nationally.Missouri Democrats' Strategic ResponseThe "Plan to takeover Rural Missouri" DocumentAn internal strategy document obtained from Missouri Democratic organizers reveals their post-election focus:"Rural Missouri is a prime location for municipal election success for the Democratic party in 2025. By strategically investing in town council, city council, and borough races, we stand to generate a good bench as well as creating a good recognition of Rural Missouri nationwide as a region to invest in for the party."The document outlines a focus on:* Municipal-level investment: Targeting town councils, city councils, and borough races* Strategic county targeting: Specifically mentioning Iron, Dent, Macon, and Osage counties* Candidate recruitment: Emphasizing working-class candidates outside traditional political backgrounds* Data-driven approach: Using VAN (Voter Activation Network) for optimized canvassingWhile the document acknowledges that "all or nothing thinking does not exist in working class rural communities," the actual implementation of their strategy shows little moderation of progressive messaging for rural audiences."Missouri Strategies for Rural Organizing" MeetingA virtual meeting held on February 13, 2025, with 64 participants, revealed specific tactics being emphasized:"A win number is the average of the last three elections plus one vote that is how many voters you have to talk to in your district to win."The meeting featured an extensive discussion of VAN (Voter Activation Network) usage, targeted campaigning, and fundraising strategies. Notably, organizer Paolo Cremidis expressed frustration about national Democratic funding priorities:"Like, it's total b******t. And, like, so much money goes into primaries in races that are cis, right? And races that don't matter, right? Like, the fact that Jamal Bowman and, um... George Latimer, they spent $80 million combined in a primary for a congressional seat in Westchester County. And they got less than 30% turnout."On-the-Ground Implementation: The Starfish BrigadeThe Starfish Brigade, operating in Osage County (one of the specifically targeted counties in the strategy document), demonstrates how these strategies are being implemented locally.Founded and led by "Marty Kole," who describes herself as having "dual degrees in elementary education and interactive media" with a "master's in media psychology and social change” and a “nomad Bohemian witch,” the group held a meeting at the Osage County Library that revealed their approach.Rather than moderating their message for a rural audience, the meeting featured:* Screening of a video by Robert Reich defining "five elements that define fascism" with direct comparisons to Trump* Showing a video of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker warning: "It took the Nazis three weeks, two days, eight hours, and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic"* Explicit discussion of Nazi propaganda techniquesMarti explicitly described their mission:"We won the American Revolution. We won World War II. We won the Civil War. We beat fascism before, and we know how to do it. We have lots of books written about it. We have books that we can read about. For the moment, we still have free speech, so we can still talk about this."Divisive Messaging Across CountiesSimilar patterns of divisive political messaging appear in multiple counties:Greene CountyEditor’s Note: The Book Bag Program founded by Shiela Michaels was mentioned, and was Gail Smart, running for the Springfield Public School Board at attendance and in agreement with the Communist, Lucas Underwood?The Southwest Missouri Solidarity Network, active in Greene County, uses stark historical comparisons in their public messaging:"The self-evident truth that all are created equal were just words on the paper to win public approval. The founders kept their slaves, women and tenants couldn't vote, and the natives in the way of our progress had to be 'removed'."Their posts directly compare modern law enforcement to slave catchers:"But I and others in the Solidarity Network have asked ourselves what the difference is between law enforcement chasing a homeless man in the night, and a slave catcher pursuing one running for their freedom?"Town Hall GuidanceInstructions for engaging with Republican representatives at town halls specifically advise different emotional displays based on circumstances:"If you are attending the town hall and have been personally and acutely (read: fired) impacted by the actions of the Republican government, freely express emotion regarding your situation.""If you are attending and have not been impacted, meter your emotion carefully"This strategic deployment of emotion contrasts with the document's claim to seek a broad coalition.Focusing on Divisive IssuesDespite electoral defeat, Missouri Democrats continue to focus on issues with limited appeal in rural areas. For example, transgender rights in athletics remains a centerpiece of their activism, despite polling showing limited public support.Recent polling shows that approximately 76% of Americans oppose allowing transgender women and girls to compete in sports against other women and girls. A Gallup poll found that 69% of Americans say transgender athletes should play on teams matching their birth gender rather than their gender identity.Yet Democratic organizing materials show continued focus on transgender and LGBTQ+ issues in rural outreach:"We are organizing a protest to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community, with a special focus on transgender and non-binary individuals, as well as supporting immigrants. Our goal is to affirm our presence and commitment to these important causes."The Fundamental QuestionThis analysis raises a fundamental question: If the policies and messaging Democrats have followed for the past four years did not help them keep the White House, why will the same approach help them win it four years from now?On issues where public opinion is not aligned with progressive positions – such as transgender athletes in women's sports, which is opposed by nearly 80% of Americans – Missouri Democrats face a stark choice:* Die on the hill: Continue advocating for unpopular positions out of principle, potentially sacrificing electoral viability* Overthrow the hill: Use the "starfish strategy" of tearing off their arm to build local power bases that can eventually overpower majority opinion through institutional capture.The "Plan to Take Over Rural Missouri" document and the implementation observed in Osage County, Greene County, and elsewhere suggests Democrats are pursuing the second option—establishing progressive infrastructure in rural areas despite, rather than because of, their policy positions' appeal to residents.Whether this approach can succeed in the face of the clear electoral challenges demonstrated in the 2024 election remains the central question for Democratic organizers in Missouri and beyond. It’s hard to tell if their plan is based on reason and well-thought-out principles or if it’s just witchcraft and cauldrons brewing while making spells to Mars. As disappointing as it is to be associated in a party with the Blunts, Kehoes, Tilley’s, Sinquefields, and others, the Republicans have yet to endorse witches for office. They kill babies while praising God.HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The Haunting Little GirlA disturbing video has emerged from Sullivan, Missouri, that no parent should ever have to watch: it appears to be a young girl, head shaved, being led through city streets and a parking lot by an adult male toward apartments known for housing illegal aliens (almost all men brought in to work)—the man in the video was [allegedly] described by the source as a known drug dealer with no relation to the child. The girl appears drugged, moving erratically. When concerned citizens reported this to Franklin County law enforcement, the police department silently met their questions. No investigation. Not even a wellness check.Community in CrisisDuring the Biden administration, two coach buses arrived in Sullivan, MO, one afternoon, causing concerns for local residents. The men who got off the buses were all immigrants—no families. As they departed the buses, they walked straight toward [what was allegedly] Steve Stumpe's properties—in this case, his Maple Street Apartments and his associated trailer parks, though he also owns several lower-end rentals. What followed was a wave of intimidation through the community.Reports came in of women who no longer felt safe shopping alone. The men who were dropped off followed and filmed in the store. They felt harassed. Even the wife of local official Ryan Hewkin was targeted. As one resident confronted Stumpe allegedly in a recorded conversation: "Do you think Ryan Hewkin is happy that someone wanted to steal his wife?"Stumpe's Response: "They Will Live Here Anyway"In a recorded conversation, alleged property owner Steve Stumpe's attitude is evident:* Admits rentals [allegedly] come through "McGinnis."* Claims "They will live here anyway."* Deflects responsibility: "I'm not the police."* Acknowledges: "Sullivan was safe... until they started coming in last year."The Numbers Don't LieSullivan's crime statistics tell the story:Crime Rates vs National AverageYour chance of becoming a victim in Sullivan:* Overall crime: 1 in 18* Property crime: 1 in 19* Violent crime: 1 in 195Crime in Sullivan, MO has skyrocketed. Compared to nearby cities, Sullivan is experiencing a crime wave—especially in violent crime. Why should this small city have seen a jump in violent crime and how is it not correlated to the male immigrants coming off the coach buses into apartments and trailers allegedly belonging to Steve Stumpe?A fascinating connection exists between Stumpe and political figures. He is the father-in-law to Republican Representative David Schatz’s son. David Schatz runs three businesses in the area, including Schatz Undeground. David Schatz ran for Sen. Roy Blunt’s vacated seat but lost. Blunt and Schatz are allegedly close. I’m only speculating, but if anyone could bring in cheap labor for a friend of Schatz, the well-connected Blunt could. The alleged payoff for landlords like Stumpe is guaranteed [alleged] rent payments, with various sources reporting amounts ranging from $1500 to $2200 per migrant from the Biden Administration. Exact figures have become increasingly difficult to verify due to what appears to be coordinated efforts to obscure this information because of payoffs to news organizations from USAID.Do you wonder why rent went up so much during the Biden Administration? According to Zillow, they went up 35%. Did you imagine you might be competing with the Federal government, which was paying rent for an extra 20 million illegal immigrants? This also would create artificial pressure on the price of homes.When Local Police Didn’t do a Wellness Check, ICE RespondedAfter local law enforcement's inaction on the video of the little child, concerned citizens reached out to Social Media:* Tom Homan (former ICE director)* Kristi NoemResult: Within one week, ICE agents arrived and removed multiple individuals from the area. However, the Franklin County and Sullivan Police did not react to this evidence when it was presented to them by the concerned citizens. Franklin County Deputies and Sheriff have an obligation to all children.A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General found that over 300,000 migrant children under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement effectively disappeared from official radar. In a letter to ICE acting Director Patrick Lechleitner, Cloud expressed worries that the “failure” in oversight left the children vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labor.Are there political pressures at play to look the other direction concerning the illegal immigrants brought into Sullivan? Have we decided that in America, the children brought here illegally belong to the gangs?Trump’s response, compared to Biden’s encouragement of this lawlessness over the last four years, may finally provide us with the humanitarian relief we need to protect children and end this violence in our communities.The Trump Federal ResponseOn February 19, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order targeting the "taxpayer subsidization of open borders." The order specifically:* Directs all Federal departments to identify programs providing benefits to illegal immigrants* Ensures Federal funds won't support "sanctuary" policies* Mandates stricter eligibility verification for benefits* Targets state and local assistance programs* Reinstates "Remain in Mexico" policies* Ends the CBP One app (a mobile application previously used by migrants to schedule appointments for entry at U.S. ports, which critics argued essentially created a self-service border crossing system)* Terminates categorical parole programs* Detains dangerous criminal aliens at Guantanamo BayThe timing is crucial: According to DOGE estimates, American taxpayers spent over $150.7 billion on illegal immigration in 2023 alone. For perspective, this equals the amount spent on income security programs for military veterans and their families.The Money TrailThe financial impact is staggering:National Costs (FAIR Calculations)* Total annual taxpayer cost: $182 billion* Federal expenses: $66.5 billion* State/local expenses: $115.6 billion* Cost for 20 million illegal aliens and their childrenSanctuary City Spending (Since 2022)* New York City: $5.22 billion* FY 2023: $1.47 billion* FY 2024 committed: $3.07 billion* Chicago: $574.5 million* Ending New Arrivals Mission due to $1 billion budget shortfall* Denver: $356 million* Cared for 42,911 new arrivalsCongressional Findings* U.S. House Homeland Security Committee estimates $451 billion taxpayer cost for illegal aliens and gotaways since January 2021* CBO reports $16.2 billion cost for Biden Administration's Medicaid-funded emergency services for illegal aliensAdditional Federal Spending* Over $1 billion allocated through FEMA since 2021* Billions were given to organizations facilitating mass illegal migration* Billions spent on legal services challenging deportation ordersWhat's Next?This investigation continues as we examine the following:* Federal funding rates* Property ownership records* Political connections* Law enforcement responses* Community safety measuresThis is a developing story. Have information? Reach out through Substack.Primary Evidence* Recorded Conversation* Audio transcript between Anonymous Source and Steve Stumpe* Contains direct quotes and admissions regarding rental practices* Verified and authenticated* Video Evidence* Surveillance footage from a Sullivan parking lot* Along Hwy in Sullivan* Shows an incident with a young girl* Location verifiedOfficial Documents* Executive Order* "President Donald J. Trump Ends Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders"* Date: February 19, 2025* Source: White House* URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-ends-taxpayer-subsidization-of-open-borders/* Congressional Investigation* Title: "Michael Cloud Demands Answers from ICE Over Nearly 300,000 Missing Migrant Children"* Source: U.S. House of Representatives* URL: https://cloud.house.gov/posts/michael-cloud-demands-answers-from-ice-over-nearly-300000-missing-migrant-children* Crime Statistics* Source: AreaVibes/FBI Uniform Crime Reports* Data Year: 2022* Released: September 2023* URL: https://www.areavibes.com/sullivan-mo/crime/* NewsNation Report* Title: "Illegal immigration cost US taxpayers $150.7B: DOGE"* Authors: Alex Caprariello, Jeff Arnold* Date: December 4, 2024* URL: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/illegal-immigration-cost-us-taxpayers-150-7b-doge/Property Records* Tri-County Properties Holdings* Six mobile home parks across Franklin and Crawford Counties* Total: 318 lots* Locations:* Red Barn Mobile Home Park (Villa Ridge)* Pear Tree Mobile Home Park (Gerald)* Hillside Mobile Home Park (Gerald)* Sycamore MH Park (Sullivan)* Country Squire MH Park (Bourbon)* Lakewood Mobile Home Park (Bourbon)Additional Data Sources* Federal Agency Statistics* Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) estimates* Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) calculations* Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports* U.S. House Homeland Security Committee estimatesTranscriptAnonymous Source (00:00:48):How do we get rid of the illegals?Anonymous Source (00:00:50):I'm worried about the drug cartel and the illegals.Anonymous Source (00:00:53):How do we get rid of them?Anonymous Source (00:00:55):I will talk to,(00:00:56):because I'm not directly involved in any of our day-to-day men,(00:01:00):but I will talk to the people that are,(00:01:03):and if they're here on work basis,Steve Stumpe (00:01:05):because they're calling for us requesting that they be allowed to rent from us,Steve Stumpe (00:01:10):and it came from McGinnis.Anonymous Source (00:01:14):I really don't care about McGinnis.Anonymous Source (00:01:16):I know them.Anonymous Source (00:01:17):I really don't care.Anonymous Source (00:01:18):I'm asking why they're living here.Anonymous Source (00:01:20):And they should go over to Cuba.Anonymous Source (00:01:22):Really, they should go over to Cuba.Anonymous Source (00:01:23):But you know what?Anonymous Source (00:01:24):They're living here.Anonymous Source (00:01:26):And when they're not working, they're here.Anonymous Source (00:01:29):That's what I'm worried about.Anonymous Source (00:01:31):What they're doing when they're not working is a concern to me.Steve Stumpe (00:01:34):It's not my worry.Steve Stumpe (00:01:36):I'm concerned about not just the only goal of what they do whenever they're not working.(00:01:42):I'm concerned about even Americans when they're not working at all.(00:01:47):To me, that is despicable also.Anonymous Source (00:01:51):It is, yes, but I still believe that we shouldn't be.Steve Stumpe (00:01:54):I keep paying for every one of them through my taxes.Steve Stumpe (00:01:57):I keep paying for them.(00:01:59):Same.(00:02:04):We all do.Anonymous Source (00:02:06):But for the last two years, there's been a pandemic.Anonymous Source (00:02:13):For the last two years, there's been a pandemic, and a lot of Americans have gotten lazy.Anonymous Source (00:02:19):We just need our legislature to kick them into business, and then they'll get back to work.Anonymous Source (00:02:24):But right now, we don't need illegals here.Anonymous Source (00:02:27):We don't need illegals here.Anonymous Source (00:02:29):We don't need more trouble.Anonymous Source (00:02:30):We have drug problems already.Anonymous Source (00:02:33):This is going to be way worse.Anonymous Source (00:02:34):This is bad.Anonymous Source (00:02:36):I just want our children and our women stolen.Anonymous Source (00:02:38):I don't want them raped.Anonymous Source (00:02:40):I don't want them gone.Anonymous Source (00:02:42):The sex trafficking numbers have gone up.Anonymous Source (00:02:49):No, the illegals need to quit.Anonymous Source (00:02:52):They need to quit following them.Anonymous Source (00:02:54):They need to quit harassing them in the store.Anonymous Source (00:02:57):They need to quit filming them.Anonymous Source (00:02:58):Do you know they're filming them?Anonymous Source (00:02:59):They filmed me one day.Steve Stumpe (00:03:01):I'm not the police.Anonymous Source (00:03:04):But you are renting to these people that are doing this to our people.Steve Stumpe (00:03:10):And that is no different if you hire someone that happens to get a DWI,Steve Stumpe (00:03:15):and in the course of their DWI,Steve Stumpe (00:03:18):they hurt someone.Anonymous Source (00:03:19):That's not even a comparison, Steve.Anonymous Source (00:03:21):Not even a comparison.Anonymous Source (00:03:22):Do you know what drug cartel is?Anonymous Source (00:03:24):These people, they don't have family up here.Anonymous Source (00:03:27):Do you know what?Anonymous Source (00:03:28):They would easily cut your daughter's fingers off and mail them to you for money.Anonymous Source (00:03:34):Because that's what they do.Anonymous Source (00:03:35):These are ugly people.Anonymous Source (00:03:36):These are dangerous people.Anonymous Source (00:03:38):This isn't your typical DWI bad guy gone wrong.Anonymous Source (00:03:43):He's not a Christian kind of guy.Anonymous Source (00:03:47):But we're talking about illegal aliens.Anonymous Source (00:03:50):Have you turned on the news?Anonymous Source (00:03:52):Have you watched any One American Network news?Anonymous Source (00:03:56):They don't want illegals in our country.Anonymous Source (00:04:01):This is wrong.Anonymous Source (00:04:03):They need to come over like everybody else is like Kevin's parents or hisAnonymous Source (00:04:07):grandparents came over.Anonymous Source (00:04:09):They had to work and become a citizen just like everybody else should.Anonymous Source (00:04:12):These people are citizens and they're dangerous.Anonymous Source (00:04:18):I'm just worried about our women and children.Anonymous Source (00:04:21):And I know I'm just saying, Steve, move them to Cuba.Anonymous Source (00:04:24):Steve, still move to Cuba.Anonymous Source (00:04:26):I think they're just, they need to get out of here.Steve Stumpe (00:04:39):correct authorities can deal with them.Anonymous Source (00:04:42):Well, I have out there told many, many women, please call the police.Anonymous Source (00:04:48):Please call the police.Anonymous Source (00:04:49):They post it on Facebook.Anonymous Source (00:04:50):But you know what?Anonymous Source (00:04:52):I don't know why they wouldn't either.Anonymous Source (00:04:53):I do, but they don't.Anonymous Source (00:04:56):So I don't know what to tell you on that.Anonymous Source (00:04:58):Otherwise, all I know is they're not doing it.Anonymous Source (00:05:02):But there's a lot going on and they're scared.Anonymous Source (00:05:05):And I mean, I don't like it for them.Anonymous Source (00:05:08):I don't like it that they can't go shopping.Anonymous Source (00:05:12):I just want it to be safe around here and it's not safe.Anonymous Source (00:05:28):Steve, we shouldn't have to even worry about calling the police.Anonymous Source (00:05:35):This should be a good community that we shouldn't have to worry about being stolenAnonymous Source (00:05:40):in the middle of the day.Anonymous Source (00:05:41):Do you think Ryan Hewkin is happy that someone wanted to steal his wife?Steve Stumpe (00:05:47):I totally agree with you.Steve Stumpe (00:05:49):And if you think that us not renting to a hot German will solve the problem,Steve Stumpe (00:05:56):then we're in a cocoon that we're not looking to see what's going on in the real world.(00:06:06):But I am telling you that the reality of the situation is much bigger than us or you.(00:06:12):And so I'm sorry, can we make it on our part?(00:06:15):Yes, we can.(00:06:16):Can we go above and beyond what is illegal?(00:06:19):No, we cannot.Anonymous Source (00:06:20):If they didn't have a place to live, they wouldn't be here.(00:06:26):They will live here anyway.Steve Stumpe (00:06:28):They will live here.(00:06:31):And...Anonymous Source (00:06:34):I don't want anybody to get hurt.Anonymous Source (00:06:38):You should go look at your grandchildren and think about what men will do to her ifAnonymous Source (00:06:45):they get a hold of her.Anonymous Source (00:06:48):And then make a decision.Anonymous Source (00:06:50):Because that's what happens.Anonymous Source (00:06:52):That's what happens in a drug cartel world.Anonymous Source (00:06:55):Little girls become sex trafficked.Anonymous Source (00:06:59):And it's going to be if one little girl comes missing around here.(00:07:05):to be most possible.(00:07:06):Well,Anonymous Source (00:07:06):could you look at yourself in the mirror if one of those people living in thatAnonymous Source (00:07:10):trailer court steals a child and ships it off?Anonymous Source (00:07:13):Could you look at your face in the mirror?Steve Stumpe (00:07:15):I mean,Steve Stumpe (00:07:15):that told the lives of everyone that's in our,Steve Stumpe (00:07:18):and this is where what I was explaining to you all about someone that works for aSteve Stumpe (00:07:23):being involved.Anonymous Source (00:07:24):I'll tell you what.Anonymous Source (00:07:25):We've fired people that are sex predators.Anonymous Source (00:07:28):They get fired.Steve Stumpe (00:07:29):We won't run to them.Anonymous Source (00:07:32):No, but they're American.Anonymous Source (00:07:36):They're American.Anonymous Source (00:07:37):They're already being prosecuted and they don't have a job.Anonymous Source (00:07:41):So that's what we do.Anonymous Source (00:07:42):They have nowhere to go but to jail to sit because predators, that's where they belong.Anonymous Source (00:07:47):Now, illegal predators.Anonymous Source (00:07:49):Illegal predators do not believe, they don't belong in America.Anonymous Source (00:07:54):This is where our veterans fought to keep things like that out of here.Anonymous Source (00:08:00):Oh, I know.Anonymous Source (00:08:01):They're all over.Steve Stumpe (00:08:01):I know.Steve Stumpe (00:08:02):But we're not talking about them.Steve Stumpe (00:08:03):We're talking about not adding to it.Steve Stumpe (00:08:04):And you did.Anonymous Source (00:08:24):Steve, there's no way you're going to justify this.Anonymous Source (00:08:27):I'm sorry.Anonymous Source (00:08:28):Steve,Anonymous Source (00:08:29):there's no way our discussion is going to ever justify having illegal drug cartelAnonymous Source (00:08:35):in this community.Anonymous Source (00:08:36):Housing to them just gives them more reason to do what they need to do on their own time.Anonymous Source (00:08:42):So as far as I'm concerned, you can give them all jobs, I don't care.Anonymous Source (00:08:46):But what they're doing in the evening is not good.Anonymous Source (00:08:49):These women are scared.Anonymous Source (00:08:51):And as long as the women are scared and the children are in danger,Anonymous Source (00:08:55):there's gonna be problems here.Anonymous Source (00:08:56):There's always gonna be problems like that if we don't protect them.Anonymous Source (00:09:00):and i'm not talking about americans we already have problems with americans but weAnonymous Source (00:09:05):don't need to add to it we need to be a solution to this problem this is insane iSteve Stumpe (00:09:11):agreeSteve Stumpe (00:09:15):It's not my idea.Steve Stumpe (00:09:16):It's not my idea.Steve Stumpe (00:09:17):No, Sullivan was safe.Steve Stumpe (00:09:19):And the Ashley crime was down until they started coming in last year.Anonymous Source (00:09:33):And it's blown up.Anonymous Source (00:09:34):I've been watching it.Anonymous Source (00:09:35):I've got data, and I sent it on to the sheriff.Steve Stumpe (00:09:38):We had our company's truck stolen right out of our building.Anonymous Source (00:09:42):Yeah, well, that's drug problems.Anonymous Source (00:09:44):Do you think things are going to get better, Steve?(00:09:47):We're talking about fentanyl.(00:09:48):We're talking about fentanyl.Anonymous Source (00:09:50):We're not talking about meth anymore.Anonymous Source (00:09:52):Now, are Americans like meth?Anonymous Source (00:09:54):We're talking about fentanyl from China.Anonymous Source (00:09:56):I don't think that we're going to get very far.(00:09:59):I want to tell you that.(00:10:02):Anyone that feels threatened or anything that anybody has done to them, please call the police.(00:10:08):Please call the police.Anonymous Source (00:10:09):Trust me, I have told them that.Anonymous Source (00:10:11):I think they're just kind of confused why they even have to call the police.Anonymous Source (00:10:19):I told them that it's not a safe community anymore.Anonymous Source (00:10:23):So you need to call the police because the people that are living here that don'tAnonymous Source (00:10:28):belong in America are your problem.Anonymous Source (00:10:30):And we need to make sure that we protect ourselves.Anonymous Source (00:10:33):So I'm telling the women to make sure they take their husbands and guns.Steve Stumpe (00:10:37):I wish that was the only problem that we had.Steve Stumpe (00:10:39):That would be a fantastic thing.Anonymous Source (00:10:42):The problem here is, is don't add to our problems.Anonymous Source (00:10:46):We already had problems.Anonymous Source (00:10:48):Now, they just tripled.Anonymous Source (00:10:51):This isn't even doubled.Anonymous Source (00:10:52):This is insane.Anonymous Source (00:10:53):They're everywhere.Anonymous Source (00:10:53):They're walking in the streets.Anonymous Source (00:10:55):I've got some lady this morning,Anonymous Source (00:10:56):I don't even know,Anonymous Source (00:10:57):telling me,Anonymous Source (00:10:58):yeah,Anonymous Source (00:10:59):cars were stolen over at Johanny's.Anonymous Source (00:11:00):Cars were stolen at my parking lot.Anonymous Source (00:11:02):Yeah, cars are being stolen all over because they're coming off of Maple Street.Anonymous Source (00:11:07):And what am I supposed to say to her?Anonymous Source (00:11:09):I said, oh, I'm starting to hear that.(00:11:12):I don't want to tell her something.Anonymous Source (00:11:18):other people for what is going on with your illegal immigrants.Anonymous Source (00:11:22):These are dangerous people who do not belong in Sullivan, period.Anonymous Source (00:11:29):They do not belong here.Anonymous Source (00:11:30):Anyone who brings them in and gives them a house is part of the problem.Anonymous Source (00:11:37):They're destroying America.Anonymous Source (00:11:39):Whoever brings these people into a small community is only causing us more problemsAnonymous Source (00:11:46):than we need.Anonymous Source (00:11:48):I can bring them in.Steve Stumpe (00:11:49):I don't give them jobs.Steve Stumpe (00:11:51):You're giving them a house.Anonymous Source (00:11:53):You're giving them a house.Steve Stumpe (00:11:54):Somebody's selling them food and somebody is selling them utilities and somebody isSteve Stumpe (00:12:00):doing a lot of other stuff for them.Anonymous Source (00:12:02):And you want your money.Anonymous Source (00:12:04):I get it.Anonymous Source (00:12:04):So you want your part.Anonymous Source (00:12:05):So go ahead and take the rent.Anonymous Source (00:12:07):I get it.Anonymous Source (00:12:07):I do.Anonymous Source (00:12:08):But all I'm saying is money is not everything'sAnonymous Source (00:12:11):Steve, I'm just saying we've got some dangerous stuff going on.Anonymous Source (00:12:14):People are being stolen or trying to be stolen.Anonymous Source (00:12:17):There's all kinds of things going on we don't want happening.(00:12:20):To rent from us, you have to have a job.Steve Stumpe (00:12:22):You have to be able to afford your rent and you have to.Anonymous Source (00:12:25):Yeah, one person.Anonymous Source (00:12:26):One person to rent, sure.Anonymous Source (00:12:29):I've seen pallets.Anonymous Source (00:12:32):on saturday night with a actually an elected official who was disgusted with what'sAnonymous Source (00:12:37):going on in our community and i showed him i said i want to show you where they'reAnonymous Source (00:12:41):living and how they're living he can see pallets on the floors so yeah one personAnonymous Source (00:12:46):might have a job that's renting it but it ain't all 25 of them living in oneAnonymous Source (00:12:51):apartmentSteve Stumpe (00:12:59):Okay,Steve Stumpe (00:13:00):I thank you for calling,Steve Stumpe (00:13:01):and I would encourage you to tell anyone that has a problem with anyone else to(00:13:05):call the police.(00:13:06):Thank you. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Christian County Library uses a survey company called Net Promoter to tell its library’s story. Here is the website of Orange Boy.In this video from the October 2024 Board Meeting, the Marketing Director presents his findings from the NPS survey. I didn’t know much about a Net Promoter Survey, thought speaking with Deborah helped. So I had to research. I went to Claude.AI (which can be an excellent teacher) and asked two questions. What are the limitations of a NPS survey? Since it only asks one question [about satisfaction] and asks fewer and fewer clients/customers each time, doesn't it present a rosier picture of data than is actually present in the community about a business?It answered: Let me analyze the key limitations of Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys:The single-question limitation creates several issues:1. It fails to capture why customers feel the way they do, making it difficult to take specific action on feedback2. It doesn't distinguish between different aspects of the customer experience (e.g., product quality vs. customer service)3. The question measures intent ("would you recommend") rather than actual behavior, which can differ significantlyYour observation about declining response rates over time is important and can indeed create bias:- Customers with strong feelings (either very positive or very negative) are more likely to respond, creating response bias- If satisfied customers are more likely to respond to repeat surveys, this can artificially inflate scores over time- The "silent majority" of moderately satisfied or dissatisfied customers may be underrepresentedAdditional limitations include:- Cultural differences in how people rate numerical scales can make international comparisons unreliable- The arbitrary grouping of scores (0-6 detractors, 7-8 passives, 9-10 promoters) may not reflect meaningful differences in customer sentiment- The metric doesn't account for industry context - what's considered a good NPS score varies significantly across sectorsWould you like me to elaborate on any of these points or discuss potential solutions to address these limitations?Can you write up a summary of why NPS surveys are designed to hide bad community metrics for a library system that is facing backlash in the community? I've uncovered a Sunshine Report showing a library using this data, but I want an analysis of how NPS reports aren't effective and can hide data. [I was expecting a short answer. I was even worried it would come back with a woke answer about Libraries being misunderstood in today’s political climate.]Analysis: How NPS Surveys Can Mask Negative Community Sentiment in Library SystemsStructural Limitations of NPS in Public ServicesNet Promoter Score surveys have inherent limitations that make them particularly problematic for measuring public library satisfaction, especially during periods of community controversy:Selection Bias and Response Patterns1. Active Library Users vs. General Public* NPS typically only captures responses from active library users* Excludes community members who have stopped using the library due to dissatisfaction* Misses input from taxpayers who fund but don't use library services2. Frequency Bias* Regular patrons (likely more satisfied) are oversampled* Dissatisfied former users are systematically excluded* Creates an echo chamber of positive feedback[Concerns Deborah and I spoke to in our interview.]Data Collection and Representation Issues1. Single Metric Oversimplification* Reduces complex community concerns to a single number* Obscures specific areas of dissatisfaction* Cannot capture nuanced feedback about controversial issues2. Timing and Distribution Effects* Surveys are often conducted during peak usage times* May miss seasonal users or those with limited access* Can be inadvertently (or intentionally) timed to avoid periods of controversy[The one question about satisfaction can be misleading. “On a scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very), how likely are you to recommend the Christian County Library to others?” This doesn’t allow for further probing of new account holders as they mature or leave the system in disgust.]These are the follow-up questions to the first question about Overall Satisfaction on the Survey:Please explain your score:* We are interested in learning what needs the library meets in the community. * When you used the library, what need were you seeking to fill? Please select the option that best applies. Other (please specify):* We are interested in learning what needs the library meets in the community. * When you used the library, what need were you seeking to fill?* Please select the option that best applies. The quality of service met or exceeded expectations. * Please respond to the following statements about your most recent library experience.* Staff responded to my needs in a timely fashion.* Please respond to the following statements about your most recent library experience.* Communication about services was effective.* Please respond to the following statements about your most recent library experience.* Staff treated me with courtesy and respect.* Please respond to the following statements about your most recent library experience.* How often do you visit the library?* How did you learn about the service you used?* Other (please specify):* How did you learn about the service you used?The respondents scored the Library. These are the scores they chose by percentage (1-4). “0” indicates no response to the question, I believe.How NPS Can Mask Real IssuesMathematical Distortion1. Score Calculation* Detractor scores (0-6) are grouped together, minimizing the impact of extremely negative responses.[Only 25 scores are under 6 out of 614? 536 scores are “8” and above, with most of those being “10.” In reading the scores, I saw one patron complain about pornography for youth but still rated the library at an 8. Only one patron listed the library at a six, talking about antithetical values. These scores are too good. There should be a bell curve distribution of opinion. Anonmolous scores like this are curated in an environment where the community shows up to boring Library Board meetings demanding Library Board members leave and hundreds of Facebook commenters agree with the removal of sexually explicit material from the Library for children.] * Passive scores (7-8) are eliminated from the final calculation* This methodology can make significant negative sentiment appear less severe[If this is so, this is padding the numbers to hide true dissatisfaction. No wonder CCL wants to use a survey like this and then bring it out to tout their highly satisfied user numbers. It’s misleading.]2. Percentage Manipulation* Final scores represent net differences rather than absolute satisfaction levels.* A library could have 40% detractors but still show a positive NPS if promoters are slightly more numerous.* This masks the actual volume of dissatisfied community members[Again, misleading data.]Context Elimination1. Loss of Specific Feedback* No capture of reasons for dissatisfaction* Cannot track specific policy or service complaints* Eliminates context for community concerns[We never learn why people are dissatisfied and never know what to address based on the first carefully curated question by CCL.]2. Missing Demographic Information* No correlation between satisfaction and community segments* Cannot identify underserved or dissatisfied populations* Masks equity issues in service delivery[What age groups? What backgrounds? What faiths are dissatisfied with the Library?]Administrative ImplicationsReporting Vulnerabilities1. Selective Data Presentation* Can cherry-pick survey periods with better scores* Ability to exclude "outlier" responses* Can present trending data that obscures periodic dissatisfaction[They can send out surveys when they know families are too busy to respond.]2. Benchmark Manipulation* Lack of standardized benchmarks for public libraries* Can compare against inappropriate peer institutions* Ability to set arbitrary success thresholds[They can determine an appropriate threshold for “successful” libraries. No one has determined what a happy library looks like, but as the Marketing Director stated, we have one.]Policy Impact1. False Positive Feedback Loop* Positive NPS scores can be used to justify controversial decisions* May delay necessary policy changes* Can create artificial support for administrative decisions[We can put any book in the collection we want. The data supports the librarians. Even if we curated the question, the data, and the threshold for what it should look like. The data is reliable as long as you squint hard enough.]2. Resource Allocation* May justify reducing community engagement efforts* Can mask need for service improvements* May impact funding decisions inappropriately[We are happy, happy, happy. So we need more tax bond money at our library.]Documentation and Transparency ConcernsData Accessibility1. Limited Raw Data* NPS typically reports only final scores* Original response data is often not preserved* Difficult to audit or independently analyze[What does their raw data look like?]2. Methodology Opacity* Survey distribution methods often unclear* Response rate calculations may be obscured* Sampling methodology rarely documented[Deborah spoke to this in the interview. She found one email for a survey. I don’t remember getting one, but my junk filter is high. How many people have their surveys dumped into junk mail?]Public Record Implications1. Incomplete Public Record* May not meet public institution documentation requirements* Difficulty in Sunshine Record Request effectively* Limited usefulness for public oversight[The Library has a history of Sunshine Record Request difficulties if not outright violations. However, they complied this time.]2. Historical Tracking* Difficult to compare across time periods* Cannot track specific issue resolution* May not maintain adequate response records[How do we know that patrons feel heard and their satisfaction has improved when the number of patrons surveyed dwindles every time the survey has been sent out?]Recommendations for Public Oversight1. Documentation Requirements* Mandate preservation of raw response data* Require documentation of methodology* Maintain records of all survey periods[Where are the good records?]* 2. Supplemental Metrics* Implement multiple satisfaction measures* Require qualitative feedback collection* Maintain comprehensive community feedback systems[Why aren’t there various types of surveys? Is it a money issue? Or a priority issue?]3. Transparency Measures* Regular public reporting of complete data* Clear methodology documentation* Active community engagement processes[The board meetings over the last two years should be an indicator of public dissatisfaction, but that wasn’t included.]ConclusionThe Christian County Library Board needs to direct the Interim Executive Director, Dana Roberts, to suspend this Net Promoter Survey. It doesn’t collect meaningful data from the community. Still, it uses valuable taxpayer funds (which CCL is running out of due to mismanagement by the previous executive director) to misrepresent how satisfied the community is with the library. Orange Boy isn’t offering a qualitative survey system for libraries. It’s offering a PR Damage Control System for Libraries. This system is used to either justify the need for larger tax bonds in the community or to control the narrative when Librarians are called to task for failing to respond to community complaints. They massage the data for the client and allow the librarians to present a public relations face to the community: cheap makeup and fake teeth. They are taking your money to tell you how great they are about taking your money. This survey from Orange Boy is designed to tell you a story, a narrative. However, it’s not a good story, and the Marketing Director at CCL is not Shakespearean in expressing an epic. It’s more of a wake modern comedy—buy our brand because we are woke, and we deserve your money because we are woke.Do you want a Library system that serves and meets your family's needs or a Library system that surveys all they see as their domain, including your children?HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.​Article 1Article 2During a rush of year-end giving, starting on Thursday, December 19th, 2024, and ending on December 31st, 2024, U-Turn in Education received several year-end donations to its GiveButter campaign that has existed since August 2023. This campaign has languished without a recent gift since about nine months ago when they first received an anonymous gift of $500, then $1000 from Nexstar, the marketing company of KOLR10. [KOLR10] is owned by Mission Broadcasting, which maintains a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Nexstar Media Group, owner of MyNetworkTV affiliate KOZL-TV (channel 27) and Osage Beach–licensed Fox affiliate KRBK (channel 49), for the provision of certain services.In the last couple of weeks, over two thousand dollars have come into U-Turn from the Expedia Group, starting with a donation on the same day by Jeremy Hayes, the husband of Sheila Michaels (she ran for Western County Commissioner and applied for Library Board Trustee in Christian County). Every donation tracked has been made through the platform GiveButter, which has various fees or donations (tips) to their platform, which can range from small to large. Below are screenshots of U-Turns campaign on GiveButter. Please note the amounts from Expedia Group and Jeremy Hayes in particular. Also, note Nexstar the next time you watch KOLR10 and wonder if you should continue to watch KOLR10.Key Individuals & RelationshipsSenior Finance Officer at ExpediaJeremy Hayes’ LinkedIn Profile.Jeremy Hayes is currently at the Expedia Group as the Senior Finance Manager if his LinkedIn Profile account is up-to-date. As Jeremey hasn’t posted yet, it may not be. U-TURN: Treasurer and Board MemberJeremy Hayes is the UTurn in Education’s Treasurer. He acts as the financial officer for the non-profit he donated to the business and is the senior finance officer from which the donations were made. Sheila Michaels (Jeremy Hayes' wife)Sheila received the 2024 Humanitarian Award from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. She also received other rewards that U-Turn was quick to point out. However, none of this would have been possible without her connections, activism, and problematic views on books.In this article, before the November election, I highlight several reasons Sheila Michaels would have been a poor choice as a Christian County Commissioner. I explained in that article why her election to that position would have been a disaster for Christian County.In none of her campaign material did I discover any disclosure about her relationship with U-Turn. While U-Turn often acted less like a non-profit and more like a PAC in how they promoted Shiela on Social Media, there was no indication she was directly linked by marriage to the organization. Further, Sheila, after not winning a seat, tried to get the County Commissioners to appoint her to the Library Board as a trustee. Her primary goal is to position herself on the Library Board.Donation Pattern & StructureFirst Day:On December 15th, Jeremy Hayes donated out of his funds $98.47. Then Expedia Group, on the same day, donated $821.79. The funds were both given in amounts to the hundredth place. Neither amount, even from Jeremy, was rounded to the nearest dollar or ten.Twelve Days Later (all processed same day)The Expedia Group donates the first $383.44, the second $361.66, and the third $479.30. Each amount is again processed to the hundredth. The total giving for the Expedia Group amounted to $2046.19. Now, it might be that the fees have been subtracted, and we are only seeing the amounts donated minus fees. Usually, one would expect to see this payout schedule on the donor side as UTurn and not on the front-facing side as the donee. Furthermore, only the fees from Jeremy Hayes and the Expedia Group are listed to the hundredth cent like this.Transaction SpecificsWhat can we determine from these transactions on GiveButter’s donation page?* All amounts are calculated to exact cents (two decimal places).* Each donation is processed separately on GiveButter.* Each incurred separate platform processing fees.* It could have been consolidated to save on fees.* All transactions kept under $1,000.* Multiple donations are processed on the same day instead of a single amount.Fees add up to the donor, and Expedia Group might want to have a policy to minimize the cost of employee-matched funds by donating in one amount if going to the same foundation on the same day. Generally, they send a letter to the foundation explaining how much was donated by each employee so the foundation can send out a separate thank you letter. The amounts were all under $1,000. There are strict regulations within corporations to manage spending, and smaller amounts would attract less attention for oversight and review. Timing ContextI could not confirm the pay periods for Expedia Group. The first payments occurred on Thursday, December 19th. The payments happened two weeks later, on Tuesday, December 31st (twelve days later). If Expedia Group practices a year-end Employee Matching Fund drive, this would explain Jeremy Hayes’ giving and perhaps one donation. If Jeremy Hayes donated three more times on the same day, it might explain the three other contributions. If he had spoken to three different employees and told them how great U-Turn in Education is, that might explain their giving. As a one-time gift, though, they all managed to stay under $1000 each. Yet, Tuesday doesn’t fall on a pay period if we assume Thursday does. If Tuesday does, then Thursday doesn’t. If they both fall on pay periods, then Expedia Group has a unique pay period calendar. Undisclosed Elements SummaryWhat is the relationship between Jeremy Hayes, Senior Finance Manager at Expedia Group, and Jeremy Hayes, Treasurer for U-Turn in Education? Further, what is his relationship to his wife’s campaign manager or her application for Library Board Trustee? Further, does his role at Expedia Group give him the authority to process or approve donations to non-profits? How does his relationship with U-Turn benefit the organization and his wife, Sheila Michaels?U-Turns Origins In an interview with Jay Howard on the podcast The Humanities District, Dr. Elizabeth Dudash-Buskirk reveals the origins of U-Turn, which began around a kitchen table with six people. She discusses around the 3:50 to 4:50 mark how the other group members feared community backlash for forming a group that protects “free speech” rights. So, as a tenured college professor, without concerns about the impact on her family, she became the face of U-Turn.In her words, Dr. Dudash believed that whatever criticism she would face would be surmountable because she didn’t have to worry about losing a job or having her children insulted at school. Yet, the actions of U-Turn members have not been to be professional or to deal with people based on ideas. Often, their members have turned to smear campaigns against mothers, fathers, grandfathers, and people who are not organized and who do not belong to a non-profit or a political action committee. Members of U-Turn have trolled accounts for me and Right To Win Ozarks for publishing news articles. The trolling became so disgusting that I had to report one member and block this member on social media and here. While they claim the fear of personal persecution, such as Dr. Elizabeth Dudash-Buskirk did at the last Library Board meeting, it is not persecution to expose their ideas as patently false or misleading as we have done through our work at HickChristian and Right to Win Ozarks. In this same podcast, we learn much about U-Turn's purpose. Dr. Dudash-Buskirk upholds that Fun Home doesn’t have any problematic images. She claims at the 23:25 mark that she would never tell anyone what to do at a Junior High library because she has no education there. She is falling for a logical fallacy. One does not need education to know if something is right or wrong. This is the fallacy of authority. I do not need to be an expert in nuclear engineering to know that I should not irradiate an entire city with Cesium-137. One does not need to be an education expert to know that putting child porn into a Junior High or High School library is like putting Cesium-137 into the water supply. It will cause moral cancer to spread among young students. Let’s look at Fun Home to understand what she claims she couldn’t see.Fun Home isn’t just about a young girl who is seduced into being a lesbian at college who grew up with a gay father. It’s a graphic novel depicting sexual acts with graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. This isn’t material that is appropriate for the development of young minds. Dr. Dudash-Buskirk makes a complaint in the podcast. One complaint is that the parents who asked for the book to be restricted or removed hadn’t read every single word in this book. She assumes that the book must be maintained in the library if it has any literary quality. Cesium-137 also has a purpose and can be used for treating cancer or for industrial purposes. Just like sex has a purpose and does something necessary for us all, but sex in the wrong place at the wrong time is dangerous. Exposing children to sexually explicit material that condones or appears to celebrate sexual abuse will harm a child. U-Turn in Education wasn’t formed to protect the Free Speech rights of a child to read any book a child wants to read, even if the book will harm a child irreparably. It was formed to protect the rights of Publishers to produce and distribute material like Fun Home in the taxpayer-funded libraries of our schools and communities. In many ways, U-Turn in Education props up a broken, crony market system that has moved from capitalism to fascism. Non-government organizations like the American Library Association give U-Turn in Education in-kind donation support through online material and training, which helps turn them into effective activists. The ALA are paid stooges who need the Publishers to exist but also work closely with the government to control how much people are learning. The goal is to remove classical books and replace them with this premodern literature that is focused on gender identity, sexual impulses, pagan idolatry, and Marxist ideology.U-Turn represents one of the necessary tools in this new system. They are essentially cheap marketing and PR arms for publishers of books like Fun Home and Gender Queer. I do not know why women fill the ranks of organizations like U-Turn or why women see this as an existential fight to save marginalized communities and help them find their true selves. I don’t know their motivation and can only guess why U-Turn has decided to promote sexually explicit and racist books as a PR firm for Publishers and the ALA. Yet, they do and participate in propaganda to mislead their local communities because they believe they have moral justification for doing so. The next part is the nonprofits like Sheila Michaels Book Bag program.The Removal of Classical LiteratureSheila Michaels positively gushes about the Book Bag program, her receiving the Nexstar’s Remarkable Woman of the Year Award for 2024 for Springfield (along with her other awards) in this video. The Book Bag program has been used to weed out many of the best books from the collection of our local libraries through the Friends of the Library.The Friends of the Library take book donations to the library or older books the library has decided to curate from the collection and then sell them to the community. They then take the proceeds and return the money to the Library. Yet, with the Book Bags program, the books are donated directly to children “in need” of books and period bags (for girls and possibly boys pretending to transition to girls). This seems like a fantastic idea for young children to get great, lightly used books to read. However, the purpose is darker. The radical education of Dr. Dudash and others, as well as Dr. Dudash’s two YouTube channels (Kritik 1999), reveal a lot about both organizations' radical beliefs. To further understand what is occurring, here are the words of Lorena German, author of “The Anti-Racist Teacher.”"So, let us be honest, the conversation really isn't about universality … . This is about an ingrained and internalized elevation of Shakespeare in a way that excludes other voices. This is about white supremacy and colonization."Though I don’t have direct evidence, I believe the local progressives wanted to curate these colonial books without being accused of censorship. Besides the comments by German, we have other examples of Libraries removing books published before 2007. I will credit them for being fiendishly clever in the conception of the Book Bag program–it is deviously brilliant. While Dr. Dudash has many YouTube videos, I could only find this one research article she wrote with two other authors in 2018 highlighting her radical academic feminism. Until the social construction of woman-as-speaker changes discursively, and until this change is accepted, researchers will continue to question the success or failure of campaigns as hinged on gender stereotypes. Future study of mixed-gender campaigns as they are represented in the media may use the results found here as a place to start, with the rejection of essentialized gender differences and the acceptance of rhetorical constraints tied to the political act.In the conclusion of their study, after starting with the premise that women can’t win because of the media, they conclude women can’t win because of the media. It’s ground-breaking research. I will find misogyny, and look, there it is. I don’t think it’s a stretch for me to conclude that the same people who speak out against Racism and Homophobia at the Library Board meetings start without the evidence and then easily find it because it must exist. Books, the books that uplift us and make us better than we were, are dangerous. They violate the cardinal rule of the progressive leftist–make everyone into a base animal. The push of sexually explicit material is designed to lower our views of ourselves and others. Our horizon shifts from the noble purpose and higher calling of grand adventures to our groin. Our stomach compels us forward as we try to eat our ouroboros tail. That is the purpose of postcolonial and antiracism in book curation. The Book Bag program started by Sheila Michaels isn’t about empowering young children with good books but removing, as quickly as possible, under the guise of charity, the best books in our community so they can replace them with books that leave us stunted and twisted goblins. The Book Bag program is a trojan horse for their activism, so most parents aren’t aware of what is happening, but they gratefully accept the books, believing their children are being lavished with gifts. This trojan horse is impoverishing the community of valuable books and materials paid for by the taxpayers.Beware Purple-Haired Wokesters Bearing GiftsU-Turn is closely tied to Sheila Michaels's Book Bag program, which created a fundraiser that helped them raise nearly $8,000. On the one hand, you have the local PR firm for the ALA and the publishers operating alongside the Christian County Library (a government organization) telling you that these books don’t have sexually explicit material in them and that they are appropriate for children. On the other hand, you have the Book Bag program working as a charity (without a 990 or 501(c)(3) that I could find), taking books out of your Community library to give away for the progressive purpose of decolonizing your library. For example, should the Clever Library branch partner so closely with Book Bags, an associate of U-Turn in Education? What does that say about the relationships between a non-profit tied to the ALA and another non-profit working with our taxpayer-funded entity to remove books and hand out period products at a library? Would the period products be more appropriate at the health clinic? Why doesn’t Sheila Michaels go there and put her period products on display at that location? It’s not about the books or the period products. It’s about virtue signaling. It’s about the Clever Library branch communicating with the community that we associate ourselves with the radicals in our community.U-Turn and the Book Bag program are working closely together to gain recognition, success, and even awards, which lead to more non-profit gifts.Following the money exchange between the powerful and the activists is essential. Dr. Dudash-Buskirk has complained about harassment in the community, though she hasn’t produced records. We have shown that the elite in the community have given thousands of dollars to U-Turn and to the Book Bag program. Outside groups have funneled money to them through the award programs that Sheila has received. UPDATE [2/1/2025]Remember what I said about post-colonial books? Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined is rewriting an important American classic, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. This is a direct example of the type of assertion I was making, but didn’t have evidence for at the time. The other books for teens are about DEI, violence, and witchcraft. While she served on a council with others to choose these books, she lent her voice and credibility to making the decisions that included these books on the award list. The Nexstar Award provided social status and $1,000 to a Charity of Sheila Michaels’ choice. The Missouri Association of School Librarians provided an award, but it doesn’t appear to have a monetary award on its website. In 2023, Sheila Michaels was awarded the 2023 Young Adults Librarian of the Year Award, which awarded her $500 and $500 for her library. This was a gift from the American Library Association. In 2024, Shiela Michaels received the Community Foundation of the Ozarks Humanitarian of the Year award of $5,000. In the non-profit world, nothing attracts money like money. Winning awards and recognition will attract more money to your non-profit. Dr. Dudash-Buskirk is also connected to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks through her Be Civil Be Heard (at KSMU) Foundation, which practices “polite conversations” or ways to suppress free speech in our community. Free Speech isn’t always polite or civil. Yet, Dr. Dudash-Buskirk is working hand in hand with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to suppress our speech in our community.The connections spread out to the Christian County Library which is tied to Missouri State University and Community Foundation of the Ozarks through podcasts and grants, all tied to staff and family members of staff. All of this is tied to the Communication Department taht Dr. Dudash-Buskirk works at at MSU. And it’s just a coincidence that she has become an activist at the CCL. Remember that conversation about the start of U-Turn? Who was at the kitchen table that she was protecting? Would it include library staff? As recently as the last board meeting, I observed a staff member whispering to the KSMU reporter Chris Drew behind him in a close manner, signaling a friendship with each other based on the touch on the shoulder and the closeness of the two heads. The staff member in question is Nick Holladay. Is he related to Dr. Holly Holladay at MSU?The genesis of U-Turn with six people at a kitchen table gives you an idea of how quickly a small group of people can affect their local community. Yet, U-Turn hasn’t won any significant battles. They have received outside funding, recognition, and support. The influential NGOs, publishers, and government agencies need U-Turn and Book Bag to win, but relatively disconnected individuals have stood against U-Turn. What has connected those who have stood against sexually explicit material, the decolonization of whiteness (racism, folks, it’s just racism), and fascism has been faith and prayer. There is little more than that holding us together. So be encouraged. You don’t need to win awards from foundations with $427 million in assets to be effective, and you don’t need to require people to call you a Doctor. The power of the individual is still a threat to the hive mind. The power of one lone person, willing to defiantly hold the banner of truth and deny the system its victory, is undefeatable. U-Turn and Book Bags will likely continue to receive awards and recognition for their brave and stunning work. They will likely continue to raise thousands of dollars in fundraising. Yet, their victories are all pyrrhic. They can’t cross the Rubicon–they can’t enter Rome itself and defy an Emperor with the truth like Paul and Peter. Not when they are helping Nero burn down the Imperial city and telling everyone they are the firemen sent to protect the looters and iconoclasts. When the Rain ComesThere is hope that will squelch a fire, though, when divine rain comes down from Heaven on a parched land. Like a spider trying to climb a drainpipe in a storm, our local itsy-bitsy spiders find themselves in an increasingly precarious position. Each carefully constructed strand–from U-Turn's suspicious Expedia donations to Sheila Michaels' cascade of self-reinforcing awards–becomes visible when caught in the light of scrutiny. The web that once seemed so cleverly engineered now glistens with obvious intent: a pattern of self-enrichment masquerading as public service.The delicate spider's most significant miscalculation wasn't in spinning such an elaborate web but in assuming the rain would never come. Yet here it is–not in violent revolution or dramatic expose, but in the steady drip of truth that reveals each connection, each donation pattern, each award ceremony for what it really is. The gossamer web that connects the CFO's $427M to MSU to Springfield Daily Citizen to Reporting on Christian County Library, that links Michaels' humanitarian awards to her husband's financial positions, begins to dissolve under this persistent storm of facts.No desperate spider can flee up this waterspout. No amount of awards, no carefully structured donations, and no pretend proclamations of doing good can help them ascend against this torrent of truth. Like the itsy-bitsy spider of childhood rhyme, they may try again and again, but each attempt only makes their pattern of self-dealing more visible, their web of influence more obvious.The sun they're waiting for–the one that would dry up all these inconvenient truths–isn't coming. Because the rain that reveals their web doesn't fall from natural causes but from divine purpose. We were meant to see this dangerous web, not to be caught in it, but to witness its existence and understand its intent. However, our role was never to destroy the web ourselves–that power belongs to a higher authority. Our assigned task was more straightforward yet profound: to recognize the trap through faith, to understand its nature through prayer, and to warn others who might mistake these silken strands for safety lines. What appeared at first as a potential disaster–our community's collision with their web of influence–was, in fact, divine revelation. The spider's web wasn't meant to catch us but to be caught itself, exposed in the cleansing torrent of heaven's rain. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Part One Link AboveThis investigation reveals a more troubling picture of how Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are a critical control mechanism. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has $427M in assets and $58M in annual revenue. The CFO also operates DAFs and Legacy Trusts, allowing them to influence current and future charitable giving in the community and assess how people think now and far into the future. While DAFs technically give donors "advisory privileges" over charitable giving, the Foundation shapes these decisions through a sophisticated institutional control system. A system is created where the families or boards need a narrator to help guide them. In this case, the CFO is favorable to their self-generated Focus Report, so they will focus on charities that fall within their guidelines. The Focus Report, developed with the help of the Chamber of Commerce, cannot be criticized or questioned by the media--it must be accepted at all costs because it will be the framework for all the progressive architecture done in the community by the CFO and its partners during 2024. The Springfield Daily Citizen is not a newspaper but a significant public affairs firm for Springfield’s charitable organizations. It is a cheap political flyer like the one you receive in your mailbox during election season. It is written with the same intent and purpose: to influence every citizen's vote and way of thinking daily. It’s programming you subtly to change your point of view to vote their way, to give their way, and to support their radical opinions without even realizing what has happened.  They need a relatively cheap political tract since they can't always trust the Springfield News-Leader's agenda to match their own. Their current assets are $427M, which means if they can get donations and grants from other organizations to help pay for it, they are out even less. The ROI for what they spend on SDC (about $1M) makes it a relatively cheap way to:* Control community narrative* Protection of funded initiatives* Directed public opinion* Cover for institutional decisions* Appearance of independent journalismFor less than .25% of their total assets, or 1.71% of their annual revenue, the SDC becomes efficient and cheap political propaganda for every progressive group in Southwest Missouri. At the same time, they can paint any opposition to their goals as nefarious or dangerous. The SDC is some of the cheapest marketing an organization their size could pay for—especially when they can get other donors to subsidize it. The propaganda doesn't benefit the CFO alone. It affects every local Chamber of Commerce, which needs positive news stories about the Schools and Libraries so that voters will pass Tax Bonds. Tax Bonds lead to millions of dollars in interest payments over twenty years for each taxing entity and vendor dollars for the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in contracts for goods and services.Each community is indebted to banks, sometimes foreign banks like STIFEL, and without the incoming funds, the Chamber of Commerce would struggle to operate. The CoC needs positive reports from news organizations about Tax Bonds so that Real Estate values and Taxes will increase, and their specialized interests will make their community sound enticing to investments from banks, new families, and new businesses. It’s all about permanent growth and building wealth. Negative news kills the scores given to community rankings. They want to ensure all news amplifies how fantastic the community is, so their rankings are padded and statistics are ignored. Let’s ignore crime and pay attention to how safe Springfield is. Let’s ignore poverty and celebrate all the wealth in our community. Let’s celebrate our Humanitarians of the Year despite their progressive histories. Let’s whitewash all of our crimes.The Long Shadow of Chamber ControlThe Springfield Chamber's grip on local power didn't happen overnight. I outline this in this article, but I’ll do so again here. Since 1999, the Chamber has systematically influenced who sits on the City Council and who becomes Mayor, including Tom Carlson, who served a second stint from 2001-2009. Their strategy evolved through multiple vehicles - first through direct endorsements, then through their Good Government Committee (GGC), formed in 2010 in partnership with the Home Builders Association. When public scrutiny grew too intense, they shifted tactics, shuttering the GGC and announcing they would stop endorsing school board candidates. But this wasn't a retreat—it was a strategic pivot to their Committee for the Future (CFF), focusing on ballot initiatives while maintaining their influence through less visible channels.The funding mechanism was simple: 10% of member dues went directly to political activities. When this became controversial, they adapted again. Now we see former Chamber leadership, like Jim Anderson (who ran the Chamber from 1988 to 2014), co-chairing new organizations like United Springfield alongside Gail Smart, wife of MSU President Clif Smart (both donors to Springfield Daily Citizen). Gail is running for Springfield Public School Board this April.The stated mission of the United Springfield PAC is to counter what they call "partisan" and "dark money" groups–in other words, to fight against parents spending their own money to protect their children from radical ideologies in schools. Yet, if you follow their actions and money, Gail and Clif Smart are the holy saints of partisan dark money.This shape-shifting ability to maintain power while appearing to respond to criticism exemplifies the Chamber's sophisticated control apparatus. When one method draws too much attention, it simply rebrands and restructures while maintaining its core influence. They've moved from direct candidate endorsements to ballot initiatives, from obvious political action to subtle institutional pressure. The faces change, the organizations get new names, but the underlying power structure remains intact.The brilliance of their current strategy lies in its apparent retreat from politics while deepening its influence through institutional partnerships, Focus Reports, and coordinated community initiatives. They're no longer just endorsing candidates but shaping the framework within which local decisions are made. This isn't just about elections anymore; it's about controlling the metrics by which our community measures success, always aligned with outside standards from entities like the World Economic Forum rather than local values. Using boards through non-profits like the CFO and propaganda firms like SDC is just their newest way of shaping the agenda of the Chamber of Commerce to get people in Springfield to adopt their radical and progressive views. Yet the pressure doesn’t just apply through the news. They shape how donors give money to organizations and non-profits by shaping the narrative at the CFO.Funneling Funds to the SDCThe system's sophistication appears in the details. How does the CFO manage to continue to direct funds toward the SDC? There are multiple ways they can, but by examining the donor list, you can see one type of connection. The Prater family, for instance, appears both in the Legacy Society and as DAF donors, while the Daily Citizen operates through institutional support that masks its actual operational costs. The Foundation maintains plausible deniability through technical donor advisory privileges while, in practice, directing funds toward preferred initiatives and organizations. A donor-advised fund acts in many ways, like a stockbroker for a family, giving advice on which charities (stocks) are the best picks, have the best track record (performance), and will be the best investment of their money. This is a trusted relationship for the family and allows them to avoid creating a board to manage the funds left behind by a loved one. It can be a time-consuming task choosing worthy nonprofits out of the tens of thousands in operation every day. A DAF gives some of that responsibility to the Foundation. If they act in the best interests of everyone, then it’s a good relationship. If they have an ideological bent, choosing and picking winners, then the family is often unaware.Keeping Money in the FamilyFor the family, donor-advised funds are marketed as vehicles for charitable giving; savvy families have discovered they're also powerful tools for maintaining control of wealth while reaping significant personal benefits. The playbook is elegant in its simplicity: Convert taxable assets into "charitable" funds, then leverage the structure to keep the money working for the family.Here's how it typically unfolds: A family transfers millions in appreciated assets into a DAF, immediately claiming a hefty tax deduction and avoiding capital gains taxes. But rather than rushing to distribute the funds to charities, they maintain control through "advisory privileges" – a soft term for what amounts to de facto control over the money.The real magic happens in how families extract ongoing value. They'll place family members in paid positions managing the fund or serving as "expert consultants." The DAF's assets conveniently find their way into family-connected investment vehicles, generating management fees. Meanwhile, the power to recommend grants becomes a form of social currency, building political capital and influence in the community.The beauty of this arrangement is its technical compliance with nonprofit rules. While direct self-dealing is prohibited, the indirect benefits flow freely. The family reduces their tax burden, keeps their money under their influence, generates ongoing income streams through various fees and salaries, and shapes their community through strategic grant-making—all while maintaining the appearance of charitable giving.In essence, DAFs offer wealthy families a way to have their cake and eat it, too: converting private wealth into charitable assets while retaining control and extracting value in ways that may honor the letter of the law, if not its spirit.Following the Money: How DAFs Benefit Their ManagersBehind every donor-advised fund stands an institution, like the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, quietly building a lucrative business model. While these foundations present themselves as charitable facilitators, they've discovered a remarkably stable revenue stream in managing other people's philanthropy.Consider a typical community foundation that oversees hundreds of millions in donor-advised funds. For every $1 million a donor places in a DAF, a foundation collects annual management fees—usually between $5,000 and $10,000. These fees compound as the funds grow through investment returns, creating an ever-expanding revenue base. The foundation's incentive becomes clear: the longer money stays in DAFs and the more it grows, the more fees they collect.The real power lies in investment control. When a wealthy donor places $10 million in a DAF, the foundation decides how that money is invested. They can direct it to preferred investment partners, potentially receiving additional benefits or fee arrangements. By pooling multiple DAFs, they gain access to exclusive institutional investment opportunities typically reserved for major players.This dynamic creates a form of perpetual capital. Take the case of a community foundation with $427 million in assets. If just a quarter of that sits in DAFs, they're collecting over $800,000 annually in management fees alone—before considering any additional investment-related income. Since donors typically recommend grants slowly over time, the principal largely remains invested, generating fees year after year.For these institutions, DAFs represent the perfect marriage of charitable purpose and financial self-interest. Every new DAF they attract, every dollar of investment growth, directly benefits their bottom line—all while maintaining their charitable status. They've effectively turned philanthropy into a sustainable business model, where managing other people's giving becomes a reliable path to institutional wealth.Often, nonprofits are forced (groomed) to follow the ideological whims of the donors who demand the platforming of ideas such as diversity, equity, and inclusion before a nonprofit is even considered. Foundations can change the ideological views of nonprofits or families participating in the Donor Advised Funds.The combination of DAFs, Legacy Trusts, coordinated media coverage, and institutional partnerships creates a self-reinforcing power structure that shapes community decisions while maintaining the appearance of neutral charitable giving. One has to wonder if DAFs and their managers are stock brokers rather than charities–hiding tax burdens for wealthy families under a thin guise of charity and using their wealth and clout to further progressive ideas.The CFO curates the appropriate charities and picks winners and losers. The CFO’s progressive policies and radical ideas benefit these winners and losers.Gemini (Google’s AI) clearly outlines how closely the Springfield Daily Citizen is tied to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The CFO might as well be the SDC’s parent organization. The Power of Philanthropic InertiaAn article like this will expose the connections, but it will take the public’s awareness and actions to impact a foundation as large as the CFO. $427M is money on a scale that is hard for me to fathom. How do you even change the direction of that much inertia? The progressives have, but it took them a century of corrupting churches, seminaries, and universities. SDC has kept its sources anonymous. We discovered a $250,000 gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2019—it was their only gift ever to the CFO, marked for "Public Analysis." Two years later, they found the SDC with a former mayor who hasn't amounted to much. But now they are flush with this cash while hiding their donors. Why are they hiding their donors unless they fear admitting who is bankrolling them? Has the Gates Foundation continued to help fund them?Is the guy who went to Epstein Island and also who wants to vaccinate us all through our food helping to control the news in Springfield, MO? We have a right to know that, but because the SDC is hiding it, we don’t know. They have unique protection as a 501(3)c, and no one can Sunshine Request anything from them.It’s strange that the Community Foundation of the Ozarks received this one-time gift of $250,000 for Public Awareness and Analysis. It is also odd that a fledging non-profit is hiding its donors. Money attracts money in grantmaking. It’s one of the most crucial rules in grantmaking for a new organization. Conservatives need to understand that they must serve on these boards. However, the people who serve on these boards are the powerful and elite. The bigger the board, the more elite the people are. Brian Fogle, who stepped down from leading the CFO, was the father of Betsy Fogle, the progressive Democratic state rep, who won eastern Springfield (despite being a very Red City) because of money from the CFO's connections.Progressives have learned you don't need the government to control people. You can use these charitable organizations to control people. And they do less good. In many ways, they do far more harm than government services of a welfare state. Their socialism only enriches themselves and impoverishes everyone around them. From Nickson’s Recent Article, “It’s Over Lefties: Even the High-End Escorts Have Abandoned Davos.”Their radical progressive values take money away from families struggling to buy groceries when their initiatives focus on the SDC or DEI (as I will demonstrate in a few paragraphs)–nor does the CFO’s impoverished righteousness provide food stamps. The government, as incompetent as it is running a welfare state, at least gives back something after it takes because it has to be held accountable by the voters. Organizations like the CFO throw out a few food banks, but that $427M stays locked up, growing into even more astronomical amounts rivaling local governments. They, the progressives, tell those who are impoverished that it's business owners who are at fault for causing the poverty. They encourage the poor to take from the rich but exclude themselves because they are the professional class that generates wealth not from building anything but from managing money. They are isolated from criticism and taxes as a non-profit while they point to the creation of their “charities” as proof of their magnanimity. To consider the scale of their power, let’s compare them to Queen City. Springfield, MO's budget is $650 million. While the city must provide actual services with public oversight, voting, and transparency requirements, the CFO operates with hidden donors and private decision-making while controlling assets equivalent to about 66% of the entire city's annual operating budget. The CFO’s focus on progressive needs in the community does even less good because their chosen minority communities have small footprints requiring smaller amounts of resources. An LGBT chapter might only have 100 members. However, a food bank may need to serve 10,000 families. By meeting the "needs" of the LGBT group by setting up a blood drive (and getting donations for it), they minimize how much they have to give away for the food drive. For example, I found an SDC article in which the CFO gave away $120,000 in DEI resources. Yet, Springfield, MO's population is 85.2% white, with a total minority population of less than 15%. In a city of roughly 170,000 people, that means these DEI resources were ostensibly directed at serving about 25,000 people—while poverty affects a much more significant portion of the population (42,500 in 2022 or 25% from the CFO’s own report) regardless of race. Any resources directed at this issue aren't about solving racism in our community but an attempt to give away money towards something that won't drain their resources year after year.This strategic approach allows them to appear progressive and engaged while minimizing actual resource distribution. They can maintain their progressive credentials and generate positive press while avoiding addressing costly systemic issues—all while their endowment continues growing beyond the scale of local government resources.A perfect example of how this fascistic system [private organizations working in collusion with media and government to control the populace] operates through charitable structures appears in a 2024 Springfield Daily Citizen "opinion" piece about PrideFest. The story begins by framing conservative Greene County as the antagonist: "As if sponsoring Ozarks PrideFest was not difficult enough in conservative Greene County." Before we even get to the actual news—that a registered sex offender attempted to volunteer at a church booth—the narrative is already established. The community, not the lack of vetting procedures, is positioned as the problem.The author then bizarrely connects this incident to last year's drag show controversy: "Back in 2023, if you recall, some folks were outraged there was a drag show on the main stage at PrideFest." Why include this? It has nothing to do with a sex offender attempting to volunteer. But it serves to paint any community concern, whether about drag shows or sex offenders at festivals, as equally unreasonable. This isn't journalism—it's narrative manipulation funded by the CFO, which gave the GLO Center $21,000 for their "inclusion project" while also supporting the Daily Citizen.Follow the money and messaging: CFO funds GLO Center→CFO supports Daily Citizen→Daily Citizen writes an "opinion" piece protecting GLO Center while attacking community values. Rather than asking hard questions about vetting procedures or public safety protocols, the article focuses on hypothetical "public-relations nightmares" and community intolerance. The actual news–that organizations successfully prevented a sex offender from volunteering at a festival–gets buried under ideological messaging. When foundation dollars control organizations and media coverage, public safety concerns become less important than protecting progressive narratives and funded entities. That's not journalism or charity—it's fascism wearing a philanthropic mask called propaganda or psyops. The Global BlueprintIn her article, Local Control highlights the links between the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and The World Economic Forum (WEF). The WEF frames childcare as an "$11 trillion opportunity." At the same time, NonProfit Quarterly declares, "Women were forced to leave work in those numbers [4.2 million] due to cultural factors, such as disproportionate care responsibilities." Language and the choice of words are everything for the ruling intelligentsia: family choices become "cultural factors" that need fixing. In contrast, childcare becomes an “opportunity”–not for families, but for institutions.This re-purposing of language is reinforced by UNICEF's warning that "the pandemic is making a global childcare crisis even worse," creating urgency for institutional solutions while dismissing traditional family and community care structures. The message is clear: family-based childcare is a problem; institutional childcare is the solution. Families cannot be allowed to care for their children despite what human history has allowed for all of human history. We must use public-private partnerships to save children from their families. This isn’t about Child Care. This is similar to removing children from their parents, as we see in The Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud, to prevent religious “neurosis” from developing by replacing it with something else. To think that the UN, WEF, CoC, or non-profits are genuinely concerned with education and poverty is wholly naive. There are “cultural factors” at play and money to be made, while at the same time erasing the bond between parent and child so the child becomes a malleable resource of the State.The Chamber Network: Creating "Consensus"The machinery moves down to the state level, where the Missouri Chamber manufactures urgency from startlingly thin evidence–a survey of just 312 people in a state of 6.1 million. As Local Control MO observes: "The Chamber and progressive lawmakers are yelling 'FIRE' in a crowded theatre. It's irresponsible and potentially dangerous."This global agenda flows through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce network. The Hill reports that the National Chamber spent "more than $1.2 billion on lobbying, making it by far the nation's largest lobbying organization." Their president, Tom Donohue, revealed their actual function when he stated that the Chamber's role is to provide "reinsurance" to companies for positions that "aren't publicly or politically palatable." Further, Donohue points out that the Chamber can “do the dirty work for its members without them leaving their fingerprints behind.” If this is true at the national level, it seems true at the state and city level.The machinery moves down to the state level, where the Missouri Chamber manufactures urgency from startlingly thin evidence–a survey of just 312 people in a state of 6.1 million. As Local Control MO observes: "The Chamber and progressive lawmakers are yelling 'FIRE' in a crowded theatre. It's irresponsible and potentially dangerous."The Chamber benefits directly from this collusion, even if their values are conservative. They build the libraries and schools purchased with tax bonds. The new “Child Care” crisis means billions, not millions, of dollars in new construction over the next twenty years as each school must develop preschools and early childhood centers. Each of these schools must hire new teachers, which means the Universities will gain new programs and new students to train. The subsequent businesses that will develop or benefit include Special Education Law to Disability insurance for teachers to Curriculum, which means trillions, not billions of dollars, to be moved from the Tax Payer to the Government and then back to the Businesses that profit. The Chamber of Commerce has learned how to take from taxpayers through moral conviction and social intimidation as quickly as the threat of an IRS agent. What’s insidious is they use non-profit propaganda from non-neutral news organizations like the Springfield Daily Citizen to convince you to vote for it so they can take the money by social moralizing.Nonprofit Sector: Legitimizing ControlNonProfit Quarterly's framing reveals how charitable institutions legitimize this control: "When women become parents, they see their pay drop by 30 percent, while men see a 20 percent increase in pay." Rather than questioning this disparity or supporting family choice, they advocate for institutional solutions: "Until Congress passes robust funding increases for child care, states will be left to fill the funding gap." There is no further examination of why this occurs, but to state that there is inequality in the job marketplace for men and women. The Quarterly doesn’t dig deeper but parrots numbers as if they are facts without evidence to back them up from the National Women’s Law Center, a left-of-center social policy non-profit. In other words, they are an advocacy group that doesn’t need to get their facts right to tell a story. Not because they are left-of-center but because they are an advocacy group. Essentially, they are a lobbyist group aiming to change policy. I wouldn’t trust my math from a lobbyist group seeking to influence policy. Yet, this is how it works. Data is created, then data is shared, and then data is parroted by everyone as if it is true without anyone considering or testing if it is.The Local Implementation MachineIn Springfield, three institutions work in concert to implement this agenda:* The Chamber's Focus Report lists childcare as a key challenge requiring immediate action, echoing their parent organization's priorities.* The Community Foundation of the Ozarks ($427M in assets) directs funding toward preferred solutions, using Donor Advised Funds to shape community priorities* The Springfield Daily Citizen launches their "Child Care Crisis Project" with coordinated coverage:*   "Child care waitlists are crazy long"*   "Desperate parents seek help"*   "Gov. Parson proposes boosting child care subsidies"*   “Springfield leaders discuss child care crisis and its effect on workforce"Each article title reinforces government and institutional solutions while ignoring family-based alternatives. Can we not solve these issues on our own or without government assistance? Are we not capable of surviving without the government? As Local Control MO notes: "They are only pushing for Business Tax Credits. Nothing to help the parents that choose to stay home with their children for the formative years."The Bipartisan FacadeThe system works through both parties, demonstrating this isn't partisan politics but institutional control. Former Republican Governor Parson championed business tax credits while Democratic lawmakers pushed for subsidies. The Springfield Daily Citizen announces: "Missouri child care crisis a top priority for the governor, a bipartisan group of lawmakers."To run for Governor, Mike Kehoe skipped grassroots Republican events but received favorable media coverage. The Springfield Daily Citizen gave Kehoe a chance to attack his opponents. Bill Eigel was Kehoe’s most prominent opponent, yet they criticize Eigel for wanting a policy for illegal immigration. Never once in the interview does the SDC challenge Kehoe. He is given the best interview and the best light possible. Kehoe can praise himself unabashedly. SDC even points out how large Kehoe’s war chest was before the primary without questioning where that war chest came from (Steven Tilley and Rex Sinquefield). It reveals how the system selects and promotes politicians who advance institutional priorities regardless of party label.Republicans and Democrats work together because Republicans control Jeff City, but the Democrats control the universities, the nonprofit boards, NGOs, city governments, and many corporations. Cindy O’Laughlin, Senate Pro Tem, addressed the Senate yesterday, January 10th, 2025, making Childcare a priority for this year’s budget. Jon Patterson, who bought the Speaker of the House seat through his expensive donations to the House Republicans Campaign Committee (HRCC), also spoke about how vital childcare is on the day he was elected. Other unfinished business, Patterson said, is legislation to encourage businesses to provide on-site child care and expansion of existing child care centers.“Missouri’s families continue to be burdened with trying to find childcare spots that are too hard to find and too expensive,” he said.In the Senate, O’Laughlin set an agenda focused on issues affecting children, including the foster care system, education, and health. “When families and communities are strong, when children are well nourished and well educated and when our streets are safe, Missouri thrives,” she said.Between Kehoe, O’Laughlin, and Patterson (they hold arguably the three most powerful political offices in the state of Missouri), I don’t think you could find a single conservative policy. They have aligned almost perfectly with the same progressive policies that we see espoused by the Springfield Daily Citizen and the Chamber of Commerce. So much so that when Patterson was installed as the Speaker, all 52 Democrats voted for Patterson instead of voting for their own Democrat Speaker after the Democrat candidate, Ashley Aune dropped out in a grand spectacle to endorse Patterson. This is the perfect alignment between media, government, and non-government organizations on a manufactured crisis to socially engineer us. Yet, is there a crisis?Surprisingly, there is, but it isn’t the one they are claiming it is. To admit to the real crisis (falling birth rates), they would have to fight abortion, which the three of them have done their best to enshrine this past year as a constitutional amendment. The three of them will make sure abortion remains a constitutional amendment for up to 9 months with some of the most radical language in the entire country. We are not a Supermajority of Conservatives. Fascists captured us and claimed they were part of a Constitutional Republic.The Birthrate CrisisFirst, you need to understand that the leading cause of death throughout the entire world is Abortion. From surgical abortion to the Plan B pill, we are aborting children at an unimaginable rate. In January 2024, Worldometer, a live statistics website, reported that 44 million elective abortions were performed in the year 2022, thereby making abortion the leading cause of human death.According to Worldometer, the second leading cause of death in 2022 was communicable diseases, causing almost 13 million victims. Deaths attributed to infectious diseases and cancer accounted for more than 8 million deaths, while smoking caused approximately 5 million deaths. Alcohol contributed to 2.5 million deaths, and AIDS resulted in around 2 million deaths. All these combined still fall short of the number of lives lost due to abortion in 2022.Legalized Abortion in Missouri will see our State’s birth rate fall tremendously. It is already precipitously low. First, you need to understand that the leading cause of death throughout the entire world is Abortion. From surgical abortion to the Plan B pill, we are aborting children at an unimaginable rate. In ten years, our birth rate has dropped from 75,400 children a year to 68,954 children a year. Our population has increased from about 3M in 1910 to about 6.2M in 2020. For the last 10 years, our population has been relatively stable, without much change. We’re not increasing or busting at the seams with new children. The push for easy abortions is having an effect. Fewer and fewer individuals are coming up through the school system. You can see the immediate impact Roe V. Wade had on the age group about 50 years ago. There are far fewer people in the age group of 45-49 than in any other group. That’s my age group. We were aborted eagerly by our parent’s generation for their Free Love. We should be furious. Look at what’s happening to the youngest group under 5. They are being aborted, too. Why do politicians talk about it like it’s a childcare crisis then when fewer children need childcare? They see that the largest group is preparing to leave high school schools across the nation, which are going to look empty, and one of the largest unions in the country will have teachers who aren’t employed. This isn’t about the children. This is about keeping jobs and Union dues up. This isn’t even about keeping teachers employed. This is about the influence that Unions will have over policy decisions. This will be about the School Bonds that won’t be passed or the new buildings that won’t be built. Schools will sit empty if they don’t act now. Billions of dollars will not be spent on interest payments. International banks will not fill their coffers with easy, dependable US taxpayer money collected from the wealth of personal and real estate taxes across our nation. Kehoe, O’Laughlin, and Patterson are participating in the fascistic enslavement of us and our children because they don’t have the backbone to say that it is wrong to abort children even as a national policy, much less as a moral issue.To attempt to save a broken and bloated system, they are forced to capture more children in the dysfunctional entrapment system we call Public Schools. Our children will be destroyed and oppressed even earlier by a mind-numbing loss of creativity and autonomy to produce and serve the state.Modern Fascism: The Partnership of PowerThis demonstrates modern fascism's evolution—the merger of corporate and institutional power happening not through direct government control but through seemingly benevolent organizations:1. Global institutions set the agenda (WEF, UNICEF)2. National organizations create the framework (US Chamber, Biden administration)3. State actors manufacture the crisis (Missouri Chamber's survey)4. Local institutions implement control:   - Chamber shapes priorities through Focus Report   - CFO directs funding ($427M in assets at their disposal)   - SDC provides media coverage ($1M annual budget)   - All while maintaining the appearance of independent actionIn the video linked to this X post by Wall Street Apes, an EPA employee talks about the $50 billion they have madly funneled away to NGOs and Nonprofits so that the EPA employees can have jobs when they leave. This will guarantee that NGOs and Nonprofits continue the work of the EPA employees of the Biden administration through the Green New Deal, fighting against the Trump Administration until they can be redeployed by a friendly administration sympathetic to their radical and progressive views. This is how the circle of life works for Nonprofits and NGOs now–feeding on American Taxpayers like a bloated tick until it falls off and seeks out its next target, not caring that it has weakened its host or that it’s one of thousands feeding off the same defenseless target. The "Cultural Factors" WeaponThe weaponization of the non-profits occurs when they redefine family choices as "cultural factors" that need institutional correction. When NonProfit Quarterly talks about "cultural factors" forcing women from work, they create a problem only institutions can solve. Cultural Factors are too complex for a family to solve. How can a family solve cultural factors when raising their children? Families need something much grander than themselves. Traditional family structures become barriers to overcome rather than choices to support.This explains why the childcare "crisis" focuses exclusively on institutional solutions:* Government funding* Corporate tax credits* Institutional childcare* Workforce participation metrics* Never family support or community-based solutionsThe Result: Institutional ControlThe outcome is a system where:1. Global agendas become local policies2. Family choices face institutional pressure3. Media amplifies preferred narratives4. Funding flows to institutional solutions5. Opposition appears backward or selfishThis is a massive coordination in plain sight, documented through their own words and actions. The question isn't whether this institutional control exists but whether we'll continue accepting it because it comes wrapped in charitable giving and community good.The system works because it's not partisan—it's class-based. Elite interests transcend party lines, using both Republican governmental power and progressive institutional control to achieve their goals while maintaining the illusion of a democratic process. This explains why addressing it solely through electoral politics fails—the real power operates through seemingly benevolent private institutions working in concert with government actors of both parties.The Machinery of Modern TyrannyWhat we've uncovered in Springfield reveals a sophisticated system of control that operates through seemingly benevolent institutions. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks, with its $427M in assets, the Chamber of Commerce, hiding its true membership, and the Springfield Daily Citizen, their curated media voice, work in concert through the Focus Report to shape community life. This isn't random–it's a carefully orchestrated effort to reach into the home of every "good" Springfield citizen and nudge them toward predetermined conclusions.The genius of this system is its invisibility. The Chamber (which keeps its true membership hidden) works hand-in-glove with the CFO and SDC, using the Focus Report - whose origins and accuracy remain conveniently unexamined—to set Springfield's agenda year after year. Through DAFs, institutional partnerships, and coordinated messaging, they create the illusion of organic community consensus while advancing agendas that often counter local values.George Orwell and Aldous Huxley got it wrong. It wasn't the government we needed to fear but the do-gooder. CS Lewis had it right instead when he said, "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." In this system, the do-gooder’s ally is the church. The CFO, the Chamber, the SDC, and even Second Baptist are precisely the moral busybodies that Lewis warned us about. They utilize the mechanisms of government control without its visibility, creating a fascistic tyranny so subtle many don't recognize its existence. Through their coordinated efforts, non-profits, charities, and good-doers have done more to advance Marxist ideology in our rural communities over the last twenty years than any direct political movement could have achieved. Even the traditional churches are in on their shell game of progressive politics. This is why Second Baptist Pastor Dr. John Birchett supported Sheila Michaels, an outspoken progressive liberal for CFO’s Humanitarian of the Year. Not only did the crown jewel of the fundamental Baptist Church in the Missouri Baptist Convention support her, but so did Kings Way Methodist Church and the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. They co-opt the church, who are either willing participants in the corruption of Springfield or they are ignorant participants.The CFO, the Chamber, the SDC, and even Second Baptist are precisely the moral busybodies that Lewis warned us about. They utilize the mechanisms of government control without its visibility, creating a fascistic tyranny so subtle many don't recognize its existence. Through their coordinated efforts, non-profits, charities, and do-gooders they have done more to advance Marxist ideology in our rural communities over the last twenty years than any direct political movement could have achieved. They've nudged our Churches away from Christian Acts of Charity toward secular humanism, introduced ancient and hateful theologies, and secured a stranglehold on our education, our minds, and our children.We are not dealing with our better angels but confronting individuals and organizations who hide in the darkness and seek to manage our lives, controlling our actions and benefiting from the production of our wealth. They can’t trust us to make our own decisions without their input. Their tyranny is more insidious because it comes wrapped in charitable giving and community good, making resistance appear selfish or backward. While we've been watching for government overreach, these institutions have quietly constructed a system of control that operates through tax-exempt donations, grant-making, and carefully managed public discourse.The power to challenge this propaganda begins with recognition. This web of control isn’t unbreakable because it is thinly constructed. We can start to resist only by understanding how these systems work–how DAFs direct money, how Focus Reports shape priorities, how media coverage controls the narrative, and how it serves global rather than local interests. The question isn't whether we live under tyranny but whether we'll continue to accept it dressed in charitable clothing. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

C3, a Church in Maryville, MO, has moved from its Charismatic, more orthodox roots to applying modern culture, victimhood, radical feminism, and Eastern mysticism to the faith.Under the pastor and his wife's leadership, the church has fallen deep into a cult of modern American heresy, where power and wealth are only a few thoughts away through positive energy and manifestation. Christ is a backdrop for false teaching and worship services at this church rather than the center. You can find Nick and Barb's podcasts here and here. Nick and Barb Terry’s Social MediaDobbs Decision?iSuggestive TextsLinksBarb Terry’s Book, Foul-Mouthed Refined Language KingdomC3’s Focus on Youth and College StudentsBarb Terry’s in the news about her School Contract.Nick Terry in the news about his Human Service. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Gretchen and I cover the issues in Susan Wade’s stories of the Christian County Library. Susan Wade’s narrative has created a weak rendering of the Christian County Library, which is only a shadow of truth. We range back and forth over what must be done (legalism) and what ought to be done (morality and faith). So many of the library issues are hidden behind a veil of narrative and misdirection by journalists like Susan Wade. We’ve been lied to through their propaganda-their masters seek to undermine reality through lies about biology. Opening Questions:1. "Could you share your journalism background and credentials?"2. "How did you become involved in covering the Christian County Library issues?"Media Representation & DocumentationCredentials & Coverage:3. "Wade prominently displays her journalism credentials in presenting this coverage. How would you compare your approach to documentation and sourcing with hers?"4. "The article primarily identifies you as 'Garrity's wife' rather than a journalist. How does this type of characterization affect public perception of your work?"Documentation Issues:5. "The article claims people haven't provided lists of concerning books. Could you explain how you've documented these materials?" 6. "What happens when you try to show the actual content on traditional platforms?"7. "You've faced restrictions trying to show evidence of inappropriate content. Could you explain this ironic situation?"* Wade provides narrative-driven explanations for reporting but often fails to provide context, key details, or key witnesses. Can you explain the difference between her approach and investigative journalism?Language & Narrative ControlFraming the Debate:8. "How has the term 'censorship' been redefined in this debate?"9. "How does the ALA's definition differ from traditional understandings?"10. "Why is the distinction between censorship and age-appropriate content crucial?"11. "How has the real issue of parental rights been lost in this narrative?"Coverage Choices:12. "Wade portrays Tuckness's resignation as simply about family time and mental health. What significant events and statements did this coverage omit?"13. "The article presents the lawsuit primarily about meeting notices and bylaw technicalities. How does this narrow focus affect public understanding?"14. "Wade presents technical details about meeting notices but doesn't explore why leadership changes were being sought. Can you discuss this coverage gap?"Professional Standards & RelationshipsObjectivity and Relationships:15. "How has Wade's relationship with library staff members affected her coverage?"16. "Her background includes public relations training. How might this influence her coverage choices?"17. "How has her political advocacy (like requesting Harris campaign materials) affected her coverage?"Journalistic Practices:18. "The article relies heavily on direct quotes from library staff while summarizing or paraphrasing parent concerns. How does this pattern affect public perception?"19. "As someone with journalism training yourself, what do you see as the key differences between advocacy journalism and what's happening in Wade's coverage?"Documentation & EvidenceEvidence Handling:20. "What kind of documentation have you provided that's been ignored in mainstream coverage?"21. "How does your approach to evidence differ from Wade's reporting?"22. "Can you walk us through specific instances where you've provided evidence that wasn't included in Wade's reporting?"Broader ImplicationsImpact & Understanding:23. "What does this situation reveal about local journalism and narrative control?"24. "How can parents and community members get accurate information when local coverage is biased?"25. "How are progressive parents being pitted against other parents in this debate?"Susan Wade’s BiasesHickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The Irrational MindPostmodernists, or those trained to see the world in blank symbols of nihilism (pointless meaning), often fall back on a handful of cliches to describe the world around them, such as Nazis, Racists, -Phobes, and Fascists. History started in 1939, and people refuse to believe anything useful had occurred before then. The reason for this lack of history and the lack of meaning is they weren’t taught to read or examine what a person says. In their erudite, but pointless college courses, they’re poorly groomed and confused college professors pontificated on nothing and charged them thousands. As young minds, budding postmodernists were taught to look they look in the gaps between words (lacunae) for the hidden meaning behind every action or word. It’s a worldview of anxiety, fear, and constant victimhood. If I say something, do something, or behave in a certain manner, you can never take me at face value if you are postmodernist. My words mean nothing. You can never look me in the eyes. Instead, you are looking behind me to see what the postmodern spirit is telling you I actually mean to say. Jacque Derrida, the father of Deconstructionism, a major branch in the wormwood tree of hell that is postmodern irrational thought, taught his students to look beyond the text for meaning in these gaps. This doddering old man, with his loosely fitting suit, walking around his private residence with disdain as if nothing mattered to him at all, was the high priest of dis-truth. (Deconstruction joke there, for those who know). These gaps between words tell what the author really meant to say but was too afraid to say. These gaps tell us the real “truth,” as far as that goes with any postmodern philosopher when you try to nail them to a wall (they will fall apart like Jello as they wiggle around to avoid truth). Truth isn’t hard to discover—people won’t admit to it even when it’s hanging off their face like a forty-pound wart.Derrida gave his students an ouija board for the intellectual to look past words, deeds, and thought to create meaning out of your own mind and with the help of darker spirits that animate the world we can’t see. Paranoia, Anxiety, Fear, Despair, and Accusations are all fed by this postmodern Ouija board. Allyson Tuckness’ display last Tuesday night was nothing short of this postmodern spirit of irrationality and anti-intellectualism on display. This postmodern spirit embraces what Jordan Peterson would label as the Malthusian spirit inside all of us, but I don’t think he goes far enough. I think it is a full-hearted embrace of Lucifer himself. Her accusations were as if she was the planchette for a Demonic spirit to call out against Christian County. She first tried to establish her authority in Libraries because, at one time, she read books. Then she attempted to paint the actions of concerned citizens as Nazis and intimidated they were genocidal. Then, she made herself an identity victim alongside others of “bullying” while ignoring her actions to suppress free speech and journalism and using the police in Nixa to intimidate other board members and the public. Last, she threatened to continue to go after those who criticize the library. Her actions and words demonstrate an irrational thought process. She demonstrates that she chooses to be tied to paranoia, fear, and anxiety. Then she accuses. Her speech should have been titled “J’Accuse.” Last Tuesday night, she embodied the spirit of Postmodernism—the irrational mind.SourcesA Little More Flexibility, Right to Win OzarksThe Twelve Stones Podcast with Mary Hernandez de CarlRight to Win Ozarks, “Allyson Tuckness Resigns”Right to Win Ozarks, Chris Barrett’s SpeechChris Barrett on XHickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Chris Barrett lists his X Bio @midwesthomo77 as such, “Problematic Homo. Tired of the right and the left. Gays need to stick together! They’ll both screw us! LGBTQIA+ @GAG_Missouri Chapter Leader (posts=my own).Chris has been working with Gays Against Groomers (GAG) for approximately two years because of the issues he sees with the radicalization of his Gay community by the political machines left over with money but no good “causes.” These organizations include the Human Rights Council (HRC) and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).Jaimee Michell founded Gays Against Groomers (GAG) in 2022 as an X account (Twitter then). GAG has worked tirelessly alongside Moms for Liberty and other groups to stop the sexual exploitation of minors through books and other materials found in schools, libraries, and even hospitals. Most of the sexually explicit material is packaged in Gay or Lesbian publishing media, which Chris feels damages his community’s values and his community’s name. It’s not published in Christian media aimed at teenagers. Publishers have placed Sexually Exploitive Material in the LGBT community media because the Publishers knew they would be able to claim anyone who speaks against it is “phobic” or “bigoted.” It’s a smokescreen for the Publishers to make millions of dollars. Chris doesn’t want to cause harm to any individual who is gay or trans—his goal is to stop the radical progressive work done by postmodern deconstructionists who fantasize about a world where they have replaced all values that don’t reflect their narrow (can we say Marxist?) and militant values. While Chris and I have different values in some areas of our lives (he likes the Chiefs, and I barely know what football is)—our concern about protecting children from harm and a near radical and cult-like mentality allowed us to have an open dialogue. Free Speech is about having open conversations with people you might disagree with so that you can move the needle toward greater sanity. With the radical progressive movement, there is no option for a sane movement. It’s all progressive insanity—not to protect trans or gay kids. It’s to create revolutionaries to have their final and glorious revolution. So when a Straight Christian and a Gay Jew walk into a Library on Tuesday in Nixa, MO, it’s not a joke. It’s a serious attempt at changing the world—one library at a time. Though, I’ll probably laugh a little. I am a satirist after all.As Chris mentions at the end of the interview, please go to this link to donate, become a member of Gays Against Groomers, or work as an ally (non-gay member).HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The night of the board meeting, September 24, 2024, after the special board meeting at 4:00 pm, I interviewed Ms. Hagen. She stated that the board was forced to take legal action against three board members because a community member was going to sue.Here is my sunshine request.I received a lot of documents today. I will be reviewing them and sharing them with you over the next couple of weeks. Here is the community member she was referencing. Scott Woosley is mentioned as a stakeholder for Nixa City in their Growth Plan. He seems to be an “expert” in CCL bylaws, though he’s never mentioned in any of the emails I’ve seen related to the library from the Sunshine request. His interpretation or his opinion about the by-laws isn’t binding for the library, nor does he have any authority in the matter. He’s like any other community member. He’s using “legal” terms, but that doesn’t make him a legal expert, per se. Unless he is, but he has nearly zero social media presence. He doesn’t even have a LinkedIn page. However, the Library lawyer, Harry Stryon, filed a lawsuit because of this email, according to Ms. Hagen, and used her as a plaintiff.Now the question is, “Did Ms. Hagen lie to me in the interview about Mr. Woosley, or did someone lie to her about Mr. Woosley’s intentions?”This man sounds like the Cigarette-Smoking Man in the X-Files of Nixa. What really happens behind closed doors in our county? Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Wes Scroggins presents how Abortion is not banned in Missouri and that Missourians can still access abortion through either pills or going across state lines. * This bill will not give access to abortion but will allow abortion up to 9 months (with no limits).* This bill will allow anyone to give an abortion with a thin excuse as a medical practitioner. * This bill will prevent anyone from suing someone for medical malpractice for abortion or transcare surgeries. * This bill will allow minors to receive trans-mutilation surgeries and puberty-altering hormones. * This bill will take away parent consent.Thank you, Missouri Freedom Principle, for the Images!HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

While I appreciate Janis giving me a chance to interview her, the people who need to answer are the CCL Board’s Lawyer, Harry Styron, and the former President Allyson Tuckness. Why did they use the excuse of a private citizen threatening to sue as an excuse for lawfare? Who is this private citizen? Why is he so powerful, but unnamed? He can send comments to the board, but never attends a board meeting to make a public comment? Is that the will of the public or the tyranny of one?Even more to the point—why were the concerns of other private citizens of absolute no concern the past two years. Even as the Library violated Sunshine laws and complaints, why did Mr. Styron feel it necessary to sue the Board on behalf of private citizens I made complaints. I had zero interactions from him about violations when the Board was breaking the Subshine laws regarding documents submitted to them. Who is this special citizen? What is his special relationship to the Board’s Lawyer the former President?HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Update: I have added new images and video to this interview as the story unfolds. I will continue to do so as more information comes to light.In this phone call, Ms. Dobbins calls a local chiropractor and asks if they do Energy Healing, but the office refers her to the Energy Healer, stating they go to church with her and practice Energy Healing.When I spoke with the pastor of this church on 9/25/2024, he acknowledge she practiced Energy Healing and used Spirit Guides, but he dismissed the concerns that it was Wiccan or New Age, citing she was only confused. He stated he was concerned about the women in his church being upset about their friend being attacked. He did not seem concerned about the truth being told. He only seemed concerned about appearances. Edit: I removed the name of the Energy Healer and the name of the person who recommended her to my source. It would be within my legal rights as a journalist to expose their fraud. It appears they intentionally violate HIPPA and use the information to intimidate and bully the source and her family. To reduce the intimidation and bullying, I removed the name. Not to protect the Energy Healer but to protect my source. There is a long tradition in exposing Mediums and frauds, from Houdini to the Amazing Randy. Watch An Honest Liar on Prime Video to learn more.HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.When the church colludes with witches and energy healers, it reaches a new standard of debasement that is rarely seen outside of King Saul or the spirit of Jezebel.In Maryville, one church with a progressive, social justice theology has members and leaders aligned with an energy healer embedded in another church. This woman is a prominent Republican, leads Bible Studies, and secretly practices the dark arts like a medium.She consorts with familiars, dark spirits, so-called guardian angels, and other demonic beings to interfere with the Holy Spirit and create healing that mixes New Age with New Thought. In this video, Melissa Dougherty helps explain the difference between New Thought and New Age.However, this Energy Healer seems to have mixed the two beliefs together to create a potent and demonic center of power in Maryville. As Christians, we need to recognize that there are real spirits (inferior to God) who use their influence to suck in people to do acts of evil. Sometimes, they convince Christians (or people who think they are Christians) to commit these acts of spiritual evil.I found this book in a Facebook group. It was God’s timing. The person seems to have marked up the book with lots of notes. I have screenshots and texts that I am currently holding back. I will publish if needed if my source is threatened publically by the Energy Healer or by the person who sent her to the energy healer. If you make yourself public, I will assume you want me to share the documentation. The Energy Healer spoken about in the Interview claimed to learn from Eden.Here are some images from an Amazon review from a book by David Feinstein and Donna Eden. Look at the beliefs of Swami Giri about Christ living in India. This is where the Energy Healer learned her practices.Here is the biblical text of what happens when Saul uses the Witch of Endor, a medium.1 Samuel 28New American Standard BibleSaul and the Spirit Medium28 Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you will learn what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Then I will assuredly make you [a]my bodyguard for [b]life!”3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 So the Philistines assembled and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. 6 So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him, either in dreams, or by the Urim, or by the prophets.7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.”8 Then Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Consult the spirit for me, please, and bring up for me the one whom I shall [c]name for you.” 9 But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, that he has eliminated the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then setting a trap for my life, to bring about my death?” 10 So Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 13 But the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a [d]divine being coming up from the earth.” 14 He said to her, “[e]How does he appear?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid [f]homage.15 And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul replied, “I am very distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has abandoned me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or in dreams; therefore I have called you, so that you may let me know what I should do.” 16 Samuel said, “But why ask me, since the Lord has abandoned you and has become your enemy? 17 And the Lord has done [g]just as He spoke through me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.18 Just as you did not [h]obey the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the Lord has done this thing to you this day.19 Furthermore, the Lord will also hand Israel along with you over to the Philistines; so tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed, the Lord will hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”20 Then Saul immediately fell full length to the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words; there was no strength in him either, because he had eaten no [i]food all day and all night. 21 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was utterly horrified, and she said to him, “Behold, your servant has [j]obeyed you, and I have [k]taken my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. 22 So now you too, please listen to the voice of your servant, and let me serve you a piece of bread, and eat it, so that you will have strength when you go on your way.” 23 But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” However, his servants together with the woman urged him, and he listened to [l]them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it; then she took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it. 25 She then served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.Thanks for reading HickChristian! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

We have lost control of the Republican Party at the Grassroots level and the MOGOP level. Financiers like Axiom Strategies, Victory Enterprises, Steven Tilley, Rex Sinquefield, and many others have broken the state into parcels to further their political and business goals. We saw it in the recent primary with Mike Kehoe. He never showed up for a Republican event or debate and still won the primary by a large margin. Groups like the financiers bankrolled his election and campaign ads so that when he’s governor, he will pay them back with dividends on bills and legislation signed, which will hurt the Missouri voter. In speaking with Shaun Horner, I learned some hard truths about the Republican Party. I suspected some things about Axiom and the other financiers, but he confirmed many.He also shared something quite troubling for the future of the Republican party and the Grassroots. We are fighting the wrong battle, my Grassroots friends. Or at least we are fighting several steps behind the MOGOP and its financiers. The Missouri GOP is outmaneuvering us with election tampering through open primaries, among other issues that looked like they allowed illegals to vote and maybe even the dead in different parts of the state. Here is an example of Nodaway County having a 30% turnout. 35% turn out in Atchison, where Sam Graves lives. Nearly 40% turn out in Gentry. Either these are the most Republican people in the state, or something is terribly wrong.They are also outmaneuvering us with vetting, but the Financers have no plans for accountability to values or the Constitution. You have to hear it from Shaun. What is happening in Maryville will shake the foundations of the Republican Party across the state.HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I drove up to Maryville to interview a woman who had been part of the Nodaway County Federation of Republican Women (FRW). She had been accused and attacked during her time as the President.* For being an outsider (a common theme in Missouri politics)* Falsely accused of whiting out the financial ledger (not in her possession)* She had a coup staged against her while she was receiving a reward* She witnessed Family Politics working to get Jeff Farnan (by all accounts, an incompetent boob elected) * Ignoring much more competent Officials running for Office because they aren’t Family* Violations of Bylaws for the FRW. The FRW is supposed to remain neutral until after the primaries. Maryville politicos are sending their worst candidate to Jefferson City. Listen to the interview. You’ll discover that Jeff Farnan bungles everything he says. In ousting the woman I interviewed, the FRW made it clear they didn’t want a fair election; they wanted a coronation.The FRW wanted someone they could control. Instead, Farnan has become someone the lobbyists and financiers control.He might as well be a Democrat. When we send baby-face, spineless, and mindless representatives like Farnan to Jeff City, we are cutting our throats as voters.The FRW’s connections with the Media even allowed them to put Farnan at the front of the Voter Guide in the local paper and bury the most constitutional candidate. They even made it appear like Farnan was Pro-Choice on the limited copy they provided Horner. This is more proof that my source is telling the truth about her story. HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The Problem with the Rhincoceros in the RoomTo save the Republican Party, many local grassroots members in the Central Committees attempted to introduce qualifications for elected officials at the county level (state, also, but that was stopped to disastrous effects). Yet, the Republican Party didn’t want to be saved from the RINOs or its Financiers. It wanted the money, the power, and the glamour. It fought back at many different levels—in many different ways. From the actions at the MO State Convention on May 4th, which cumulated in fist bumps and Towgate to the attempted stolen delegates at the RNC, the MOGOP acts more like a Banana Republican Junta than they do a party of people aiming toward constitutional conservative, or Christ-like values. They act more like the Shah of Iran than they do Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves and kept a nation together based on principles of liberty and freedom. Cyndia Haggard, Chair of the Vernon County Republican Central Committee, and Linda Rantz, Cause of America (Missouri and National), came on tonight to discuss these issues with Gretchen Garrity (Right to Win Ozarks) and me. Resourceshttps://x.com/CofAMissouri/status/1825947724656816164/photo/1https://x.com/CofAMissouri/status/1826349355315474786https://x.com/CofAMissouri/status/1826019043037376771/photo/1https://x.com/CofAMissouri/status/1826019043037376771/photo/1Remember to email Chairman Mao; I mean Chairman Mao-yers and his minions, at [email protected] Local Podcasters and Authors’ BiosGretchen Garrity is a former journalist who has written boldly for years. She is a brave Christian conservative, but she’s most proud of being a grandmother.David Rice writes about three issues in this order: Christ, the Constitution, and Conservative issues. He is a father and husband and has been redeemed at a cost he could not pay. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

"It’s hard to imagine that what we’re witnessing is an organized technological, religious cult with eugenicist underpinnings. The single most important contribution to Hilter being able to continue his holocaust against the Jews in Nazi Germany, is that people could not, would not, allow themselves to believe it was happening. It was too terrifying." from Jennifer Bilek. If Amendment 3 passes on November 6th, it will essentially turn Christians, Parents, and other Faith Groups into outlaws in Missouri. If we, or you, oppose or stand in the way of a child’s “reproductive freedom” to transition to another sex or if we oppose a child being aborted at any stage of development, we will be criminalized for violating their constitutional right.Amendment 3 is a Lie (Vote No)Amendment 3 is a smokescreen for the implementation of the transgender agenda on Missouri’s children and could threaten parental rights. • Amendment 3 would repeal the SAFE ACT passed in 2023. According to the Liberty Counsel’s Statement of Leaders Opposing Missouri’s So-Called “Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative,” states “While the text cleverly focuses on pregnancy and abortion, the creation of a broad right to“reproductive health care” expanded with the “but not limited to” text enables an interpretation that“reproductive health care” includes the right of a person to modify, eliminate or change their reproductive system. Moreover, since the language does not specifically protect the parent-child relationship, the left will continue to argue that the state must counsel, enable, and facilitate children to surgically, hormonally, or otherwise irreversibly mutilate themselves, against parental consent, under the guise of reproductive health and so-called “gender-affirming care.”• Amendment 3 could repeal the Missouri Save Women’s Sports Act. According to Section 6, “The Government shall not discriminate against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care or assisting another person in doing so.” According to the Liberty Counsel, “This so-called “anti-discrimination” provision could be applied to allow biological males “obtaining reproductive health care” a legal right to demand access to girls’ and women’s activities and spaces.”• Amendment 3 could give the state the authority to remove children from parents who object to their children receiving “gender-affirming” surgeries and/or medical treatment. According to the Liberty Counsel, Section 6 could create “A state-sponsored “right” that can be used by bureaucrats to mislead and kidnap children to irreversibly mutilate and forcibly sterilize their reproductive systems against parental consent.”Amendment 3 Attack on Unborn Children and Women’s Health• Section 2 would repeal Missouri State Statute 188.026, Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act, “Missouri Heartbeat Law,” and allow full-term and partial-birth abortion up to the moment of birth. • Section 4 would allow abortions for physical or mental health reasons for all nine months. • Section 5 would eliminate abortions that are required to be conducted by licensed physicians. This would allow unlicensed “Medical” professionals to perform an abortion in an unlicensed medical facility. Amendment 3 Attack on Parental Rights and Taxpayers• Section 3 would eliminate parental consent of minors from receiving an abortion. “Any denial, interference, delay, or restriction of the right to reproductive freedom shall be presumed invalid.”• Section 3 would repeal HB 2634 and force taxpayers to fund abortions; HB 2634 was sponsored by Representative Cody Smith and passed in the 2024 legislative session. HB 2634 Section 188.207 states, “It shall be unlawful for any public funds to be expended to any abortion facility or any affiliate of such abortion facility.”  Documents“The Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative” Petition“Certificate of Sufficiency” for the Ballot Initiative “2024 Ballot Measures” from the Missouri SOSReferencesPietism Definition from Defy Tyrants website.“Now Pietism – which teaches that Christianity should be a purely private matter and that God’s law has no place in the governance of nations – always tells us that we are wasting our time when it comes to being involved in seeing that good laws are established in our nation. They mock it as mere ‘moralizing.’ They say we should just be involved in trying to save men’s souls – we should just preach the gospel. But what Pietism fails to understand is that good law – that which mirrors the law and justice of God – helps men see where they are wrong, where they have sinned against God, where they do need to repent.”Shield Maidens of MO“Ask yourself this: Why did MRL endorse Jay Ashcroft for Governor approximately a year ago BEFORE the race for Governor even heated up when he has NEVER taken ANY vote for the LIFE issue? He does not have a proven record. He has nothing for voters to see. So, how does MRL know how Ashcroft will vote when pressed when he has never taken a vote unlike Senator Bill Eigel who has 8 full years of votes that are on record? Mike Kehoe has a full slate of documented votes from when he was a sitting senator for the life issue that are less than impressive. Kehoe’s position on abortion is weak, unlike Eigel’s based on live debates we have watched for 8 years and all of the votes he has taken.”Watch the video here.Abolish Abortion MissouriMy interviews with Dr. Wes Scroggins can be found here and here.What are the Churches doing?Sadly, in my research, not enough details were provided. The Missouri Baptist Convention and the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese provided the most details. Yet, many churches are worried that they will lose members if they preach this from the pulpit or lectern. Can they afford to lose members in a climate of scarce money? Many pastors, priests, elders, and deacons are asking the wrong question.In a culture that is turning against children and moving openly and gleefully toward child sacrifice, can they stay silent and not fear the judgment of God?Washington University Plans for Unborn ChildrenYour Local Podcasters and Authors’ BiosGretchen Garrity is a former journalist who has written boldly for years. She is a brave Christian conservative, but she’s most proud of being a grandmother.David Rice writes about three issues in this order: Christ, the Constitution, and Conservative issues. He is a father and husband and has been redeemed at a cost he could not pay. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

If you didn’t pick up Ukraine Meets the American Empire the last time Terry and I spoke, you are missing out on one of the best-written explanations of any war I have read. I highly recommend it.Terry clearly highlights the problems throughout the 20th Century with our expansionist government and its move into an Empire. Empires are often shortlived, especially if they aren’t willing to conquer and enslave large swathes of the world. Our Christian heritage has slowed this down, but how long will it? You should pick up his book if you want to understand the deeper problems with Ukraine, Russia, NATO, and the Great American Empire.Amazon LinkBarnes & Noble Left-Bank Books Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Floyd Jernigan and I discuss the August 6th Primary, tearing it apart and looking inside the political cadaver. What went right? Wrong? And what didn’t matter? Why did the Republicans hurt themselves so badly Tuesday night with some races but not others?Primary Election Resultshttps://enr.sos.mo.govHickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Constitutional Lawyer and Educator KrisAnne HallI interviewed Dr. KrisAnne Hall after hearing her speak in April. My write-up of her speech is here. Dr. Hall clearly explains the government's role and the people's role in preserving freedom and the natural rights given to us by God. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous during my interview with Dr. Hall, the first of many I hope to conduct with national figures in Constitutional politics. However, I am committed to bringing more educational interviews to our community. We must move beyond the surface of our Constitution and delve into its true meaning, which is far more profound than the conservative values often seen on bumper stickers. I’m learning and hope you will join me as I understand more. This is the education we all need to get better. To start, I suggest everyone read her book, Sovereign Duty. It helped open my eyes.For example, she writes, “The federal government has no authority to define its own power or limitations” (70). The Supreme Court cannot determine if the Executive Branch overrides the State’s Constitutional rights or the Individual’s rights. This is like trusting an oligarchy to determine that the oligarchy is overreaching. We need to understand our Constitution has set up checks and balances that are often overlooked and unused. Amazon Link to the book. I suggest everyone pick this book up.Dr. Hall and I discussed the 12th and 25th Amendments in the interview. You can find them at the above links. Having a knee-jerk reaction to removing Biden isn’t practical right now. We need to understand there will be consequences. If Biden were to be removed now, we would also need to be concerned about Trump being removed through the 25th Amendment. Lastly, Dr. Hall and I went through School Choice and discussed the similarities between what happened in Florida and what is occurring in Missouri. To review SB727, the “School Choice” Bill, please go here and here. To read Dr. Hall’s articles on vouchers and the history of education in America, follow the above links. We have confused Conservative Values with Constitutional Values. Conservative Values do not always or even often align with Constitutional Values. They are frequently opposed, but politicians want them so badly that they don’t care because they want to promise the impossible and achieve mediocrity.Social Media for Dr. KrisAnne HallWebsiteX (Formerly Twitter)InstagramAs always, you can find this interview on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, Rumble, and my favorite, Missouri Liberty Radio, out of Owensville on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Linda Rantz posted a fantastic breakdown of the lawfare in our state against ordinary citizens. She highlights three different examples against three women in our state.First Scenario: If the Missouri Secretary of State seeks the criminal prosecution of a citizen activist who previously stated in writing to the SOS that she perceived a letter from them to her contained a “thinly veiled threat,” and, if the grounds the SOS is using for criminal charges is based on election complaints from two members of an opposing political party,and, if the total ‘evidence’ collected by the SOS is deficient and/or false, could this be the weaponization of the Secretary of State’s office? What if the charges sought against the citizen activist are the same as a 2022 complaint against a different person, and the Secretary of State determined these similar charges in 2022 were “not an election offense”? (This scenario begins on page 3)Second Scenario: If the Missouri Secretary of State coordinated with county officials to file a lawsuit against citizens who exercised their rights for open records requests, could this be lawfare by the Secretary of State and other elected officials against citizens? (This scenario synopsis is on page 16)Third Scenario: If a citizen activist has the courage to research and collect proof of election violations, to carry the burden of taking the fight to the courts, to sacrifice time and treasure for the sake of securing elections, only to learn that the primary gatekeeper blocking this case from getting into court is the chief election officer for the state, could this be lawfare by the Secretary of State? (This scenario synopsis is on page 17)I interviewed Linda Rantz about this issue here. I interviewed Sheriff Mike Bonham about the investigation here. I showed Shane Schoeller (along with the SOS’s office, it is believed) is suppressing free speech here. He, who shall not be named, using his father’s Ashcr0ft Group to secure Biometric Data to collect data on Missouri citizens. My interview with Ali Graef is here. She and Linda have put a lot on the line to fight for election integrity; everyone should thank them.HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

No Class GomezOn July 12, 2024, Valentina Gomez attended the Wright County Republican Central Committee (WCRCC) meeting with other candidates. She attempted to hijack the questions to have her unallocated and undue time in front of the Wright County voters. However, despite three attempts by the WCRCC chairpeople to have her speak following the rules, Ms. Gomez did not follow the WCRCC’s procedures for being a Candidate presenter. After being removed from the meeting, she drove a mile down the road to the City Hall and threw a tantrum on X, where she accused them of being corrupt, wanting to murder babies, and not taking care of their flags (she only spanned up to look at the flags for half a second.) Ms. Gomez is a bomb-throwing candidate who cannot even follow simple procedures to speak at a Central Committee meeting. How can we expect her to follow the complex legal rules of being a Secretary of State? After we discussed Valentina Gomez, we discussed the behavior of another bad actor in Wright County, Tommy Kingery. Mr. Kingery has continued his aggressive actions against an 82-year-old candidate who legally removed a political yard sign placed on private property without permission. He was verbally abusive and tried to intimidate her physically. For more details, go to this first-hand account here.He’s the current Western County Commissioner for Wright County. Is this the leadership Wright County needs?HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Runaway is an award-winning book from Literary Titan that deserves the accolades. In its own way, the book reminded me of “Sound of Freedom” as Detective Flanders and the Case Worker, Ms. Anders, search Branson and the surrounding area for why the little girl, Rose, has been abandoned.Candy tells a great story—I really enjoyed uncovering who Rose was and her family. It was difficult to learn how little she was wanted by those who should have loved her, and it reminded me of my own time as a teacher. The book is also a mission. Candy is part of Dress a Girl Around the World, and this mission works to provide simple dresses with tags for little girls so they are less likely to be picked up by predators or traffickers. If you’re interested in helping Candy change the world, grab her book, which is available for free as an ebook for one more week until July 31st on Barnes & Noble through this link. WebsiteFacebookContactFrom her webpage:BIOC.A. (Candy) Simonson has always had a love for words. She started writing stories as a child and even won a contest for writing in the third grade. (See the story in Stories to Read: “The Budding of a Writer.”) Her first published piece was a poem in a national magazine at age 17. That was enough to get her hooked.She is an award-winning author and writer of short stories, articles, and books. She is a frequent contributor to online publications and print magazines, now almost 400 pieces.Candy occasionally writes content for Crowd Content and Textbroker. These online companies present a list of articles, blog posts, ads, and other content that need to be written. “It provides a happy distraction when writing is slow, or the ideas don’t come.” Although this is a ‘write-on-demand’ type of writing and sometimes requires a lot of research on a deadline, it presents the type of challenge she loves to meet.In 2013, her contemporary Christian fiction, Love’s Journey Home -The Search for Love, debuted. Two years later, the sequel, Love Looks Back – The Search for Siblings, was published, and the following year, Love’s Amazing Grace -The Reunion. A Christmas novella, The Christmas Adventure came out in 2018. Her award-winning short stories and flash fiction have been published in nine anthologies.  Click for a list of publications.Runaway is a drama/mystery about the plight of runaway/throwaway/trafficked children, fostering, and adoption, being released in 2019. Runaway won the Literary Titan Gold award and was nominated for the “Reader’s Favorites” awards. The Chosen One: Mary’s Story was first published on Kindle Vella in 2020, the book gives the biblical account from Mary’s perspective as a 13-year-old. It came out in print format in 2021. Rock Band Roadie, a Christian thriller, came out in 2023.Her nonfiction books include a primer/storybook/coloring book: All Beautiful Creatures, a food tip book: Food Hacks, Helps, and Hints, and a five-minute devotional: Reflections of the Soul. Finding Your Super Powers is an activity/story/coloring book for ages 8-12 based on the Beatitudes of the Bible. In 2022, another devotional was released which is also a prayer journal, God Help Me.Simonson worked in the technical field for over 20 years as an elementary computer teacher (K-6) to over 300 students in two Wisconsin schools. Moving to Springfield, Candy worked with two companies with training on computer applications of MS OFFICE, ADOBE, and a variety of other apps. She also taught classes at the Springfield Senior Center in 2018 and has done numerous speaking engagements.When she is not writing, she loves to craft, garden, forage, and fish in their backyard pond. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Ali Graeff has been a beacon of hope, fighting and investing in addressing Election Fraud in the state of Missouri since 2020. Her efforts, particularly in the wake of the 2020 election, have become clear to most honest observers—a stolen election.Our elections are no longer secure, from mail-in ballots to ballot harvesting to Dominion machines (and other machines) presenting incorrect numbers. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 brought machine counting into our most critical election infrastructure. We no longer rely on humans (with a tiny miscount rate) who can be verified easily by a recount, but almost every jurisdiction now relies on machines. Machines can be manipulated at a level we can’t see. They can have ballots placed in them that are incorrect (falsely created), or the software itself can be written to create outcomes for one candidate or multiple candidates. Why? The people in charge of the finances have decided they no longer want to gamble on elections but want to determine who will win beforehand. Ali has worked hard to uncover the details behind our Election Fraud in Missouri and Nationally. She’s discovered J@y Ashcr-ft and Andr-w Bail-y are working hard to continue the election fraud in our state. These two illegally elected officials claim they fight for you, but they don’t. Listen to Ali explain how the system has been broken for a long time and how J@y and Andr-w are fighting to keep the system broken. The 65 Project Ali mentions.https://the65project.comRumble Video https://rumble.com/v3ophlk-are-our-elections-illegal-ali-graef-explains-her-pro-se-missouri-election-l.htmlEditor’s Note: The candidates' names have been given the “curse word” treatment because if we use their real names, Substack will not email our subscribers this article. This only happens when we write articles about the Candidate-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. This Candidate is using his daddy’s power and Patriot Act connections to suppress free speech. Tell us how he’s a Super Chrisitan—please?HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

This book is well-informed and well-researched. Hyten goes after the causes of this war and holds accountable everyone who has been at fault for the last several decades. The Ukranian war didn’t start because of Russian aggression, but rather our never-ending American aggression. Everyone should purchase it and add it to their library and knowledge bank. Terry’s interview was great, and I found it fascinating to dig deeper into the role America played in making NATO an arm of the American Military and Empire to threaten and intimidate Russia and control Europe. Our Deep State Bureaucrats have resented Russia without just cause since the end of the Cold War. Their goals are to humiliate and hobble this nation without cause and without furthering American interests—except one. America must be the only Hegemony. We are a jealous god.Amazon BlurbUkraine's war with Russia is the largest military conflict to occur on the world stage since World War II....and this conflict was completely avoidable!Dive into the pages of this gripping book that unveils the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, surpassing the magnitude of any military engagement since World War II—a conflict that need not have occurred!As per The New York Times (February 25, 2024), shocking revelations expose the presence of up to twelve "secret" CIA forward operating bases near the Russian border, strategically established in the aftermath of the 2013 Euromaidan Coup in Ukraine. Was there a clandestine collaboration between CIA bases and Ukrainian counterparts to oust then-president Victor Yanukovych?This riveting narrative presents compelling data that redirects blame from Russian aggression to U.S. foreign policy as the primary catalyst for escalating a regional dispute into a global military confrontation.Explore the profound historical consequences of America's interference in Ukraine, including:* Realignment of the geopolitical balance among major world powers* The failure of U.S. and NATO sanctions, leading to the de-industrialization of Europe* The inadvertent strengthening of America's adversaries* The impending end of America's hegemony* The acceleration of the demise of the Petrodollar and the termination of the U.S. Dollar as the world's reserve currency.Witness a stark reality— the days of the American Empire are now counted in years, not decades. This thought-provoking analysis serves as a wake-up call for all concerned Americans, offering a perspective often overlooked in the West. Don't miss this essential read that challenges conventional narratives and sheds light on the intricate web of global politics.Where to PurchaseAmazon LinkBarnes & Noble LinkLeft Bank Books Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The CoupOn May 4th, Rep. Dan Stacy, was able to call for a motion for a quorum which closed the Mo GOP State Convention. He colluded with Rep. Ben Baker who was stalling for time by filibustering every proposal set forth by the Grassroots delegates who passed the duly appointed amendments to the platform. Rep. Baker was biding time to hopefully run down the clock. He got his wish when Ron Sanders, prompted by a text from Sandy Karnes,fd went to the mic and erroneously reported to the Convention that the Hotel was going to tow cars. I cover the story here and so does Gretchen Garrity on her blog Right To Win Ozarks. I’m sorry Baker and Stacy. You’re not conservative if you are trying to silence the voice of the majority of the Missouri delegates because you have been bought out by special interests and lobbyists. In fact, you’re either useful idiots or you are tyrants. Sanders interrupted Baker’s filibustering tactics and in doing so, gave Stacy the leverage he needed to call for a motion for Quorum. All of the 26 Duly appointed Amendments that had been passed did not have a chance for the final vote to be placed in the platform as they were going to be paced as a group. In the photo, you can see in the hands of a person the amendments. There have been mixed reports on who had access to amendments that day. There is video of the entire day, record by David Lightner, but paid for by the Missouri GOP. The Missouri GOP has placed this video into a vault so deep, not even Indiana Jones could find it. The Incompetent TyrantsAt the MO State GOP meeting, I cover how hostile Nick Meyers and his lawyer, Lowell Pearson, are to Jason Soseman. Nick Meyers’ incompetence is built into the system. I believe it’s on purpose as I covered in my interview yesterday about Steven Tilley buying up elected officials.Jason Soseman is seeking to be a Grassroots driven conservative leader of the Missouri State GOP. With him in charge, maybe we can start raising the funds necessary to keep men like Steven Tilley and Rex Sinquefield from buying politicians like hogs at a wholesale market. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve covered the actions of Rex Sinquefield in other articles related to his helping push to get SB727 passed by claiming it was a School Choice bill. However, as Hick Christian uncovered, the bill is simply a way for him and his cronies to get rich while creating welfare queens out of conservative home-school moms. However, he’s not the only political player. Allegedly, The Democrats have to deal with Roland Crowley in St. Louis controlling their media and votes. State-wide, though, one man has risen to power, making Crowley and Sinquefield’s actions seem like small-bit players linked to the World Economic Forum. Steven Tilley has amassed the type of political power in Missouri that maybe only a few people in history have collected. To donate and help raise funds for this Sunshine request, please go here.For more information, go to this companion article, where I show how Tilley has affected State Politics for over a decade. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

InterpositionI first learned about a Constitutional Sheriff last Fall when I read The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates by Matthew J. Trewhella. Amazon Link here. https://www.amazon.com/Doctrine-Lesser-Magistrates-Resistance-Repudiation/dp/1482327686Trewhella argues that the sheriff is in a unique position in government to act as a barrier between state and federal overreach and the citizens. We all want a sheriff to exercise this duty, whether we are conservative, progressive, or somewhere in between.Interposition simply means the sheriff or other elected official can be a barrier or wall against violations of constitutional rights. Missouri’s ProblemHowever, in Missouri, the laws governing the election of Sheriffs are now in statutes instead of our state constitution. This means a bureaucrat in Jeff City could use his/her authority to remove a sheriff (elected by his county or district) who attempts to protect his people against the bureaucrat's unlawful and unconstitutional orders. Sheriff Bonham has been trying to protect his voter’s right to choose to remove him or elect him based on their will and not the will of a Jeff City bureaucrat. Sheriff Bonham serves on the Missouri Sheriff Association Executive Board, the Missouri Sheriff Methamphetamine Relief Taskforce, and as an Ordained Minister. https://mosheriffs.com/about/https://boards.mo.gov/userpages/Board.aspx?316 Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Linda Rantz is the author of Missouri Elections: Return to Hand Counting. https://books.google.com/books/about/Missouri_Elections.html?id=fPerzwEACAAJWhy Hand Counting? I posed this question to Linda early in the interview. We have all grown up in a world where we believe technology will solve most, if not all, of our problems. Newspapers report that Hand Counting is wildly inaccurate, while the machines are accurate beyond dispute. Yet, lawsuits are starting to reveal the problems with machines, their reliability, and their vulnerability to manipulation. The machines are not capable of delivering accurate elections. It’s not a conspiracy to think so, though people want you to. I’ve included the screenshots of the articles discussed in the interview here. Links:Liebert PubScreenshots from: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/elj.2010.0098 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, Policy. Post-Election Auditing: Effects of Procedure and Ballot Type on Manual Counting Accuracy, Efficiency, and Auditor Satisfaction and Confidence.Missouri IndependentA conspiracy-fueled push to count ballots by hand gains tractionMissouri is one of at least six states where legislation was introduced to ban the use of ballot tabulators, which research shows are more accurate than hand countsBY: KIRA LERNER -https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/26/a-conspiracy-fueled-push-to-count-ballots-by-hand -gains-traction/Daily WireJudge Allows Release Of Dominion Audit Report; UPDATE: State Officials RespondBy Amanda Prestigiacomohttps://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-releases-dominion-audit-report-report-claims-system-designed-to-create-systemic-fraudSocial Media for Cause of Americahttps://x.com/CauseAmericaX (Formerly Twitter)Websitehttps://causeofamerica.orgFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/thecauseofamerica Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Jackie Peck is a conservative grassroots delegate who received little information from her congressional district about basic attendance plans. While there, she was given little information to inform her about the day or the plans. Our interview with her builds the case of dysfunction within the Republican GOP Establishment. As this was her first experience with the Convention, it wasn’t a strong endorsement that government works or functions at even basic procedural processes. For more on the War on Grassroots, read Garrity’s article. Gretchen Garrity is a former journalist who has written boldly for years. She is a brave Christian conservative, but she’s most proud of being a grandmother.Find her blog “Right to Win Ozarks” here.David Rice is a former Special Education teacher turned journalist who writes about politics from a faith-based perspective. He’s married and has three children. HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Jennifer and David interviewed Senator Mike Moon. This was Senator Moon’s first time speaking with Hick Christian. We were glad to host him and talk to him about why he moved into politics, his principled views about the Constitution and faith, and standing up for what is right even when some “call him difficult.”Senator Moon serves District 29 and is finishing his first term. He’s running in the August 6th Primary against Susan Haralson for his second term. He talks to Jennifer and David about what he is most proud of accomplishing in the Senate and some of the frustrations he has discovered trying to work with people in the Senate.HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Links:https://www.senate.mo.gov/Senators/Member/29/ Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The InterviewThis interview is intense and detailed. Gretchen was a tremendous asset to have in the interview to think through what Pam told us about SB727. Pam was informative, and at times patient with us, as we dug through the codes, the law, and the ways the state government has tried to hide how they plan to privatize education.This isn’t the big hurrah Conservatives were hoping for in a world free from Public Education though. This is Government education privatized with no accountability. There are no Sunshine requests to be made. There will be no way to track the finances of the Educational Assistance Organizations or the Private Financial Management funds that sequester the money.And the Department of Education will still have a major role in deciding who gets the money and how the curriculum will be developed. Ladies and Gentlemen, SB727 is the Nationalization of Private Schools. It is not Conservative. It’s a step towards Fascism—this regiments commerce and education with no accountability. Education needs to be fixed. This makes it worse than it already is. If your Rep voted for this Bill, you need to ask them some hard questions. HickChristian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Mrs. Buttram also shared links for us to review and I think you should also.* PR Watch Article on Rex Sinquefield* https://prwatch.org/news/2014/04/12459/show-me-money-meet-multimillionaire-squeezing-missouris-schools* Education - American Legislative Exchange Council - American Legislative Exchange Council* https://alec.org/issue/education/* ALEC Policy Champions: Missouri Sen. Andrew Koenig and Rep. Doug Richey Expand Education Freedom - American Legislative Exchange Council - American Legislative Exchange Council* https://alec.org/article/alec-policy-champions-missouri-sen-andrew-koenig-and-rep-doug-richey-on-education-freedom/* Debt From Above: The Carbon Credit Coup Covers Michael Milken’s current actions against Civil Liberties in Latin America. * https://unlimitedhangout.com/2024/04/investigative-reports/debt-from-above-the-carbon-credit-coup/* Michael Milken | Biography, Junk Bonds, Pardon, & Facts | Britannica* https://www.britannica.com/money/Michael-R-Milken* The Turner Report: 2013 in Review: Tim Jones, Jason Smith ALEC connections spelled out in campaign finance documents* https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2013/12/2013-in-review-tim-jones-jason-smith.html* From Junk Bonds to Junk Schools: Cyber Schools Fleece Taxpayers for Phantom Students and Failing Grades | PR Watch* https://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/10/12257/junk-bonds-junk-schools-cyber-schools-fleece-taxpayers-phantom-students-and-failiLinks sharing ALEC Press Releases* https://alec.org/press-release/alec-announces-launch-of-education-freedom-alliance/* https://www.educationfreedomalliance.org/* https://alec.org/article/education-freedom-fox-news/* https://alec.org/article/school-choice-andrew-handel-newstalkstl/* https://alec.org/article/2024-agendas-ty-masterson-hugh-hewitt/* https://alec.org/article/education-freedom-andrew-handel-rio-grande/* https://alec.org/article/2024-solutions-spotlight-parental-empowerment/* https://alec.org/article/education-freedom-andrew-handel-alec-breakdown/* https://alec.org/article/governments-role-in-school-choice-andrew-handel-on-wnno/* https://alec.org/article/arizona-tax-cuts-and-school-choice-didnt-create-the-budget-deficit-jonathan-williams-on-american-radio-journal/* https://alec.org/article/alec-push-school-choice-andrew-handel-in-governing/ Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The book features Charlotte Rowe and Ryder, a mysterious time traveler. Together they must fight to save our universe from the Revenant. Creatures who are from a parallel universe that try to steal the lives of those people who live here in ours. I found my conversation with Gage to be interesting. We talked more off-mic that I wish I had recorded and not left out. He’s a man of faith and has incorporated the themes of faith in his book. The first five chapters I read were fantastic with good character development and voices. For a first-time author, Gage has a great sense of pacing and development and with your support, I believe he will grow into the type of author the Ozarks will be proud of calling one of their own. From the Amazon page:“Charlotte Rowes is a girl with burning questions. Questions about the world she lives in…what truly lies in the dark.When she is five years old, she lives through an experience she will never forget. Something comes looking to take her away. Something not of this world. If it weren’t for the mysterious boy who rescues her, something terrible would have happened.Charlotte grows older leaving the events of that incident behind, likening them to a wild dream. But all that changes when she is thrown headfirst into a world full of danger and wonder. She finds him again, the boy who saved her life…an odd teenager by the name of Ryder. However, others call him another name, The Time Rider.Ryder and his older colleague work as a team to fight the creatures that tried to harm Charlotte all those years ago. The two are private military contractors commissioned by the Oracle Corporation. When Charlotte comes into their lives it starts a series of events which lead them to a sinister plan. This plan will turn their shadow war into something that threatens the lives of everyone on the planet.The corporation plans on awakening something that lives beyond the void. Something that wants to consume everything. The Time Rider may be the only person who can stop it. But can he do it alone? Will he succeed before it’s too late? Or will all be lost?”On X @MrGageCopelandAmazon Link Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

The State Government, the Lobbies, and the Outside Groups with Millions (maybe Billions) of dollars were never going to save us from this Ballot Petition.In November, the Church has a clear duty to stand for the lives of the unborn and children. God didn’t call senators to stand up. God didn’t call the Republican party. God did call us. Silence in the face of evil is evil itself. As Christians, I call on you to join with Abolish Abortion Missouri and their Petition to pastors. Contact them at https://abolishabortionmo.org/contact-us/AAMO Pastor’s PetitionLinkhttps://abolishabortionmo.org/pastors-petition/Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade unborn babies are still not equally protected under Missouri law, as born persons are. The weakest and most helpless Missourians are legally the most vulnerable. This is a great tragedy that must be rectified. Since unequal weights and measures are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 20:10), and since God despises partiality in the law (Deuteronomy 1:17), biblical righteousness requires unborn persons to receive the same protections to life as born persons.The Abolish Abortion MO Pastor's Committee believes that Missouri Senate Bill 775, Sponsored by Senator Mike Moon, provides equal protection for our unborn neighbors, and properly reflects biblical principles of justice by abolishing abortion in Missouri.Under the authority of the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), as His ministers, we hereby call upon our fellow pastors and elders of Christian churches in Missouri to sign this petition as a witness to God's requirement of the civil government to protect the lives of the innocent, acknowledging Senate Bill 775 as legislation consistent with this biblical requirement.In signing, we hereby call upon our elected representatives to vote in favor of SB 775, and seek the abolition of abortion in the state of Missouri in obedience to God's requirements for civil authorities (Romans 13:3-4).Abolish Abortion Missouri's Pastor's Committee:Pastor Joshua Jenkins, Hope Baptist Church (Springfield)Pastor Brian Davis, Whitewater Christian Church (Perryville)Pastor Gary McNamee, Grace Reformed Church (Columbia)Pastor Andrew Barnes, Christ Presbyterian Church (Grandview) Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Gail Griswold can be found at www.LocalControl.Substack.comX handle: https://x.com/MOEdWatch @moedwatchGretchen Garrity can be found at https://righttowinozarks.blogspot.comHer X handle: https://x.com/Right2WinOzarks @right2winozaarksConservatives desire local journalists who will tell local stories. They need us to speak for them. Yet, because of the lack of journalism for so long, when we speak the truth, they circle the wagons and begin to exclude people for daring to speak out. Is this what Conservatives should do? Kill Free Speech and Freedom of the Press? Do they only give lip service to these ideals? Do they understand that Conservative values mean accepting a debate of ideas—even if it is a vigorous debate? It can feel as a journalist that neither political party wants us to be truth-tellers, but it is a disappointment that the party that says they believe in the 1st Amendment doesn’t mean it when it’s applied to them. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

S.V. Farnsworth’s WebsiteI enjoyed reading Woman in the Stone by S.V. Farnsworth. I was able to secure a podcast with her, and we discussed its complex themes around assault and trauma, the irrational decisions made, and how recovery is a slow process over time. Farnsworth has built an interesting world driven by character growth. Her descriptions of objects and people are complete and full. She gives her world life through her words. Living near Joplin, Farnsworth is a local author whose work deserves our attention. While big publishers often dominate our reads, it is crucial to remember the value of independent authors like Farnsworth, who bring fresh perspectives and unique storytelling to the table. If you're looking for a great new book by a local author, visit S.V. Farnsworth’s website and pick up one of her works. BIO from her websiteS.V. FARNSWORTHImmersive Deep-Shelf FictionHigh Fantasy, Space Opera, Romantic Suspense with Noble Characters Fighting Dark WorldsS.V. Farnsworth is a woman of international experience with a slice-of-life sense of humor and a love of nature.The first on her father’s side to graduate from high school, she overcame dyslexia to become a teacher at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. She uses the four languages she speaks to bless the lives of her English as a second language students and help them feel at home. Having lived in South Korea, she appreciates the gift of acceptance.As the author of five books, she provides entertaining escapes into the human condition, allowing the reader to experience a full range of emotions and a triumphant ending.See where books are sold, borrowed, begged for, and loved.Websites Discussed in PodcastAuthor MediaDraft 2 Digital Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Mr. Petrosino provides another eyewitness account of the State Convention on May 4th and helps explain what happened. Overall, Nick Meyers and crew bungled many of the procedural parts of the day. Then Representative Ben Baker, from the 160th district, goes on Elijah Haar’s show on KWTO on 93.3 to misrepresent the actions of the Grassroots, insulting by using “Autistic” as a slur against the Grassroots, and trying to dismiss vetting. Too many people on May 4th were acting like it was a day to canvas for SOS Jay Ashcroft or Senator Bill Eigel instead of focusing on the State Convention. Both men are running for governor along with Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Jonica Hope shares information about the Missouri Republican State Convention. On the crucial date of May 4th, Representatives Ben Baker and Dan Stacy strategically employed parliamentary procedure to halt the resolutions favoring life, medical freedom, and girl sports. They also managed to quash a resolution that could have potentially held representatives like them accountable. Ben Baker has a history of hurting conservative causes and criticizing conservative journalists. Jonica shares how they didn't allow a crisis to go to waste when it was announced tow trucks were outside the convention center. Questions remain about the tow trucks, who called them, and if they were there. Go here for more details. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I have great news. I now have Rumble and YouTube channels. It’s a slow start when you are low budget like I am, but I’m developing my skillset slowly and expanding. Thanks for being a loyal audience. See you all in two weeks. Rumble LinkYouTube Link Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I apologize for not introducing Brian S. Rohlman in the podcast. Brian was a great guest. He was informative, intelligent, and our conversation was wide-ranging enough that we let his ice-cream melt quite a bit during our conversation. I encourage people in our community to reach out to him to see how they can implement a Biblical Citizenship class in their church. This isn’t about being a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent. Those parties aren’t about being a Christian. Being a Christian transcends earthly political parties. We belong to God, yet God calls us to be transformative agents in this world working to alleviate oppression and evil. While we may be called to heaven, it doesn’t get us off the hook to do nothing here. By sharing the gospel and seeing lives transformed, there will be a positive effect in the world. Christians are meant to serve in every capacity that this world offers, including political office. We need Christian school board members, librarians, politicians, and more. What can you do for Christ? FacebookBiblical Citizenship Classes at TPUSAPatriot Academy at FBCO Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Rumble LinkWere you invited to the propaganda meal tonight at the VFW, put on by the Americans for Prosperity? They want to convince you that SB727 is a good bill, despite the fact that they refuse to allow journalists to come and record or ask questions. What does that say to you about their propaganda meal? If they are afraid of the press, then are they really confident about this bill? Or do they hope the gravy will make the lies easier to swallow?Gretchen Garrity from Right to Win Ozarks and I discuss the problems in SB727, though we don’t provide a meal because we are afraid you might choke on your food when you hear about this bad bill. This bill is unconstitutional.It violates our agreement with elected officials to protect us against an overreaching government. They should act in an interposition between the government and us, in this case, DESE and its collusion with wealthy businesses, to gain access to our children for its nefarious purposes.This bill also strips away the Safe Harbor language, which previously protected homeschooling families by providing a daily log and an activist prosecuting attorney. Now, despite having to do even more work, families no longer have Safe Harbor language, which would have protected them from accusations of educational neglect.Last, they have created a Fascist agreement with businesses that will make money off of the donated amounts by taking up to 10% for administrative and marketing costs by transferring the wealth to those who “deserve” it, according to this bill. So, if you don’t go to the VFW to get your propaganda with your meal, then listen to us discuss this bill and the problems with it. Below are my notes on SB727Here is the SB727 Text to review. SB 727New Tax Costs:* Increases the tax credit cap for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program from $50 million to $75 million annually.* This diverts more public funds to private/religious schools through voucher-style scholarships.* The bill increases the tax credit cap for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program from $50 million to $75 million annually (lines 4-5).* If there is extra money, it will be spent and not returned to the taxpayer.* This allows more public funds to potentially be diverted to private/religious schools through the voucher-style scholarship program.This proposed legislation creates a system of educational assistance organizations (EAOs) to administer scholarship accounts for certain qualified K-12 students in the state. The funding comes from taxpayers who can claim tax credits worth 50% of their state tax liability for contributions made to approved EAOs, up to an annual $75 million cap that increases with state education funding levels.While the intent seems to be providing more school choice, an analysis identified some significant potential drawbacks and unintended consequences:* It unnecessarily inserts EAO middlemen that can extract up to 10% of administrative fees from donations intended for student scholarships. This diverts funds away from directly benefiting families.* The tiered administrative fee structure incentivizes EAOs to strategically award numerous smaller scholarships to maximize the highest 10% fee tier.* No clear mechanism is outlined for these scholarships to support homeschooling families despite promoting school choice.* The convoluted tax credit -> EAO contribution -> scholarship process adds complexity and overhead compared to direct tax-deductible donations to families.* EAOs have an incentive to lobby to increase the $75M cap over time as their administrative fees rise proportionally.An honest critique suggests a more efficient, transparent system would be to allow tax-deductible donations directly from individuals to qualifying families for approved educational expenses, eliminating the EAO middlemen entirely.Overall, this EAO model opens up significant potential for profiteering and administrative bloat that undermines the core purpose of supporting families' educational choices in a cost-effective manner. This system was designed to enrich certain organizations. Their donor-advised funds were created to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor and minorities in the state. It’s Marxist. Expansion of Government:The legislative text expands DESE's (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) role and authority in a couple of key ways related to the Educational Assistance Organization (EAO) scholarship system:* Membership on the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Board The text states that the Commissioner of Education will be a member of this board overseeing major aspects of the EAO program. Specifically, it gives the board "all powers and duties assigned to the state treasurer under sections 135.712 to 135.719 and sections 166.700 to 166.720 that are delegated to the board by the state treasurer."So, having the DESE Commissioner on this board gives the department influence over any of the treasurer's duties and oversight of the EAOs that are delegated to the board.* Role in data collection, collaboration, and rulemaking The text states the board "shall assist the state treasurer with data collection, collaboration with the department of elementary and secondary education, making recommendations to the state treasurer regarding the promulgation of rules concerning the program."Based on the powers granted to the board and DESE's role, there are indeed ways the department could potentially abuse its authority if it had certain motivations or agendas:* Directing funds to preferred schools Through its influence on the board and rulemaking, DESE could potentially establish criteria or regulations that make it easier for scholarship funds to flow to private schools that align with the department's preferences while making it more difficult for other schools.* Favoring certain EAOs over others Similarly, the rulemaking authority could allow DESE to create compliance requirements or processes that provide advantages to EAOs that have a favorable relationship with the department over others, which is seen as competition.* Controlling data collection and reporting With DESE involved in the data collection process, there is a risk of selecting which data gets collected or how it is reported in ways that inflate certain metrics or shape narratives to benefit the department's goals.* General regulatory capture More broadly, DESE's seats on the governing board could lead to a form of regulatory capture, where the department essentially co-opts oversight of this system intended to provide alternatives to public education that DESE traditionally oversaw.Why are we ceding power to DESE, which has been historically hostile to non-public education? They have been jealous of homeschooling and private schooling for decades, trying to interfere. This bill does not curtail their powers over these institutions but gives them regulatory power. It places them on boards, which will impact how money is spent. DESE could theoretically pass regulations within its own system, which would impact how money is collected and distributed through the EAOs.This entire bill is a governmental overreach of power. It doesn’t protect homeschooling families from the Middleman EAOs who will be looking to distribute money based on their own agendas. It doesn’t protect the state’s interests. And it doesn’t limit DESE from interfering and creating regulations that will impact how the money is spent. In fact, placing them on these boards encourages DESE to interfere and tell homeschooling families that they must meet certain guidelines to qualify for the scholarships. We act like DESE doesn’t regulate our schools by Fiat. Do you really see a solution where DESE has access to this EAO money, and they don’t create regulations without consulting with our 7th Congressional District legislators? They will gladly accept the $75M Budget and even champion its increases over the next decade. They will want every home school family dependent on this money. They are able to play the long game. Our Reps will be out of term limits while the bureaucrats at DESE are still not even at mid-career. I would rather have a hundred former postmodern Marxists who are now legislators than people who think they have been conservatives their entire lives and don’t recognize a Marxist shell game when something as important as homeschooling is on the line. It’s one of the most important lines of defense against tyranny. I don’t even homeschool, and I recognize its value. Sometimes, the people who need a win are the most easily fooled. * Creates a new Elementary Literacy Fund grant program for DESE to administer.* Directs DESE to develop an 18-credit online teacher preparation program.* Expands DESE's role in the virtual schools program and attendance tracking.* Potentially creates unfunded liabilities for DESE to take on new oversight duties.* The bill creates a new Elementary Literacy Fund grant program for DESE to administer (based on lines 576-577).* It directs DESE to develop an 18-credit online teacher preparation program (lines 578-579).* It expands DESE's role in the virtual schools program and attendance tracking (lines 580-581).* There are no explicit provisions reducing DESE's current roles or returning control to local districts (based on lines 600-602).Expansion of DESE:* Gives DESE oversight of newly defined Family Paced Education (FPE) schools.* Increases DESE's data collection requirements from educational organizations.* Involves DESE in collaborating with the State Treasurer on scholarship program rules.* No provisions reduce DESE's current roles or return control to local districts.* The bill creates a new Elementary Literacy Fund grant program for DESE to administer ( based on lines 576-577).* It directs DESE to develop an 18-credit online teacher preparation program (lines 578-579).* It expands DESE's role in the virtual schools program and attendance tracking (lines 580-581).* There are no explicit provisions reducing DESE's current roles or returning control to local districts ( based on lines 600-602).* Lines 576-577: "Creates a new Elementary Literacy Fund grant program for DESE to administer." This establishes a new grant program that DESE will oversee, expanding its purview.* Lines 578-579: "Directs DESE to develop an 18-credit online teacher preparation program." This tasks DESE with creating a new teacher preparation program, adding to its duties.* Lines 580-581: "Expands DESE's role in the virtual schools program and attendance tracking." This explicitly expands DESE's responsibilities related to virtual schools and attendance monitoring.* Lines 595-597: "Educational organizations are mandated to provide more student/participant data to DESE." This increases the data collection and reporting requirements for organizations to DESE.* Lines 600-602: "There are no explicit provisions reducing DESE's current roles or returning control to local districts." This line suggests that the bill does not reduce DESE's existing responsibilities or return authority to local districts.* Lines 576-577: "Creates a new Elementary Literacy Fund grant program for DESE to administer."* This expands DESE's role by creating a new grant program for it to oversee.Government Overreach:* Applies homeschool laws to FPE schools, reducing autonomy in that sector.* Limits districts' ability to approve student virtual school enrollment requests.* Centralizes more educational domains under DESE's authority and rulemaking.* It applies homeschool laws to newly defined "Family Paced Education (FPE)" schools, potentially reducing autonomy in that sector (lines 589-591).* It limits districts' ability to approve student virtual school enrollment requests (lines 592-593).* More educational domains are centralized under DESE's authority and rulemaking (line 594).* Lines 45-46: The bill expands the requirement to print the 988 suicide prevention hotline and local police non-emergency number on student IDs to charter schools and public schools. This could be viewed as government overreach into charter schools.Loss of Privacy:* Mandates educational organizations to provide more student/participant data to DESE.* Raises concerns about increased data collection and monitoring overreach.* Educational organizations are mandated to provide more student/participant data to DESE (lines 595-597).* This raises data collection and monitoring overreach concerns (aligns with the provisions).* Lines 73-76 state: "Upon completion of a background check as prescribed in section 168.133 and possession of a valid teaching certificate in the state from which the applicant's teacher preparation program was completed;"Lines 188-189 state, "which shall include completion of a background check as prescribed in section 168.133."These lines indicate that obtaining a teaching certificate would require the completion of a background check prescribed in section 168.133. Depending on how broadly that requirement is applied, it could potentially require homeschool parents to undergo background checks, which could be considered a loss of privacy or overreach of government authority over homeschoolers.* Lines 73-76 and 188-189 indicate that obtaining a teaching certificate would require completing a background check prescribed in section 168.133. Depending on how broadly this is applied, it could potentially require homeschool parents to undergo background checks, which could be viewed as an overreach of government authority over homeschoolers.Loss of Homeschool Autonomy:* Reclassifies homeschools participating in the voucher program as "FPE schools."* Applies regulations currently governing homeschools to this new FPE category.* Homeschools participating in the voucher program are reclassified as "FPE schools" (lines 589-590).* Regulations governing homeschools are applied to this new FPE category (lines 590-591).* Lines 589-591: The bill reclassifies some homeschools participating in the voucher program as "Family Paced Education (FPE) schools" and applies regulations currently governing homeschools to this new category. This reduces autonomy for those homeschooled families.* Line 72: The bill exempts "FPE schools" from the licensing requirements for childcare facilities, which could allow reduced oversight/regulations for that segment of homeschools compared to other childcare providers.* Lines 80-83: "Grants to parents for child care pursuant to sections 210.201 to 210.257 shall not be construed to be funds received by a person or facility listed in [subdivisions (1) and (17) of] subsection 1 of this section."This suggests that receiving grants/vouchers for child care would require those facilities to be licensed, which could impact the autonomy of certain unlicensed childcare providers, like some homeschool co-ops or programs if they start accepting families using those vouchers/grants.* Lines 122-127: "If a family child care home begins caring for children not counted in the maximum number of children after a parent or guardian has signed the written notice required under subsection 3 of this section, the family child care home shall provide a separate notice to the parent or guardian that the family child care home is caring for children not counted in the maximum number of children for which the family child care home is licensed and shall keep a copy of the signed notice on file."This increases the notification and record-keeping requirements for family childcare homes related to children not counted towards their license capacity limit.* Lines 52-55: "The fact that a parent sends his or her child or children to a home school [as defined in section 167.031] or FPE school shall not be the sole factor that a court considers in determining custody of such child or children."This states that a parent homeschooling or sending their child to an FPE (Family Paced Education) school cannot be the only factor the court considers when deciding custody. It prevents discrimination solely based on homeschooling status.Child Custody* Lines 73-77: "In any court proceedings relating to custody of a child, the court shall not award custody or unsupervised visitation of a child to a parent if such parent or any person residing with such parent has been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, any of the following offenses when a child was the victim: [lists various felony offenses]"This prevents courts from granting custody or unsupervised visitation to a parent or person living with them who has been convicted of certain offenses involving a child victim, such as sexual offenses.* Line 114-118: "consistent with the provisions of subsection 2 of this section, and, in so doing, the court shall determine the custody arrangement which will best assure both parents participate in such decisions and have frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with their children so long as it is in the best interests of the child."This section discusses how the court will determine child custody arrangements. It aims to ensure that both parents can participate in decisions and have frequent contact with their children, as long as it is in the best interests of the child.Lines 122-144 list various custody arrangement options the court can consider, including joint physical and legal custody, sole custody to one parent, or third-party custody in certain circumstances.Lines 227-230: "A court shall order that the reports and records made available under this subsection not include the address of the parent with custody if the parent with custody is a participant in the address confidentiality program under section 589.663."This section allows the court to order that the custodial parent's address be kept confidential if they are part of an address confidentiality program, which could relate to privacy concerns.Lines 249-254 states that joint custody does not preclude child support orders, and the court must consider relevant factors in determining child support amounts.Lines 255-262 require the court to make specific findings if domestic violence or abuse has occurred to ensure the custody arrangement protects the victim and children from further harm.Tax Credits:* No provisions explicitly favor specific ideological/advocacy groups like the Koch Brothers or Americans for Prosperity.* Credits are available broadly to organizations funding private school scholarships.* There are no provisions explicitly favoring specific ideological/advocacy groups (accurate based on the text).* The credits are available broadly to organizations funding private school scholarships (lines 603-604).* Lines 639-642 add an educational assistance organization employee to the scholarship accounts board, potentially amplifying the voice of entities profiting from the voucher program.Special Interests:* Adds an educational assistance org. employee to the scholarship accounts board.* This could amplify the voice of entities profiting from the voucher program.* An educational assistance organization employee is added to the scholarship accounts board (lines 639-642).* This could amplify the voice of entities profiting from the voucher program.* Lines 639-642 add an educational assistance organization employee to the scholarship accounts board. This could amplify the voice of entities profiting from the voucher program on the board overseeing the program.Home Reading Program, pg. 38The text does not specify which nonprofit organizations or merchants would provide the home reading program books. It only lays out the criteria that a nonprofit provider must meet in order for their program to be eligible for grants from this fund.Based on the criteria listed, it seems the intent is for established literacy/reading nonprofits and book vendors to be the providers, such as:* Scholastic - A major publisher and distributor of children's books and reading programs.* Reading Is Fundamental - A national literacy nonprofit focused on book distribution.* Local community literacy councils or nonprofits.However, the text does not explicitly prohibit other types of nonprofits from participating as providers as long as they meet the stated criteria around book selection, parent engagement, data tracking, etc.So, in theory, entities like:* Church literacy programs* Publishers with specific perspectives, like Brave Books* LGBTQ+ advocacy groups with reading programsThey could serve as providers if nonprofits are structured to meet the program requirements.The legislation does not name or exclude any specific providers. It establishes criteria that nonprofit home reading program providers must meet to be eligible for grant funding, leaving it open for different nonprofits to potentially participate if they qualify.Regulations for Schools, pg. 87Home Schools (167.012):* Maintain a plan book, diary, or written record indicating subjects taught and activities* Maintain a portfolio of samples of the child's academic work* Maintain a record of evaluations of the child's academic progress* Offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction annually* At least 600 of those hours must be in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, or related courses* At least 400 of the 600 core hours must occur at the regular home school locationFamily Paced Education (FPE) Schools (167.013):* Same recordkeeping requirements as home schools* Maintain a plan book/diary/written record* Maintain a portfolio* Maintain a record of evaluations* Same 1,000 total hours of instruction required* 600 hours in core subjects* 400 of the 600 core hours at the regular FPE locationGeneral Requirements (167.031):* 100 hours of instruction = 1 completed credit toward high school graduation for home/FPE students* Compulsory attendance age:* 17 for metropolitan districts that set it* 17 or 16 credits earned for other districtsRecovery High Schools (167.850)* No specific recordkeeping/hour requirements are listed, but they must meet:* State criteria for high school education programs* Accreditation requirements for recovery schoolsIn summary, there are very detailed recordkeeping requirements around logs, portfolios, and evaluations for home and FPE schools, as well as prescribed minimum hours of total and on-site instruction time. The recovery high schools must meet broad state/accreditation standards.Home School Requirements (Section 167.012):* Maintain records including:* A plan book, diary, or written record of subjects/activities* A portfolio of the child's academic work samples* A record of evaluations of the child's academic progress (No change)* Provide at least 1,000 hours of instruction annually* At least 600 hours in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, or related courses* At least 400 of those 600 core hours at the regular home school location (No change)* The recordkeeping and hourly requirements do not apply after the child turns 16 (No change)* Removed: Providing a daily log showing compliance as a defense against prosecution* New: Home school education enforcement and records shall be subject to review only by the local prosecuting attorney (167.012(51-53))* New Definition: A home school cannot enroll children participating in the course access program scholarships (167.012(4))So the major changes are:* Removing the daily log as an explicit legal defense* Specifying only the local prosecutor can review compliance* Prohibiting home schools from enrolling certain scholarship studentsWithout explicitly stating the daily log defense and making prosecutors the sole compliance authority, a prosecuting attorney could potentially argue that a family is guilty of educational neglect or non-compliance based on any perceived failure to meet state standards, even if the hourly requirements are met.For example, a prosecutor could argue:* The work samples don't adequately cover the state curriculum standards* The evaluations are inadequate* The instructional materials lack state-mandated social-emotional learning components* Or any other criticisms of the home school education not meeting unstated "state standards"With no clearly defined rubrics for acceptable homeschool compliance, families could be subject to highly subjective judgments and potential prosecution by their local prosecuting attorney.By removing the explicit daily log defense while not providing new objective state metrics to replace it, the bill does indeed seem to potentially expose more home school families to prosecution risk at the discretion of their local prosecutor. This is an extremely concerning change without better-defined limits and standards for compliance. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Commissioner Jackson is a conservative, who has served in Christian County and Ozark politics for many years. His work as commissioner is focused on listening to his constituents and to preserve the values of the committee while helping the County grow. This is an audio interview, so get out your headphones and get to work while I talk to him and ask some questions you may have about the Library, the Planning and Zoning Board, the Battery Storage Building, Taxes, and spending. David’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

*****Edit*****At around 15 minutes in, Mary’s mic fell down and neither one of us caught it. The sound is fine, but slightly muted so I suggest turning the volume up to hear Mary better.*****Edit*****As the Library Board fought against Mary and others, God brought together different people from different walks of life. For myself, I only started to write articles because we wanted to share what was being said at the Library Board meetings. So you can thank the Library Board Trustees and the Library Board’s Executive Director for my writing career. 🤣However, the Library Board won’t give up. They won’t give in. They think they have the high moral ground on this issue. They think those of us who show up at the Library Board meetings are unintelligent, unsophisticated, uneducated, uncaring, or bigoted. Listen to Mary speak. In my experience, Mary is soft-spoken and exceptionally kind. Yet, she is determined to do the right thing for every child in the community, and not just her own. She is a homeschooling parent that knows the future world her children will inherit will be populated by today’s children, currently being threatened by anti-human and anti-children views. Those traumatized adults will work alongside her children and live in the same world. Because she has such a caring heart, she wants to minimize the pain children will face, so they don’t become adults who carry that pain around with them into their adult world. If you enjoy these audio interviews, let me know. Feedback is important. I do need your support. This is my job. Becoming a member allows me to do this for only $5 a month or $50 a year. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I give my opinion on James River and what happened there this week before I get into the news. I then cover my stories and give some insight into each article. I also talk about why it’s bad to have the government in schools. It’s like having the government in churches. If you don’t want the government teaching your theology, you don’t want your government teaching your curriculum. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve had a lot happen this week, though it has been a little slow in overall news. We had such a build up to the election, it’s been nice to have a little slow down. Things will pick up. I cover my articles this week and I really want to point out that if you want to be kept aware of Community Events, please sign up separately. It is free and there will never be a cost for this separate part of my Substack service. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

Bonus for those of you who like Satire: Here is an important discussion on Satire by Andrew Doyle at New Discourses. I’ve been working with Claude.AI for a while. It’s based on ChatGPT3 and they have an upgraded model you can pay for, but I’m not interested in doing that. I often ask it questions about history (though I can’t always trust it and have to double check the information it gives). Part of its problem is the datasets its programmers have given it. They have built in biases so it answers in a certain way. They want to give the appearance of intelligence and rationality to the AI, but it doesn’t really have it. It only has the ability to regurgitate and that is an irrational mind. This is how its programmers and their benefactors want you to think. They want your mind full of facts so you regurgitate. They don’t want you capable of reaching your own conclusions. They want you numb and irrational and easily controlled. AI is designed to help achieve that. If you use AI and you are unaware of its biases and its desire to control your way of thinking, then you are setting yourself up for failure. It is a tool. But it is a tool that is broken. You can use a flathead screwdriver on a Phillips screw. It can work. It’s just not made to work that way. AI is not made to think rationally and reach conclusions. It is made to regurgitate data sets its programmers agree with so you will have limited information and be just as irrational. I’m not saying you can’t use it. We’ll all have to use AI. You just can’t trust it. You won’t be able to trust almost anything from almost any source if it isn’t independent. David’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe

I am constantly trying new things, so I would like to hear your feedback. Let me know what you think about some of the changes I’m making with the weekly podcast. It will be unlocked for paid subscribes at 8am, and free subscribers at 10am. I’m playing around with different times. Get full access to HickChristian at hickchristian.substack.com/subscribe