The Morning After: Now what?

The following is a statement from Bluegrass Institute interim president Jim Waters about Tuesday’s election: Last night's election returns were disappointing in many ways for Kentuckians who believe in the principles of freedom, limited government and self-reliance that made ours the greatest, freest and most prosperous nation in history.

Those principles are greatly threatened by policies that have put 23 million Americans out of work, created a $16 trillion national debt and that have made Kentucky a "sinkhole state" – one of the five worst states in America when it comes to state debt and taxpayer burden. Currently, the state's debt is costing each Kentucky taxpayer $23,500.

Considering that many of the same policymakers – from the White House to the statehouse – who led us into this economic abyss remain in office this morning, it's clear that our greatest challenges will not be solved by self-serving and constitutionally illiterate politicians.

For too long, we have placed the power rightfully meant for us as individual citizens into the hands of those who mistakenly believe that government is the granter – rather than simply the guardian – of liberties bestowed upon us by our Creator, as our Founders asserted.

As Louisville native and former Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis said: "The most important political office is that of the private citizen."

Since its humble beginning more than nine years ago, the Bluegrass Institute's mission has been to empower individuals – not partisans, politicians or presidents. Now is the time for individual sovereign citizens to take up that power and take back their country and commonwealth.

The morning after this election, we are determined more than ever to fulfill that mission. Will you stand with the Bluegrass Institute as we fight to advance freedom, defend liberty and promote those sound policies that will build a more prosperous Kentucky for future generations?