PEA RIDGE — “The price that good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men,” said the Greek philosopher Plato.

To some, that means voting. That may be fine when the country is not in trouble, but the country is in trouble. In times like this a patriotic citizen has to do more than cast an informed vote in November.

The reason for this is that powerful special interests throw lots of money to favored candidates in both major political parties.

Often, by the time November comes around, your only choice is between two people who want to grow government to pay off the special interests that elected them. One may want to pay off the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about, and the other may want to pay off the social-welfare industry that Ronald Reagan warned us about, but both want to spend the Republic into oblivion by borrowing public money and giving it to their “friends.” Let me add that both sides appear to want to pay off certain huge international banks.

To make a difference, to have a real choice instead of just the illusion of choice, the average patriot has to get involved in the process earlier. Like now.

If you are not already actively looking to pick your candidates then they will be picked for you by people that want the looting to continue. There is a primary election coming up in May, but by May the winners of those races will likely already be determined. The primary races include a seven-candidate melee to be the Republican to oppose Senator Blanche Lincoln and a challenge to Congressman John Boozman by fellow Republican General Bernie Skoch.

So what can we do? The Washington and Benton County Tea Parties believe that the average citizen should have more say in picking who represents the people. That is why they are sponsoring a candidate forum and straw poll from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The event will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the John Q. Hammons Center right off I-540 (take the Pinnacle Exit and turn south). Admission is $5. All Republicans candidates except John Boozman have committed to attend.

This event will give the average patriotic citizen a chance to make a difference in two important ways. One is that they can hear directly from the candidates as they answer tough questions from the Tea Party panel. Attendees can even submit a question that they want asked to a particular candidate, and the moderator willselect those questions that impress him the most. The second is that this event will have a candidate straw poll in which the attendees will rank the candidates.

While straw polls are not official election results, a big and early straw poll victory gives candidates a huge boost. Remember how Mike Huckabee broke out from the pack after winning the Iowa Straw Poll?

This is the best opportunity the average citizen will have to pick an early favorite in the race to oppose Blanche Lincoln. There are seven candidates in that race and the winner here will likely break out of the pack. On the congressional side, we have a sitting Congressman who voted for the bailout and this event will help determine if there really is a groundswell to replace him or if there arejust a few malcontents making noise.

This Saturday, you can help make a difference. I hope to see you there.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 11/11/2009