One cannot expect to steer effectively their destiny in life without the pillars of sound leadership, sage wisdom, and prudent guidance. The same holds true in managing ones financial affairs, investments, family, and business concerns.

Long before America promoted the bald eagle as its symbol of freedom, the rattlesnake was the familiar symbol in the early days of the American Revolution.

I suspect the meaning and spirit behind the rattlesnake symbol holds just as true today as it did upon our founding. When warnings and concerns of free Americans go unanswered, and if we are duly provoked, we will strike, and it will be with venom disproportionate to our size.

In 1775, Benjamin Franklin stood behind the rattlesnake as a good symbol for the American Spirit, publishing an essay in the Pennsylvania Journal, stating:

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids -- She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. -- She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. -- As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal: -- Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her. -- Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?"

In light of the ground swell and array of valid concerns regarding the global debt crises and the sustainability of currently held paradigms, we recently penned two articles, one on monetary reform and one calling upon people to wake up and smell the coffee.

The Occupy movement provides us with striking evidence that something is very wrong in America. Though each citizen may not have the wherewithal to articulate its systemic problems, identify the root causes of such, or express their collective concerns in an effectual manner, it does not mean that their distress calls should go unanswered.

As an ardent proponent of minimizing dogmatic partisan divisions and endeavoring instead to amplify the common ground upon which the full-spectrum-power of the masses might legally fight for and win effectual change, I wish to share several viable avenues in which Americans can intelligently engage with confidence and pride in such a process.

In my search for leadership and like-minded Americans, I have found three such organizations that you may wish to align yourself with in order to build the critical mass of solidarity needed to fight the epic battles looming on the horizon.

As one of the earliest versions of the American flag states clearly, either we find common ground and unite to fight and win these pending battles, or we shall pledge to die nobly in doing so.

Our republic is dangerously out of balance. Well-financed special interests routinely bend the levers of power to benefit the few at the expense of our general welfare.

Political bribery has been legalized by the courts, and both major parties have been co-opted and corrupted by the system. The result: The upper 1% have done well. The other 99% of us have been left behind. And now we've reached a breaking point.

Rootstrikers aims to restore power over American politics and government to 100% of the people. We hope patriots of all political persuasions will join us to help build an unstoppable grassroots movement that demands and delivers lasting reforms.

Henry David Thoreau wrote, "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." Together, we must strike at the root of America's problems. Join us.

The United re:public envisions a nation:
• Where the will and concerns of the people aren't drowned out by the financial influence of the few
• Where politicians devote more time to their constituents than to their fundraising
• Where political decisions are made on principle, without the distorting effect of lobbyists
• Where individual citizens have access to clear information about their leaders and are empowered to end the imbalance of power in Washington and our state capitals
• We believe this vision is achievable and central to the success of the republic

The Tea Party movement spontaneously formed in 2009 from the reaction of the American people to fiscally irresponsible actions of the federal government, misguided "stimulus" spending, bailouts and takeovers of private industry. Within the first few weeks of the movement, Tea Party Patriots formed to support the millions of Americans seeking to improve our great nation through renewed support for fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free market economic policies.

On September 24-25, 2011, RootStrikers, the Tea Party Patriots and Harvard Law School collaborated effectually in bringing forth a Conference on the Constitutional Convention.

After reading the conferences welcome message below, I strongly recommend investing the time necessary to witness firsthand the impartial tones of hope and confidence expressed within the conferences introduction video and within the second video, which contain the conferences opening remarks.

One may view all of the conference video's here. Enjoy, and then pledge to take the appropriate action required of you as a true and free American.

Democracy in America is stalled.

From the Right and the Left, citizens are increasingly coming to recognize that our Republic does not work as our Framers intended. Reform of any kind is stalled by a status quo that profits from blocking change. No side in the political debate benefits from this inertia.

The Framers created a method for escaping from captured government -- an Article V Constitutional Convention. If two-thirds of the states pass resolutions calling for a convention, then all sides will have the opportunity to argue for the changes they believe will restore our Republic. Any amendment proposed must then be ratified by three fourths of the states to become law.

On September 24th 2011, people from across America and across the political spectrum convened at Harvard University to discuss the advisability and feasibility of organizing towards a Constitutional Convention. The conference's lead organizers are both proponents and opponents of an Article V convention and we actively encourage the participation of those who support a convention and those who oppose holding a convention at all.

Lawrence Lessig and Mark Meckler will co-chair the conference. Lawrence Lessig is the director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University and the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He co-founded Change Congress, which aims to reduce the influence of private money in American politics. For more, see "How to sober up Washington" -- an essay by Lessig and Mark McKinnon on corruption in Washington, voters' disillusionment, and the need for an Article V convention. Mark Meckler is the Co-Founder and a National Coordinator for Tea Party Patriots (along with his Co-Founder and fellow National Coordinator, Jenny Beth Martin), the largest grassroots tea party organization in the nation with over 3,500 chapters spanning every state.

Introduction and Purpose of Conference:

Opening Remarks: Harvard Law School, September 24, 2011