Volume 80, Issue 1
Faith in a Candidacy: A Doctrinal Look at Bowen McConahay Billy Bugara Reporter
Throughout the overall process and arrival here at Buckeye Boys State, it has been impossible to fail to notice the exorbitant amount of emphasis that has been put on religious ideals centering around Christianity. These sentiments are mostly proclaimed by our American Legion staff members; the program itself is absolutely infatuated with communicating the message through group prayer and various allusions toward the Bible. The correspondence of the Legion’s ideals and the gathering of more than 1,200 Boys here at Miami University has unsurprisingly caused a direct synthesis between the two. This is exemplified in the myriad of candidates that have referenced their faith over the course of their applications and introductions of themselves. Despite all of the candidates having interesting reasons as to why they would be calling towards their religion, one delegate in particular struck me as someone that has a definitive passion for their morality. This delegate was Wagonseller County’s Bowen McConahay. Bowen solidified my interest in his spirituality when he was making his pitch for the Wagonseller County Commissioner of the Nationalist Party at his respective county convention. He mentioned the fact that he was president of his Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. I was able to catch up with him soon after to gain a deeper insight into his faith. To begin, I asked him how the devotion to his
Monday, June 11th, 2018 faith affected his overall lifestyle. Bowen boldly responded in somewhat of a traditionalist tone that had a twist of contemporary values. “I believe there’s truth in the Bible, but it doesn’t say that you have to force anything on anybody,” Bowen said. “You just suggest it and hope people come to it.” These are somewhat common takes on what the Bible means to many Christians, but I wanted to dig deeper. I asked Bowen how these previous values translate towards his candidacy for county commissioner. “My core values are generally close to the Bible, so that makes me generally more honest, trusting, and a lot more open with people.” He then elaborated that this also makes him more liable to tell people the realistic, and sometimes brutally honest truth. He wants to tell his contemporaries what they need to hear, not what they want. Building on the notion of basic politics within his candidacy, I asked Bowen if being outspoken about these views offer some type of hope and/or inspiration to his fellow delegates. “Everyone’s hope as a religious person is to spread what they believe in.” The strategy that I inquired to Bowen about is one used by hundreds of politicians around this country, both democratic and republican alike. A depiction of God or even a religion such as Christianity can ethically boost the moral of the citizens that are listening in on a speech. We as humans love nothing more than feeling a sense of reassurance when looking up to leaders. The human mind grasps onto abstract concepts like theology with a bigger sense of ambition and wonder. This political endeavor is extremely common, so it’s no wonder that we’re already seeing it at a program like this. Using the pr evious infor mation, I finalized Continued on page 4...
2 The Hetuck
Federalist Party Platform 1. Agriculture and Rural development: A. Tax Incentives for environment protection programs 2. Armed Services, Veteran Affairs, and Homeland Security: A. Increase School Sec. through Collaboration between levels of government B. Increase State over watch of veteran Affairs within the State C. Streamline the Mobilization process 3. Education, Family, and Community Advancement: A. Provide better access and improvement of public education B. Replace Common Core 4. Armed Economic Development, Commerce, and Labor: A. Tax Incentives for small businesses, Ohio Corps, and technology start ups B. Do not discourage or encourage union membership. Right to city level of Government 5. Energy, Economic Development. Commerce, and Labor: A. More research and development in clean energy B. Promote S.T.E.M. jobs & Education C. Protect and Promote clean Environments 6. Government Accountability and Oversight: A. Reform government programs (i.e. welfare) B. De-regulate the private sector C. Reduce overall government spending 7. Health and Public Safety: A. Hold Doctors and pharmaceutical companies accountable for over proscribing of opioids B. More Mental Health funding's to allocate background checks for schools C. Support reintegration of prisoners rather than punishing them for non-violent crimes to promote growth D. Legalization of Marijuana 8. Education and Workforce Development A. Increase funding for low income schools to provide higher quality of education and trade schools B. More training classes to support social and future life skills C. Lessen effects of standardized testing when evaluating school districts with the state testing grading scale 9. Infrastructure: A. Develop utilities such as internet, water, and electricity to provide for growing population and developing them to provide for current and future needs in speed, and power B. Support road and other infrastructure development that provides for future needs such as the development of autonomous vehicles and problems that come with increased population such as larger traffic.
The Hetuck 3
Nationalist Party Platform 1. Narcotics A. Treat the Opioid Epidemic as the public health crisis that it is. B. Focus our efforts on helping, not punishing those who are affected by this epidemic. C. We push for legislation reform involving, rehabilitation, integration back into society, a crackdown on the trafficking, and pharmaceutical companies. 2. Environment A. Environmental sustainability and conservation through common sense regulation. B. Implement nuclear power, wildlife conservation, tax breaks for urban farmers, im proving parks and promoting urban farming such as aquaponics and roof top gardens. These topics will help increase environmental sustainability and produce more regulations. 3. Gun Rights A. Full support of the Second Amendment and our God- given right to bear arms, while also supporting minute regulations that will benefit the safety of society. 4. Immigration A. Represent pro-legal immigration with stricter vetting and education requirements. B. For current illegal immigrants, a merit-based path will be provided for citizenship. Should an illegal immigrant obtain a criminal record, they will be deported and not im prisoned. 5. Campaign Reform A. Support regulation of attack ads by ensuring they are factually correct/political in nature. B. We support limiting “soft� money. 6. Education A. Stand for being the catalyst for growth of schools in areas such as technology, teacher salary, college readiness, and trade schools, while limiting core testing so that teachers may teach to a plan instead of a test. 7. Economic Development A. Call for the cutting of income taxes and the changing of sales tax policy. B. Eliminate unnecessary spending, and reform social programs. C. Lessening of business regulation, while supporting merit-based hiring to foster a more free-market economy and to create a more productive workforce, respectively. 8. Human Rights A. Protect the rights of all American citizens no matter the race or gender. B. Protect our American citizens from those who bring terror in the state by enforcing capital punishment.
4 The Hetuck ...Continued from page 1 my talk with Bowen by asking him if he believed this factor truly gave him an edge over other candidates. His response differed greatly compared to other outspoken politicians. “I never meant to use it to give me an edge, only for people to understand more about me as a person.” Even if Bowen was unintentionally utilizing this strategy, it most certainly left an effect on at least a few of the members at the convention. Similar to what was previously stated, America tends to be rooted in the ideals of Christianity, and vice-versa. It is really no wonder why these notions have seeped into this program. Bowen is a youth model for this approach in its entirety, and it’s just one of many types of political strategy on display here at Buckeye Boys State.
Carpe Sabbati: Seize the Week
themselves or another delegate for a city or county position. These nominees would appear on the ballot later in the week. All city and county officials had to pay declaration of candidacy fees. nnDelegates striving to be elected to state offices had to campaign throughout Buckeye Boys State for signatures from delegates in their party. Obtaining enough signatures from their party was how state candidates could get their names on the ballot. Similarly to city and county candidates, state candidates also had to pay declaration of candidacy fees. nnTo end the day, all delegates went to Millet Arena for the evening program. At this program they were challenged to make their experiences at Boys State something memorable. To make their week at Boys State an experience that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. The Latin phrase, “carpe sabbati,” was brought up during the program. This phrase translates to “seize the week.” A true representation of the Boys State program, the words “carpe sabbati” showed how delegates were given the opportunity to seize their week at Boys State on its first full day.
Ethan Ball Reporter
On the first full day of the American Legion Buckeye Boys State, delegates were given an indepth look at the complex workings of political campaigns and state government. Starting at 6:15 a.m., delegates were given the opportunity to be involved in the political process in their cities, counties and state. Delegates were able to run for positions such as city councilman and county engineer. For delegates with the goal of obtaining an even higher position, the state level was also an option. Positions in state government included Governor, State Treasurer and Attorney General. nnAt the city and county level, delegates were given a variety of options to immerse themselves in the campaign process. In their cities, and later their counties, delegates attended a caucus for either the Federalist or Nationalist Party. At these caucuses, the delegates could either nominate
Delegates going to parliamentary procedure orientation. Photo by: Taylor Colaizzi