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Never Vote For A Lawyer* (ISBN: 0-910941-32-7)
by Attorney Tony Lamia and
Journalist John Gile.
Foreword by former Prosecutor and Judge Paul Logli

Never Vote For A Lawyer* is a citizen-action manifesto by an attorney and a journalist with divergent views but common goals: greater citizen control of government at all levels and greater understanding of the principles which preserve government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Never Vote For A Lawyer* is
• about our nation's ideals, ("The Land Where Citizens Are Kings" is one of the chapter titles.);
• a call for citizens to fulfill obligations of citizenship that come with rights bestowed on us by our nation ("Being an American is Not A Spectator Sport" is another chapter.); and
• a reminder that liberty is only as secure as the rectitude and vigilance of the citizenry ("What Kind of People Are We?  What Kind of People Are We Becoming?" is the title of another chapter.). 

Never Vote for a Lawyer* is not a lawyer-bashing book or an attack on Barack Obama. Publication was delayed to avoid the perception that it was limited to the 2008 presidential election. (The title has an asterisk and includes an appendix of exceptions:  if a lawyer happens to be your brother-in-law, your daughter-in-law, a devotee and defender of our constitution, your spouse, a parent, your cousin Vinny, etc.). 

Attorney Tony Lamia writes from the perspective of a lawyer.  John Gile provides the perspective of a journalist.   Chapters titles provide an idea of the book’s content:
• Why This Book?
• Being An American Is Not A Spectator Sport
• The Land Where Citizens Are Kings
• Fortifying Freedom
• What Kind of People Are We?  What Kind of People Are We Becoming?
• What Are We Teaching Our Children?
• We Don't Kill Bad Ideas With Bullets.  We Kill Bad Ideas With Good Ideas.
• This Land Is -- Whose Land?
• Conflicts of Interest
• Making Sausage: the Legislative Meat Grinder
• Common Law vs. Common Sense
• A Legal System Run Amuck
• The Wild Horses School of Law
• Flawed Logic, Flawed Laws
• Education vs. Indoctrination
• Government By Personality vs. Government By Principle
• Journalists:  Watchdogs or Lapdogs?
• Party Pathos
• Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
• Taking Back Your City, Your County, Your State, Your Country
• Our Work Is Never Done
• Appendices:
• Exceptions
• Systemic Injustice
• Pending
(About 304 pages)

Never Vote For A Lawyer* is optimistic about our future despite recent polls reflecting citizen disdain for officeholders from both major parties and showing that fewer than one in five Americans consider our Justice system fair or honest or just.

The authors blend humor with thought provoking assessments and recommendations that entertain, motivate, inspire, and edify.

Never Vote For A Lawyer* is a paperback published by JGC/United Publishing and retailing for $13.95. Call 815.968.6601 for information.

John Gile brings a light touch to serious issues by focusing on how we think, not just what we think.

Call Donna at 815.968.6601 or click here for information on a presentation by author / journalist / publisher John Gile* at your next meeting.

* Programs presented to more than 500,000 in 39 states, Europe, and New Zealand.

• Small group sessions with author / journalist / publisher John Gile* — Times, topics, and locations vary:
• Better Business Through Better Writing
• Better Grades Through Better Writing
• Better Personal Relationships Through Better Writing.
• Better Writing for Pleasure and Profit
For information, call Donna at 815.968.6601 or click here.

• Private consultation and coaching anytime. Call 815.968.6601 or click here.

*Programs presented to more than 500,000 in 39 states, Europe, and New Zealand.

"If you are reading this, you are computer literate and probably would be lost without the convenience and power of the Internet. But no one can be computer literate until he or she has mastered basic literacy. I wrote Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! to motivate children to discover the wonderful world of reading and all the powers that come with reading.'" — John Gile

Click on the cover for more information or use the order button below.

Author's Note:

"I am a journalist by education and experience, but what I share with you on the following pages comes out of a far more important role I play in life, my role as husband and father. My hope is that you will find something of value in the experiences and reflections I share with you on these pages and, more important, that they will help you realize how much there is of value in you." — John Gile. Click here or on the cover for more.

Status Quo Politicos
Terrorize Illinois Voters

Devotees of the Illinois political establishment, made up of both Republicans and Democrats, their supporters, and their beneficiaries, successfully executed a $600,000 campaign to scare Illinois citizens away from voting at the general election for a Constitutional Convention which could have given Illinois citizens greater control over government at all levels.

Illinois citizens’ control of local and state government is severely limited because the badly-flawed 1970 Illinois Constitution denies Illinois citizens basic rights enjoyed by citizens of other states. Those flaws opened the door for a 40-year orgy of corruption and mismanagement that has earned Illinois a national reputation as one of the worst run states in the country

Voting yes for a Constitutional Convention would have given citizens an opportunity to fix those flaws and secure key powers enjoyed by citizens of other states, including:
• power to recall corrupt and incompetent politicians in mid-term;
• power to mandate nonpartisan legislative redistricting to eliminate gerrymandering that robs citizens of their votes, assures the reelection of incumbents, and favors the controlling political party;
• power to control home rule governments by allowing or mandating local citizens to create home rule constitutions or charters defining what home rule powers politicians can exercise by virtue of holding office, what home rule powers politicians can exercise only with consent of the voters, and what powers politicians cannot exercise at all;
• power of initiative to allow citizens to propose laws by petition and to ensure submission of their proposals to the electorate;
• power to ensure independent candidates fair access to the ballot, to protect private property from eminent domain abuse, to safeguard public assets, and to hold public officials liable for abuses.

Opponents argued that citizens shouldn’t change the rules that control the politicians, that the citizens should just change the politicians. Voters can change politicians, but politicians don’t change. Expecting all politicians to suddenly become virtuous is like expecting wolves to suddenly become vegetarians.

They argued that Illinois couldn't afford a convention because it would cost $78 million dollars, as though all election costs have to be borne by the convention, as though delegate selection and amendment voting can’t be done at regular elections. The $78 million figure comes to about $336,500 per elected delegate. Perhaps that estimate explains why the state borders on bankruptcy.

They argued that delegates might interfere with public pensions. Concern for public pensions actually is a reason to vote for Con-Con, not against it. State government mismanagement, which includes failure to fund public pensions, has brought the state to the brink of bankruptcy. When the state is insolvent, so are pension funds.

They argued that a convention could be dominated by Chicago, as though people living in Chicago and the collar counties have no interest in good government. In fact, there is growing unrest in Chicago and the surrounding area because of taxes rising to nearly confiscatory levels and increasing abuses of home rule powers. They demand reform, too.

Citizens would have exercised complete control of the convention: 1. Citizens would elect delegates; 2. Delegates would propose and discuss amendments in public session open to citizen monitoring; 3. Any proposed amendments would be submitted to the citizens for approval or rejection before becoming law.

The most amusing argument was that a convention could be taken over by “special interests,” as though Illinois is not controlled by special interests today. The “special interest” they seemed to fear most is the people of Illinois.

A True Story Of Survival,
Of Hope, Of Love Conquering All
Click cover for book information.