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The Bushnell Report

Can You Put A Price On Freedom? - Sarah Richards

Updated: Jan 23, 2022

Say NO to American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Funding

“A republic … if you can keep it.” These famous words were spoken by one of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who, upon stepping out of Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention, was asked what type of government America was to be.


But now, we are losing our republic. Many of us want to blame this president or that president for our decline; but we need not look very far for those of us equally at fault. The very leaders you may see at the gym, local grocery store, or waving at you with smiles at an Independence Day parade are all complicit in the destruction of the foundation of our country.

They do so by blurring the lines of checks and balances. They redline the U.S. Constitution’s 10th amendment by accepting and using funds offered up by the federal government from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). By accepting these funds, Idaho’s local entities and governments agree to federal government authority outside of the powers granted to it by the U.S. Constitution.


“Recipient also agrees to comply with all other applicable federal statutes, regulations, and executive orders, and Recipient shall provide for such compliance by other parties in any agreements it enters into with other parties relating to this award.” H.R.1319, Section 9. a - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Can you put a dollar amount on freedom? Kootenai County is selling Idaho’s sovereignty away to the tune of about $188* per person. Our cities are receiving ARPA funds which equate to similar amounts per person.

It’s not just our leaders who are at fault. We too have been complicit. Complacency and a lack of desire to be educated and informed about our government and leaders, and allowing many elected to operate unchecked, have been our role in this decline.

But there is hope. We can still keep the republic. Many are waking up, picking up that tattered flag, and raising it back up. All of us need to know about and exercise our authority as we the people, and not give it away to those who will take it when we are too distracted. One quick and immediate action is to contact the county, your city or any local agency receiving these funds and tell them “NO” to ARPA funds. “NO” to selling off Idaho’s citizens to federal control.

*Figure based on 2020 U.S. Census Data. We all know there are more people who live here, so that $ amount per person is probably less.


Contact your local governments and agencies who plan to or already have accepted these funds.

Tell them NO to spending it, and return the money.


Let Kootenai County know soon as they are acting the fastest

In-person: Board of County Commissioners Meeting. January 19, 2022, 9 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 451 N Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83816


By phone: 208-446-1600


By email: arpa@kcgov.us




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