The Think For Yourself Clubhouse podcast program, airing every Monday on YouTube with accompanying shorts posted throughout, has set down roots in downtown Jackson with a brick-and-mortar location where all are invited to listen to the civics-oriented shows aimed to help align views to the true purposes of governmental positions and more. (Photo Courtesy of Lisa Parker)
In times of divisive uncertainty, it is most important to understand the ironclad facts of any situation to best address how a solution may be reached. Recently, several concerned citizens of the Jackson area have come together to give seekers of curious accountability an opportunity to do just that — to listen what they believe to be truthful facts and think for themselves.
Downtown Jackson is a perpetually flourishing hub of economic merit and community pride, a place where visitors and residents can find many things for which they are looking and some things that they may not know they even need. Though it is not a business, the Think For Yourself Clubhouse, Inc. does market a vital commodity to the area — researched and (more importantly) researchable information. The home of a video podcast that covers key daily living issues throughout Southern Ohio, the Think For Yourself Clubhouse podcast discusses how national and state policies affect — and will affect — citizens of rural Ohio.
Following the results of the last Presidential election, the staff of the Think For Yourself Clubhouse came to two conclusions — one, that the Jackson County Democratic Party needed to change, and two, that something needed to be done in response to the many actions taken by the current Presidential administration.
Judge Bill Martin — a “local curmudgeon” ingratiated in several ways with youthful listeners — serves as the host of the show, with retired civics teacher and coach Dennis Reinhart as co-host. The writer’s duties befall to Aggie Martin. Lisa Parker fulfills the podcast as its producer, Calvin Parker its security and Cash Parker as its editor. The podcast generally airs every Monday, with YouTube shorts supplementing the main focuses.
Chiefly, the podcast intentions lie in its very name. Listeners and potential listeners are encouraged to listen to these mini-civics lessons and the issues presented in order to form their own opinions on matters, to find legislative truth in data that they research themselves and to learn the actual purposes of governmental and political offices and entities; the podcast serves as a primer platform for these ends.
In a perfect world, the American government would easily find common ground and negotiate with the interests of its people in mind, but unfortunately, disparity has created problems that produce valleys of dangerous misinformation are expected to be taken at face value.
Though the podcast is aired by those of Democratic Party standing, the staff and hosts do not intend to embellish facts to better reflect their own political views and have put out an invitation to all governmental officials to join talks so that all sides can be represented — just contact one of the staff members to arrange a time.
“We’re certainly not insisting that you act like a Democrat,” Martin explained, “but on the other hand, we are currently in contact with a lot of Democratic officials and candidates. However, we would like to offer the opportunity to speak with anyone who would like to come.”
Retired Judge Bill Martin (left) and retired civics teacher Dennis Reinhart (right) serve as the hosts of the show and are proud to present factual content that they say is not altered by any political leanings or viewpoints. (Telegram Photo by Alex Shope)
The podcast’s episodes have already tackled several issues with notable local officials. Jackson City Schools Superintendent Phil Howard appeared to speak on what a school district actually entails, what assets are at their disposal and its personnel; Howard went on to outline the leaning of educational financing toward private schools and how catastrophic the projected loss of millions of dollars in funding would be a blow to local schools and students.
Jackson Mayor Randy Evans also appeared on one episode to speak on the proposed income tax continuation and how the funding garnered from the tax had positively reshaped the City of Jackson in the five years of its existence.
Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General Elliot Forhan was another guest of the show that detailed the duties of the Attorney General and how the position’s duties affected Ohio government. Again, the hosts put out an invitation to all Republican officials that may want to explain the duties of their own stations, as well.
Lisa Parker and Bill Martin also shared that, with the initially announced loss of funding affecting numerous programs that affect local veterans (Jackson County is one of the highest in Ohio for its populace of veterans), they would be keeping a close watch for any attempts at closing the Chillicothe VA Medical Center, as this veterans-serving hospital is vital for those in the area who need both physical and mental aid in return for their hallowed service of America.
In the meantime, listeners are urged to help publicize the discontent for the decrees that are and will continue to affect rural communities of America on both political sides — public protests, in particular, are expected to increase as time goes on.
People are also encouraged to help hold their elected public officials accountable for their promises to serve rural America. Decide for yourself, the hosts repeat, and if a baseline to do so is needed, people of all ages can watch and enjoy one of the many shorts or video episodes of the Think For Yourself Clubhouse on YouTube.
“A lot of people say they want information on these issues,” said Lisa Parker, “but most just want to hear what they already think repeated back to them. A lot truly do want this information, though, and that’s why we’re doing this — so people can get the information right from the horse’s mouth and make their own decisions based on facts.”
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