Simplify and Unify
As we continue to look for ideas on how to improve the Republican Party, I think we need to look at our platform. Now don’t get me wrong, I agree with most of our platform and I think overall everything in it is great. However, it’s too long and too specific. To an average voter our platform is "blah blah blah" and to many other voters there are one or two issues that exclude them from the party. My suggestion is to simplify and go back to the founding principles of freedom. Here is where I think we should start the debate.
People have the inherent, natural, and unalienable rights to life, liberty, property and pursuit of happiness.
With this first principle, I don’t think we can find anyone who can say they disagree that any human being doesn’t deserve these nights. It also says we are pro-life and that the government should be out of our daily lives
Promote Economic Freedom
Now under this section we can always specifically what we want to repeal to make this happen. However, once again, we need to keep it simple. Such as, we don’t believe public money should be given to private entities or we believe that government can not restrain private business.
Educational Freedom
Once again, short and sweet. This means we believe in school choice and holding public schools accountable for quality education.
Enjoy and Protect Natural Resources
This means we are to be good stewards of our natural resources. Preserving what we have little and making good use of the resources that are in abundance.
The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not possessions.
The people cannot delegate to the government anything that they do not have the right to exercise themselves.
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These five principles exclude very little people but encompass most of our freedoms. Remember that these are just starting points. Next, we get rid of exclusionary principles. Such as: limited gambling, parole guidelines, certain supports of our national defense, and so on. Why can’t I be for pulling out of Afghanistan? Why can’t I be for someone owning their own casino?
Last, but definitely not least, we need to drop traditional marriage. Not say we support gay marriage just drop traditional marriage. I know this is different from my past stances and many people will be upset with me, but it needs to happen. Why? Because it has nothing to do with freedom. Instead we need to change the argument. Why does the government even issue marriage licenses? Churches should have the religious freedom to marry whomever they want and if you aren’t religious then you should have the freedom to associate with whomever you want.
In a nutshell the litmus test for the Republican Party needs to be FREEDOM. Every political argument needs to come down to personal freedoms. If it doesn’t, then we need to change the argument. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we for freedom for all? Or are we just for more freedom than what the Democrats stand for?
Ben Schwanke ran for MN Senate in January, 2012 against Kari Dziedzic (D) in the Senate District 59 special election. Cross-posted at Freedom Dogs.