PLATFORM

Defining our Constitutional Republic Endowed by our Creator

 

We the Members of the Rockingham County Republican Party recognize that our Government was created by the People to work for the People.  We recognize our Government is the only Government in the world where the People are sovereign and are endowed by their Creator with certain UNALIENABLE RIGHTS.  We recognize that all power comes from GOD to the people and then to the government.  We are unique in this respect throughout the world.  The proper role of government is to protect and secure the rights of life, liberty, and property . . . not amend, restrict, or abridge them. 

The First Amendment clearly states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”.  The words “separation of church and state” do not appear in the Constitution.  Our founders believed in and formed our Constitution on Judeo-Christian values, a system of ethical conduct, moral principles, and justice that is based on Natural Law, wherein freedom and the rights associated with it are derived from God.  As such, we believe statements of faith, character, and morality such as the Ten Commandments and prayer itself must not be banned from the public arena. 

We believe that the right of the individual to bear arms is our defense against personal harm as well as to defend against a tyrannical government thereby protecting all other Rights of a Free People.  The right of the citizens of the United States and of North Carolina to bear arms, was considered crucial enough to be included in both the Second Amendment to US Constitution and in Article 1 Section 30 of the North Carolina State Constitution and Declaration of Rights.   

Transparency in all actions of government is the key to holding our elected officials accountable We believe that laws at all levels of government must be easy to understand by Congress, the Courts and most importantly by the people.  It is imperative that bills deal with one subject at a time.  We must demand the use of current and emerging technologies to keep the citizens informed of all activities in our government. 

We believe the greatest threat to our nations security is our debt-based economic system.  Continuing to spend more money than we make is like pouring gasoline on a fire.  The cost of government at all levels consumes one half of our total economy and has become a destructive force on our society and the future of our nation.  We believe a drastic reduction in the size and scope of government, especially the Federal government, is required. 

Conservatives aren't challenged because of the basic principles that define us, but by the failure of the principles being translated into policy and practice.  We will promote and support only those who will adhere to our basic principles of limited government and the original intent of our State and Federal Constitutions.  We believe that education in these principles and on the heritage of the purpose of our government is the key to maintaining its greatness.

Defining the Limited Powers and the Duties of the Federal Government

 

Our founders feared a highly centralized and endowed federal government, instead preferring a system of strong and virtually independent states so that no one person, party, or power broker would exercise a great deal of control.   

We believe the Federal Government is a creation of the States to provide certain limited functions for the States and the People, as defined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution For The United States of American and limited by the Ninth and Tenth Amendment. 

We believe the Federal government must protect our borders from foreign aggression as well as from enemies within.  Participation in any international organization or treaty must never sacrifice the sovereignty of our nation or the freedoms of its citizens.   

We believe one of the enemies to our societal structure and nations’ heritage is excessive immigration where the natural blending into our society is disrupted.  In times of high unemployment, common sense dictates a reasonable reduction in the number of immigrants.  We also believe that any form of amnesty for those who subvert our laws will cause great harm to our societal structure. 

We believe that social and education issues are not the duty of the Federal government and should be left to the State and Local citizens to decide.  

We believe in individualism and free markets, the voluntary exchange of private property, goods, and services.  Government intervention causes distortion in the natural economic cycles that should reward efficiency and success and punish poor performance by failure.  Interference in this process forces everyone down to the level of the lowest common denominator. Government can only aid the losers at the expense of the winners, and, as a result, everyone loses.  We believe there must be complete transparency of all financial dealings within our government including the Federal Reserve.

Defining the Powers and Duties of State Government

 

We believe that North Carolina is a sovereign state, whose legislative and judicial processes supersede that of the federal United States government.  We believe that one of the key responsibilities and functions of the North Carolina State Legislature is to protect the individual freedoms of all citizens of North Carolina.  Any Federal mandate that interferes with freedoms of State citizens must be opposed. 

We believe that decisions that affect our societal structure such as the “right to life” and the “sanctity of marriage” are the responsibility of the people of each State and should be made according to the values and principles of the people within those States.   

We believe a State government should foster private enterprise by removing regulations that inhibit a fair and equal business environment.  

We believe the state should recognize that the people of each local community know what is best for their fellow citizens. 

Defining the Powers and Duties of County Government 

Conservatives believe that the best government is the most local government possible.  County government is best able to identify local resources that encourage private enterprise.  We believe its duty is to promote these resources and eliminate obstacles to free enterprise development, doing so in the most efficient and cost effective manner.   

We believe a County government should strive to build a cohesive community and promote the foundation of our society, the family unit. 

The right to own property is fundamental to a free society.  We believe a County government must be the first line of defense in protecting the right of its citizens to own property. 

We believe County government must respect and uphold the morals and values of its citizens. 

Responsibilities of the People in maintaining the REPUBLIC. 

The family is the first school of good citizenship, the engine of economic progress, and a haven of security and understanding.  Our nation’s strength lies with the family where each new generation gains its moral anchor.  We the People have a responsibility of great importance in overseeing our government, to ensure it defends the family unit as the foundation of our society. 

Our children are our most valuable resource.  We believe we know the needs of our children best and must have the freedom to decide locally how our children will be educated.   

To ensure the prosperity of our children and our children’s children we must actively participate in the development of our community organizations, businesses, schools and in the operation of our government at all levels.  The people are the key to bringing local control back to our communities.  We must educate ourselves in the political process, at all levels, to ensure our representatives do not grow government beyond its mandated function.  We must use every available current and emerging technology to educate ourselves in the fight to maintain the freedoms on which this great Country was founded. 

Be it remembered, however, that liberty must at all hazards be supported . . . cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people . . . And the preservation of the means of knowledge among the lowest ranks, is of more importance to the public than all the property of all the rich men in the country.

John Adams ("A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law," 1765)