Issues

With a core belief in the primacy of individuals, the Republican Party, since its inception, has been at the forefront of the fight for individuals’ rights in opposition to a large, intrusive government.

Abolition, Free speech, Women’s suffrage were all causes the Republican Party adopted early on. So, too, were reducing the size of government, streamlining bureaucracy, and returning power to individual states.

The following is a condensed version of the Republican Platform. The complete, in-depth version can be found at https://www.gop.com/platform/

 

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

Restoring the American Dream: Rebuilding the Economy and Creating Jobs

  • The tax system must be simplified. Government spending and regulation must be reined in. American companies must be more competitive in the world market, and we must be aggressive in promoting U.S. products abroad and securing open markets for them. A Federal-State-private partnership must invest in the nation’s infrastructure. Federal training programs have to be overhauled and made relevant for the workplace of the twenty-first century. Potential employers need certainty and predictability for their hiring decisions.

We The People: A Restoration of Constitutional Government

  • We will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes and ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry and in denouncing all who practice or promote racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, or religious intolerance. We support efforts to help low-income individuals get a fair chance based on their potential and individual merit; but we reject preferences, quotas, and set-asides as the best or sole methods through which fairness can be achieved, whether in government, education, or corporate boardrooms. Merit, ability, aptitude, and results should be the factors that determine advancement in our society.

America’s Natural Resources: Energy, Agriculture and the Environment

  • The Republican Party is committed to domestic energy independence. The role of public officials must be to encourage responsible development across the board. We will let the free market and the public’s preferences determine the industry outcomes. In assessing the various sources of potential energy, Republicans advocate an all-of-the-above diversified approach, taking advantage of all our American God-given resources.

Reforming Government to Serve the People

  • We are the party of government reform. At a time when the Federal government has become bloated, antiquated and unresponsive to taxpayers, it is our intention not only to improve management and provide better services, but also to rethink and restructure government to bring it into the twenty-first century. Government reform requires constant vigilance and effort because government by its nature tends to expand in both size and scope. Our goal is not just less spending in Washington but something far more important for the future of our nation: protecting the constitutional rights of citizens, sustainable prosperity, and strengthening the American family.

Renewing American Values to Build Healthy Families, Great Schools and Safe Neighborhoods

  • We are the party of independent individuals and the institutions they create – families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods – to advance their ideals and make real their dreams. Foremost among those institutions is the American family. That is why we insist that public policy, from taxation to education, from healthcare to welfare, be formulated with attention to the needs and strengths of the family.

American Exceptionalism

  • We are the party of peace through strength. Professing American exceptionalism – the conviction that our country holds a unique place and role in human history is part of this process. A healthy American economy is what underwrites and sustains American power. We must therefore rebuild our economy and solve our fiscal crisis. In an American century, America will have the strongest economy and the strongest military in the world.
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