One of the items I came across was the 1994 Republican Party of New Mexico Platform. The Republican Party of New Mexico adopted the same platform for the 1996 election cycle as well. One feature of this platform was its simplicity. That platform was a one page statement of values held by the party members. There is nothing from the 1994 platform that doesn’t still apply today, and as Republicans perhaps we should take another look and get back to the basic values that resonated with the American people. It is straight forward and succinct enough to print it here. Here is that platform from 1994:
WE BELIEVE…
PHILOSOPHY: We support the Constitution of the United
States and the Bill of Rights and believe that the responsibility of government
is the preservation of the individual’s freedom and ability to control his or
her own destiny.
TAXES: We support lower taxes, believing people know how to spend their money better than the government.
CRIME: We support swift and sure criminal punishments. We support boot camps, victims’ rights, truth in sentencing, and the death penalty.
EDUCATION: We support the parents’ right to educate their children as they see fit, and to send their children, and their tax dollars, to the school of their choice.
We support the three R’s.
TERM LIMITS: We support term limits as a means of returning power to the voter and inhibiting too much power into too few hands.
FIREARMS: We support the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution without reservation, & peoples’ rights to defend their families and homes.
HEALTHCARE: We support private enterprise solutions to the healthcare problems in NM. We oppose governmental takeover of the healthcare system.
OPEN GOVERNMENT: We support public access to all aspects of governmental decision making & oppose closed legislative meetings.
WORKFARE: We support a temporary workfare system based on work, dignity, & goals which encourage self-reliance and independence.
ABORTION: “The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” Thomas Jefferson. In seeking solution to the abortion issue, we oppose taxpayer funding, & support parental responsibility and informed decision making.
SPECIAL RIGHTS: We support equal rights for everyone and oppose special rights for any individual or group.
ENVIRONMENT: A sound economy & a clean environment are achievable. We trust private citizens, ranchers, and farmers of NM to be better custodians of the land and natural resources than the government.
RIGHT TO WORK: We support every person’s right to freely join a union. We oppose compulsory unionism as a condition of employment.
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
It’s time to return to the values as delineated by this platform. Until next time, take care.
~Peter Shams-Avari~
www.shams-avari.com
