We're Republicans Because . . .
We believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability, and responsibility must be honored.
We believe in equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age, or disability.
We believe free enterprise and encouraging individual initiatives have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth, and prosperity.
We believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
We believe the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.
We believe the most effective, responsible, and responsive government is government closest to the people.
We believe Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
We believe Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom, and human rights throughout the world.
Finally, we believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.
Minnesota Republicans Believe . . .
Taxes and Limited Government
Individuals and families are entitled to what they earn. Taxes should be low, simple and just. Government should live within its means; government should not take property from one citizen to give to another and that free enterprise is the best path to prosperity for all Minnesotans.
Preserving Civil Rights
Government should treat all of its citizens equally under the law; that innocent human life, born and unborn, must be protected from conception until natural death and that our inalienable rights of free speech, press, assembly, religious expression and to keep and bear arms should not be abridged.
Education
As parents are ultimately responsible for their children's education, we support measures which give parents more choices for educating their children.
Strengthening Families
Government needs to reaffirm the unique and central role of the traditional family and that strong family values are the foundation of American society. Affordable health care can be achieved by introducing genuine market competition, eliminating government mandates and allowing people to own and control their own health care. People should have the right to control their individual retirement plans, including Social Security.
Protecting Public Safety
The most fundamental function of government is to keep us secure in our property and our persons and that substantially tougher laws need to be enacted to stop internet predators and keep repeat offenders, violent criminals and dangerous sex offenders incarcerated.
Strengthening the Rule of Law
Measures should be enacted to ensure that courts are not overburdened with frivolous lawsuits which impose large and unfair burdens on people and businesses. Judges should adhere to the constitution and refrain from legislating from the bench.
Environment, Energy and Agriculture
The environment needs to be conserved for future generations and that it needs to be done without enacting radical and unnecessary regulations that trample on the rights of people and forces them out of their jobs. We support strong energy policies relying mostly on private initiative encourage research and development of current and alternate forms of energy.
Defending America at Home and Abroad
Peace is best maintained by having a strong national defense, securing our own borders, and by encouraging all peoples to seek freedom, democracy and free enterprise.