- America is the refuge of the world’s tired, hungry, and poor. Immigrants are rewarded for their initiative, hard work, and perseverance.
- America is a place where dreams can become a reality. The American “experiment,” as it was called, recognized inalienable rights as God-given rights.
- The proper role of government is to secure those rights. That is the entire philosophical basis upon which our government is built.
- In the early days of this country, government was viewed as a force to be limited and was required by the Constitution to leave citizens alone.
- Originally our government was formed to protect citizens from one another, from foreign nations, and especially from their own government, itself!
- Today, things have shifted. Government is seen as a positive force that takes from one citizen and gives to another.
- When government starts to do something for one group of citizens, it necessarily has to take from another group of citizens, and in the process, gains control over both!
- The Constitution of the United States of America was written to govern the government, not the people, and not the states!
- Under that system, each state was a jealous guardian of its own sovereignty; that left the states to compete with one another, to invite growth by reducing taxes and controls, and by having the most business and family-friendly environment. This competition produced excellence, as honest competition always does.
- The first 10 amendments of the Constitution (also called the Bill of Rights), was a list of “thou shalt nots” to the government, with the last one saying: “and if we left anything out, you can’t do that either!”
- The Idaho Constitution was patterned after the U.S. Constitution, and in the early days of our state, the effect was much the same. We enjoyed prosperity and great opportunity.
My vision for Idaho is one of hope that we can govern our government and regain our local sovereignty again.
Watch the above for yourself: