The Texas Republican Party Platform

Via Calpundit, I was awakened to the existence of the Texas GOP website (never been there before) and it's stated principles and platform.

Here is the platform's language. My comments will be interspersed in bold.

1. We respect and cherish the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and our Founders' intent to restrict the power of the federal government over the states and the people. We believe internal self-government is the best government, balanced by limited civil government, which provides for the people those things which cannot be achieved individually.
   Sounds good. That last part should be cover language for police, courts, national and civil defense, etc.

2. We believe that human life is sacred because each person is created in the image of God, that life begins at the moment of conception and ends at the point of natural death, and that all innocent human life must be protected.
   Problem. That's great YOU believe life begins at conception and must therefore be protected (from abortion), but I'm with Leonard Peikoff on this one, in a broad sense. A woman's fundamental property right to her body overrides any sentimentality placed on an embryo she carries.

3. We believe that good government is based on the individual and that each person's ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility must be honored and recognized. We believe that, while equal opportunity is a right and a privilege, equal outcome is not. We insist that no one's rights are negotiable and that individual freedom demands personal responsibility.
   Lovely to hear a party say equality of opportunity trumps equality of outcome. I wish they'd apply the "ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility" bit to abortion, illegal drugs, and intimate relationships. Oh, and for fuck's sake: purge the racists from your ranks. Stop lending the heavy-handed charges of bigotry any additional ammunition.

4. We believe that government spending is out of control and needs to be reduced. We support fundamental, immediate tax reform that is simple, fair, and fully disclosed.
   I'd like something clearer. Texas has no income tax, so the Texas GOP can't rant about wanting to get rid of one. The property tax and local sales taxes are the big targets. But before you can go after them, you've got to go after spending first.

5. We believe that traditional marriage is a legal and moral commitment between a man and a woman. We recognize that the family is the foundational unit of a healthy society and consists of those related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The family is responsible for its own welfare, education, moral training, conduct, and property.
   Problem. You aren't applying #3 to this. Personal relationships belong in the realm of the private and soviergn individuals who are involved in them. Don't force your moral code upon others: allow people to live their lives and choose with whom to spend their time in pleasure. Privatize marriage. The government has no business telling me who I'm allowed to marry or if it's Official or not. And damn it, how about abolishing the government bias towards married people by eliminating their tax breaks and subsidies? I do like the last sentence. It should be applied more fundamentally to all aspects of society.

6. We believe that a well-educated population is fundamental to the continued success of our Republic; and that parents have the right, as well as the duty, to direct their children's education and to have the choice among public, private, and religious schools. Competition improves education, with no child being left behind.
   I'd rather have the state entirely removed from education (as per the last sentence in #5 above taken to it's proper conclusion), but this is a decent step. The problem with it is we'd still be paying for other people's educations; they'd just have the opportunity to shop around with that money rather than have their kid rot in a shitty system.

7. We believe that the future of our country depends upon a strong and vibrant private sector unencumbered by excessive government regulation.
   Define "excessive" as anything beyond what should be in place to punish theft and fraud and I'll be with you on this. Certainly a damn sight better than your ideological competitors.

8. We believe that a strong America ensures a free America. While we recognize that our nation is a major participant in the global community, we must also vigilantly protect the sovereignty of the United States. Freedom is never free, and we honor all those who have served our nation to protect our liberty.
   Language for Big Defense Spending and Get Us Out of the UN. National security is incredibly important, but the direction it's in now needs changing. Pork-barrel local politicians are screwing up the market and need to be stopped. On the other hand, I see little point in remaining with an institution that is so hostile to our fundamental national character. Stop funding the United Nations.

9. We believe all Americans have the right to be safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their communities. We support enforcement of the laws through the Courts imposing swift and sure justice with stiff penalties, truth in sentencing, and respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.
   No one can really argue with this. Unfortunately, some of the laws the GOP wants to enforce (the drug laws in particular) are wrong. Such "swift" and "stiff" justice is punishing millions who do not deserve it.

10. We believe that personal and public integrity is the cornerstone of a stable and lasting society and it is the key to preserving the freedoms for which our founders pledged their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor."
    You've got a LONG way to go to get close to this point. When I think of Republicans, I think of compromise, lack of willpower, and political pandering. Rarely do I think of integrity. That is, however, a natural outcome of our current political system. And the Democrats are much worse.

Does this discovery of the Texas GOP platform change my opinons on any things? Well, it is good to know Republicans haven't stopped paying lipservice to limited government and individual rights. What tears me apart are the occasions (seemingly unlimited in number) where the GOP caves in, won't stand up, and refuses to back down in the face of the opposition. If they collectively gave a damn about the things above, more would have been done. For what they did accomplish, much of it is watered down bullshit or alarming conservative activism.

But no, it doesn't change my opinion one way or the other. In each political race I am eligible to vote for, I'll pick the person who best represents my beliefs. Regardless of that person's electibility. If, by change, there is a race where a substantially statist candidate was neck-and-neck with a traditional Republican and that Republican didn't stand for anything particularly odious, I may vote GOP. It all depends.

Posted by Drizzten at October 16, 2003 10:16 PM