Introducing the American Freedom Party

A small group of concerned, "politically homeless" citizens have started what we call the American Freedom Party. We believe we have the right message at the right time in history.

Our agenda is simple:

• Non-interventionism abroad
• Renewed federalism and devolution at home (Americans make most of their important political decisions on a state-by-state basis, as opposed to Washington's one-size-fits-all approach)
  

We feel that most third party efforts have failed for two main reasons: either their agendas have been too narrow to generate broad appeal, or they wasted time and money trying to run long-shot presidential candidates when they should have been spreading the word and building state parties. We are seeking to overcome these hardships by adopting a simple but broad agenda, and by working to build up recognition at the grassroots level instead of campaigning for high office right away.

Our motto is: "Reclaiming liberty, the first American dream".

To join our discussion, please visit our Yahoo message group. We can use all the help we can get:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/American_Freedom_Party/

The following Statement of Principles will tell you a bit more about where we stand:

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Preamble

The American Freedom Party is a 21st Century effort to revive the revolutionary vision and founding principles that first made the United States of America possible, and later allowed it to become freedom's shining city on a hill, a beacon of hope for all mankind.

Over time, the original vision of America's founders has been lost. It has been systematically supplanted by special interests and corrupt politicians who have abused the public trust and have overthrown the Constitution's plan for limited government in favor of consolidating power in Washington D.C. Political agendas have crept into the halls of justice. Irresponsible fiscal policy has swelled our country's debt to astronomical heights and threatens to bring our economy crashing down around us. Interventionist foreign policies have unnecessarily spilled our dearest blood and treasure all across the planet. America's prestige throughout the world has faltered. Political debate at home is increasingly strident. Unelected bureaucrats are coming to control the smallest details of our everyday lives. Onerous taxes and regulations are driving American businesses and jobs overseas. Families struggle more to get by on less as prices rise. We no longer see our way clearly into the future.

The time has come for change, for a new renaissance of freedom and opportunity. The American Freedom Party hopes to lead the way by restoring our country's most beloved ideals to the halls of government, and by removing every obstacle that stands in the way of individual Americans pursuing their happiness and rising to the heights of their potential.


Statement of Principles

Americans do not have rulers, they have elected representatives.

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. As such, its provisions have a definite meaning, may not be changed except by the formal amendment processes described in Article VII of that document, and may not be superceded by the dictates of any international body. The Constitution's purpose was to provide for a federal government that would allow the states of the American Union to peacefully co-exist with one another and with the nations of the world.

The federal government has only those powers specifically delegated to it by the states via the Constitution. It was not designed, nor does the Constitution empower it, to regulate the internal affairs of the states and their citizens.

The states of the American Union are sovereign bodies with the right to exercise all powers they have not specifically delegated to the Union via the Constitution. This country is too vast and its people are too diverse to be tightly controlled by Washington. Instead, each state should be able to determine its own institutions as its people see fit. This approach is best described as "unity in diversity".

The United States of America is neither the world's policeman nor its rescue mission. Its role in international affairs should be restricted to facilitating trade and encouraging dialog between nations. Its military forces should be used only for defensive purposes, not in nation-building exercises. The best foreign aid we can provide is to encourage needy nations to embrace free trade and internal reforms that will enhance individual freedom and thus promote opportunity and prosperity.

Every effort should be made to keep taxes as low as possible, so that individuals and families may be left with the maximum amount of their earnings for the furtherance and enjoyment of their lives. Government agencies should face routine audits to ensure they are using tax dollars wisely, a balanced budget amendment should be passed to end deficit spending, and the dollar should be returned to a sound basis (gold or silver backing).

Courts are responsible for applying law, not making law or enforcing political agendas. Disputes over the meaning of laws should be referred back to the appropriate law-making bodies for clarification. As Thomas Jefferson maintained, disputes over the powers of the federal government versus those of the states should be referred to the people of the states instead of being arbitrarily decided by the federal courts, as it is not right that one of the parties in dispute should decide the matter, and as it is the "We, the people of the United States" who ratified the Constitution and are supreme over both the states and the federal government.

The proper role of the United Nations (if any) is to serve as a forum for promoting understanding among the nations of the world, thus allowing for them to peacefully resolve their disputes. It must not be permitted to evolve into a global government with the power to tax and pass binding legislation.

The United States of America owes its existence to immigrants who arrived on these shores long ago and struggled to build new lives for themselves. Americans should continue to welcome immigrants who share America's love of freedom and opportunity and wish to share in those blessings; however, we have the right, and duty, to police our country's borders in order to prevent incursions by those who wish to do us harm.

The war against global terrorism should focus on hunting down known terrorists and destroying their networks. This can and should be accomplished without transforming the United States of America into an oppressive police-state, or by allowing the Executive Branch to become a dictatorship. We reject the practice of accumulating vast stores of information on American citizens who have not been accused of any crime, which only detracts from efforts to pursue real, known criminals. We reject the doctrine that American citizens can be held indefinitely without council, charge, or trial, all of which are rights that are protected by the Bill of Rights. We reject the idea that the President of the United States can decide which laws he will and will not obey, as he is as subject to the constraints of the law as any ordinary American citizen. We hold to the conviction that surrendering our freedom and way of life in the face of terrorism is tantamount to surrendering to the terrorists and allowing them to destroy us.

Government should not attempt to replace the family or promote any certain values system. Values are a matter of individual conscience, and their instruction is properly the responsibility of parents, guardians, and private institutions such as churches. Governmental interference is inevitably political interference, and politics inevitably involves special interest agendas, which should not be forcefully subsidized with taxpayer funds.

Federal education and social programs should be gradually devolved to the states, to be administered as they deem fit within their own borders. Individual states and their populations face many challenges that cannot be adequately addressed by Washington's typical one-size-fits-all approach, nor should millions of dependent persons be held hostage by partisan political wrangling at the national level. Devolution will allow states to administer such programs as best suits their individual needs, and will permit growth and experimentation that is currently impossible under top-down federal management. It would also permit states that face similar circumstances and share similar goals to partner in cooperative efforts, including by such means as revenue sharing. Further, with Washington D.C. out of the equation, there is less likelihood that any one political event, such as a government shut-down, would interrupt services and benefits for those who have come to be dependent upon them.