Forty years of growing government, despite growing taxation and tax revenue, have exceeded the level at which this country can support it without a continuing decline in the lifestyle of its citizens. I know, contrary to the views of big-government elitists, that the government exists to protect the rights of its citizens. It does not exist to redefine, remove, or otherwise infringe upon those rights.

As the demands of the government upon the production of the citizens increases the number of families living on the margin increases. Many of those families on the margins are likely to fall into the welfare trap that is consuming so much of this country's valuable resources.

The solution today is the solution of 1980. Reduce taxes and expenditures on "entitlements". It's the only hope the citizens of this country have of reversing the declining living standard and securing a quality lifestyle.

The reality today is that we live in a two party system. Third parties have two disadvantages. First, they lack the national organization and historical loyalty of the two major parties. Secondly, even if a third party were to elect some members to congress they would be powerless because their votes would be too few to implement policies of their own.

The only option remaining to voters is to sway an existing party in the right direction. While I disagree with some positions in the Republican Party, I find myself far closer to its beliefs than those of any other party.

I want a smaller and less intrusive national government. Republicans, in theory, believe in this. There are only a few issues which the Republican Party chooses to deviate from this principle on. I'd rather work within the party to change the views of its members on those few issues than attempt to build a party that may never have the opportunity to make any difference.

I want a more efficient national government that operates on less revenue. Well, Republicans believe in that too. Perhaps too many of them still like fiddling with the cranky old tax system we have but at least they are tinkering to move the taxes down rather than up. It ought to be easier to convince tax-cutting Republicans to scrap the tax system than to convince the other party.

I believe in The Constitution, particularly the 10^th Amendment. Republicans believe in returning as much of government authority and responsibility to the individual states as possible. They also, most of the time, oppose activist judges and expanding Federal mandates on the states and their citizens. There's not much I can argue with other than convincing fellow Republicans to be a bit more consistent about practicing these broad philosophies. Again, the GOP is 90 percent with me, why walk away because of the other 10?

I want equal opportunity for all - not mandated equal outcomes. Someone has to pay the cost of the equalized outcomes in actual dollars, court costs, the expanded government required to enforce the laws, and the general ill will that develops between the recipients of the gift and those who had the gift forced from their hands. Republicans oppose Affirmative Action because it isn't about creating an environment of equal opportunity but about acting to ensure that some get an affirmative advantage over another - government mandated unequal rights.

Republican philosophy is founded in the belief that the American People are productive and hard-working people capable of building good lives for themselves without the Nanny State overseeing every move. Republicans also believe that if government doesn't remove such prohibitive amounts of money from the pockets of its citizens those in need will find help very near home from neighbors, friends, and community organizations. I agree with such beliefs. Americans elected Senators, Representatives, and Presidents who created and maintained these programs in the first place. It's a shame, but not a surprise, that government failed in the task of implementing a good charity system. Its time to return the task to the American people who once ensured the welfare of fellow citizens.

The men who wrote the constitution included in the preamble the words "... secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity ... " because they knew the actions taken in their time would affect the generations to follow. We must awaken to the reality of the impact decisions made today will have on those generations following us. The prosperity of ourselves, our children, and our children's children depend upon it.

I believe the principles of the Republican Party are principles of government that, if given the opportunity that big-government philosophy had, would lead to a stronger, wealthier, healthier, and freer society than this country has known since its founding. I believe that future awaits us because I know that my beliefs are the beliefs of most Americans.