At CPAC, American Solutions took part in the formal launch of a new grassroots initiative called the Contract from America. We believe that it has the potential to define the 2010 elections.
Spearheaded by Ryan Hecker of the Tea Party Patriots and the Houston Tea Party Society, this is an effort – after demanding that Washington listen to us – to tell Washington exactly what we want them to do.
Currently a collection of 22 policy proposals developed and chosen by the American people, voting is now open to you and every other American, so that you can decide upon a final 10-point Contract to be unveiled on April 15, 2010 – the next round of nationwide Tea Parties.
The Contract from America provides a vehicle for every American that believes in free markets, limited government, and individual liberty, and here are 5 reasons why:
1. A focus on America, not President Obama.
President Obama deserves a lot of blame for what’s happening in America right now, particularly the unprecedented intervention of the federal government in the economy and the tripling of the national debt. But Washington’s failures have been bipartisan, and our current challenges are much bigger than President Obama.
By providing a blueprint for building a better future, rather than a recipe for how to beat President Obama, every American concerned about the direction of Washington can be assured that the Contract’s purpose is not partisan success, but American success.
2. Moderate Democrats vs. the Secular-Socialist Left.
Red America vs. Blue America is a myth. As the Tea Party movement and the victories of Scott Brown, Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie are proving, there is huge (70 percent plus) tri-partisan majority of Americans who believe in lower taxes, limited government and individual liberty – and they’ll vote for it when given a real choice.
The secular-socialist Left, represented by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi in Washington, represents a small percentage of Americans, which is proven every day that they try to run over the moderate Blue Dog-wing of their party, and more and more Americans reject their policies.
There are plenty of items in the Contract that moderate Democrats can be for, and the Contract provides them an opportunity to stand up to the Left, which is driving them off an electoral cliff.
3. The Contract is not a platform – it is a contract.
Campaigning is much easier than governing; just ask the current Democratic majority. It’s one thing to gain power, it’s quite another to hold together a coalition, fix real problems, and give voters a reason to keep you around.
With the Contract from America, candidates are not just signing a platform from which they will campaign; they are signing a contract with voters that they will actually do these things.
4. An alternative vs. opposition.
When the President and Congress try to take over, for example, both the healthcare (public option) and energy sectors (cap and trade), it’s not only good, but essential to say no and do everything in our power to stop them. However, we must do more than that. We must alter the terms of the debate, on our grounds. America is rejecting the Left’s policies, but they won’t embrace ours until we define, explain and communicate what they are, clearly and simply. The Contract can be our vehicle.
5. Honesty and Transparency over Ideology.
Ideology is important, and conservatism is on display throughout the Contract from America. However, a good bit of it (like the original 1994 Contract with America) focuses on honesty and transparency, such as the required posting of bills online and more choice for parents in education.
Most Americans are not ideological. They just want government to work, to be responsible, and to know that the people, not politicians, are the ones calling the shots at the end of the day. Just think about the healthcare debate – every American may not know exactly what the public option is or what cap and trade means (most of the politicians don’t either), but they do know that they don’t like their supposed representatives shoving it down their throat.
Something is wrong when our representatives are crafting deals behind closed doors, when they won’t hold townhalls in front of their constituents, and when outright bribes are explained away as just “the way things work in Washington.”
For many Americans, the focus on honesty and transparency will be a breath of fresh air.
And with that, go ahead and pick your Top 10.
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Visit American Solutions for more information about this and other important issues.
Related posts:
- HANNITY: Newt Gingrich Discusses the ‘Contract from America’
- NEWSMAX: Contract From America Rose from Obscurity
- “Contract from America” Applauds GOP’s Initiative to Listen to the American People During Pivotal Election Year
- WEEKLY STANDARD: Grand Old Tea Party – The insurgents meet the insiders.
- THE PRAIRIE EDITOR: Getting It On, 2010 Version
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I would like to see a reasonable immigration reform where those who came here illegally would be returned to the beginning of the line behind those who came here legally.
Require medical facilities to report any illegals who come in for treatment.
No citizenship to babies of illegals from 10 years of birth. No government services thereof.
Get a working virtual monitoring system on the boarder to prevent illegal infiltration which is also important for security anti-terrorism.
Outlaw staes from issuing auto licenses and identity verification for voting.
No chain immigration.
In addition immigration should be expedient and faster then Legal immigrants are experiencing. it shouldn’t take more then 1 year.
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