I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.

I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.

I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

 FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

Certainly, the Republican party can not control an elected official in his daily duties directly, but what of political pressure and advice?  When the banner of the party is carried by those who do not heed its principles, its clearly damaging and costly to those who do. It then falls upon the leadership of the party to remind the candidate that we stand for something.  Perhaps not in the way one might scold a child or puppy, (though it might at times seem tempting) but in rankings, ongoing scoring and an appeal to their sense of continuance within the party.

Simply by providing knowledge, exposure, openness of what the characters might be doing, rather than falling in line behind them when they are behaving badly, and validating that behavior.

A perfect example of said bad behavior could be demonstrated by the incredible opposition to an unnecessary DRIC development good legislators had during the Granholm occupation; a bad idea for numerous reasons explained on this site and elsewhere at other times.  Many were in opposition due to the above accepted Republican 'beliefs'.  Tragically now, there are many in the legislature including the Lt Governor, who flipped quicker than a master pancake handler at the all you can eat breakfast.  What changed?  They are still in the same party, yet a corrosive non Republican element masquerading as one has entered, and the courage to resist, or a desire for "a place at the table" has turned them.

One thing can be said without any bias; they were wrong then, or they are wrong now.

The question is whether the Michigan Republican party is willing to assert it's existing [published] standards to illustrate at which point in history the correct decisions were made.

Then there is a proposed increase in road taxes and fees. Where is the MiGOP on this issue? Why would they not argue the standard they fly on the website that carries their name?  What about keeping more of what we earn? Or practicing "fiscal responsibility"?  Are all alternate avenues to an increase exhausted before these taxes will be imposed?  Are ALL of the existing taxes being used to pay for roads?  How hard would it be to actually stand up for something in some meaningful way, when it is ALREADY posted as a party principle?!

And what of the expansions in social welfare with Medicaid as the governor is currently proposing?  A short term gain with a fat check from DC, so that the state can balance the books a little easier for a couple years?  Is this not more of the progressive "Great Society" which has left a once thriving Detroit as a burned out husk? Is there no objection to removing the incentive to better one's lot in life for yet another generation? What of the way in which this medicaid expansion enables big government taking over the aspects of our life where it has no place?  Where is the alarm sounded by our publishers of principle when personal responsibility is being relieved, and in the end we will all pay more from our silence?

When Rick Snyder has raised taxes again will the Michigan Republican executives fall in low and behind with puckered lips for the Governor, or will they lead by calling out what would be completely unacceptable to them if it were the Democrats doing it?

Principle requires a non shifting set of values.

Hanging out with those who would corrupt does no favors for the Michigan Republicans.  Hanging on to the hope that a well placed list of platitudes in an "about us" page will satiate the conservative bedrock of the party is a mistake.  Some may believe for a time that 'pragmatic' decisions that foster no inter party angst might serve the party best.  That discussion must be in quiet, unpublished, and positions secretly negotiated.  Yet when the next elections begin, and fewer participate as members of a party that merely pays lip service to the principles it espouses it will become clear that the neo-Whigs may have plotted their demise in stone.

Complacency and acceptance of poor public policy and progressive ideals will not advance party membership goals. Nor will it reveal the standard under which many have made a decision to join the party.  It simply reveals a desire for power, for the sake of power; something we have seen enough of to last a few more generations.  If we last that long.

The clock is ticking away our opportunity to clearly represent the message that is affirmed in the party platform that is being ignored by our elected leadership, and tacitly approved by the silence of our ideological representatives.