Barrow County Republican Party Approves New Platform

Members of the Barrow County Republican Party voted Monday, Sept. 19, to approve a new platform outlining its basic principles, objectives and positions on major issues.

Barrow Patch gives you a comparison of the new platform compared to the previous platform. Text in bold indicates changes or additions. 

Barrow GOP Platform 

Section A. Principles

The Barrow County Republican Party takes the term Republican seriously. A Republic is a society organized based on the rule of law, with all individuals treated equally under the law. Therefore, in simplest terms, the Barrow County Republican Party measures all government action by the following test: Does this action defend the life, liberty and property of the individual?

Section 1. Taxes

The Barrow County Republican Party recognizes that taxes are inevitable if there is government. We believe in fiscally conservative, common sense tax practices and fair taxes such as the fair tax or flat tax. Generally speaking, increasing taxes on Barrow County citizens will be interpreted as an attempt to create bigger government. We expect Barrow County government to be a good steward of the resources of Barrow County citizens.

Section 2. Gun Rights

The individual’s right to defend his life, liberty and property should never be questioned. We cannot disarm criminals by disarming the law-abiding citizen. Because such a plan would only make us easier victims, we oppose and reject any attempt to lessen in any way the right of all law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. We urge our elected officials to do no less.

Section 3. Criminal Justice

The Barrow County Republican Party believes that making our cities, counties, and state safer places to live requires stronger sentencing, a limitation on plea bargains, and end for paroles for convenience, and a stronger emphasis on the rights of victims.

Section 4. Property Rights         

As stated in both the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia State Constitution individuals have the right to private property. The right to keep and own property is sacred, and crucial in a free society. We oppose laws and regulations that limit or restrict the use and transfer of private property.

Section 5. Education           

The Barrow County Republican Party recognizes that learning about the principles and foundations of a free society is essential. Therefore, we support quality public education for all our citizens. We encourage the pursuit of academic excellence as the primary goal of our schools. We look forward to the elimination of the Federal Department of Education and removal of federal and state influence in local curricula determination. We reaffirm our support for private and home schooling as options to traditional public education. We oppose the impact of political correctness on the education system.

Section 6. Immigration         

We support legal immigration and demand that the federal government secure our borders, as required by the U.S., Constitution. We oppose any taxpayer dollars being spent on illegal aliens except for their deportation. We oppose amnesty for illegal aliens and demand that the political influence and voting rights of U.S. citizens be defended from encroachment by illegal aliens.

Section 7. Infrastructure        

Republicans recognize the need for infrastructure. To the extent the private sector can supply any service, government should yield to private business, thus ensuring the fairest, most competitive, most efficient means of achieving the desired service for the people of Barrow County.

Section 8. Health Care Reform   

We must prevent expanded government control of healthcare as we work toward the elimination of all government intervention in the healthcare market, beginning with the immediate repeal of Obamacare. Free markets and responsible patronage is the most powerful and efficient means of ensuring innovative and afford-able quality healthcare.

Section 9. Abortion            

We support equal opportunity for all people. As recognized by the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia State Constitution, life is a basic right that extends to all people including the unborn. We oppose using public revenues for abortion, and will not fund organizations that advocate it.

Section 10. Welfare            

Welfare is a destructive force in society that must be eliminated. We must encourage labor and production so that we may all prosper together. Charity is the responsibility of the individual, not the state.

Drop Existing Section 11. Non-Essential Services

Summary

The price of freedom is constant vigilance. We invite all citizens of Barrow County, indeed every American, to become more aware and more involved in limiting government and securing our freedom. Not every Republican will share all the beliefs or support every plank in this document. It is a guide to identify the basic ideas of the local Republican Party.

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Previous Barrow GOP Platform

Introduction

The Barrow County Republican Party offers this platform as a guide to voters and candidates for office within Barrow County. Not every Republican will share all the beliefs or support every plank in this document. As a guide, it offers a means for the voters of Barrow County to identify with the basic ideas of the Republican Party, and provides a standard to which an individual voter or candidate can compare their own philosophy.

Section 1. Taxes

The Barrow County Republican Party recognizes that taxes are inevitable if there is government. We believe in fiscally conservative, common sense tax practices and fair taxes such as the fair tax or flat tax. Generally speaking, increasing taxes on Bar-row County citizens will be interpreted as an attempt to create a bigger government. As Barrow County grows we expect nothing greater than a proportionate growth in tax receipts.

Section 2. Gun Rights

We cannot disarm criminals by disarming the law-abiding citizen. Because such a plan would only make us easier victims, we oppose and reject any attempt to lessen in any way the right of all law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. We urge our elected officials to do no less.

Section 3. Criminal Justice

The Barrow Republican Party believes that making our cities, counties, and state safer places to live requires stronger sentencing, a limitation on plea bargains, an end to paroles for convenience, and a stronger emphasis on the rights of victims.

Section 4. Property Rights

The right to keep and own property is crucial in a free society. We oppose laws and regulations that limit or restrict the use and transfer of private property beyond the requirements of public use.

Section 5. Education

We support quality public education for all our citizens. We encourage the pursuit of academic excellence, as opposed to political correctness, as the primary goals of our schools. We look forward to the removal of federal and state influence in local curricula determination. We reaffirm our support for private and home schooling as options to traditional public education.

Section 6. Illegal Immigration

We support legal immigration and the integrity of our borders. We oppose taxpayer dollars being spent on support of illegal aliens.

Section 7. Infrastructure

Republicans recognize the need for public services. Many public services require at least some government guidance. We believe that there must be a cohesive plan developed by governmental agencies in conjunction with the private sector to address traffic, and other growth issues. However, the role of govern-ment should extend only as far as absolutely necessary to pro-vide reasonable service. To the extent the private sector can supply a service, government should yield to private business, thus ensuring the fairest, most competitive, most efficient means of achieving the desired service.

Section 8. Health Care Reform

We must not allow expanded government control of health care. A further intrusion by government at any level will only serve to destroy the quality and limit the availability of what is the finest system of health care in the world. Any growth in provision of health facilities and resources must be through charitable, non-governmental civic organizations, or private business. Individuals and private organizations must directly bear a significant portion of the fiscal responsibility required to ensure an endur-ing, high quality health system. Free markets and responsible patronage is the most powerful and efficient means of ensuring innovative and affordable quality health care.

Section 9. Abortion

We support equal opportunity for all people. This is a basic right that extends to all people including the unborn. We oppose using public revenues for abortion, and will not fund organizations that advocate it.

Section. 10. Welfare

Private organizations should be encouraged to increase their commitment as the government decreases its involvement. We recognize the ideal goal is to end dependency. This will allow for the elimination of welfare programs, lower taxes, and the opportunity for the free market economy to provide economic growth and jobs.

Section 11. Non-Essential Services

Essential services provided for by our government are those deemed indispensable. Without essential services our freedom, security, community and future would be in jeopardy. Those services that are not indispensable are non-essential services and should be provided in the private sector.

Summary

The Barrow County Republican Party recognizes the importance of the participation of the county’s citizens in the process of government. We encourage every citizen’s active participation in community, school and government organizations and meetings.

The price of freedom is constant vigilance. We invite all citizens of Barrow County, indeed every American, to become more aware and more involved in the world around them.