What I BelieveEdit

What I Believe outlines a core set of commitments about how a political community should be organized and how people should relate to one another. It emphasizes liberty anchored by the rule of law, a flourishing economy that rewards effort, and a social order built on personal responsibility, family, and voluntary association. It holds that government exists to protect rights, not to micromanage private life, and that policy should be predictable, principled, and fiscally prudent. At its heart is a confidence in institutions that restrain power, reward merit, and enable individuals to pursue their own paths while staying loyal to the broader common good.

These beliefs are not about serving a single faction or slogan but about sustaining a durable framework for peace, opportunity, and continuity. They presume that a healthy society protects the rights of individuals, honors the dignity of work, and fosters communities where people can aspire, participate, and contribute. They also acknowledge limits to public power and defend the idea that a strong, free society rests on trustworthy institutions, transparent governance, and a citizenry capable of personal responsibility.

Core principles

  • Individual liberty and responsibility: People should be free to make meaningful choices about their lives, tempered by the duties those choices create. Liberty depends on clear limits to government power and on accountability, both of individuals and of the state. liberty personal responsibility

  • Free enterprise and opportunity: A dynamic economy rewards initiative, innovation, and risk-taking. The best path to broad opportunity is a stable legal framework, protected property rights, open competition, and a predictable tax and regulatory environment. free market Property rights Economic opportunity

  • Rule of law and constitutional order: The rule of law protects equal protection, due process, and predictable governance. Constitutional checks and balances keep power from concentrating and guard against the tyranny of the majority or the arbitrary use of force. Rule of law Constitution Federalism

  • Family, community, and civil society: Strong families and robust civil society institutions—religious, charitable, cultural, and voluntary associations—provide the social glue that enables citizens to solve problems without endless government intervention. Family Civil society Religion

  • National sovereignty and secure borders: A nation’s sovereignty requires control over its borders, its laws, and its strategic interests. Reasonable immigration policies that emphasize rule of law, integration, and merit support social cohesion and national security. National sovereignty Immigration Border control

  • Strong defense and prudent foreign policy: A secure nation invests in a capable, affordable defense and a foreign policy that protects national interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements. National security Defense policy Foreign policy

  • Education, merit, and tradition: Education should equip individuals with knowledge and critical thinking, while opportunities like school choice empower families to choose options best suited to their children. A culture that cherishes tradition, history, and shared norms anchors social stability. Education School choice Meritocracy Tradition

  • Fiscal responsibility and tax policy: Government should deliver essential services efficiently and honestly while keeping deficits manageable. Tax policy should be designed to encourage work, investment, and saving, not to punish success or create sprawling budgets. Fiscal policy Tax policy

  • Equality before the law and due process: The law should treat all people as equals in the eyes of the state, with fair procedures and protections against bias, regardless of background. Equality before the law Due process

Government and institutions

  • Limited government and federal structure: Authority should be distributed across multiple levels of governance, with clearly defined powers and significant discretion reserved to localities where appropriate. This approach reduces the risk of overreach and fosters experimentation in policy. Federalism Checks and balances

  • Security, justice, and public order: Public safety, a fair criminal justice system, and reliable infrastructure are foundations of liberty. A principled approach emphasizes due process, proportionate response to crime, and avenues for rehabilitation where possible. Criminal justice Rule of law

  • Regulatory reform and deregulation where feasible: Regulation should be targeted, transparent, and evaluated for its impact on growth and opportunity. When rules hinder innovation or the steady functioning of markets, reform is warranted. Regulation Deregulation

  • Public education and school choice: A robust education system includes high standards, accountability, and parents’ ability to choose among effective options. This encourages competition and lifts overall outcomes. Education School choice

  • Media, discourse, and openness: A healthy polity tolerates disagreement and pursues robust, evidence-based debate. It seeks to minimize censorship while protecting against falsehoods that undermine trust in institutions. Media Public discourse

Economy and society

  • Free enterprise and property rights: A system that protects private property and incentives for productive work creates wealth, funds public goods, and raises living standards for a broad cross-section of society. Free market Property rights

  • Welfare state and social safety nets: A humane approach to aid is as targeted and as time-limited as possible, designed to lift people up without creating dependency. The aim is to empower individuals to participate fully in the economy and in civic life. Welfare Social safety net

  • Immigration policy and assimilation: A sound policy balances compassion with the rule of law and emphasizes pathways to integration, language acquisition, and civic participation. The goal is to maintain social cohesion while honoring humane values. Immigration Assimilation

  • Criminal justice and public safety: Policies should deter crime, rehabilitate where feasible, and preserve public trust in law enforcement. A fair system applies rules equally to all and avoids discrimination in practice. Criminal justice Law enforcement

  • Energy, environment, and prudent policy: A reliable energy system supports industry, households, and national security. Policy should balance environmental stewardship with affordability and resilience, including diversification of energy sources and investment in innovation. Energy policy Climate change Environment

  • Education, merit, and opportunity: A focus on rigorous standards, accountability, and parental involvement helps raise achievement and expand opportunity across demographics. Education Meritocracy School choice

  • Culture, tradition, and national identity: A shared heritage and common civic rituals help bind a diverse society together, provided they respect universal rights and equal protection for all. Culture National identity

Debates and controversies

  • Identity politics and equal treatment: Critics argue that policies focusing on group identity can fragment society, undermining the idea that every citizen should be judged by the content of their character and the merits of their contributions. Proponents contend such policies are necessary to redress historic inequities. From the perspective presented here, the priority is universal rights, equal protection, and the removal of barriers to opportunity for every individual, rather than allocating benefits by group membership. The debate centers on how to achieve fair access to education, employment, and justice without compromising the principle of equality before the law. Equality before the law Discrimination Meritocracy

  • Immigration and assimilation: Supporters favor orderly, rules-based entry, practical integration, and the economic and cultural benefits of a diverse society. Critics warn that porous borders strain public services and security, and they push for rapid multicultural revision of institutions. The stance offered here emphasizes border security, rule of law, and effective integration processes that respect civic duties. Immigration Assimilation

  • Climate policy and energy costs: Advocates for aggressive regulation argue it protects the planet and reduces long-term risk. Critics worry about short- and mid-term costs, competitiveness, and reliability of energy supplies. The preferred view stresses energy independence, a gradual transition anchored in market signals, and investment in innovation to lower costs while maintaining reliability. Climate change Energy policy

  • Public spending and the welfare state: The tension is between providing a safety net and maintaining incentives to work and contribute. Critics fear unsustainable deficits; supporters emphasize moral obligations and social cohesion. The position here pushes for targeted, efficient programs, work requirements where appropriate, and reforms that reduce dependency while preserving dignity. Fiscal policy Welfare Public services

  • Free speech, campus culture, and open inquiry: Some argue for expansive protections of speech on campus and online; others contend that certain expressions harm social cohesion or safety. The view advanced here defends robust debate, due process, and the principle that ideas should compete in the marketplace of ideas, while recognizing there are limits to incitement and harm. Free speech Public discourse

  • Trade, globalization, and domestic industry: Critics warn of job losses and strategic vulnerability from global competition. Advocates say open markets boost growth and lower prices for consumers. The stance here supports a balanced approach: enforce fair trade rules, protect critical industries, and invest in workers’ retraining to adapt to a global economy. Trade policy Globalization

See also