Program Core Principles: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our core values are centered on freedom, personal responsibility, family values, individual initiative, accepting responsibility for one’s life, loving freedom enough to defend it, and understanding that government is necessary for an orderly society but government should be limited to the minimum size required and "We the People" hold the power to decide this. "We the People" in America must exercise the power we hold over our government as express in the constitution and shall seek effective governing by our elected officials through our combined voices. OUR MOVEMENT: Our movement is about ideals that are the fabric of every human being in living a purposeful life. It is about citizens who yearn to be more and who seek more in their leaders to create a society of honor and forethought. These principles are bigger than any political party or candidate. Adopting sound principles will harness the power of “We the People” to create the America we seek. America is a system of government in which the citizens hold the consent to be governed. If we trade freedom for security, we will lose both (paraphrase of Benjamin Franklin) - No controlled society has ever empowered its citizens. POLITICS: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Government attracts those seeking power as well as those seeking public service. Politics is the business of getting elected for the privilege of representing “We the People.” and not the other way around. We must be diligent to keep our representatives focused. The political will to exercise power is the biggest threat to our freedom and way of life. Our founders envisioned a citizen government and not a permanent political class. “We the people” must be constantly on guard against those candidates seeking only power. THE FOUR CONCEPTS: Our Founders wrestled with four concepts for four years because they knew that government of the people, by the people and for the people required that the people have these concepts inside their character in order for freedom to survive. Our founding fathers knew they could not be codified and hence, we were given the “Great Experiment in Democracy.” 1.) Freedom requires a moral society and this is why the First Amendment states “Congress shall pass no law interfering with the practice of religion.” 2.) Freedom requires our leadership and representatives to be dedicated to preserving our freedom and to serve the people with honor. 3.) Freedom requires an informed society – people must have information to elect and manage their representatives. 4.) Freedom requires a free press to sound the alarm when our freedom is threatened. GOVERNMENT POWER: The Constitution is clear on the limits of power. “We the People” have allowed government power to grow beyond all practical limits in Laredo and in many other parts of the country. It all starts at the local level and this is why we are seeing community action groups popping up all over the country and politicians are taking notice. GOVERNING LAREDO: Not hard! All issues are best solved by starting with the question – “What is right?” “We the People” must exercise the power vested in us to prevent self dealing, unfair gain and corruption. Bureaucracy cannot allow initiative, it has no reward for excellence and it attracts like minds. Thomas Jefferson FREE PRESS: The only mistake our Founding Fathers made is that they never envisioned that the Media would abandon their role as the watchdog of transparency and accountability. Several media outlets in Laredo Texas never meant to abandon their roll - they where censored. EDUCATION: Education is about learning, not spending. The massive amounts of tax money poured into education system here have made education worse, not better. A massive bureaucracy has been created which has destroyed local control. The bureaucracy stifles initiative from principals and teachers who would otherwise lead the way. A large bureaucracy also becomes agenda oriented for issues beyond learning. We need to re-take control of our education system now! CREATING A BETTER LAREDO: Laredo is hungry for an honorable government and tired of all the favoritism, corruption and arrogance. By stepping back from politics and focusing on what is right is the path we need to pursue. Instead of going to the polls every four years we can return the power to the citizens of Laredo through a non-bias community action talk radio program. This will give our citizens a voice in what "We the People" want for this community, and not what they want. United We Stand - Divided We Fall Jay St. John |
