West Virginia Republicans! The next 2-3 years is going to be critical for our state and our nation. We can be a leader, or we continue the move to federal dependency and debasement.  The choice is ours.

If you believe, as I do, that we are in a battle of good versus evil for the very soul and existence of our great nation; then who we chose as our representatives is very important.  Will we continue as a constitutional republic, governed by the rule of law, with the God given rights of the individual sacrosanct or will we become a 3rd world country in the mode of Venezuela?  Make no mistake, the direction of this country that we all bemoan, is by design.  This is not because of incompetence, it is being done on purpose by those that need this country to fail, to fall into chaos, and for its people to willingly give up their sovereignty so they can usher in a worldwide socialist government where we all are slaves to the state where our “betters” direct everything.  The recent Wuhan shut-down, mask and vaccine mandate, nonsense was a test to see how willingly the sheep would follow. A test we, as a state and, as a nation failed miserably. What did we as a party, and by extension our elected representatives both state and federal, do to halt the encroachments on our liberty? The acquisition and maintenance of political power should never override calling out what is unjust, incorrect and downright unconstitutional. Wrong is wrong regardless of who holds the office.

Having said all that, I also believe that West Virginia, with the right leadership, is poised to be a nationwide leader of freedom, opportunity, and success. In my opinion the super majority of Republicans and a Republican Governor is tantamount to achieving that goal. We should indeed strive to maintain that.  But, to what end is the expense of political capital, shoe leather, and knuckles on doors, if we only gain a slightly less despotic form of government? Better management of the ever-growing socialist state, at the local or national level, should not be our goal. The shrinkage of government power and empowerment of the individual is what we should strive for constantly and with all diligence.  The introduction of Trump to the national stage, like him or not, has brought a new vibe and voter to our party. These voters, who make up our base today, are not and will not remain happy with status quo Republican milquetoast tactics of appeasing the press so they say nice things about me and try to manage the leviathan better than the Democrats. Voters of the Republican base are DEMANDING change. Real. Significant. Path-changing. Life-altering. CHANGE!

This fight needs to happen at all levels of government. To that end we need to continue to grow the party for sure. But that growth will mean nothing, and will start to stagnate and shrink, if we do not demand of our elected “leaders” the fundamental change these voters want. This change will be accomplished when we have leaders that believe, promote, and live the following:

1.       America is the greatest county in the history of man – made so by the courage, foresight, and sacrifice of those that came before us.
a.       Our schools and many of our government funded organizations promote and teach the exact opposite of this.  ALL government funding for universities and any other tax-payer funded organization that promotes anti-American propaganda i.e. Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project or anything of that ilk should be immediately cut-off. Any politician, at any level who cannot ascribe to this, need not be in office.
2.       Individual Liberty & Inalienable Rights —the individual’s rights are given by God not government and cannot be subjugated for any reason.
a.       The fundamental purpose of government is to protect individual liberty, period.
b.       Any politician/leader who takes a vote for or supports any proposition that would curtail these rights, for any reason (pandemics included) is not fit to hold office.
3.       Self-defense – people have the innate right to defend themselves, their family, and their property.
a.       Self-explanatory but, there is no compromise on this and any “limitation” “red flag” or “common sense control” is utter nonsense.
4.       Personal Responsibility & Opportunity —to work & succeed, not to be reliant on government largesse or unearned welfare.
a.       A safety net is just that. It is there to protect you from a fall, not to become your bed, house, car, and cell phone for generations.
5.       Fiscal Responsibility —to reasonably spend within means, & limit excessive indebtedness.
a.       Government at all levels should never spend more than what they bring in.
6.       Free Enterprise Capitalism—to create & accumulate wealth, benefit from it, & keep the gains, without excessive taxation.
a.       Taxation for things beyond the basic necessities of government is theft. Period. 
b.       The conversation of what constitutes basic necessities can be had but, beyond secure borders, the military, law enforcement, infrastructure and conduct of elections, you will be hard pressed to convince it is necessary.
7.       Government that governs least governs best – the purpose of government at all levels is to secure liberty and protect the circumstances necessary for free capitalism to thrive.
a.       Cut the shackles of regulation and watch our state and nation soar.
b.       Politicians with budgetary powers should utilize the power of the purse to close and eradicate the overburdensome regulatory agencies that plague every citizen.  When the 7 richest counties in America are around Washington DC, we are living a “Hunger Games” existence.  When the Code of Federal Regulations has 176,000 pages, everyone breaks a law we don’t even know exists probably every day. This is not freedom.
c.       State level bureaucracies that hinder growth and limit freedom should be shuttered immediately as well.
8.       Responsibly managed Elections w/secure voter IDs —to ensure voting is only done by legally eligible American voters.
a.       When an ID is required for virtually every transaction in existence, the idea that it is somehow burdensome to provide such to vote is nonsensical.
b.       The suggestion that minorities are somehow unable to procure identification, like everyone else in society, simply because they are minorities, is racist on its face.
9.       That the “American Dream” of Prosperity —is within reach of families at all socio-economic levels. 
a.       This is the land of opportunity. We need to make sure that those who make wise decisions and are not a detriment to society can and do succeed. Not through handouts but economic opportunities provided by low taxation and increased freedom to produce and thrive.
10.   A strong National Defense —to protect America and Americans and our collective & individual welfare & freedoms.
a.       The ongoing purge of conservatives in our military should alarm all of us.
b.       The military cannot be a mirror of society, especially a woke society, and must not ever be a place for societal trial runs. The military can only thrive by cohesion, discipline and devotion to country.
c.       The military exists for one purpose, protecting our citizens and, if necessary, the complete defeat of the nation’s enemies. The revolving door of non-declared wars to “bring democracy” and “nation build” have done nothing but sapped our resources and resulted in a generation where many have been maimed and killed.
11.   Secure Borders and entry ID's —where coming in illegally is a crime, & entering legally offers a path to citizenship.
a.       Make no mistake, we are facing an invasion.  This invasion has been encouraged and abetted by our leaders on both sides of the aisle. One side for cheap labor the other as a means to change demographics to their favor. And, more insidiously, to foment chaos, and lawlessness, in an effort to get US citizens to capitulate to their control through fear.
b.       A nation without borders is no longer a nation.
12.   School choice —all schools should teach facts, untainted by political agendas and parents are the sole arbiter of where their children go to school and what they are taught.
a.       Government control of our children’s education was a terrible idea from the get-go.
b.       Our current system is altogether failed. More than failed, it has become an indoctrination center for communist and anti-American ideas.
c.       The immediate closure of the federal Department of Education is necessary.
d.       Schools should be turned over to their local communities and parents should have total control over where their child goes to school and what they are taught.
13.   America-First Foreign policy —protecting America’s economic, social & human rights, beliefs & freedoms, via working with allies & without using appeasement.
14.   Elected Government of competent/qualified people —to lead & manage municipalities, states & the country, by these principles, but term-limited to assure periodic turnover.
a.       No single founder of this great nation was a career politician. Our municipalities, cities, states, and nation were never intended to be “ruled” by an oligarchy of political aristocracy who have never had an actual job in their life.
b.       Terms limits at all levels of government are necessary.

Basically, what I am saying is West Virginia can be a state that leads. But we, the Republican party, must be the compulsion of our elected leaders to position our state thusly. This party needs to unabashedly, fearlessly, and constantly cajole, pressure and demand our Republican politicians to live out these principles. I am calling on all patriots to join me in these efforts. Get educated and informed. Vote for true conservative leadership that believes in the constitution, limited government, and individual freedom.