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National Chairman's Letter
Platform - Introduction
February 2003
Dear Independent American friends,
For the past 1-1/2 years, I have devoted most of my Chairman's Letters to
commentary on the thirteen points of our national Mission statement. These
commentaries are accessible from the "National Mission (with
Commentary)" page in the Beliefs section of our www.usiap.org
web site. (All National Chairman's Letters are published in the Archives section
of our web site.)
I now wish to devote a series of Chairman's Letters as commentary on our
Independent American National Platform. As with the national Mission letters, my
national Platform commentary will generally reflect my views and interpretations
on the various platform planks, and may not necessarily represent the official
views of our party or the intent of the National Committee.
Members of the National Committee that drafted, debated and adopted our
national Platform, felt like (in their minds) what the founding fathers must
have
felt like when they drafted our freedom documents. And they felt a spirit of
harmony and inspiration pervading the proceedings.
Our national Platform contains an Introduction section, Preamble section, and
twelve numbered sections on issues from Christian Heritage to U.S. Sovereignty.
In this first of the Platform commentary series, I will touch on the
Introduction section of our national Platform. (The whole Platform is available
with other related commentaries in the Beliefs section of our web site.)
The Introduction section includes a series of belief points, that also serve
as brief prefaces to the numbered sections of the Platform. The first four
points touch upon God and family (and individual). I consider these points as
representative of half our core values -- values that are crucial to the
survival of our nation and our way of life. The section begins:
INTRODUCTION
We, Independent Americans of the United States, out of great love for
God, our families, our country and Constitution, do proclaim:
1. [Christian Heritage] We believe that Jesus Christ is the God of this
land; that we are fundamentally a Christian nation; and that only by faith
in and obedience to God shall we be preserved as a great nation.
2. [Family] We believe that families are the fundamental building blocks
of a moral society; that traditional family values are the strength of our
nation; and that Christian principles are the key to strong homes in
America.
3. [Citizenship] We believe that patriotism, civic duty and good
character are essential to personal liberty and responsibility in America.
4. [Unalienable Rights] We believe that God has endowed men with certain
unalienable rights, such as life, liberty and property; that these rights
are guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; and
that it is the function of government to protect these rights.
I consider the next four points as generally representative of peripheral
issues rather than core values (with some exceptions). For example, phasing out
entitlement programs or achieving a balance between energy and conservation
probably will not save our nation. But they are nevertheless important political
issues that we need to address.
5. [Education] We believe that Christian principles originally were the
foundation of our educational system; and that they should again be made the
center of American education.
6. [Economy] We believe that "free enterprise" is the best
economic system for America; that taxation should be limited to those
methods provided for in the original Constitution; and that our nation must
return to a debt-free monetary system in accordance with the Constitution.
7. [Society] We believe that government has no Constitutional authority
to convert to socialism; that state and local governments have the right and
moral obligation to discourage drug and alcohol use and gambling in their
jurisdictions; and that the safety of law-abiding citizens must take
precedence over the rights of criminals.
8. [Natural Resources] We believe protection of the environment should be
a state responsibility; that there must be a dynamic balance between energy
development and conservation; and that there are safe and inexpensive
alternative energy sources that should be developed.
The key focus of our beliefs is in God, Family and Country. Whereas the first
four points touch on God and family, the last four points touch on country. I
consider these last four points as also representative of our core values --
that are crucial to the survival and future of our nation.
9. [U.S. Constitution] We believe that the Constitution for the United States was prepared and adopted by men under inspiration from Almighty God;
that it is a solemn compact created by the people of the states of this
nation; and that it was made only for a moral and religious people.
10. [Government] We believe that the sole function of government is to
protect life, liberty and property; that the federal government is an agent
of the states and the people; and that each state is sovereign in performing
those functions reserved to it by the U.S. Constitution.
11. [Defense] We believe that a strong defense establishment is essential
to the preservation of our nation; that America must not commit its military
or firepower to any international organization; and that no foreign military
bases should be allowed on American soil.
12. [U.S. Sovereignty] We believe that a sovereign America is necessary
for us to maintain our freedom and way of life; that we must withdraw from
all international agreements that diminish our independence; and that we
must resist all efforts to draw us into the New World Order.
The Introduction ends with a statement of our concerns regarding each of the
above points; and then a statement of hope and purpose. With God's help, America
will prevail!
We claim that our Christian heritage, the traditional family, patriotism,
and our unalienable rights are under attack; that our educational, economic
and social institutions, and use of natural resources, have been perverted
by those who would destroy our way of life; and that our Constitution,
republican form of government, national security, and national sovereignty
are hanging by a thread.
We declare that the Independent American Party is the only political
institution that embraces the principles necessary for the restoration of
our traditional way of life. We, therefore, present this Platform as a
guideline to our beliefs and strategies for preserving our nation and our
freedom, for ourselves and for our posterity.
For God, Family and Country!
Bruce Bangerter
IAP National Chairman
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