Art Coday on the Issues

Right to Life

"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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men..."

-Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, America's birth certificate, could not be more clear. The purpose of our government is to secure our rights, and chief among them is the right to life.

The right to life is the primary right; from it all other rights are derived. Absent this right, we have no secure claim to other rights, including such cherished rights as private property ownership, free speech, freedom of religion, due process in legal proceedings, and the right to vote. Even our right to defend ourselves, as expressed in the Second Amendment, is predicated upon the fact that we have an unalienable right to life, and therefore a right to defend our life. This is why a profound appreciation of the right to life is the foundation for promoting all other individual rights. To the extent that this right is respected, protected, and promoted, both culturally and legally, all of the derivative rights we desire can in turn be respected, protected, and promoted.

Agriculture

The American Farmer and Rancher have provided us with a steady, safe food supply since the beginning of our nation. We have never known large-scale famine in this country, and we owe this in large part to the fine work of generations of farming and ranching families who have not only provided for our needs but also for the needs of many throughout the world.

Continuing this great tradition, our government should work with our farmers and ranchers to make sure that our food supply is safe and reliable. This is a national security issue as well as a public health issue.

Create Jobs and Promote Economic Recovery

The right formula is to cut individual and business tax rates, end expensive government mandates on businesses, enact sensible regulatory reform, establish fair trade agreements, and end the inheritance tax. We must implement an energy policy that lowers cost while protecting the environment.

Enact Sensible Health Care Reform

We need to stabilize Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans Health Administration. The recent health care act puts Medicare and Medicaid patients at risk; this must be fixed and the act repealed. Cost-control can occur by putting patients, providers, and employers on equal footing with insurers; by using insurance for catastrophic events and health savings accounts (HSAs) for routine care; by allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines; by tort reform; and by emphasizing evidence-based practices and disease prevention.

Immigration

America was built by immigrants who came from all over the world. They came to escape tyranny, to have an opportunity to build a better life, and for the promise of justice, equality, and liberty guaranteed by America. Legal immigration has expanded our population and workforce and contributed to the richness of American life. In order to continue to build upon this foundation of greatness, America should continue to allow legal immigration.

Achieve Peace Through Strength

Our military and intelligence force must be the world’s finest. We need a robust missile defense shield, built here in Washington. We must be confidently pro-America and pro-liberty, enforce our borders, and take care of those who serve. We must treat friends like Israel with respect while being firm with enemies. Military force should only be used when our vital interests are at stake.

Provide Leadership

Leadership is about serving others, and it requires understanding, vision, and determination. It is based upon sound principles and wisdom, it conforms to the Constitution and it puts the people first. It values civility, unity, and the common good over special interest, excessive partisanship, the politics of division, political careers, and financial gain.

Protect Your Rights

Voting rights, property rights (the United Nations should not determine land use in the United States), the right to keep and bear arms, the right to life, due process, and your other constitutional rights must be protected. Per the Declaration of Independence, governments are instituted to secure your unalienable rights.

Restore Fiscal Strength and U.S. Credit Rating

Congress must cut spending, balance the budget, pay our national debt, stabilize the dollar by ending hyperinflation, audit government spending and performance, and audit the Federal Reserve.

Reform Government

Government must become smaller, less expensive, more effective and more accountable to you. The critical first step is for Congress to cut its own pay, a prime example of what I mean by leadership.

Art Coday on the Issues

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