The 2017 OKGOP Platform Proposal

  The Platform Committee of the OKGOP has released their report for this weekend's State Convention. We're posting it as a service to those attending as delegates.
A Few Observations:

1. It is 26 pages of policy dissertation. 
2. Family issues comprise 4 pages. 
3. Education issues comprise 4 pages. 
4. State issues comprise 8 pages. 
5. Federal & global issues comprise 10 pages. 

   The preamble, or statement of principles; remains similar to the most current document, authored in 2015. Many Oklahomans see that 1-page front cover "Statement of Principles" to be a complete platform in and of itself. They argue that the 25 pages which follow it are merely corollaries of clarification. Regardless of how you feel about the size of the document, it is clear that last year's document was rejected on the floor of the 2016 state convention, resulting in the 2015 "Brogdon Platform" in place for a 2nd year. 
   This Saturday we will see if this new document will suffice as a suitable document for the party, entering into the 2018 Statewide elections.

Download your copy of the working document, here: https://goo.gl/A2tM97

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​2017 REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES

  The United States of America is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy. Our Constitutional Republic is codified within the United States Constitution, which is the Supreme Law of the land. Our Constitution flows directly from the Declaration of Independence and the invaluable life experiences of our Founding Fathers. It is not subject to the whims of democracy. Our Constitution narrowly defines the rights of the federal government, and those powers not enumerated to it are reserved to the States or the People respectively. All efforts to redefine the United States of America as a “Democracy” shall be resoundingly rejected by this party.

 We believe in

• limited government,
  
• individual liberty,
  
• natural rights, and
  
• personal moral responsibility.  
  

  We believe Oklahoma should be a place of opportunity where people who work hard and abide by just and equally applied laws can pursue their own dreams with a reasonable expectation of success.

   As Republicans, we believe:

1. Our rights of life, liberty, and property are natural rights granted to us by God, protected by the Constitution, to be defended by our elected officials.
2. In the right to worship as we please without government intrusion or interference.
3. God is the Author and Creator of life and that all human life, both born and unborn, should be protected.
4. In traditional marriage; the union of one man and one woman.
5. Economic freedom is the cornerstone of individual liberty and the private sector and free market principles are the best to stimulate economic development rather than government subsidies or programs.
6. Revenues collected at all levels of government should be used only for well-defined, legitimate government functions, and should be carried out efficiently so that tax rates may be kept as low as possible.
7. It is the right of every parent to act in their children’s best interest including health decisions and choosing the form of their education, whether at a public school, private school, or homeschool.
8. In welcoming immigrants who want to legally seek freedom and opportunity, who want to work and who will embrace our values, learn the English language and respect our Union’s border and State’s sovereignty.
9. In Supporting and maintaining a strong national defense and advocate “Peace through Strength.”
10. The Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.