Strong Families

Families intent on giving their children the hope of a better tomorrow, the promise of a safe and secure today, and an appreciation and respect of yesterday.
“Family” refers only to homes with married parents, one man and one woman, with the woman in submission to the man. This is in accordance to the values of “conservative Christianity”, with Biblical teachings taken literally. The nuclear family-based organization of traditional “WASP” culture is to be imposed on all, against the extended family and the ethic of “it takes a village”. Children, though more than mere property, do not have full human rights, and parents, especially the father, must use harsh corporal and other punishments to instil discipline, since humans are inherently sinful and evil. Since the nation and the state are extensions of the family, all society must be likewise patriarchal and authoritarian. (And nothing offends the patriarchy more than homosexuality.)

Principled, Innovative Leadership

Principled leaders with an understanding of Texas’ heritage and a clear vision for Texas’ future. Leadership that is unwavering in the face of criticism, steadfast when confronted with adversity, and committed to building a better State.
Texas, along with the rest of the United States which obviously should emulate the Texas model, should be a one-party hegemony with Democrats and other opposition marginalized if not outright banned. Criticism would not be allowed to exist–critics would either be ostracized in the media, or punished as criminals. “Leadership”, again, is to be modeled after the disciplinarian father.

Limited Government

A government that promotes policies to unlock individual potential and unleash economic growth. Government that does not try to be all things to all people.
Government should be stripped of its power to help the poor, aged, disabled and disadvantaged; “natural law” must take precedence. Taken to its logical conclusion, this would result in social Darwinism. The rich and powerful, blessed and chosed by God (again, expressed under the Calvinist-capitalist worldview), are to rule over and have privilege over the poor and weak.

Honest Compassion

A society assisting those in need rather than a government trying to solve every problem by just throwing more money at it.
All charity must be mediated by church-based organizations, and since Texas and the USA are to be specifically Christian in nature, both by law and by fact, aid to the needy could be given with the condition of conversion to the Christian (and most likely Evangelical Protestant) faith. Worse yet, with the strength of Charismatic movements such as Word-Faith and the “Prosperity Gospel”, poverty, sickness and hardship could be judged as signs of a lack of faith, or evidence of God’s wrath upon individuals and groups (including racial and ethnic groups).

Opportunity For All

The opportunity to chart one’s own course start a business, chase a dream, or build a life regardless of gender, race, or religion.
Equal opportunity to the “elect” at least. The Right in Texas believes that any person is guaranteed prosperty and success if he only works hard enough–the “bootstraps” concept. Unemployment, lack of opportunity, disability and other hardships are purely the fault of that person.

Quality Education

An educational system that prepares children for tomorrow’s workplace regardless of race, wealth or geographical location. Education is the bedrock of freedom and the gateway to opportunity.
“Quality education” should be read “Bible-based education”. The Right in this state has fought against public education and promoted Christian public schools and homeschooling, claiming “liberal bias” and “indoctrination&rdquo ; ; in public institutions from grade school to university. Science, at least when secular in nature, is distrusted, and a general culture of faux-populist anti-intellectualism predominates (students are basically educated only to pass standardized tests, currently TAKS). Rick Perry, who has been Governor since 2001, has personally promoted Religious Right activists in positions that have fought the teaching of evolution, climate science and sex education other than “abstinence only”.
 
Personal Responsibility

Individuals taking personal responsibility for their own actions and a criminal justice system based on this idea. With freedom comes responsibility.
Once again, “bootstraps”. Those who do not succeed (i.e. the poor and likely the middle class) have not sufficiently “earned” freedom. The concept of “inalienable rights” in the modern liberal democracy is anathema. As for labor, collective barganing and the labor union are anti-individualist and “socialist”, and therefore evil, not to mention un-Biblical (masters must rule over servants, as husbands over wives and parents over children).

Freedom

Freedom that is God given, affirmed by our Founding Fathers, articulated in the Declaration of Independence, and protected by the Constitution.
Again, since “freedom isn’t free”, it must be earned–there are no rights, only privileges. The founding documents must be applied as they were when the were written (strict constructionism), not applied reasonably in a modern context. One of these principles is “states’ rights”, and there is a degree of neo-Confederatism in the rhetoric. The claim is often that America is “a republic, not a democracy” (I always thought the USA was a “democracy in a republic”, as the American’s Creed states).

Rugged Individualism

The entrepreneurial spirit of the individual that continues to solidify Texas as a world economic power.           
One more time, the “bootstraps” myth. Also, as we have heard from neoconservatives, the United States must rule the world and recreate it in her own image, but Texas must remake the United States likewise. The patriarchialist “cowboy” ethic is what has made Texas and America great, while “liberal” concepts (the values taught by Christ in the Beatitudes included) only lead to weakness and failure. Might makes right, and war is something to be glorified if it leads to global hegemony.