Independent American Party Answers Questions On Welfare, Israel, Affirmative Action, Jobs and Other Topics

Posted on the IAP website May 2nd: 

The following is a response from Zack Strong, Issues Committee Coordinator, to a request from a student asking for our position on certain topics.

On the topic of welfare and poverty, the IAP believes very strongly in personal Independence. We believe that the government shouldn’t be involved in welfare. Providing assistance to individuals is the job of families first, neighbors and friends second, communities and counties third, and churches and other private organizations fourth. If you were to take that further, the states could possibly assist counties in disaster relief, etc. But outsourcing these types of welfare programs to the federal government is dangerous because it gives up sovereignty and Independence. The IAP has a list of 15 governing principles. They can be found at the following website and in more detail on our official site: http://iamru.org/ Principles #11 and 12 state respectively, “States are sovereign and should not be ‘commanded’ by the Federal Government” and that “No state or local government can accept funds from the Federal Government and remain independent.”

The Federal government severely restricted by the the Constitution – and that is a good thing. Indeed, it’s crucial if We the People are to retain our power and our natural rights. Welfare programs serve to enslave people as they become indebted to the state. As for poverty, the government has zero constitutional authority to interfere in the economy. The dastardly interpretation of the so-called commerce clause that allows Congress to interfere in the economy was never envisioned by the Founding Fathers and goes against all sound principles of politics and economics. By taking the government out of the equation, there would be more Freedom. The most important ingredient in prosperity is Freedom. Unfortunately people overlook that fact and never even consider opening up the economy and withdrawing government restrictions and intervention.

On the question of Israel and Palestine, the IAP is yet again for Independence. We don’t want the U.S. to be involved politically, socially, or economically with Israel. The Constitution forbids foreign aid, military aid, and intervention. This isn’t a question of what is right or wrong, per se, but a question of what is Constitutional. People can make the argument that it is “morally” correct to help Israel, but regardless of their opinions, the Constitution forbids intervention. George Washington, in his Farewell Address, said this: “The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all.” If people want to amend the Constitution to allow the government to give foreign aid, then let’s have that debate on the floor of Congress. But otherwise, our elected representatives are under solemn and binding oath to honor, protect, defend and obey the Constitution.

The IAP doesn’t care what Israel does. That is of absolutely no concern. Thomas Jefferson thought that a nation’s foreign policy must naturally be “selfish.” The IAP does not promote isolationism, but is a gigantic proponent of non-interventionism and separatism. We advocate, as did the Founding Fathers, peaceful relations and trade and communication with every other nation, but “entangling alliances” and political favors with none of them. We are strongly against a “favored nation” status. We want equality throughout the world. We’re prepared to support a war of self-defense if absolutely necessary and if it is officially declared by the Congress. The IAP vehemently opposes preemptive attacks and foreign imperialism. For example, we are 100% against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, if for no other reason than they were undeclared. We have a written Constitution for a reason – to restrict the government, prevent it from doing unnecessary or dangerous activities, and most importantly to protect individual rights.

As for affirmative action, it is essentially reverse discrimination. The way affirmative action was enacted and implemented was wrong. For example, think about this: If we were truly interested in repaying damages done, why didn’t we include American Indians, Mormons, Chinese and other groups that were wronged? Affirmative action is inherently wrong because it is not based on equality. Yes, slavery was a horrible injustice and destroyed millions of lives; slavery was truly an evil institution. However, the fact that slavery happened does not justify us in treating other people unequally in some form of macabre retribution. Every last vestige of affirmative action needs to be done away with. We have never really attempted true equality under the law in America – and we need to start now.

On jobs and businesses, you already have our basic answer above when we talked about welfare and poverty. To reiterate, the government needs to be 100% uninvolved. The only time the government should ever get involved is if someone’s rights have been violated. Thomas Jefferson gave the following description of Liberty: “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” In other words, you as a citizen have the natural right to do whatever you please, so long as you don’t violate someone else’s natural rights. So, as long as businesses or employers don’t violate someone’s right to life, Liberty, property, etc, the government has zero authority under the Constitution to intervene or regulate them.

Furthermore, private businesses can “discriminate” all they want. It’s a private business after all. Businesses should never be forced to do anything by the government. Another of the IAP’s principles states, “Socialism is an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a denial of the right of private property.” Yet another principles reads, “Our American Republic invites prosperity; the infusion of Communism invites slavery.” The involvement of government in business is socialism. The dictionary defines socialism as: “A political and economic theory of that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated.” The IAP is 100% against socialism and communism. Communism truly is the greatest threat to Liberty ever devised, partially because it lurks in the background eroding Liberty from the inside.

A few more words about our principles is necessary. As you can see, the IAP is for personal Freedom, Liberty, and Independence above all else. You can measure every issue or question against natural rights. There are four basic rights: life, Liberty, property, and the right to defend all three. Everything else is just a subcategory of those four natural rights. These rights come to us at birth. They are given by our humanity. Each person possess all rights equally and independent. The IAP believes strongly in God, though such a believe is not mandatory to be a member. Because of this conviction, we do indeed believe that our rights come from God and that, as our #1 principle says, “Faith in God and a belief in moral law is essential to maintain freedom.”

The Founding Fathers always talked about morality, religion, and virtue as being necessary in order to maintain a free country. Without these pillars, society will collapse and the government will turn tyrannical. Principle #2 states that “Government’s Sole Function is to protect natural rights such as life, liberty, and property.” Natural law – with its inherent rights – trumps all man-made law. The Founding Fathers attempted to codify the natural law when they wrote the Constitution, and to their credit came very close. The IAP believes that the principles of the Constitution are inspired and eternal. The IAP stresses the difference between rights and privileges. A knowledge of the difference is crucial. Rights are something that no one gives you, that you are unable to give away, and which no one can take from you.

Just look up several dictionary definitions of the word “inalienable” and you’ll understand that. Privileges on the other hand are given to you by someone else and can be taken away. A driver’s license, for example, is a privilege under our system. It’s given by the government and can be taken away. But your right to your Liberty can never be taken unless you infringed on someone else’s equal rights, in which case society has devised statutes and laws which can punish an offender against the higher, natural law. These fundamental principles are the most important to understand and will guide you through every problem or dispute.

In conclusion, I’d like to invite you to ask any further questions you need and to thank you again for your interest. In your project, if you mention us, please stress that the IAP is for personal Freedom, personal Liberty, and personal Independence above all else. Please stress that the Constitution is our guide and that any representative who violates his oath to abide by the Constitution is guilty of treason against We the People. Please stress that the sole purpose of all good government is the equal protection of natural rights. By understanding these core principles, one will never go astray. The IAP strongly condemns “every form of tyranny over the mind of man” (Thomas Jefferson) and has devoted itself before God to the protection of Liberty.

Thank you again and good luck on your project. Contact me again for any additional information on these or other topics. Best of luck.

Sincerely,
Zack Strong
Independent American Party, Issues Coordinator

Article source:

http://www.independentamericanparty.org/2013/05/iap-reaction-to-students-request-by-zack-strong/