Modern Whig Parties in Indiana, Texas profiled on The Whig blog

Learn More About Modern Whigs in Indiana, the Hoosier Whigs

The Modern Whig Party in Indiana is known as the Hoosier Whigs.

From their website:

In 2007 several Afghan/Iraq War veterans began working on a veteran’s advocacy group. That group eventually formed the nucleus of the Modern Whig Party. In just over a year of exsistence the Party has attracted tens of thousands of disenchanted voters ranging the entire political spectrum.

State parties have formed all over the country. Whig candidates not seen since the 1850’s are again running for office. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Whigs have returned to restore the dreams of the Founding Fathers, end partisan bickering, and bring common sense and compromise back into the political arena.

Here in Indiana we are building a modern Whig movement from the ground up. Government works best when it is close to home. Therefore, we are striving to revive the Whig Party in each and every county here in the Hoosier State.

Hoosier Whigs will serve as the umbrella organization for the individual county parties. While it is important to have a strong state party we must recognize the political realities of today. As more and more County Whig Parties are formed we will begin moving towards a more formal State Party.

Until that time, the Hoosier Whigs will be focused on finding common sense, moderate solutions to the difficulties we face today in our local communities. By working on this county based strategy we hope to eventually form a political party truly for the rest of us.

For more information, please email: [email protected]

They have started their own blog, Hard Cider.

Why Hard Cider?

This blog is called Hard Cider in reference to the Log Cabin and Hard Cider presidential campaign of 1840. Willliam Henry Harrison had won the 1840 Whig nomination after failing to win the Presidency four years earlier.

Despite being from a wealthy political family, the campaign touted Harrison’s “humble” roots, using the log cabin and hard cider as a symbol for his connection with the common man.

Earlier in his career, Harrison had been the governor of Indiana Territory. During his tenure he helped secure much of what is today the Hoosier State from the various Indian tribes. He was also successful in defeating Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe, where he earned his nickname and became a national hero.

Hard Cider is the official blog and newsletter of the Hoosier Whigs.

Learn More About the Modern Whig Party of Texas

The members of the Modern Whig Party of Texas support and advance the following principles:

1. liberty and individual responsibility are the foundations of civilized society;
2. the government is only the instrument of the citizens it serves;
3. any action of the government must respect the principles of fiscal responsibility and public accountability;
4. constitutional liberty is based upon the principles of separation of powers;
5. justice requires that in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, and to a fair verdict free from any political influence;
6. government control of the economy and private monopolies both threaten political liberty;
7. rights and duties go together;
8. every citizen has a moral responsibility to others in society;
9. civil society and constitutional government provide the most just and stable basis for political order;
10. civil society is constituted of free citizens, living within a framework of established law, with individual rights guaranteed, with the powers of government limited and subject to public accountability;
11. an economy based on free market rules leads to the most efficient distribution of wealth and resources, encourages innovation, and promotes flexibility;
12. everyone should have equal access to a full and varied education;
13. every citizen possesses freedom of speech, religion, association, access to information, and equal rights for both men and women;
14. service members and veterans shall be respected for their service, accordingly, the government is responsible to care for those who have borne the battle, for their widow or widower, and for their orphan; and,
15. preservation of the rights of free citizens requires both an armed citizenry and a strong national defense.

Recent Update to Texas Whigs:

We are continuing our grassroots efforts to organize. A guide has been sent to all of our county chairs, with instructions and forms relating to the precinct and county conventions to be held on March 2, 2010.

We are looking for volunteers to make arrangements for the county meetings. If you are interested in further involvement with the Modern Whigs, send an email to [email protected].

We intend to follow up with a State Convention in Houston in June 2010. The tentative date is Saturday, June 26th, 2010, but this is not finalized yet.

A reminder to Texas Whigs about voting in other party’s primaries. If you vote in a another party’s primary, you cannot attend the Precinct/County Conventions, or the State Convention. By voting in a party primary, Texas law says you have joined that party for the rest of the year. This may surprise some of you, who didn’t realize you were joining a party when you vote in a primary!

This may be frustrating for many of you, but it is another way state law works against new parties. Voting in a general election is a civic duty, but Texas law states that primary voting is a partisan activity.