New Enterprise Party

Candidates will present issues in a positive way and respond to attacks with positive presentation of issues.
Candidates and the party will not criticize opponents - Reasonable minds may differ - However, voting records and societal conditions will be openly discussed.
Our goal is to return to the time when it was permissible and appropriate to agree with (or even compliment) a political opponent -- nobody is wrong all the time.
We will remember that as a government we often draw arbitrary lines for the sake of an orderly society; for example, it was an arbitrary decision to drive on the right side of the road, but, once the decision is made, it is necessary for safety and order to follow and enforce those decisions.
Honesty is absolutely essential to the political process and dishonesty will not be tolerated within the New Enterprise Party ("NEP"); we must remember that lying (i.e., intentional deceit) is different from merely being wrong.
There must be a balance of individual and society in all policy
Candidates will be discouraged from using phrases such as: "I am against hunger." "I am for the family and children." "I am against crime." "I am against war, death and destruction." "I am in favor of education." We need specific solutions - not obvious generalities used to gain support.
The party will self-govern in the form of sanction/reprimands for behavior inconsistent with this portion of the platform; this party will take responsibility for its members. Where mistakes are made, apologies and corrections will follow.
All tax, financial, military, government, medical and other records of party candidates will be released to the public.
The NEP will adopt the following Seven Covenants of Government
- 1. The Government will protect its people from physical harm inside and outside our borders.
- 2. The Government will preserve individual freedoms.
- 3. The Government will minimize taxes and exercise fiscal responsibility.
- 4. Government officials will be honest in all circumstances.
- 5. Government officials will be open and information will be available (except when personal privacy of citizens outside the government and security are at stake).
- 6. Government officials will work together with members of other parties within the U.S. and officials of other countries.
- 7. Government will strive to provide opportunities for all.

Goal: Return to civil politics, debate and choices and government officials will be held accountable. Reasons: A more civil cooperative approach to our issues will lead to better solutions. Too many of us are so disgusted by the current political process that we would rather avoid it than get involved. That is dangerous in a democracy. We must be able to trust our government leaders. We need to restore respect for certain offices. We need to stop exaggerating claims and circumstances. Comparing political opponents to Nazis and tyrants generally indicates either historical ignorance or dishonesty. Let's stop the nonsense. We need to stop allowing politicians to shift their positions without justification merely because the positions they once supported are being offered by their opponents.

"I will speak ill of no man, and speak all the good I know of everybody." -Benjamin Franklin

"We cannot safely leave politics to the politicians, or political economy to college professors. The people themselves must think, because the people alone can act." -Henry George

"The easiest thing of all is to deceive one's self; for what a man wishes he generally believes to be true." -Demosthenes

"In American elections there are no losers because whether or not our candidates win or lose, the next morning we wake up as Americans." -John Kerry