The arrival of a new administration reminds conservatives of the need to reinvigorate our enduring principles. Our elected politicians seem to have lost their way, spending money and expanding their power as if they had never heard the words “limited government.” And even worse, the meaning of “conservative” has become uncertain, with increasing numbers of Americans thinking government is the answer to every problem, because it has been so long since any leader has told them otherwise.
We sense that citizens hunger for governing principles that do not involve increasingly more interference in their lives by the state and ever more functions taken over by the federal government. Our Founding Fathers gave us a great legacy, and we can restore America by returning to it.
The Heritage Foundation’s principles
The Heritage Foundation promotes the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The items that follow apply these principles to the most important issues at stake in the elections this year, and lay out specific goals that we want to realize. Conservatives can use these to show politicians and candidates what we expect of them, and as a yardstick against which to measure their statements and their achievements.
These issues need to be discussed constantly. Now is the time for Americans to ask the big questions and for the candidates to answer them. We need to know the candidates’ principles and priorities, and what they plan to act when presented with hard decisions. In the next four or eight years America will change greatly, for better or worse. It is possible that we could move far toward European-style socialism, become militarily weak, and see our traditional values further eroded. This overview is meant to provide a guide for those who choose the other path: reclaiming our founding principles of liberty and virtue.
