Planks vs. Principles

The Texas Republican Party biennial convention was held in San Antonio in mid-June. In the end, the delegates approved a platform that includes 331 planks! According to the Austin American-Statesman, the planks range from affirming the party’s belief in God to denial of climate change, from abolishing as many occupational licensing laws as is “reasonably possible” to the repeal of remaining “blue laws.” In short, the party takes a position on every political issue you can imagine, and probably quite a few that you can’t.

There is nothing wrong with taking a position on political issues. But one can do so without stating a position on every specific, concrete issue. One can state his principles, and then, when it is appropriate, explain their application to specific issues. However, if one does not hold firm, consistent principles, this is impossible. One can only take positions on specific issues and hope that others don’t notice that they often contradict other positions.

For example, the 37th plank of the 2016 party platform stated, “Property ownership and free enterprise, the foundation of our collective wealth, must not be abridged nor denied by government. We support legislation to protect these bedrock rights.” But plank number 109 opposes the expansion of legalized gambling.

Property ownership means the freedom to use and dispose of one’s property as one chooses. If one wants to invest his money in the stock market, a small business, or “invest” in lottery tickets, that is his choice. If he wants to use his money at the grocery store or a roulette wheel, he should be free to do so. Property rights (indeed all rights) protect our freedom to do things that others consider silly or even immoral.

Consider plank number 120, which states, “We support a simple, fair, and efficient method for financing our public school system.” That statement alone is contradictory. The public school system (they are really government schools) is financed with taxes, and taxes are taken by force. Parents and non-parents alike are forced to finance government schools, and there is nothing fair about forcing individuals to pay for something that they don’t want or agree with.

If the GOP really supports property ownership and free enterprise as a matter of principle, it would not seek to limit or control how individuals use their property. It would not call for restrictions on any voluntary economic transaction (such as gambling) and it certainly wouldn’t support the continuation of an educational system that depends on depriving individuals of their property without their consent.

But to take such positions requires one to embrace principles. And when one rejects principles, all one can do is make up a laundry list of positions on specific issues. The result is a platform with 331 planks.