• I believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability, and responsibility must be honored.
• I believe in equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age, or disability.
• I believe free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth, and prosperity.
• I believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
• I believe the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.
• I believe the most effective, responsible, and responsive government is government that is closest to the people.
• I believe Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
• I believe Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom, and human rights throughout the world.
• Finally, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

Lincoln's Ten Guidelines . . .

• You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift
• You cannot help small men by tearing down big men
• You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong
• You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer
• You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich
• You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income
• You cannot further brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred
• You cannot establish security on borrowed money
• You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence
• You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do themselves

For more information about the Republican Party, please visit the Republican National Committee's Web site.