About the Values of the California Republican Assembly

Do you know what you're agreeing to?

A San Francisco Chapter of the California Republican Assembly (SFCRA) has just been created and

Daniel Goodwyn

elected first President. The creation meeting was Tuesday, October 22 at Patxi’s Pizza.

The second meeting is Tuesday, October 29, 7pm at Chino Yang’s.

About the CRA

From the CRA Charter Manual:

Since 1935, the California Republican Assembly (CRA) has been working to elect Republican candidates who stand unwaveringly for Republican principles.

As the oldest and most influential Republican volunteer organization in California, CRA’s endorsement is a sought-after privilege for candidates who meet our high standards — conservative, principled, electable, and the overwhelming selection of our membership. When CRA endorses a candidate for party or public office, we are committing volunteers, resources, and our reputation.

Our membership comprises activists, business owners, and community leaders who are active in local chapters throughout California.

Because of our commitment to Republican principles, President Ronald Reagan called the California Republican Assembly, “The Conscience of the Republican Party.”

We are The Republican Wing of the Republican Party®.¹

The CRA provides local chapters with a getting-started template complete with beliefs, mission, values, agendas, bylaws, etc. which can be found in the CRA manual.

This article is a review of the values as they relate to the foundational principles of our nation.

Cra Charter Manual

653KB ∙ PDF file

Download

The Values start on page 3

Download

If you would like to get involved and join the SFCRA, go here. If you’ve been dissatisfied with the performance of the SFGOP, getting involved with the SFCRA is one avenue you can take to make up for it. I can see the SFCRA becoming a very influential and active body in San Francisco statecraft.

“What We Believe”

What I will do here is review the stated values of the CRA. When you sign up to be a local chapter member, the signup form requires you to check two boxes to proceed.

Upon review of the beliefs, I found that I did not fully agree with all of them² because some are in direct opposition to our American founding principles upon which our Constitution, MAGA, and Trump Agenda47 are based.

But be not alarmed! This type of thing is commonplace. We have been under heavy, intensely divisive, unimaginably subtle and masterful propaganda for generations and Republicans and Republican groups have not escaped affection.

You may not care what the principles are, you just want to be involved in making a positive difference and helping the people San Francisco. But knowing the published ethos of the organization you are joining is important, both to you and the organization, because these values percolate throughout. The small details influence the big picture. Checking a box to just get on with the fun stuff already is one of the contributors to our current tragic situation. It is a good idea to know what you’re agreeing to.

So, let us have a look at the 14 beliefs.

The 14 CRA Values

1. Inalienable Rights

We believe that man's "rights" flow from the Creator and the rights of life, liberty, and justice cannot be legitimately granted or rescinded by men.

This is correct. Almost straight out of the Declaration of Independence, with ‘justice’ enumerated here instead of ‘the pursuit of happiness.’

✅ — This one is good

2. Judeo-Christian Foundation

We believe in the guiding force of moral law as expressed by the Judeo- Christian ethic and contained in the Holy Scriptures of these historic faiths.

I’ve not really ever been able to ascertain exactly what's meant by this. It brings up a whole ‘nother discussion on religions which we can have another time. Dennis Prager, in this PragerU video introduces 10 Judeo-Christian values, and Pastor Joel, in this Right Response Ministries video argues “Judeo-Christian” is an oxymoron.

What I know:

• America is founded on the principle that you are created in the Image of God, the Creator, and one of the roles of government is to foster the individual spark of creative genius in each one of the people, themselves being, with God’s laws written in their hearts, self-governing.³

• America is not founded on the principle that you are cattle, and must be driven by the whip of government to do the right, moral thing.

If these are Judeo-Christian, then I’m onboard.

❓— Questionable

Suggested Rewrite
We believe America is founded on biblical values, including imago dei, that we are created in the image of God. We espouse the greatest commandment, to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

3. Self-Government

We believe that the only answer to the current moral decline that our nation now faces is a return to the beliefs and standards of morality which our founding fathers placed into the Constitution. We believe with the framers of that document when President Adams stated, "This Constitution will not work except with a religious people."⁴ We understand that the concept of self-government begins with governing oneself first, then family, community, state, and nation.

Returning to God requires keeping an eye on yourself. Spot on.

What John Adams actually wrote is, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The surrounding context is his commentary on why America had experienced such immense prosperity while the rest of the world was in desolation and misery. His point being, basically, our constitution is great, but “avarice, Ambition, Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net.”

✅ — This one is good. Suggest quote correction

4. Education

We believe in the rights of parents to a quality education for their children. We support parental choice to create competition among the schools. We must ensure that no school or teachers union can compromise the education of our children or advance a particular political agenda at the expense of our future generation’s educations.

What “quality education” is has really become convoluted. When I was growing up, a quality grade school education was whatever gets you into the best colleges. A quality college education was whatever got you the highest paying job. Easy A’s were the preferred method of achievement. Cheating was commonplace. The culture lacked focus on the development of the human mind.

This value, like our educational system, could use an overhaul. My suggestion would be to plagiarize take inspiration from this 1992 article by Lyndon LaRouche:

“The purpose and content of humanist education is not the accumulation of mere information and recipes, but rather a direct fostering of the individual spark of creative genius (imago viva Dei) in each student, by a total emphasis upon incorporating in the student's mind crucial moments from the acts of crucial, valid discoveries by (implicitly) all of the greatest known creative geniuses in all of history. This experience of genius—this youthful living the experience of becoming a genius—is not limited to any so-called specialty; it covers all natural philosophy, plus great Classical forms of all fine arts, plus mastery of the universal principle of language from the standpoint of Classical Indo-European philology, plus the science of statecraft.”

✅ — Vague, but OK

Taxes

We believe that the federal tax system is abusive to the American people while discouraging investment and growth. We believe in growth-oriented tax policies which would gradually eliminate punitive income taxes and move our tax system in the direction of use taxes and sales taxes only.

If you’re a subscriber you know that the income tax is 100% constitutional, but widely misunderstood and fraudulently applied. We lack proper understanding of American law and are bamboozled into donating our hard-earned money to the federal government. Tax education and clarification of the law is needed.

This value is acceptable, given the massive amount of misinformation and misdirection on the issue of income taxes. People think what is isn’t and what isn’t is, so you do taxes based on press release, website information, and common practice instead of actual law. Until recently, I believed income taxes were unconstitutional and stopped filing. But I was wrong on that.

⚠️ — Misleading value, good intent

Suggested Rewrite
We believe the current tax landscape is abusive and confusing to the American people which discourages investment and growth. We believe in growth-oriented tax policies, use taxes, sales tax, and education and clarification of income tax laws so that people and businesses only pay those taxes legally required of them.

Free Enterprise

We believe in the free enterprise system as the best hope for men and women to fulfill their economic hopes and dreams. We know that the free market is the most efficient and the least costly system to deliver the highest quality goods and services at the lowest price to the consumer. We will support only those who support the free enterprise system through legislation to reduce or eliminate intrusive government intervention in the marketplace.

I think the intent behind this value is good. People are free— have inherent liberty to create any product they want, open whatever business they want, and pursue any goal they want without unnecessary regulations, burdensome fees, nonsensical license and compliance requirements, and other bureaucratic concoctions. That kind of government intrusion should be eliminated,⁵ within reason. We must take care, because certain government rules and regulations for commercial activity is crucial.

The empire from which we broke in 1776 conducted themselves under the auspices of Free Market / Free Enterprise / Free Trade. The most efficient and least costly way to deliver the highest quality goods and services from around the world at the lowest price was to conquer, divide, plunder, extract, and enslave. This is how the British East India Trading Company took over India. The British Government intervened into that marketplace by nationalizing the company only after a public relations nightmare.

Today, the same type of Free Market idealism is what allowed our disastrous trade deals, ravaged our communities with cheap deadly drugs, and allowed pharmaceutical companies to advertise— through news media, your doctor’s office, and your local government— a bioweapon as a safe and effective savior to a press release pandemic.

For what reason do you think Soros’ organization was not based within the jurisdiction of the SEC?

This idea doesn’t just apply to worldwide Free Trade pushed by the Homo Globiens, but to local markets as well. For example, if you were upset that a pot shop was able to get a permit to operate in your neighborhood, you’re against Free Enterprise. If you don’t believe transgenderism should be taught in schools to the benefit of companies selling products and services to assist in transitions, you’re against Free Enterprise. Free Enterprise is, essentially, “anything goes.”

The USA was created to promote the general Welfare,⁶ meaning, to advance the well-doing, well-being, health, blessings, exemption from evil or calamity, prosperity, and happiness of humanity.

In order to do that, government regulation must intrude upon certain commercial activities. I mean, this is obvious stuff. It always was:

“The rich will strive to establish their dominion and enslave the rest. They always did...they always will. They will have the same effect here as elsewhere, if we do not, by the power of government, keep them in their proper spheres.”
—Gouverneur Morris, Penman of the Constitution

That this general idea persists today is a testament to “the amount of effort they put into establishing their view of the world as common sense."⁷

❌ — Fails constitutional muster

Suggested Rewrite
New Heading: Healthy Markets
We believe in the Healthy Market system as the best hope for men and women to fulfill their economic hopes and dreams while protecting our communities from speculation, manipulation, and snake oil. We want our businesses to deliver the highest quality goods and services at the lowest price. We will support only those who support the healthy market system through legislation that promotes the general Welfare as the constitution requires.

This value is related to the ‘National Sovereignty’ value coming up soon.

Family

We believe that the traditional American family, defined as any persons related by blood, marriage of a man and a woman and/or adoption, is the cornerstone of our American society, and the government is duty bound to protect the integrity of the family unit through legislation and taxation policies.

✅ — Nice

Sanctity of Life

We believe that the preborn child is a human being deserving the full protection of the law

Since life starts at conception, we can create a culture shift by celebrating Conceptiondays in addition to Birthdays. Imagine it being common knowledge to know what day you were created.

✅ — Nice

National Defense

We believe in a strong and consistent national defense. We believe in victory over, and not accommodation with tyranny in any form or philosophy.

✅ — Peace through strength of moral character and spirit

Right to Bear Arms

We believe in the unqualified right of our citizens to keep and bear arms without the intrusive hand of government.

The reverend of my church got a rifle when he was 12 and was taught by family to use it responsibly.

✅ — Good

Victims’ Rights

We believe in the concept of victims’ rights over the rights of any criminal. We support a system of restitution as a deterrent to crime and recidivism.

✅ — Such is the American justice system as advertised

Term Limitation

We believe that public service is a privilege. We support term limits for public officials, not as an ideal but as a necessity to dissuade career politicians. It is the people who should rule, not an elite with little accountability.

Term limits already exist, they are called elections.

Many positions already have term limits. I do not believe there is a limit on the number of years a person can serve in total in any elected office. Career politicians are no good, in any industry. But what about career statesmen? Specialization can be a wonderful thing.

✅ — As a stopgap

National Sovereignty

We believe in an America first program in which government’s first concern is the welfare and protection of the American people. We do not believe in trade protectionism but support political leaders who will adopt policies that create fair and competitive trade.

The first sentence— yes!
The second— A contradiction!

This value, as written, is in direct opposition to our foundational principles and Agenda47. No CRA member can agree with this value and support President Trump or his policies, because Trump is a Protectionist President.

A short video is best suited to handle the commentary on this one, from the recently dropped Trump on Joe Rogan:

Trump mentions William McKinley who ran, and won, on a platform of Protection, beating William Jennings Bryan’s platform of Free Trade.

German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck recommended, in 1879, that Germany imitate America’s “system of protective laws” to bring American-style prosperity to Germany.

❌ — A contradiction as written. It’s time to learn real American economics!

Suggested Rewrite
New Heading: AMERICA FIRST!
We believe in an America first program in which government’s first concern is the welfare and protection of the American people. We believe in trade protectionism that puts our businesses at home first, and support political leaders who will adopt policies that create fair and competitive trade.

Decentralized Government

We believe in the power of the individual over the power of the state. We believe that only small government truly serves the needs of the people.

A government that only serves the needs of the people will be small by default. Government is way too big and bloated now.

It should be noted that the whole entire point of the Constitutional Convention was to fix the problem of decentralized federal government as created by the Articles of Confederation. The nation needed a strong federal government to prevent the bankruptcy of the newly independent States and foreclosure back into the British Empire.

A Republic’s most important unit of governance is the district. The revolutionary war was successful in the states only because the people were organized and governed on a local level. Top-down, bottom up. Just like the MAGA movement. The revolutionary effort in France, encouraged by some of less-thoughtful founders, failed: Top-down, the bottom fell out.

✅ — Good finish

If you would like to get involved and join the SFCRA, go here. Contact me or

Daniel Goodwyn

if you have questions or would like to chat.

—Arjun

1. Notice the Registered Trademark symbol

2. 2-3 years ago, I would have agreed with all of them.

3. Romans 2:1-26. The relevant part is 2:14.

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”^{[a] 7} To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Hebrews 8. The relevant part is 8:10

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. ⁴ If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. ⁵ They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[a] 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. ⁸ But God found fault with the people and said^[b]:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
⁹ It will not be like the covenant
    I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
    and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
¹⁰ This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
¹¹ No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
¹² For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.”^[c]

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

4. To add to the importance of minor detail. If you do a Google Search for the Adam’s quote in the CRA value, you find it repeated on various chapter sites, where the values were copy-pasted to the chapter’s page.

5. A small number of constitutional experts know how to nullify such laws and carry on in complete freedom from government intrusion into their business. Here’s one example.

6. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. —US Constitution, Preamble

7. They, meaning the City of London. Quote is from the Documentary Secret City - A film about the City of London, the Corporation that runs it. (Free on YouTube)