Choosing between the horns of the Joint Legislative Services Committee

As most of the limited readership of this blog will be only too well aware, a tiny committee of our New Hampshire legislature, by a total of eight votes, and an even smaller margin of votes, decided Monday that they would act against both the word of our state constitution, and the spirit of the body by whom they are delegated to.

They voted to change the house rules to ban weapons -- guns, pocketknives, possibly all manner of objects -- in not just the house and senate chambers, but the entire state house and LOB, walkways, cafeteria, and so forth. Which must be considered, I am minded to note, to include at least a portion of their parking lot!

And they did this in spite of a house bill last year to similar -- actually, lesser -- effect being considered ITL by 279 representatives out of the 298 who voted. (Yes, that's right, an ostensible 94% majority against the committee's actions.) And further, despite the plain language of the state constitution in Part the First, the bill of rights, in the sections of same which are nowadays commonly numbered as Articles 2a and 8. What do these sections say, you may ask?

2-a. All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.

8. All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be unreasonably restricted.

[NH Constitution Part I - Bill of Rights]

Lest this be unclear, I have taken the liberty of highlighting certain relevant sections.

The two prongs of this dilemma must surely now be plain before you. Is it a reasonable restriction of my right of access that I should thus forfeit my right of defense, whenever I decide to travel to Concord to listen to or testify at a hearing, or to petition my legislature, or to sit and listen to their proceedings? It is reasonable that my representative, who wishes to defend himself and his peers, should forfeit this right in order that he may properly represent me and my fellow townsfolk?

Clearly, I think not. Clearly, evidently, plainly, as the nose upon one's face, I say this is not only unreasonable but a breach of duty, and an assault upon our state constitution. I do not think treason to be too strong a word.

But what do others think? Specifically, what do my duly elected representatives think? That is to say, the individuals who are purported to represent me and my neighbors in the legislature? Such is the subject of this blog entry, horrified as I was by their individual responses when I spoke with each of them.

As of this writing, I have only spoken with my three representatives in the house. I have not yet spoken with my senator (Deborah Reynolds) or with councillor Ray Burton or with the Governor. I will seek to update this blog with their reaction to this constitutional crisis.

But what, you may be wondering, was the response from the reps for Grafton County District 10? From representatives Townsend, Mulholland, and Laliberte?

The solitary item of good news I can offer is that they each took my call in good part, and spoke plainly of their opinions, and listened to mine. This is a trait common to most state politicians in New Hampshire, albeit not to most of our representatives at the federal level. One or two -- Michael Rollo, for examble -- will dissemble from this position, but broadly speaking the representatives like to provide the appearance that they do indeed represent you, and to maintain a good humor in the face of disagreement. In deference to their good nature, I have done my utmost to represent them fairly herein, and not to take any quotes out of context. My quotes are their exact words, unless I have placed them in square brackets, in which case it is the clear and plain sense of the conversation.



My first conversation, albeit not my first call, was with Suzanne Laliberte, who lives in Enfield Center. She had not heard of the new house rule, and after I explained it to her she made plain that she was in favor of it. "Too many people, because they've got a gun," she explained, "will go right off and start shooting it without any reason whatsoever."

The reader will forgive me, I hope, for my taking a moment to digest what I had just been told before attempting any response. I was incredulous.

She went on to explain how it is just like the "problems with road rage" and pointed out to me "that's why we've got security personnel, the military personnel who are aides to the governor."

(Last I looked, I thought they were acting in the capacity of state police, although I know from speaking with them that some of them are ex-military and I dare say some may be in the reserves or guard. Still, a strange way to perceive things.)

I attempted a conversation with her on the subject of her fellow legislators and their fitness and suitability to carry a concealed weapon. Did she not think that they, at least, should be allowed to carry? She would not budge from her avowed position. At last, a principle I can respect, I thought: she does not elevate the legislators above the people. But alas and alack, it was not to be. Her reasoning was more pragmatic. After all, she demurred, "I don't mean to speak disparagingly of my colleagues. But there are some of them... [she gasped] I hope to hell they don't have guns! I don't think I would trust them with guns!"

I asked whether she had herself seen or heard of any trouble, any problems arising from people carrying weapons in the state house. She said simply, "No." She was also kind enough to clarify that, as she put it, "I feel quite differently about pocketknives." Did she feel differently enough that she would be against the rule, after all? No, indeed not, she has enough of a hard time carrying a cellphone, a prohibition against pocketknives isn't a big deal, even although she herself may have carried one from time to time.

My overall impression was that she finds the idea of guns off-putting. Perhaps she is one of the emotionally sensitive people about whom Chuck Townsend spoke, when I talked with him, below. But first to Catherine Mulholland, of Grafton.



Cathy, too, had not heard of the rule change. I explained it to her, and paused, thinking that she might have a reaction. She did not. When pressed, she said, "It never occurs to me to carry a weapon anywhere." I am not sure whether she was trying to persuade me of her lack of imagination or to make an actual point, but I did take this as something of a bad sign.

She went on, talking about the new rule, "Do I think it is a terrible thing? No. I don't think it is a big deal."

I suggested to her that perhaps the unconstitutionality of it might qualify it as a "big deal". I mentioned the state constitution specifically. Her immediate and off-the-cuff reaction was, "I've never read the constitution, but I suppose so." So shocked and appalled was I, that I could find no better response than to ask her whether she recalled her oath of office. She responded, "Well... I've read bits of it." I enquired as to which bits. "The first twelve pages." She paused, and continued, "I think constitutions are a bit silly, frankly."

She was kind enough to clarify that at the federal level... well, "I've read the US constitution, most of it. You can't become a citizen without reading it." No, you cannot. In fact, you swear allegiance to it in order to become a citizen, as she apparently has done, having come from England. I wonder whether she told the immigration officials that she regarded it as a mere silly thing? Isn't it true that perjury on such matters can be grounds for nullification of one's naturalization papers? But I digress.

Clearly I was on a losing wicket expecting that she might feel any duty to our founding documents. And so it was that I enquired about how she viewed her representative duties, to what principles or persons she considered herself accountable. "Frankly," she said -- and I must agree, she did seem to be speaking her views frankly -- "when you represent people in New Hampshire, you only represent about half of them. The other half you don't represent."

I enquired as to whether it might not be the case that, without regard to which segment of the electorate might have voted for one, shouldn't one, as a representative, be attempting to represent all of the people in one's district? Her response to this was swift and certain. She opined, "I would spend my life in the house in the bathroom if I tried to represent one and all."

I attempted to find common ground, and we rapidly established that her opinion is that representing all interests fairly would result in little getting accomplished. My view is the other side of the same coin, that fewer laws would be enacted and less regulation would be created. She apparently views this as a bad thing as much as it seems to me desirable.

She was, in parting, kind enough to point out that the reps were not paid much. I said, "Thank goodness!" and again I saw that we were looking at different sides of the same coin. Except her coin would be larger than I would wish, and in her pocket. I observed that it would be a shame if this happened, since then we would have less representative government and more career politications. She disputed that this was necessary, and pointed me to a panacea. Apparently she think the Vermont politicians -- and pay scale -- should be a positive example to us all.



Onwards... and so to Charles Townsend of Canaan.

He, at least, was vaguely aware of the new rule, and of the brouhaha surrounding it, having seen some commentary in the day's paper.

He too, was in favor of the rule, especially seeing as it was nothing more or less than a re-enactment of a previous rule (1996-2006). Now, this is not my understanding, but moreover, whatever form the rule used to take it was certainly not acted upon as it is now being contemplated. I understand that people -- both legislators and others -- used to carry in the LOB and throughout most areas, although perhaps not in the gallery of the house chamber, I am not sure. So, whatever the rule may have been, it was clearly not enforced with any vigor.

He attempted to make that the issue, by saying that his understanding -- and he did admit that he looks forward to reading the precise text in more detail -- but nonetheless, his understanding was that, "there would not be any searches or metal detectors or things like that." This seemed rather irrelevant to me, since not only do I fervently believe that the current inclination would be to enforce this rule vigorously, moreover it is a point of principle, and tacitly encouraging the breaking of a rule as you are creating it would be absurd. He acquiesced on that point.

But, he explained, "I am in favor of the principle of not having firearms in the LOB [...this] doesn't do anyone any good[...] I suspect that there have been some people who have been close to out of control in chambers, [who] have been upset by votes. I can see that there's good reason for the legislature to want to make sure that a shooting incident doesn't happen in the legislature. [However] I don't see any reason to be afraid of pocketknives. What the committee is concerned about -- I am sure -- is someone in the gallery shooting as many people as they can."

Like Fort Hood or Virginia Tech, I asked? Yes, yes, like Fort Hood.

Yet he didn't agree that the extent of the loss of life at Fort Hood was exacerbated by the gun-free zone.

I pointed out that the state police are not always present in the gallery, and when they are, it is often one person, and often outside the door. I asked whether it might not be possible that concealed carry might prevent as great a loss of life as would otherwise be possible, in his scenario. He made plain that he had images of a cowboy and western saloon shootout with everyone shooting at and through everyone else, and clearly didn't see this as an improvement on just having the one murderer shooting. I moved on. I spoke of the right to defend oneself. I asked what happened when one left the chamber, and walked to one's car.

He said that I was just being fearful. I explained that I was advocating prudence.

Then, I attempted to bring the conversation back around to the constitutionality of the matter, to the natural rights which underlie this issue. In citing articles 2a and 8, I was prepared for him to be unfamiliar with article 8, but was taken aback that he was not familiar with 2a. So I quoted 2a to him, and summarised 8.

But, critically, and tellingly, he introduced a new concept, indeed what is for him a fundamental right. Namely, the "right" to a "feeling of security". He contemplated that the article 2a right might be "less important than the feeling of security of everyone else who is in the building". I suppose he thinks that the would-be armed man is less entitled to feel secure than everyone else. But moreover, he expounded, "most people feel less secure when others have firearms". I enquired as to whether he was saying that a "feeling of security" is a natural right. He said, "It might be. I don't know." He admitted that I had given him "things to think about".



Yes, indeed, and we need to give this legislature more "things to think about". We need them to think about their oaths, their sacred honor, and their constituents. And above all the sacred and blessed document which is our state constitution and the ideals expressed and embodied within it which together have served us so well for so long.

Live Free or Die! Death is not the worst of Evils!


P.S. It was pointed out to me that, talking of the state constitution, Part 2 Article 8 has some bearing also. It states,

The doors of the galleries, of each house of the legislature, shall be kept open to all persons who behave decently, except when the welfare of the state, in the opinion of either branch, shall require secrecy.

Although this is less relevant to me than the right enumerated in Part I Article 8, and although it speaks only to the State House and not to the LOB, this certainly serves only to reinforce the constitutional arguments which have already been advanced.

Constitution trumps statute, and it has been clearly mooted that the committee was acting well outside of its scope of authority in making this rule. Hopefully the speaker will see sense, and soon. If nothing is done to reverse this rule, then we will find ourselves heading down the slipperiest of slopes.

Comments on the party platforms (post I)

I was actually hoping to find things in the Democrat platform with which I could concur. I expected to find much in each that I agreed with and much in each that I disagreed with. It was not to be. Even without reading between the lines, the Dem platform is scary. And one must indeed read between the lines, since the actual text is largely a mish-mash of truisms and double-talk.

Here, I have attempted to form an opinion as to a translation of the state Democratic platform into language that I can more readily appreciate. Here, then, is my translation of the Dem platform, based on my personal experiences observing New Hampshire Democrats, reading their sponsored legislation, and being subject to their methods of governance. In reading their platform, I have to say that I am reminded of nothing so much as Mr Clinton's tried-and-tested "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." In other words, it is hard to read their platform without getting a distinct sense that they struggled to finesse every last sentence and phrase to say one thing while giving a distinct and often quite opposite impression. I urge you to read the below in conjunction with their original platform and form your own, independent opinion as to their intent. If you come up with a really good translation for one of the paragraphs, post it in a comment and I may update the text accordingly.

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2008 State Platform

1.1 New Hampshire Democratic Party Platform

We stand for abstract, but nice-sounding things over which we have limited or indirect control; and for a deep respect for other Democrats. We pledge to build a socialist nanny-state but when we are forced to hold fast to the constitution, we will do so to the extent that we must.


Strong Families

2.1 Education

We support state-funded education at all levels and throughout every tiny bit of the state, with as good and comprehensive a state education available in the small rural communities as in the densest and largest of suburbs. Our schools will work to narrow and reduce academic achievements and grades until there is nothing to distinguish people from each other, regardless of their intelligence or promise, and in spite of the means available to the parents to afford their children better opportunities. Our University and Community College Systems should drain New Hampshire’s purse, but return such goodwill and talent to the communities that the net effect on the the State’s economy will be enormously positive. They will do this by offering courses to everyone and anyone without let, hindrance or entrance requirements, at a lowest common denominator cost which will be subsidized by the state.

2.2 Health Care

Every person deserves access to artificially cheap, restricted, and limited subsidized health care. We promote initiatives to further limit your health care, but to make sure that even the rich are similarly limited, and promise to spend lots of your money in the rural communities in spite of their low population density.

2.3 Veterans

We honor the innumerable sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families. We will try to get taxpayers from all of the other 49 states to pay for veterans' health care, education and disability costs. All efforts must be made to find ways to spend these federal monies. Even though we think they were nuts for fighting in the war, we welcome veterans back into our communities with honor and will be happy to re-educate them based on our doctrine.

2.4 Consumer Protection

We know you hate big business and so do we, although we really hate small businesses more. If someone else has more money than you, especially if they're a business, we will tell you that we're working for you. We believe in strong consumer protection laws, especially those that cost businesses money. We oppose businesses taking advantage of your stupidity and will seek to protect you from yourself.

2.5 Child and Dependent Care

You should not be asked to take care of your own family members in this day and age. This is the rightful responsibility of everyone else. Anyone so heroic as to be willing to deal with those drooling old people or screaming, crying babies (no, this time we don't mean the Republicans) will be paid really well.

2.6 Housing

No true liberal should be forced to live at home with their parents, and no indolent person should have to work for a bed. Subsidized housing is essential to our plans to provide jobs for the poor and to remove equity from the middle class.

2.7 Economic Security

We support New Hampshire workers by punishing business for employing them by maintaining the unconstitutional business taxes within the state at or above present levels. The only new businesses we support will be ones who qualify to receive your money through the provision, by us or our federal colleagues, of earmarks, grants and incentives, and other cunning, barely-legal mutual assistance schemes.


Strong Economy

3.1 Labor

We oppose efforts, including free speech and political lobbying, which seeks to oppose unions or collective bargaining of any kind. Anyone who is deemed to have disregarded worker’s rights should be summarily sentenced to death by firing squad.

3.2 Rural Development

We recognize that the way to keep our rural communities voting our way is to addict them to government spending and to force others to make it easier and cheaper for the Democrat who chooses to live in the middle of nowhere, by subsidizing his infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water, sewer, telecommunications, and broadband access. We haven't forgotten about the necessity of more federal government aid for rural hospitals and health care providers.

3.3 Business Investment

We will continue to rest on the dying laurels of New Hampshire's proud history of fiscal conservatism and spending restraint by claiming the continued relative strength of its economy as a being a result of our policies.

3.4 Infrastructure

Public spending is good. It's OK if we spend more than we have, and borrow from our children and our children's children, because in doing so we are strengthening their economy, and deny vigorously that we are burdening them with debt and with the further need to maintain these infrastructure investments which have lifespans of only a few decades or a century at best. We recognize that the North Country of our state votes has an enhanced need for these investments to make sure they keep voting as we would like. When it comes to the southern part of the state, we support a growing, innovative voter base consisting of Democrats from the Boston suburbs, which we can achieve by building new mass transit options for New Hampshire commuters.

3.5 Taxation

We believe that the citizens of New Hampshire deserve a system of taxation that distributes the tax burden away from our voters. Property taxes, although constitutional, are not nearly as good as an unconstitutional and progressive income tax, and although we are loth to commit to this here, we will form a committee and agree to this privately next week.


Strong Communities

4.1 Public Safety

We believe that the government should interpose itself at all times and in all places. We want to victimize, again and again, any who offend us. We support strong legislation against those who hate socialism, or who would criticize families for failing to take care of themselves. Although we believe that the effect of the crime on victims should be considered in imposing punishment, we will not mandate restitution to victims, but will be happy to re-educate the victims if needs be.

4.2 Environment, Agriculture, and Energy Policy

We will punish New Hampshire’s farming heritage and natural environment by acting decisively to address the hypothetical and unproven threat of global warming. We will restrict people's property rights by placing limits on development and restricting land use. We commit to the reduction of greenhouse gases through policies that punish those who use too much energy or whom we perceive as inefficient, and we will subsidize those who acquiesce to these hypotheses by adopting "green" technologies, recognizing that in doing so we will also be supporting left-leaning businesses.


Live Free or Die Tradition

5.1 Civil Rights and Privacy

We value an open and accessible state government, provided it protects the Democrat's fundamental freedoms to scheme and our expectations of privacy in this scheming. We pledge to fight all efforts to identify voter fraud.

5.2 Fiscal Responsibility

In the New Hampshire tradition, fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets are necessary for a frugal and effective government. Make no mistake: we intend to be neither frugal nor effective. We believe in using taxpayer resources wisely to achieve the greatest pro-Dem voter swing and to do so will make strategic investments in building a stronger New Hampshire. Again, we believe in the long term savings that can come from spending future putative earnings to defray today's expenses. The increasing cost of maintaining basic services is not being properly recognized in the State budget. The need to pay for our spending is putting a heavy burden on all citizens. Therefore, we support collecting more revenues, even if they involve unconstitutional taxes on wages, salaries, earnings, capital gains and other income.

5.3 Reproductive Health and Safety

We support your right to kill your baby, even if you deliberately created it. We will promote policies to ensure all men and women including teenagers are protected from those who might try to educate or influence them in the ways of sexual procreation, other than as we might have them do.

5.4 First in the Nation Primary

We will strive to preserve New Hampshire’s responsibilities as the First in the Nation Primary. No, we won't tell you what this means, but suffice to say it won't be good.

5.5 Open Government and Right to Know

We believe government should be accountable to the people at every level and should operate in an open and transparent manner. It should not, however, be accountable to itself, to uphold its own rules and procedures, and it is important that open political debate with which we disagree be shut down at the earliest opportunity, without reference to the rules. The people have a right to know what their government is doing. However, as soon as we can get RSA 91 repealed, the people won't have this right any more.

5.6 Fair and Free Elections

All voters have a right to vote. Thus, there can no longer be such a thing as voter fraud, by definition. All voters have a right to have equal ability to run for office. This will require that the intelligent voters be made dumb, and the rich voters be made poor, and the likeable voters be smitten, and the pretty voters be dropped out of the ugly tree. Thus will we transform every voter into our likeness, and rule the state for ever more. Amen.

NH Party Platforms

I hadn't realized until this past weekend at the Liberty Forum that the state parties have distinct platforms from their national partners-in-crime. So I decided to take a look at the platforms, which may be found at nhdp.org and nhgop.org. For your (and my future) convenience, I include plaintext versions of them below, since both of those web pages take forever to load.

You will find both the Republican and then the Democrat platforms attached to this post. I'll comment in my next post.

I assume that the "TM" characters in the Democratic platform are intended to be some sort of bullet and that the font got screwed up. Surely nobody could have thought it made sense to trademark "Live Free or Die Tradition" ... and if they did, surely that somebody wasn't a Democrat!? If so, someone needs to sue them for breach of something, fraud in advertising, whatever.

I have taken the liberty of inserting additional numbering in each document, so that in discussing them I may refer to portions of them conveniently as, say, for HCR6 see GOP.5.1.2

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2009-2010 NH Republican Party Platform

I. PREAMBLE
II. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
III. THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
IV. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVANTAGE
V. A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE
VI. ENTERPRISE, JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
VII. TAXES AND SPENDING
VIII. THE FAMILY
IX. LAW AND ORDER
X. THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE JUDICIARY
XI. EDUCATION
XII. THE ENVIRONMENT
XIII. HEALTH CARE
XIV. CONCLUSION


I. PREAMBLE

We, New Hampshire Republicans, are united by our belief in God, individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, limited spending, limited taxes, economic opportunity, homeland security, compassion for the truly needy and our confidence in the strength of families, places of worship, communities and volunteerism. The principles and programs set forth in this Platform reflect the beliefs and values that characterize the New Hampshire Republican Party. While Republicans may hold diverse opinions on specific legislative proposals, such differences should not deflect from advancing the principles that unite us as a Party. As united Republicans, we will seek to apply the principles embodied in this Platform and the National Republican Party Platform to our vision for the future of New Hampshire.


II. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire is proud to be the birthplace of the Republican Party. The "Grand Old Party" was established at a meeting convened by Amos Tuck in Exeter, New Hampshire on October 12, 1853. Since that first meeting, the New Hampshire Republican Party has flourished, forming the majority in our citizen legislature for over a century.

The Republican Party is, and historically has been, the Party of ideas and bold leadership in New Hampshire. The foremost convictions that distinguish our Party in New Hampshire are:

2.1 * Protecting the fundamental rights of the people and enhancing their freedom

2.2 * Promoting a limited government that is open, responsive and fully accountable to and in touch with its citizens without interfering in their personal, daily lives

2.3 * Electing Republican candidates who uphold the highest standards of integrity, morality, ethics, responsibility and accountability in their personal lives, during campaigns and while performing their official duties

2.4 * Recruiting Republican candidates who uphold the proud and historic traditions of our Party and its Platform, which is essential to the future of our Party

2.5 * Promoting voter registration to all eligible citizens and increased participation in the electoral process


III. THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

New Hampshire's First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary election began in 1910. For decades, the New Hampshire Presidential Primary has stood as a proving ground for candidates of all parties who seek the nation's highest office. The importance and integrity of the Presidential Primary to the people of New Hampshire and the nation is recognized by New Hampshire law (RSA 653:9) which requires our Primary be the first in the nation. New Hampshire's First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primary must be preserved.


IV. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVANTAGE

We believe that New Hampshire's unique quality of life, as a place to live, raise a family, do business and visit, creates the New Hampshire Advantage as evidenced by NH being the most livable state in the union. Careful stewardship and the hard work of generations of visionary Republicans have nurtured New Hampshire's remarkable qualities. We are committed to preserving and protecting the quality of life that has made New Hampshire great. The chief components of the New Hampshire Advantage include:

* The character of individual citizens and the strength of traditional family life
* The productivity and work ethic of our workforce
* The Granite State's well deserved reputation as among the best places to live in America
* Freedom from sales and income taxes
* Our State's leading role in the economy of New England
* The top national performance rating of New Hampshire's students as well as the national reputation of our private colleges, University System and Community Technical Colleges
* Our 424 citizen legislature, unique among all states in the country, in ensuring a truly representative state government
* Living up to our state motto, "Live Free or Die"


V. A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE

5.1 The State of New Hampshire

The government of New Hampshire exists to preserve and protect inalienable rights endowed by our Creator for the benefit, protection and security of its citizens. Republicans reaffirm that New Hampshire is a sovereign state in a nation of states and oppose centralization of power. To maintain this doctrine, the Republican Party:

5.1.1 * Supports the constitutional principle that the three branches of government are separate and independent

5.1.2 * Opposes the enactment of federal programs that contradict the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

5.1.3 * Supports efforts to stop Washington from mandating unfunded federal programs on our state and local governments, and hold the federal government to the same standard against unfunded mandates as we do our state government under the New Hampshire Constitution

5.1.4 * Respects New Hampshire's honored veterans by ensuring that they receive the benefits that they have rightfully earned and deserve

5.1.5 * Supports English as the official language of the state

5.1.6 * Voting in NH must be done by NH resident citizens only. To prevent voter fraud, we support the requirement to produce positive identification upon both registration and voting.

5.1.7 * The Republican Party calls upon the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to enforce NH election laws


5.2 New Hampshire's State Government

New Hampshire's government and its elected officials must, above all else, preserve and protect individual liberty. The New Hampshire Constitution affirms that our government is founded upon the people's consent and is instituted for the general good. The preservation of the rights of our people should always constrain the actions of government because our government has only as much power as the people choose to give it. We will advocate this concept of government by working to encourage greater voter participation at all levels of government, as well as reform our campaign finance laws to guarantee full and prompt disclosure. We believe in the citizens' right to access government information to the extent such disclosure does not violate the security of our state or the privacy of individual citizens.


VI. ENTERPRISE, JOBS AND THE ECONOMY

6.1 Economic Development

A strong New Hampshire economy secures the livelihoods of our families. We remain committed to making New Hampshire the best place in the nation to live, to visit and to do business, whether for small businesses, traditional manufacturing, or the latest emerging technologies. Our approach to economic development is founded upon:

6.1.1 * Creating a supportive business climate and increasing tourism

6.1.2 * Working to provide an environment favorable to increasing the creation of private sector jobs including state-of-the-art technology

6.1.3 * Working to prevent over-regulation of business, particularly with respect to small businesses

6.1.4 * Improving telecommunications and technology access to rural areas of our state

6.1.5 * Keeping state government lean to minimize its burden on taxpayers and businesses


6.2 New Hampshire's Work Force

New Hampshire's highly motivated work force is essential to our economic prosperity. In an effort to expand the market both at home and abroad and develop productive employment with safety, rewards and dignity for workers of all ages, we will work to:

6.2.1 * Continue our emphasis on educating and training our work force

6.2.2 * Affirm the right of all citizens to join labor organizations freely, whether they choose to bargain collectively or individually, without coercion or intimidation

6.2.3 * Support the "right to work" by adopting legislation necessary to ensure this principle for all workers

6.2.4 * Support the right of employees to a secret ballot for votes relating to forming or joining a union


VII. TAXES AND SPENDING

7.1 Low Taxes, Low Spending

Republicans realize that low taxes are the result of low spending. We believe that controlling spending and minimizing taxes are the best ways to protect the economic and civic well being of New Hampshire residents. We believe in promoting lower taxes to attract business development and expand economic opportunities by:

7.1.1 * Maintaining a locally controlled tax system consistent with our commitment to keep New Hampshire a desirable place for people to live, work, raise their families and locate their businesses

7.1.2 * Supporting local control of spending and taxes designed to support local services


7.2 Tax Free New Hampshire

We reject higher taxes and excessive government spending with the belief that taxes unfairly erode earnings, contribute to the growth of government and provide disincentives for economic growth. To affirm our strong opposition to any broad-based taxes, including an income, sales or capital gains tax, we will:

7.2.1 * Support cutting or eliminating taxes which inhibit enterprise, earnings and savings and investment, such as the Interest and Dividends Tax and the Business Enterprise/Business Profits Tax

7.2.2 * Oppose taxation of the Internet

7.2.3 * Support initiatives that lower property taxes for those in need (RSA49 - tells cities what they can implement). Assessed value for the purpose of property taxation shall eliminate the subjective elements of value, such as view, and be determined on the basis of objective standards to determine the assessed land and building values

7.2.4 * Work to reduce New Hampshire's electric rates

7.2.5 * Work to limit the growth of state spending to not more than the rate of inflation, taking into account population growth, by adopting a taxpayers bill of rights


VIII. THE FAMILY

8.1 Preserving Marriage and Family

We realize that the family's most important function is to raise the next generation of Americans. We place our highest priority on promoting and preserving the family as the most important institution of human development by:

8.1.1 * Recognizing marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman

8.1.2 * Opposing recognition by the State of New Hampshire of all other forms of civil unions, regardless of where such unions were formed (other states, U.S. territories, and foreign countries)

8.1.3 * Believing the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed upon; supporting a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorsing legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children

8.1.4 * In light of current court interpretations, requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions; barring the use of public resources to fund or promote abortion; banning the procedure of partial-birth abortion; supporting the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life

8.1.5 * The New Hampshire Republican State Committee not supporting financially or by in-kind contributions, any candidate or nominee of this party who opposes measures to end partial-birth abortions

8.1.6 * Commending and encouraging those individuals and organizations who provide alternatives to abortion by meeting the needs of mothers through adoption, support, counseling and educational services

8.1.7 * Encouraging scientific research using adult and cord blood stem cells; opposing the use of embryonic stem cells; and supporting a comprehensive ban on human cloning, the creation of human embryos solely for experimentation, and the public funding thereof


8.2 Protecting Marriage and Family

Family life can nurture love of country and faith in God. To protect marriages and families as the central core in society for enhancing morality, integrity, responsibility and concern for others, we:

8.2.1 * Advocate a presumption in favor of joint custody and favor equitable treatment of both parents in child custody and child support determinations

8.2.2 * Oppose actions that inhibit and/or supplant the role of parents in the care and upbringing of children

8.2.3 * Will work to ensure due process rights of those accused of child abuse or neglect

8.2.4 * Ensure that children are placed only in loving, non-abusive homes

8.2.5 * Are committed to respecting our senior citizens by improving their financial security, physical well being and quality of life

8.2.6 * Oppose euthanasia and physician assisted suicide, and support increased implementation of appropriate pain management

8.2.7 * Oppose casino and video-lottery gambling because of the negative social consequences


IX. LAW AND ORDER

9.1 Child Protection

Establish strict laws to protect our children from sexual predators including life incarceration as appropriate


9.2 Ensuring Safety

The New Hampshire Advantage cannot survive without safety and security for individual citizens. In order to ensure peace and tranquility in our communities, Republicans:

9.2.1 * Develop and implement an effective Homeland Security Program for New Hampshire

9.2.2 * Offer steadfast support for our law enforcement and emergency response personnel

9.2.3 * Emphasize self-control and personal responsibility as the primary means to reduce crime

9.2.4 * Believe in the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms to defend themselves, their families and their property; support Part I, Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution guaranteeing law-abiding citizens the right to keep and bear arms; oppose passage of local, state or federal laws and/or regulations that violate this fundamental right or the imposition of any taxation, licensing restrictions, or registration of firearms; oppose fingerprinting and photographing citizens as a condition of obtaining a license to carry a concealed firearm. We oppose any "assault weapons" ban. We support the universal right of self defense wherever one has a legal right to be

9.2.5 * Support measures to protect and secure our international border with Canada, our airports, our water supply and the Seabrook nuclear power plant, without unnecessary infringement upon our civil rights

9.2.6 * Will work to reduce drunken driving and substance abuse through a comprehensive program of education, prevention, rehabilitation, treatment and law enforcement


9.3 Enforcing Laws

We propose that those who commit crimes be swiftly and surely punished consistent with due process of law. We support increased efforts to enforce penalties against those who commit crimes by:

9.3.1 * Strengthening national border security, enforcing immigration laws, and opposing any form of amnesty for illegal aliens

9.3.2 * Supporting laws defining trespass to include illegal presence in New Hampshire

9.3.3 * Strengthening prosecution and fair enforcement of death penalty laws

9.3.4 * Enforcing the prosecution of perpetrators of voter fraud and election tampering

9.3.5 * Supporting the adoption of the Felony Murder Rule allowing prosecutors to seek a murder charge against those who commit a felony resulting in a death


X. THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE JUDICIARY

10.1 The Legal System

The Republican Party believes that the New Hampshire Advantage is, in part, secured and promoted by a legal system that upholds the safety, values and freedoms of law-abiding citizens. We will work to maintain a legal system that provides every citizen prompt and impartial justice by:

10.1.1 * Ensuring our belief that under the New Hampshire Constitution, the power to tax is reserved for the people and their elected representatives, not the judicial or executive branches

10.1.2 * Adopting a constitutional amendment to Part II, Section 73-a of the New Hampshire Constitution to restore the traditional role of our General Court as New Hampshire's supreme legislative authority

10.1.3 * Recognizing that frivolous lawsuits are burdensome to our legal system, a detriment to the New Hampshire economy, and an abuse of the judicial process


10.2 The Judiciary

New Hampshire's independent and impartial judiciary, as one of the three separate and independent branches of government, is entrusted with the protection of the constitutionally and otherwise guaranteed legal rights of the people. To ensure that the first priority of our judiciary is to serve the people's needs by expediting justice and ensuring fairness, we will:

10.2.1 * Support the traditional role of the judiciary in interpreting the constitutional and statutory rights of individuals and organizations

10.2.2 * Support the appointment of judges who recognize their proper and limited interpretive role in our constitutional system

10.2.3 * Seek to extend the Right-to-Know Law to the non-adjudicatory functions of the judicial branch

10.2.4 * Support the reasonable and periodic oversight of judicial officers, including reasonable term limitations for judges


10.3 Eminent Domain

The Republican Party recognizes that private ownership of property is fundamental to a free and well ordered society.

10.3.1 * Affirm that private property rights are fundamental under the Constitution and that we will ensure that property owners are compensated justly for property taken by government through regulation

10.3.2 * Support prohibiting public Eminent Domain taking of individual property to be used for private development


XI. EDUCATION

The Republican Party believes that the primary focus of education should be on academic achievement. In a global economy where outsourcing is commonplace, our students must be proficient in math and science. In order for our nation to survive and prosper, our students must have a thorough understanding of history, civics and the philosophical concepts upon which our government is based. Self-esteem based educational programs which undermine academic achievement do not serve the long term interests of our children.

11.1 Excellence in Education

Educating the citizens of New Hampshire is our hope for the future of this great state. We believe that New Hampshire must provide its children an education based upon excellence. We recognize parents as first and primary teachers. We oppose state interference with parental rights and believe that:

11.1.1 * Only parents can be entrusted to control the education of their children and choose schools that best suit their children's needs

11.1.2 * Laws should be implemented to encourage school choice and competition and allow all parents to choose the best public, private, charter or home school program for their children

11.1.3 * School vouchers or tuition tax credits should be made available to assist in school choice

11.1.4 * The so-called "Blaine Amendment" should be repealed so as to end discrimination against religious schools

11.1.5 * We support increased use of market forces to provide and improve education

11.2 Local Control and Education Funding

As Republicans, our goal is to meet the cost of education as efficiently as possible. It is our belief that citizens who control their own education budgets have the strongest incentives to spend their money wisely. It is the position of the Republican Party that:

11.2.1 * Local control of education policy and education funding creates the best-managed school systems

11.2.2 * The New Hampshire Constitution should be amended to empower the people and their elected representatives to set educational funding and policy goals

11.2.3 * Where possible, state and federal school aid should not contain mandates that prevent parents and local taxpayers from making educational decisions for their own communities

11.2.4 * We demand that the federal government fully fund its commitment to special education mandates under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and NCLB (No Child Left Behind

11.3 The Classroom

Republicans believe that a quality education advances good citizenship, knowledge, and self worth and enables informed participation in public and governmental affairs. To improve and strengthen the classroom, we believe in:

11.3.1 * Supporting innovative measures to reduce overly burdensome tuition costs while increasing the national competitiveness of our education system

11.3.2 * Working to implement the nation's highest competency and accountability standards for our teachers and students; empowering teachers to maintain orderly, disciplined classrooms; and compensating teachers based upon their performance (merit pay). Tenure for public school teachers removes the incentive to excel, and therefore should be eliminated

11.3.3 * Working to promote abstinence as the first line of defense in health education curricula

11.3.4 * Working to develop and teach a curriculum that emphasizes personal responsibility and consequences for one’s actions, including responsible citizenship informed by a knowledge of civics, American history, and American politics and government

11.3.5 * Reviewing and reforming the teacher certification process

11.3.6 * Support payroll protection legislation to allow teachers to decide upon allocation of their dues for political purposes

11.3.7 * The language of public instruction be in English, except in the teaching of foreign languages


XII. THE ENVIRONMENT

12.1 Land Conservation

The beauty of New Hampshire as a place in which to live and work depends upon a healthy environment. It is vital that our society commits itself to the preservation of our natural resources and the wise use of our open spaces to maintain our special quality of life. As Republicans, we:

12.1.1 * Promote conserving open space, scenic vistas and historic and cultural landscapes, and especially New Hampshire’s state historic sites

12.1.2 * Preserve sensitive ecosystems and effectively manage wildlife

12.1.3 * Encourage landowners to keep their property open and accessible to responsible recreation

12.1.4 * Will work to provide public access to all of New Hampshire's public lands and great ponds, subject to adequate protection for indigenous plants and animals

12.1.5 * Advocate banning the importation of sludge into New Hampshire

12.1.6 * Ensure all of New Hampshire's coal and oil-fired power plants remain in compliance with clean air standards

12.1.7 * Encourage the private sector to provide a balanced, safe and environmentally sensitive transportation system to provide greater commuter and commercial access to and within our state

12.1.8 * Will work to improve our highways and reduce traffic congestion while improving access for recreation and tourism to rural areas of our state

12.1.9 * Encourage the use and private development of renewable energies


12.2 Natural Resources

Our parks, lands, waterways, wildlife, ground water, air quality, fuels and other natural resources are valuable assets. To preserve these important facets of New Hampshire's unequivocal quality of life, we recognize the need to:

12.2.1 * Deal effectively with waste disposal and pollution

12.2.2 * Preserve the multiple uses of the White Mountain National Forest

12.2.3 * Promote the wise use of our forest products

12.2.4 * Support low cost means to protect, develop and market New Hampshire agricultural and high value natural resource products


XIII. HEALTH CARE

13.1 Care for All Citizens

New Hampshire citizens are the healthiest in the country. We believe that the health care of all state citizens is an important factor in the well being and economic success encompassed in the New Hampshire Advantage. In order to improve the health care of all citizens:

13.1.1 * We support increased use of market forces to provide and improve health care and reduce costs

13.1.2 * We support efforts for higher quality health care and better access to health care and prescription drugs, while reducing costs of health care, health insurance and medical malpractice insurance coverage

13.1.3 * We are committed to providing for the special needs of our senior citizens, including opportunities for personalized home health care and less expensive alternatives to hospital stays and prescription medication

13.1.4 * We will work to provide citizen access to the information necessary to make informed health care decisions, including information about the quality and cost of services provided by physicians, hospitals and insurers

13.1.5 * We will support efforts to draw insurance companies back to New Hampshire, thereby increasing the health care options available to New Hampshire citizens

13.1.6 * We support efforts for higher quality healthcare, including the latest in technological advancements


XIV. CONCLUSION

The members of the Republican Party in the great state of New Hampshire established this Platform of Republican principles.

The delegates of the New Hampshire Republican Party, meeting in Convention in Derry, New Hampshire on Sunday, September 28, 2008 in pursuant to RSA 667:21, I. hereby adopt the forgoing.

May God bless the United States of America and the State of New Hampshire.


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New Hampshire Democratic Party Platform

1.1 New Hampshire Democrats support our working men and women and share their vision for a brighter future. We stand for stronger families, a growing economy, healthier communities, justice for all, care for our veterans, and a deep respect for one another. We pledge to preserve a government that helps where it can yet limits its power where it must to guarantee freedom for all.

™ Strong Families

2.1 Education

Public education contributes to New Hampshire’s greatness by preparing all children for participation in society and the responsibility of democracy. We support a comprehensive, long-term method for ensuring the delivery of excellent pre-primary, primary, and secondary education in every corner of New Hampshire. Our educational institutions should strive to eliminate the achievement gap in academic performance among all demographic and socioeconomic communities. Our University and Community College Systems should enrich New Hampshire’s communities and support the State’s economy by offering a lifetime of learning at tuition and expense levels accessible to all.

2.2 Health Care

Every person deserves access to affordable and comprehensive health care. We promote initiatives to reduce the cost of health care, to remove existing barriers to access, and to address the unique health needs of our rural communities.

2.3 Veterans

We honor the innumerable sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families. We believe our nation must honor its commitments, including for health care, education and disability support, to veterans of all wars. All efforts must be made to ease their transition home with appropriate health services, job training, and educational opportunities. We welcome veterans back into our communities with honor.

2.4 Consumer Protection

We support the rights of consumers and we work to advance economic justice. We believe in strong consumer protection laws, especially those that protect vulnerable populations. We oppose unfair and deceptive business practices and predatory lending in all its forms.

2.5 Child and Dependent Care

We believe in promoting the increased availability and accessibility of affordable dependent care. We support efforts to ensure fair wages for those employed as care providers for our children and families.

2.6 Housing

Every person deserves safe, decent, and affordable housing. Affordable housing is essential to the growth of our economy and the strength of our families and communities. We seek solutions for homelessness in our communities through a comprehensive approach to resolve its root causes.

2.7 Economic Security

We support New Hampshire workers by promoting a strong and inviting climate for businesses and working families. Our goal is to provide an environment that will encourage new businesses and the expansion of existing ones by promoting innovative incentives, up-to-date communication capacity throughout the state, job training, and a strong support system.

™ Strong Economy

3.1 Labor

We reaffirm our historic belief in the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively for wages and conditions of employment, and we oppose efforts that interfere with that right. Workers should be able to exercise the right to form unions, mediate and arbitrate disputes, and enjoy the protection of penalties for disregard of worker’s rights. We must also protect the retirement security of New Hampshire workers. All trade agreements New Hampshire enters into should benefit workers and consumers as well as corporations. Such agreements should also contain strong labor and environmental standards.

3.2 Rural Development

We support our rural communities by encouraging investment in infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water, sewer, telecommunications, and broadband access. We support increased access to capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses and more flexibility in the delivery of health care and Medicaid reimbursements to rural hospitals and health care providers.

3.3 Business Investment

We will continue to provide a supportive business climate and keep New Hampshire’s economy one of the fastest growing in the nation. We support efforts to diversify industry throughout the state and we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that has always fostered business innovation from mills to megabytes.

3.4 Infrastructure

Investment in public works such as highways, bridges, public transport, water systems and utilities (including telecommunications) will create good jobs and strengthen our economy for the long term. We recognize that the North Country of our state has an enhanced need for these investments to overcome the unique barriers to economic development that region faces. We support programs and funding to enhance our existing infrastructure and position our state for growth and innovation by building a foundation for developing efficient and safe transportation -- including new mass transit options for New Hampshire commuters -- and by encouraging alternate fuels and renewable-energy, and upgrading transmission lines.

3.5 Taxation

We believe that the citizens of New Hampshire deserve a system of taxation that distributes the tax burden as fairly as possible. Our current system should be assessed to determine if this is the case, and to determine if there are alternatives that would lower property taxes while at the same time considering ability to pay as a criterion for assessing taxes.

™ Strong Communities

4.1 Public Safety

We believe that public safety, emergency preparedness, and homeland security are vital duties of government at all levels. We support comprehensive public safety policies that target violent and repeat offenders, reduce recidivism through prevention, education and rehabilitation, and maximize taxpayer resources. We support strong legislation against hate crimes, elder abuse, child abuse, and sexual assault. We believe that the effect of the crime on victims should be considered in imposing punishment, that restitution should be required where possible, and that appropriate services to victims should be available.

4.2 Environment, Agriculture, and Energy Policy

We value New Hampshire’s farming heritage and natural environment and all they add to our lives. It is therefore imperative to preserve it for future generations. We will act decisively to address the undeniable threat of climate change and toxic pollution. We will protect our open spaces and limited water resources with responsible development and innovative land use policy. We commit to the reduction of greenhouse gases through policies that promote energy conservation and efficiency, encourage the development of renewable energy sources and promote public transportation, recognizing that we will also be expanding a sustainable economy.

™ Live Free or Die Tradition

5.1 Civil Rights and Privacy

We value an open and accessible state government that protects our fundamental freedoms. We will enact laws that protect against unnecessary intrusions into our privacy and inappropriate uses of personal information. We pledge to fight all efforts to divide our state because of race, religion, disability, immigration status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

5.2 Fiscal Responsibility

In the New Hampshire tradition, fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets are necessary for a frugal and effective government. We believe in using taxpayer resources wisely to ensure that we are meeting our obligations to protect the health and safety of our citizens, assist our most vulnerable citizens and make strategic investments in building a stronger New Hampshire. We believe in the long term savings that can come from dealing head-on with the challenges of today. The increasing cost of maintaining basic services is putting pressure on the State budget. Steadily rising property taxes are putting a heavy burden on all citizens. Therefore, we support the consideration of all potential sources of revenue.

5.3 Reproductive Health and Safety

We support freedom for all from governmental interference in private medical decisions, including the right to decide when and whether to bear children. We will promote policies to ensure confidential, age-appropriate access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive education and health care for all women, men, and teenagers.

5.4 First in the Nation Primary

New Hampshire’s unique political traditions, relatively small population, and geographic size give a fair chance to all Presidential candidates, regardless of their financial resources. The personal connections possible in house parties, town hall meetings, and similar settings benefit both the candidates and the voters. We will strive to preserve New Hampshire’s position and responsibilities as the First in the Nation Primary.

5.5 Open Government and Right to Know

We believe government should be accountable to the people at every level and should operate in an open and transparent manner. The people have a right to know what their government is doing.

5.6 Fair and Free Elections

All voters have a right to vote, cast their vote in a clear manner, have their vote counted correctly, and have equal ability to run for office. We will preserve the paper ballot whether hand-counted or machine counted.

Renaming my blog

So I just renamed the blog to Blood & Granite, and pointed the new domain name to it. blog.sc3d.org won't work any more, although allofthetitlesaretaken.blogspot.com will.

For the benefit of those of you who are thinking, "Huh?" -- which I guess would be almost all of my zero readers -- my recent Facebook "note" should clarify things for you. Here's what it says:

I was writing a post the other day, and referred to aspects of the New Hampshire Constitution (Let all be upstanding to laud and pay homage thereto!!! ) as having been cast in stone. I immediately edited it to say cast in granite. It had a more apropos ring to it. Then I thought of the blood of patriots which has been shed in the process of its creation, not to mention the blood I have managed to shed arseing about on my property, and decided that Blood & Granite would make a jolly good name for a blog. A quick Google search reveals it has been used before as a title, but not for anything significant, just an obscure book about murders in Aberdeen. So. The domain name is mine :-). One of these days I will get around to using it.

The parenthetical comment related to a then recent thread about the evils and silliness of the daily pledge of allegiance routine as it exists in our school system.

Anyway, now that I have a strong title for the blog (well, I think so, anyway) I guess I shall have to be that much more discriminating when it comes to content. Oh dear... my prolific publishing rate of one flurry of posts every never may decrease yet further. On second thoughts, maybe I'll take a leaf out of the Big Book of Progressive Liberal Theories, and conclude that discrimination is bad.

Oh, and on the subject of sticking with really important and meaningful subjects, I was wondering as I read the above note back to myself... should I have spelt it arseing, assing, arse-ing or ass-ing?