CAPR Policy
Policy 1
Develop a network of affiliated and mutually supporting organizations and individuals that recognize the value of individual property rights.
Although there are numerous individuals and organizations that are avid supporters of property rights in Washington State, they are a platoon of Lilliputians compared to the army of gigantic warriors arrayed against them and their right to own and control their property. The collectivists that fight to turn all property-use decisions over to the central planners have done a marvelous job of marshalling their minority of supporters. Their myriad of organizations work together closely like an army of ants struggling home with a prize many times their size. Many of those organizations originally were organized by a small cadre of dedicated activists that all worked towards common goals. If we are to succeed as property rights defenders, we must adopt that tactic of our foes and band together to achieve our common goals.
Policy 2
Endorse, support and fund candidates who will defend and promote property rights.
The old adage that you get what you pay for is especially true with respect to government. And we aren’t talking about what you pay in taxes. The government you get is directly correlated to the dollar amount of campaign contributions received by candidates that have views similar to yours on the issues that matter most to you. In case you haven’t noticed, the anti-private-control- of-property crowd is outspending the pro-private-control-of- property crowd by a wide margin. It is so lopsided that even our Supreme Court judges are voting against property rights explicitly guaranteed by both the state and federal constitution.
Policy 3
Develop programs that foster personal integrity and ethical behavior by all elected officials and public employees.
We live in a world where politicians, government officials and the media are allowed to spin every fact and issue into a mindless series of half-truths. News anchors snip every response into 10-second sound bites and promote discussions that degrade into a debate with the intellectual content of vocal 5-year-olds. Sadly, it is increasingly harder to find examples of personal integrity and hon-esty within the core of government institutions. While our founding fathers were careful to include safeguards, greedy and self-serving bureaucrats can easily overwhelm or simply ignore those safe-guards.
Policy 4
Remove legislative functions from executive departments.
In 1883 Congress enacted the Civil Service Act and changed the very core of how governments work in the United States of America.
Be it enacted . . . That the President is authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, three persons, not more than two of whom shall be adherents of the same party, as Civil Service Commissioners, and said three commissioners shall constitute the United States Civil Service Commission.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of said commissioners: FIRST. To aid the President, as he may request, in preparing suitable rules for carrying this act into effect, and when said rules shall have been promulgated it shall be the duty of all officers of the United States in the departments and offices to which any such rules may relate to aid, in all proper ways, in carrying said rules, and any modifications thereof, into effect.
Thus was born the permanent, professional bureaucracy in America and along with it the idea that it is proper for that bureaucracy to “aid” the President “in preparing suitable rules” to carry out their mission. The idea that elected legislators should determine the laws was tossed out of the door onto its head. Those elected legislators had figured out that if they no longer made the rules we live by, they could hardly be accountable for those rules come election time.
Policy 5
Lobby local, state, and federal legislators to present a case for property rights and responsible property use.
The special interest pressure on our elected representatives is intense. From the day they announce their intention to run for office to the day that they retire they are bombarded with requests to vote a certain way on legislation that comes before them. They are inundated with facts, spin and bold-face lies. Few have the time to even read the bills they vote on let alone the time for in-depth study of the issues. They end up relying on the advice of whichever lobbyist told the best story or shouted the loudest.