Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. Limited government. Freedom of speech, freedom of press; freedom of religion, freedom of petition. The right to life, low taxes, the right to bear arms. Faith, family, and freedom—Conservatism.

These are the principles held by our founding fathers. These are the principles of George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan. The belief that all men were created equal is not a new concept, born out of the Civil Rights movement: equality and justice were essential beliefs held by the founders and framers of this great nation. Limited government, low taxes, the right to life, and the spread of Democracy are inherent values of America and her people. So what have we become? How did we get so far off track?

A more accurate criticism for America’s detour may be aimed at the Judicial branch. All of us are aware of the catastrophic effects of Roe V. Wade. With one stroke of the pen, America surrendered one of her core beliefs: the right to life. Some pro-choice advocates argue that holding a pro-life position as a Conservative is contradictory: “You say you want less government and freedom of speech, but you want to suppress a woman’s right to choose.” Let me be clear: less government does not mean no government. Conservatism holds that it is the government’s duty and purpose to protect its citizens. We do not condone murder or abuse in this country: why should our laws not extend to protect the weakest and most vulnerable members of society? Protecting life, and particularly the lives of unborn children, is the undisputable duty of government. Conservatives do not hate government any more than they hate the impoverished (another attack often aimed at Conservatives); we simply believe in lasseiz faire: “let it be.”

Be aware, Conservatism is about more than simply limiting government. While there are many “one issue Americans” who may vote as Conservatives to simply keep a bigger portion of their paycheck, Conservatism has a much deeper purpose. The ideology of Conservatism is deeper than lower taxes and less government interference. Conservatism calls on the government to protect life, protect liberty, and to protect individual rights. Conservatism means defending freedom abroad. Conservatism means free markets and free-enterprise. Conservatism means keeping God in the public square and defending our Founding Fathers against secular attacks. Conservatism means defending our Constitution, the oldest living document in history. Conservatism believes that if the government gives the American people and the markets the opportunity to self-correct, poverty will decrease. Conservatism believes that ensuring individual liberties, such as the right to bear arms, will reduce crime in America. Conservatism means giving Americans the most freedom to do the most good.

Ronald Reagan famously stated, “The government that governs least governs best.” I could never state it better. In this journal, we want to reform political rhetoric—we want to change the way Americans express their opinions. Many of us, myself included, have made inflammatory and irresponsible partisan comments in the past. But today is a new day. We are launching an effort to reform political dialogue and restore America’s hope in the future of this great nation. While we wish to remain “non-partisan,” we will not surrender our convictions for the sake of political correctness. We pledge to you, the American people, that we will hold true to our principles and our core beliefs—they are what define us. We invite you to join us as we advance the causes of faith, family, and freedom.