Virtue ....... Freedom ....... Aspiration ....... Wealth ....... Peace
A MANIFESTO IN THE MAKING
Manifesto Introduction
The party defines itself by the five core policies. So that members and non-members clearly understand what the party stands for, these cannot be changed. At present they are principles the details of which will be decided according to the party constitution
All other policies will be decided according to the constitution
Below is a provisional list of headings for the Mani-festo each with a link to a page
That page contains provisional ideas for discussion.
Read this, as work in progress. Only DRP paid up members can comment and so if you want to have your say:
JOIN THE PARTY AND LEAVE A COMMENT !
A NEW CONSTITUTION FOR BRITAIN
Constitution Design
Executive
House of Commons Senate/House of Lords
Autonomous Regions
Democracy
Judiciary
Constitutional Court Supreme Court
Functions of Government Public Services Board Monetary Policy Board
ECONOMICS
Banking
Finance
Globalization
Monetary reform
TAXATION
Tax havens
Corporation tax
Income tax
Wealth tax
REGIONS
Federal nation
Autonomous regions
INDUSTRY
Skills training
Industry needs
Business development
Export assistance
PUBLIC SERVICES
Health
Education
Utilities
Transport Road Rail Air
Social Housing
Postal Services, Telecommunications
Police
Fire Service
Prisons
Probation Service
Waste/ pollution
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Europe
Commonwealth
SOCIETY
Families
Social exclusion
Minorities and race relations,
Citizenship
Economic enfranchisement
Church of England
Civil Society
Deprivation
Youth
Meritocracy
Immigration
Ethical Issues
Humanitarian issues/Animals
Press and Media
NATIONAL PLANNING
National planning strategies
Coordination of regions
Transport
LAW
Justice
Human rights
Liberty
Economic rights
Citizenship
Penal reform
Vice
Drugs
Prostitution
Gambling
CULTURE
Arts
Broadcasting/BBC
Press
POLITICS
Political parties
Corruption
Protest
Political philosophy
HISTORY
SPORT/LEISURE
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENT
AGRICULTURE
CEREMONIAL
CIVIL SERVICE
Government departments
Prosecution Service
ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE NEWSLETTERS NOT LINKED TO THE MANIFESTO
Whiggism
HISTORY
British Republican History
OTHER NATIONS
Political Philosophy
The Republican Party seeks to govern the nation of what is at present the United Kingdom. But to do that well and properly the present constitution must be changed. And so constitutional change is at the heart of the programme.
A Constitution must be founded upon what is usually referred to as a "Political Philosophy", and so to formulate a revised Constitution we have to first decide what our political philosophy is to be.
The essence of a Political Philosophy must be to describe how the power of government should be balanced against the individual. There is a relationship between government and individual which by its nature tends to be unequal and it is the function of the Constitution to bestow on the individual an appropriate degree of power and influence.
In order to define the Modern Democratic Republic, we describe Five Ideals or Five Principles.
Each Ideal individually constitutes a defense but they only work effectively if they are all, to one degree or another, in place.
It is important to understand that these are "Ideals" and like all ideals they are there to strive for even though they may not always be attainable.
They are:
I. Republicanism
II. Liberalism
III. Democracy
IV. Economic Enfranchisement
V. Non-Aggressive Foreign Relations
The Indeterminacy of Human Affairs
The Five Ideals are the bedrock for the creation of a Republican Constitution. The Aspects of each Ideal indicate the practical means whereby the Ideals can be realised, however imperfectly, within the Constitution.
This approach to political philosophy rests on a view of the world and human affairs that accepts that we can never absolutely know everything and we can never devise the perfect political structures we might wish for.
This is why we talk of "Ideals" as underlying the Constitution - Ideals that can never be perfectly realised and may even contradict each other.
For instance, the demands of Republican Institutions may sometimes contradict the demands of Democracy. Liberalism may come up against Democratic rule. And so on. The point is that judgments will have to be made in devising a Constitution that achieves the best compromise between the Ideals.
If weaknesses occur in the Constitution in resolving between the Republican Ideals, an unprincipled Executive will try to profit by taking control into itself. The Executive always knows what it wants.
Nevertheless, our Republican Constitution must take account of Human Nature as it really is - indeterminate and imperfect, but aspirational and generous.
We live in an age when the successes of science in certain fields have encouraged people to believe that certainty is possible in practically every field. So people too often search for simple linear answers that force a determinacy upon the world.
This leads to a combative attitude of opposing claims upon a supposed single truth. People want to ‘nail’ the answer to everything. My solution is correct, yours in wrong. When mine is implemented the argument will be decided and everything will be set to right (the end of history).
But life isn’t like that. Life is fundamentally indeterminate. That is, there is no set of human made rules or laws that can perfectly model it and be perfectly adapted to deal with life. Any single solution we find will have flaws. The way forward is to accept this but define the different approaches as the Five Ideals do and then seek to balance them.
Thus the indeterminacy of the world and society can be accommodated but never resolved.
This wisdon can help inform our judgment in the 21st century as we devise the Republican Constitution that will release the talent and energy of our people, that is theirs to give, and provide for them the freedom and happiness, that is their right to enjoy.
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