The 7 Tenets.
So, with the analogy from our backstory, this is what we, the Goose Party propose:
1) We are not an official third party in American politics; We are a moderate ideal that either Republicans, Democrats or anything else can espouse, but it does mean you share this ideal and will reflect it in voting, demonstrating, and legislating. The simple act of letting others know you're a follower of the goose party will effectively give voice to what we think is the real majority in this country.
2) We believe BUSINESS IS GOOD in our capitalist society, and should be supported because of the benefits that good entrepreneurship, venture capitalism, or even a solid cash cow can bring. If you are a business owner or a stakeholder, we do not "soak the rich" since that would kill the goose, but government policy serves all of us, not just you. We love the goose, but we don't love it as much as you do. Maybe the goose could go on a reasonable diet and take a few laps around the yard without falling over dead. We think it'll be okay.
3) Just as business needs support, so do workers, which is why UNIONS ARE GOOD. Historically, unions in America have demonstrated a list of problems that can be mitigated by better planning and regulation, just as they have been in other civilized countries. It's not rocket science. Unions need to be supported because they represent the main way workers can negotiate directly with owners to get an appropriate amount of benefit from the work they do. That only becomes a problem if they're killing the goose, which we've already stated we do not support.
4) We believe a fourth division of power in U.S. government is necessary for the continuation of our democracy: A separation of power from the influence of money. We believe there is no legitimate case for a government employee in a position of power to be allowed to take any sort of personal benefit to trade for political influence.
a) Congress must have term limits because a congressperson paid for is compromised and a steady churn of new representatives and senators will help mitigate this problem. States must be responsible for keeping new representatives informed and equipped to perform their duties in whatever manner maintains execution of the will of the people.
b) Congress must no longer be allowed to conduct insider trading with no consequences.
c) Congress must be legally obliged to shun lobbyists and instead turn to the people they represent about what they're arguing and voting for. Special interests must appeal solely to the voting public.
d) The 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC must be overturned. Neither Corporations nor Unions have any business throwing money at politicians because they are not, in themselves, farmers. We cannot treat these entities as if they themselves were farmers, because the represent a breach of the separation of power from money.
5) We believe in separation of Church and State. The people have every right for ANY of their interests to have appropriate and accurate representation, but when those interests violate our mandate to make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, then the law must provide freedom for all religion or even a lack thereof. The purpose of a farm is to be a farm, not a synagogue, a mosque or a church, and a well-functioning farm is no detriment to faith. Laws that steer clear of religion are laws that don’t impact yours either. It’s a good thing!
6) We believe solid education is fundamental to a voting public and must be supported financially. Teachers must not face abuse in the appropriate performance of their duties from students or parents. Educated farmers make for a better and less ignorant farm.
7) We believe solid moral ideals and behavior are not meaningless. Society works specifically because the people who behave in an ethical manner outnumber the ones who don't. Rule of law is the foundation of our success and advancement as a civilization, but the law is merely a rough sketch of an understanding we can all relate to: that there is right and wrong, and that doing the right thing matters for its own sake.
While this is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list of our ills, if you find your beliefs in these 7 tenets, you are already in. We purposefully avoid trying to make this about other issues, not because those other issues don't matter, but because there are many strong opinions that have nothing to do with farming or with geese. You should, and are expected to, push for those societal values that matter to you according to your interpretation of tenet #7.
Mark your affiliation to the Goose Party in any public way you wish, even if just to show you are a Goose Republican (GR), or a Goose Democrat (GD). All that matters is just getting this out there so people know there's an alternative to going so far right or so far left. There's a hell of a lot more of us in the middle. A "silent" majority no more.