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Iowa Republicans
by Luke Mertz
Iowa is a state of rolling hills and grasslands. Agriculture is number one, bringing in revenue astronomically higher than any other industry in the state. The representative republican Governor of the state is Terry E. Branstad, with Senator Grassly representing the Republican Party in the Senate.

Iowa is first ands foremost an agricultural state, thus policy begins on that topic. In order to allow American agriculture to flourish, the party supports national government opening all markets possible for US sales, national and international. Within the agricultural realms the individual state should have the majority of the authority. "Iowa farms are the model of economic efficiency and performance, to be emulated by the world". The world should not emulate the Iowan farms in Iowa however. The party supports laws restricting foreign ownership of farmland.

On issues monetary in nature, Iowa stands nearly right alongside the national GOP. Being that the government is run solely on the financial backs of the people the party wishes to put a limited amount of stress on those backs in the form of lower taxes, primarily a hefty reduction of property taxes. A flat income tax or consumption tax is supported, Within the borders of Iowan state income, inheritance, capital gain and pension taxes should be abolished. The national budget being an utmost priority, the Iowa GOP wishes to spend any yearly budge surplus totally on reducing the national deficit. Campaign finance reform is a necessary step.

In military issues funding of national defense programs should be adequate to the point where we as a nation are capable of defending our selves as well as capable of carrying out our foreign policy. Curiously enough, Iowa is in opposition of the feminization of the military. The party is in favor of intensive use of military personnel and equipment in order to protect our borders from illegal drug trafficking. Human rights and religious freedom is supported and should be well defended on an international level. Firm campaigns should be led against any and every threat to humanity the world over.

Dealing with human rights and services the Iowa GOP is in a word, conservative. "Health care is a privilege, not a right", therefor socialized care systems are opposed, and Medicare and Medicaid should be phased out slowly and privatized in the process. Affirmative action should be brought to an end. On issues of same-sex relationships, marriage should remain illegal, as should the right to adopt. For heterosexual couples the adoption process should be made simpler and more efficient. The GOP of Iowa is adamantly pro-life. The Fourteenth Amendment applies to unborn children, thereby making abortion wrong in matters of law and morals. Partial birth abortion is opposed, and a ban on party funds is advocated for any candidate supporting it. Roe V. Wade should be overturned. Assisted suicide is opposed.

On matters of law, it is said, "the job of the government is to uphold law and maintain order, protect the innocent resolve dispute, and punish crime". Along those lines the reinstatement of the death penalty is supported as well as an overhaul of the penal system in order to reduce the level of chaos. The party opposes the legalization of controlled substances for recreational purposes. The Second Amendment is reaffirmed, supporting the rights for law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, however ignorance of ones deadly weapon is not supported, hence the approval of law that stress firearm safety. The war on drugs should be fought through stronger laws, longer prison terms for major offenders, and more intensive steps to educate the youth.

Environmental policies should be governed by unbiased scientific research, in a sensitive manner in order to create "sound ecological practices". The federal EPA is opposed being that the party believes environmental issues are best addressed at the state and local levels. Trees and forests in Iowa should be conserved, as well as the reforestation of marginal land should be implemented. Recycling is promoted as well as all other forms of environmental conservation on the popular level.

The Iowa GOP believes "quality, meaningful, rigorous education is essential for maintaining our republican form of government". "American Values": honesty, integrity and respect for authority should be taught in schools, along with creation theory alongside evolutionary theory. The party opposes homosexuality being taught in schools as an acceptable lifestyle.

The GOP party of Iowa does indeed fall within the Republican lines and well deserves the title conservative. 

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