Blue Dog Coalition

Mission Statement

Members of the Blue Dog Coalition are dedicated to the financial stability and national security of the country, notwithstanding partisan political positions and personal fortune and do hereby agree to organize a Coalition to serve the interests of our country.

We believe:

That government has an important and constructive role to play in defining an equal opportunity society built upon principles of individual rights and freedom and dedicated to creating conditions that serve the general welfare and prosperity of the people;

That the people have entrusted the representatives of our country to transcend politics, personal careers and fortunes in order to pursue the common good;

That a government too large and intrusive stands in the way of an opportunity society;

That government must live within its allotted resources;

That the burden of the American taxpayer should be reduced whenever possible;

That government agencies are created to serve rather than to restrict, regulate and punish the American people;

That government should encourage work over idleness, personal independence over government dependence, and a free market which is not controlled, dominated and excessively regulated by the government;

That the American tax code should be simply structured and designed to create incentives for income earning, saving, and investments in jobs and in expanding opportunities;

That personal responsibility is essential to the preservation of freedom and that government must strictly hold accountable those who fail to act responsibly and to defend and support those who are victims of criminal and irresponsible behavior;

That government should be a force that affirms traditional American values and stands against the forces that threaten them; and,

That government should always be aware that it is a creature of the American public, that it answers to the public for its failures and successes and should never be so arrogant as to use its powers to diminish personal rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.