Faith
Faith has always been a strong factor in Rae's life. Without doubt, when you think no one is watching - there is. It’s often termed “conscience”. We know it is God. And thankfully, God is Good. Rae keeps a magnet on her fridge that reads, “What this county needs is cleaner minds and dirtier hands.” These are the days when giving gifts holds suspicion and helping strangers and children holds liability. Our community is and always should, remain free to practice random acts of kindness. With an influx of out-of-state relocations, we won’t always know who our neighbors are, but we will always find wisdom and courage by practicing values found in the bible. I encourage you and your children to practice faith in God. He is ever-present, He has ALL the answers.
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Limited Government
As Americans, each individual has exclusive rights of governing themselves as free, sovereign and independent. Government interference with these rights has created an atmosphere that now leans away from the Republican form of government our nation was founded upon. It’s important to renew the viewpoint that smaller is best, local communities are where strength lies and strong communities stand on their own. Cascade County has long possessed the infrastructure for just that. Cascade County is abundant in natural resources. Our early beginnings saw settlers drawn by mining, sawmills and waterpower, followed by grain production, recreation, and a robust agricultural-based economy. With this God-given resource base for independence, our county can continue to stand on its own. Minimizing federal monies keeps our local government operating within its means, restricting regulations and obligations impacting our citizens. Local government should remain in check with the sovereignty of individual members. The best regulation is no regulation.
Private Property Rights
Cascade County faces a range of potential issues related to property rights. These issues impact both individual property owners and the county as a whole. Regardless of how they are presented, it is crucial that private property owners are actively involved in the lawmaking process, and that all proceedings are transparent. Private property and property rights should never be exploited for the benefit of entities or individuals other than the property owner and their family. State and federal designations can introduce external influences from out-of-state organizations, such as NGOs and foundations. These influences can affect the county’s tax base and lead to increased taxation, unwanted regulations, and diminished accountability, while also impacting the management of our natural resources. One significant consequence could be the potential threat to the essential life support systems for Montanans. Three proposed designations that could affect private property in our area are the Big Sky Country National Heritage Area, the 30x30 Initiative (promoted by Biden’s Executive Order 14008), and the American Prairie Reserve.
Constitutional Principles
It is important that society today recognizes and honors the covenants established by God and our Founding Fathers. These covenants obligated individuals to be accountable to a productive, unified society. Rewards for those not contributing and not abiding to the laws did not exist. A fair and honest society is comprised of diligent community members. Adhering to both our federal and state constitutions, we move closer to independent, local governments and move away from our courts. The past four years have heightened awareness of infringement upon our God-given rights and an urgency to defend them. Citizens know that the absence of inalienable rights leads to Socialism. Let’s always remember the failed experiment “by good and honest men” where private property and personal profits did not exist. After seven years of this experiment, in the early 1600’s, the Governor of the Plymouth Colony, William Bradford, made it clear the failure was not in the People, but in the system. The ability to create personal wealth is freedom; not the wealth itself. Rae supports our Bill of Rights and gives credence to our First and Second Amendments, as we see them increasingly challenged in our nation. After 248 years, America still claims our Declaration of Independence and maintains an active Constitution. Practicing the virtues established in these well thought-out documents will continue allowing them to anchor individual rights and freedoms.