Americans Coming Together
(ACT)
Political Action Committee
The Americans Coming Together of West Virginia (ACT) is a political action committee of, by, and for the people of West Virginia. We are not affiliated with any party in our state or of any other state, nor of any national party. We are not a committee of politicians but rather a committee of voters, who pledge to serve only by the consent of the governed. We welcome everyday citizens who believe, like us, that the power to govern rests with the people. We resist the transfer of power away from the people to state or federal government. We strive to protect the God-given natural rights of the people of West Virginia from governmental overreach, party politics, and corruption.
PRINCIPLES The Americans Coming Together of West Virginia (ACT) is a political action committee grounded in and committed to the Declaration of Independence, the United States (US) Constitution, and the West Virginia Constitution. We herewith present and embrace our distinct foundational principles and assert that these principles are those that most closely align with the values of West Virginians and the state’s motto, Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)! These core principles provide the basis for the ACT platform and guide our proposals for legislation, rule-making, and governance.
I. THE CONSTITUTION: The US Constitution established our government as a republic and is a treaty among the free and independent individual states. Therefore, this founding document must be read and interpreted using the plain language of the day. As such, all laws created must be written within the constraints of the US and West Virginia Constitutions. Any laws created outside the boundaries of the US Constitution are not lawful and are considered null and void. All powers not specifically delegated by the US Constitution to the federal government, nor prohibited by the Constitution to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.
II. RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE: All men and women are, by nature, equally free and independent, and have inalienable rights with which they are endowed by their Creator. Among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, these rights may not be taken away by man. All of the rights of the people as enumerated in the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution are to be respected.
III. PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT: Government is instituted to secure the inalienable rights and freedom of West Virginians and their posterity. Small government is preferable as it is more cost-effective and less likely to usurp the rights of the people. Governmental powers are articulated in the federal and state constitutions and are rightfully exercised in accordance with the will of the citizens through their elected representatives.
IV. FREEDOM (LIBERTY): The freedom and liberty of West Virginians is best secured and preserved by the least restrictive government that accomplishes its constitutional purposes. West Virginians are most able to enjoy the blessings of liberty when they are responsible for themselves. The strength of a society and its government results foremost from individuals assuming responsibility and taking action on their own behalf and for the welfare of those around them.
V. PERSONHOOD: All humans are full persons from the moment of conception until death. We believe in adoption as a critical and valuable option for the unborn whose parents are unable to care for them.
VI. FAMILY. The right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children according to the parent’s values and beliefs is fundamental. Therefore, the authority of the state or any agency or county to infringe upon the rights of the parents should be narrowly tailored. The government must demonstrate its compelling interest by proving that the inalienable rights of the child are being infringed and the child cannot be protected in a less restrictive or intrusive manner other than infringement of the parents’ rights.
VII. PROPERTY. Property is what we acquire as a free people and what we leave to others as building blocks for future generations. Each individual has a right to own and steward personal property including money without government burden. West Virginians and Mountain State businesses are deprived of their liberty and property when forced to pay numerous and excessive taxes. The people should only be subject to such taxes as are necessary and proper to support the legitimate role of government. No person shall be deprived of property without due process of law and the judgment of peers.
POSITIONS
1. Adoption: We advocate adoption for children of parents who are either deceased or unable to provide care. We advocate efforts to improve the efficiency and to limit the cost to the government and the adoptive parents of the adoption process.
2. American History and Culture: Understanding our American history inspires appreciation of the sacrifices of those who preceded us to protect our liberty, government, and country. Due to its importance, we advocate increased requirements in our educational institutions on the topics of American and West Virginia history to include founding documents, civics, and historical symbols.
3. Education: We advocate for the authority of the parents to determine the appropriate method for educating their children to the age of majority and that the student-specific state allotment of education funds be made available to the parents to support their children within the educational setting they deem best suited for each child. In this way, the WV Constitution mandate to provide a thorough and efficient education is met.
4. Election Integrity: Free, fair, and clean elections are essential to preserving our government. The right to vote in a free and fair election is the most basic civil right, one on which many other rights of the American people depend.
a. We advocate voter ID in all circumstances, in-person voting whenever possible, and that every eligible individual is able to vote. No one’s vote should be stolen or diluted in any way.
b. We advocate strict observation of the voting process to guard against voter fraud in its many forms.
c. We advocate the need for all political districts to be drawn objectively, in a compact fashion, and by independent committees without any consideration of demographics other than legitimate community geography.
d. We advocate expanded ballot access to allow minor parties and independent candidates equal access.
e. We advocate a revision in election debate requirements so that minor party candidates are included.
f. We advocate a restriction on the number of days allotted for voting.
g. We advocate that mail-in voting only be allowed through the process of requested absentee ballots.
h. In federal presidental electons we advocate before electoral votes be counted, the legislature needs to meet and cerify the electors.
5. Health: We oppose government mandates for health care. We advocate for the right of individuals to bodily integrity, informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality. The government exceeds its authority when it mandates, directly or indirectly, that individuals receive medical treatments or procedures. Public and private entities, except for medical insurance companies, exceed their authority when they require personal medical information for public activities like air travel or attendance at events.
6. Initiative, Referendum and Recall: We advocate the establishment of initiative referendum and recall for the citizens of West Virginia
7. Taxes: We advocate reducing taxation to include the elimination of such taxes as wage income, personal property, real estate, inheritance, and business inventory taxes that deprive West Virginians and West Virginia businesses of their liberty and the benefits of their labor. The people should only be subject to the minimal taxes necessary to support the legitimate role of government.
8. Tenth Amendment: We advocate invoking the Tenth Amendment and using vigorous legal defense to counter imposition of federal legislation and legal rulings which conflict with West Virginia laws.
9. Term Limits: We advocate term limits.
10. Election Reform :
a. We believe that political parties selecting their candidates for elected office is party business which should not be funded by the taxpayer. We therefore advocate reforming the current election law to require political parties fund their own primary elections and/or conventions.
b. We advocate that Special Electons be only used to fill vacated elected positons as proscribed under current law, and that all votng for State, County, or Municipal levies, bonds, or other financial instruments must be held during general electons.
11. Second Amendment We advocate for legislation prohibiting the further restrictions on firearms, ammunition, and accessories, and support legislation to repeal current laws contrary to the second amendment.