Leadership
for America
Introduction
America is a remarkable nation—a strong, prosperous and good
nation—unique in its dedication to the principles of liberty
and constitutional self-government.
It is the hard work of freedom to perpetually renew this purpose
and make it ever manifest in the politics and public life of
our nation.
For more than 30 years, The Heritage Foundation has provided
leadership for America, building a movement that launched a
presidency, defeated a tyranny and turned the course of history.
Now in a new century, the threats to our nation continue to
grow and expand.
Yet while the American people increasingly want better answers
and solutions they are getting more slogans and promises.
It becomes our task, then, to build on our accomplishments,
complete the unfinished work of the day and confront the expanding
challenges before us.
And so we embark on a new campaign for freedom, a new effort
to conserve liberty, a sustained, clear-headed program to rebuild
the foundations upon which our future rests.
America must reestablish the role of its founding principles
in shaping its politics, guiding policymaking and defining
the grounds of self-government. America must restore the
courts to their constitutional role and enforce limits on
government.
So we will work to recall our nation to the first
principles of liberty.
America must restore the family, strengthen marriage and
reclaim the fullness of religious liberty in civic life.
America must free education from the shackles of bureaucracy
and mediocrity, and return control to states, localities,
and parents.
So we will work to restore the primary institutions
of civil society.
America must replace the culture of entitlement with one
of responsibility, provide freedom of choice in health care
and ensure the energy supply we need is consistent with free
enterprise and stewardship. America must make taxes low,
flat, simple, and fair — and unleash the tremendous creativity
of our country’s entrepreneurs.
So we will work to expand economic opportunity and
prosperity for all Americans.
America must protect itself from attack and annihilation,
make sure its troops are the best trained and best equipped
in the world, and secure its borders. America must be an
influential and respected world leader, and protect its sovereignty
and independence.
So we will work to ensure America’s national security
and its respect as a world leader.
As it has been said before, so once again, this is a time
for choosing. Are we to stand aside as our nation continues
to veer off course, or are we to set it aright and ensure its
future?
This is not the time for doubt and despair. It is time to
renew our spirit and redouble our efforts. Now is the moment
to make clear our purpose, and convince more Americans than
ever of the rightness of our cause and the worth of our labors.
It will take many people, and much dedication to accomplish
these goals. Nothing of this scope can be accomplished by individuals
acting alone. It requires institutional leadership and institutional
resources. Recognizing this need, The Heritage Foundation is
undertaking a 10-year campaign that is the boldest since our
founding in 1973. This is our Leadership for America Campaign.
Heritage is one of the few institutions in America equipped
to undertake a project of this scope. Based on Capitol Hill,
a stone’s throw from the U.S. Capitol, we have earned our reputation
as the most influential think tank in Washington. Our staff
of more than 200 includes leading experts from every field
of public policy.
Now it is time for action, and we call on all the friends
of liberty to join us in this cause. The Heritage Foundation
can and will lead in this effort. But just as America’s greatness
cannot be restored by individuals acting alone, neither can
it be done by one institution.
Together, we must revive, so as to conserve, the liberating
principles of our inheritance. We must build an America where
freedom, opportunity, prosperity and civil society flourish.
We owe no less to our forefathers, and to ourselves and our
posterity.
This is our heritage. It will be our legacy. It is the mandate
of liberty.
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