Respect for the Constitution
Respect for life
Less Government
Personal responsibility

These are the basics of conservatism set forth by 14 yr old Jonathan Krohn at CPAC 2009.
I think that these are a pretty good foundation.

Respect for the Constitution
Much of what our current federal government is doing I would classify as extra-constitutional. These things by definition need to be reserved to the states or the people.
Social programs for example were historically done by churches and local organizations.
John Adams once said that “We have no government armed in power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."
John Adams
(1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President Oct. 11, 1798

Much of the societal problems we are faced with today, are easily explained by this quote.
I believe that every federal program not authorized by the Constitution needs to be disbanded, and if any state and its citizens feel the need to continue them, let them do it at the state level as they see fit.
Also I do not believe in a “living constitution” or a concept that it should be interpreted to reflect changing values and situations. Would you tolerate a “living marriage license”? How about a “living lease agreement”? Or a “living 1040a”? Of course not, and I will not tolerate bastardizing our founding documents either.

Respect for life
I am pro life, and support capital punishment. The two do not conflict.
My respect for life extends to all aspects of life. From conception, when your DNA is first knit together to cause the formation of the body you use throughout your life, until your natural death, you are a unique person. A person who according to our Declaration of Independence “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.

These words—called by historian Joseph Ellis "the most potent and consequential words in American history" came to represent an ideal for which the nation should strive, notably through the influence of Abraham Lincoln, who popularized the popular view that the Declaration's preamble is a statement of principles through which the United States Constitution should be interpreted. I agree.

At the same time persons who by their own actions have proven themselves to be unworthy of freedom in our society. People who have broken the contract with civil society to the point that they need to be removed from society for the safety of others, should, after enjoying the constitutional right of due process, be removed as society sees the need.

Liberals appear to take the opposite view. Millions of abortions have caused a shift in demographics that will affect generations to come, and yet they feel the need to forgive unrepentant criminals with programs like “weekend furloughs” for murderers, allowing them to commit crimes when they should be locked up. If we truly have respect for life, we would never allow such a person to be free in society unchecked.

Less government

While much of what I believe is also summed up in the “respect for the constitution”, I think that Americans are being cheated out of a meaningful relationship with their government.
The average American has little input in the daily workings of their government, because it’s so far away. Government that affects domestic life needs to be local. I often say that my state representative Ray Weter should have more impact on my daily life, than Roy Blunt my national representative. The individual states need to determine the level of government in their state. If the folks in Vermont want cradle-to-grave healthcare, have at it, leave me alone.
The constitution calls for the federal government to provide for a select few services.
Provide for a Military, providing for the common defense, taxes, excises and debt. Regulating foreign commerce, and establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization. Uniform rules for bankruptcies, and to coin and regulate money. To punish federal lawbreakers, to create courts, declare war and take care of Washington D.C. and precious little else.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Personal responsibility

I believe that I have been placed on this earth to make it a better place than when I found it. I also believe that we all have a responsibility to our society to behave ourselves, and when we do screw up, pay for our transgressions. As we interact with others, we owe them the basic respect afforded all people. When we set forth to conduct business, we should be honest and trustworthy. When we enter into any relationship, we should be honest and trustworthy.
This is no longer the standard set forth in our society. We have been conditioned to look for loopholes, and ways to otherwise get out of obligations. We often look for ways to skirt our responsibilities, look at the housing crisis, look at the divorce rate, look at the bankruptcy rates, and look at how many people Obama nominated with tax issues.
We as Americans need to celebrate personal responsibility, and reject the ‘lawyerization” of our society.

This is why I am running for Missouri’s 7th district congressional seat in 2010.
Dean Moore Jr.