Policy 1

Develop a network of affiliated and mutually supporting organizations and individuals that recognize the value of individual property rights.

Although there are numerous individuals and organizations that are avid supporters of property rights, they are a platoon of Lilliputians compared to the army of gigantic warriors arrayed against them and their right to own and control their property. The collectivists that fight to turn all property-use decisions over to the central planners have done a marvelous job of marshalling their minority of supporters. Their myriad of organizations work together closely like an army of ants struggling home with a prize many times their size. Many of those organizations originally were organized by a small cadre of dedicated activists that all worked towards common goals. If we are to succeed as property rights defenders, we must adopt that tactic of our foes and band together to achieve our common goals.

Money is the volume knob for voices in the political arena. To be heard above the general din takes substantial amounts of money. That is why Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights was organized from day one as a political action committee so that we have a state-approved mechanism for raising and distributing political funds. The more like-minded citizens and organizations we can enlist in that endeavor, the louder we can turn our collective volume. Those who desire collective ownership and control of property have proven that, by banding together, they have a voice much louder than warranted by their numbers.

Many of the individuals most active in promoting and defending private ownership and control of property already belong to organizations engaged in the battle. Our intention is to provide a mechanism for coordination of their efforts and the volume knob for their voices. We envision the leaders of those organizations coming together to form a central command to plan and carry out mutually agreed upon campaigns. Simply by standing shoulder to shoulder, instead of being randomly scattered across the landscape, we will present a much more formidable defense of our rights. Each organization will still have its own agenda towards which it will expend most of its energy. The organizations will simply agree to use what they can of their resources in support of the larger common goals and take on the tasks for which they are best suited.

By combining political contributions into one large fund, each individual organization will end up with a much louder voice. Many politicians vote for collectivist control because that is the only message they hear as they raise the money necessary to win election. Many would take a more reasoned approach to the issues if they had equal funds from both sides. By working together, we can provide them the funds that will enable them to hear us.