Far too often, the youth of America turns to government for solutions to our problems.

How can we help the poor? Take from the Rich. How can we save the economy? Throw tax-payer dollars at it. How can we stop gang violence? Trample the second amendment. How can we expand health coverage? Force people to buy it. These are the solutions put forward by those who support big government.

These are not the values that our Forefathers had. In 1776, a nation was founded out of resentment towards a government that had control over a people who had no voice in it; resentment towards unjust taxes imposed by a government 3000 miles away; resentment towards economic regulation that hindered expansion; resentment towards a government-established monopoly of one of the most important industries of the time.

This nation was founded out of want for freedom from government, a place where you could live free of its restrictions. The government that replaced a British Parliament and King was restricted from touching the rights and liberties of the people. A nation where a man can decide his own destiny was brought into this world. This was an attempt by Britain’s former colonies to bring things back to before they were taxes and regulated by a legislature which they were not represented in. This was not the terror of the French revolution, or the evil of the Bolshevik revolution. This was freedom.

How can we help the poor? Provide free economic opportunity to all, a world where any mine can rise from the bottom to the top. How can we save the economy? Cut taxes and regulations that hinder it. How can we stop gang violence? Spur economic development in the inner city to get people off the street and in jobs. How can we expand health care coverage? Make it cheaper by making it easier for a doctor to practice without the fear of lawsuits, and break state health insurance barriers to create more competition.

These are the kinds of solution that are based on our founding values.