Other Columns by Paul M. Weyrich
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- In my view, restoring the republic requires much more use of ballot initiatives and referenda. They should be legal in all states and I tend to think at the federal level as well. That is how Swiss voters have kept their federal government in check, and it could work here. We also need to find a way to prevent one member of the New Class, a judge, from overturning the people's will in the form of a referendum outcome just because he disagrees with it.

- Finally, we need some effective checks on money politics. What we call "campaign contributions" the rest of the world rightly calls bribes. Yes, they sell their votes; I've seen it. I am not sure of the best way to go about this, but we will never get our republic back so long as Jerry Brown remains correct. Republics do not have a "pay to play" political process.

I am sure that as the next conservatism develops, other conservatives will come up with more ideas, possibly better than these. But the next conservatism must make restoring the republic a priority. I don't want to pass a tawdry, corrupt, oppressive empire on to my grandchildren as their heritage.

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Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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