The Constitution Party is among the most right-wing parties in the United States of America, and probably the most parochial. It's a party by and for the religious right. In Connecticut, it's known as the Concerned Citizens Party; in California, it's the American Independent Party; in Michigan, it's the U.S. Taxpayers Party; in Nevada, it's the Independent American Party.

The party has yet to elect a candidate to a state or national post: several Constitution Party members have been elected to local governments in rural areas.

But you're probably wondering: "What do they actually stand for?" Well, here's a summary of their platform, found at http://www.constitutionparty.com/ . You'll probably find a few points you like, and a few that make your blood cringe...

Economic Issues

The U.S. federal government is their biggest enemy. If the Constitution Party had its way, the Internal Revenue Service would be abolished, and the federal deficit would be paid for by the state governments, so that politicians would want to keep federal spending at a minimum.

No more most favored nations... international trade would carry with it heavy tariffs. Congress would retain all power to regulate trade with other countries.

The gold standard would come back, so say "welcome back" to Bretton Woods. The Federal Reserve would be eliminated, to keep control over the money supply in the hands of the government.

To keep federal spending down, the civil service system would be abolished, and all federal aid to state governments would be halted.

Wage and price controls would end. Federal lands (i.e. national parks) would be restored to private control. Energy exploration would be completely unregulated.

Defense and Foreign Policy Issues

According to the Party, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty is bogus and a national missile defense system is necessary. Disarmament is a Bad Thing. Women should be barred from combat training. The United Nations needs to pack up and leave, because we don't need to be in it. All international monetary agreements should be nullified, as should all international defense pacts. Foreign aid has to go.

By the Party's estimation, Taiwan deserves recognition; China does not.

Immigration would be halted, except under cases of extreme hardship, until all government subsidies for immigrants were wiped out. Then, companies and organizations would be allowed to bring in immigrants, provided that they guaranteed them housing and sustenance, and bore full responsibility for their actions. The practice of granting citizenship to all babies born on American soil would go bye-bye.

The National Security Act, Patriot Act, and other Fed-friendly laws would also go.

Social Issues

The Constitution Party wants to make abortion absolutely illegal under all circumstances, including rape and incest (saying the sins of the father should not lead to the child's death). They also want to make the transmission of HIV a criminal offense. The death penalty would stay, and it would be invokable for some offenses besides murder and rape.

They seek to abolish the Department of Education, end all federal education laws, eliminate student loans and other financial aid programs (with the notable exception of the G.I. Bill), and repeal compulsory education so that parents have total choice in their children's schooling.

Medicare and other government health programs would go out the window, as would the Food and Drug Administration, both of which "unfairly restrict" access to doctors and medicine. Social Security would be overhauled to take away its trust fund-like status and make it more like an IRA.

Welfare as we know it would say bye-bye in favor of church tithes and other charitable initiatives. Illegal drugs, according to the Party, should be punishable as a capital offense, but left entirely in the hands of state law. Subsidized gambling, such as state lottery programs and Native American casinos, would be banned.

Homosexuality, of course, would be totally taboo, and gay marriages would be illegal. Gun control would be minimized.

Finally, the Constitution Party supports freedom of religion:

We assert that any form of taxation on churches and other religious organizations is a direct and dangerous step toward state control of the church. Such intrusion is prohibited by the Constitution and must be halted.

We assert that private organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, can determine their own membership, volunteers, and employment based on their oaths and creeds.