About OCPA

People either have rights, or they do not. If we have rights, they come from somewhere. There are three basic, competing ideas about rights. One is that there really is no such thing. Another is that rights come from government, so the more power government has, the more rights it can give out. The third view is that rights are inherent in the individual person, discernible by reason as the blessings of “Nature and Nature’s God.”

Only the third idea of rights provides a foundation for individual rights and for equal rights, as well as a reason for limiting and directing government’s power in order to protect those rights. This idea also is intertwined with the understanding of human nature as flawed within each and every one of us. None of us are born with the right to rule over others, nor are any of us born simply to be ruled. Together these ideas animate and motivate OCPA’s work.

They are also why we have constitutions and believe in the rule of law. OCPA works to defend constitutional government, especially structures like federalism and the separation of powers that are designed to limit government power. Our federal and state bills of rights provide extra protections, in addition to those created by regular elections and structural checks and balances. OCPA supports enforcing all these laws according to their original meaning, and we believe judges should, too.

Not only is our policy work based on this foundation, we also want to share it with you. OCPA sends out speakers and creates materials to help students and all Oklahomans understand the foundations of government for a free and prosperous people.