Center Publishes New Report: “Government’s Assault On RI Families”

Cranston, RI – The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity today published its “Government’s Assault On Ocean State Families” report. The report, which lays out a comprehensive and well-documented narrative, describes how our own state government has made it more difficult for working-class families to achieve the American Dream.
Describing “tidal wave after tidal wave” of misguided policies in recent decades that have weakened the security and financial well-being of families, the report’s logo depicts an Ocean State family about to be crushed by a giant wave. The entire narrative can be accessed at RIFreedom.org/Families

“Rhode Island families are disillusioned with state and local government, which continually hands out special favors to special interests, while working families and small businesses are forced to bear the burden,” said Mike Stenhouse, the Center’s CEO. “As most Rhode Islanders understand, this all-of-government corruption threatens the current and future security and prosperity of our families and young people. It’s time to restore policies that support traditional family needs, love of country, and trust in God.”

Rhode Island’s agenda-driven government is assaulting families across multiple fronts:

• Economically: soaring local cost-of-living (inflation) and high taxes stress family budgets to the limit
• Educationally: politicized curricula lead to failing student achievement
• Culturally: divisive and radical theories are turning our society upside down
• Religiously: intolerance for God, Christians, and Jews is fueling hate and restricting religious freedom
• Emotionally: the bombardment of inappropriate content is increasing mental health issues among youth
• Physically: crime, drugs, and progressive policies put family member at risk of bodily harm
• Patriotically: animosity towards America is creating enemies within

The report’s over-arching theme and each of its top-line messaging points are supported by detailed discussion and citations, often providing recommended solutions and policy ideas.

The Center believes that state lawmakers and bureaucrats have such a myopic focus on appeasing various insider cronies and special interests, that they lose sight of the broader goal of government … to preserve and advance the current and future rights, well-being, and safety of all state residents.

One compelling solution put forth by the Center is for voters to choose to bypass the traditional three branches of government by voting to “Approve” the November ballot measure regarding a statewide Constitutional Convention, which the Center refers to as a People’s Convention and the “4th Branch of Government.” #4thBranchRI
The Center encourages lawmakers, candidates for public office, policy advocates, and all concerned citizens to regularly propagate these messaging themes, and to utilize some of the more detailed discussion and information as appropriate.

“It’s vital that Rhode Islanders, who believe major reforms are necessary, rally behind this reality-based narrative,” added Stenhouse. “We have done the research, studied the public surveys, and believe this narrative best captures and describes the wreckage that our government has inflicted upon families.”
A resources “action” page, with images and social media links, is available to the public at RIFreedom.org/Families-action.

Stenhouse has also published multiple related pieces of video commentary on the Center’s “news and views” website The Ocean State Current. More pieces are expected to be added over time.

The Government’s Assault on RI Families report is a living document that will be expanded and further sourced in the coming months and years. The report also serves as a compendium of much of the Center’s research, analysis, policy recommendations, and perspectives since its founding in 2011.