ACO - IN FAVOR OF A FREE MARKET

YES/NO

​"Citizens shall be facilitated to invest in and own property. Free market shall be encouraged but governed in ways which benefits the citizens." (Response to Christian Action Network Policy Survey).

​The ACO party supports the state ownership of mines “Mines shall be under the stewardship of the State for the benefit of the Citizens” (ACO Manifesto).
 
The ACO supports government-funded schools, hospitals, housing, public infrastructure and municipal “service delivery” (ACO Manifesto).
 
Biblically it is not the government’s duty to fund such. The Bible is very clear that God has instituted civil government as “an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). The civil government is called to be a minister of God’s justice: “to punish those who do wrong” (1 Peter 2:14).
 
The primary duties and responsibilities of civil government are the protection of law-abiding citizens and the punishment of law-breaking criminals. Psalm 101 reminds us that the duty of God-honouring rulers is to destroy the wicked, to root out evil and to protect the law abiding.
 
The ACO seems to support a system of taxation that is much higher than what the Bible teaches (any taxation as high as 10% is condemned as: “oppressive” 1 Samuel 8:10 - 18). They are not advocating any unique policies or means of alleviating the tax burden on taxpayers (including VAT).
 
The only legitimate use of tax payers’ money is for law and order, justice and national defence. Everything else should be run by private enterprise and where necessary, churches or charities. Any state funding for more than justice and national defence is actually socialism. See Biblical Principles for Africa, Rebuilding Civilization on the Bible and Honest Money.