According to Republicans, policies should promote self-sufficiency and economic mobility, allowing individuals to rely on their talents and creativity rather than government support. This perspective echoes Reagan's vision of a government that cooperates with citizens instead of controlling them, emphasizing the importance of opportunity and productivity while avoiding dependency.

The core of the Republican belief system is that the government's role should be to empower people towards independence and freedom. Every national debate should focus on whether policies enhance self-reliance or create dependence, highlighting the choice between individual liberty and bureaucratic control.