So it's a brand new year, a brand new decade. I think we can finally get into the habit of naming years the way they did in the 20th century, twenty-ten sounds pretty nice. Last decade will probably bug the heck out of linguists for a while, twenty-oh-two doesn't sound quite as nice as 1902 does.
2009 was pretty exciting, the Miracle on the Hudson, a new President, the Swine Flu scare, continuing uncertainty over the economy, coups, wars... you name it, 2009 had it.
But we've got a lot to look forward to this year: a new claimant to the title "World's Tallest Building" (the Burj Dubai), victory and an end to the Iraq War, and of course, the 2010 Mid-Term elections. I'm excited because I will be voting for the first time, and the nation will get to decide how much of President Obama's "Change" agenda they want to keep, and how much they don't. I'll certainly be watching the run-up to those as we go along, and I hope you all do too.
I hope you've all had a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannukah, and a Happy New Year.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Leaning Right and Left
I'm leaning right and left. What does that mean exactly? It means I try to see both sides of every political argument, and for every issue I side with conservatives, there's likely an issue on which liberals and I would agree. I am a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, but that oversimplifies the argument. If I had to label myself, I would certainly be a member of the GOP's "left-wing".
In terms of domestic policy, I am first and foremost a Free-Market capitalist. I believe that the exchange of goods and services at prices based on the supply and demand for those goods and services is the best economic system, in terms of efficiency, if not always in equity. To the end of equity, Government must ensure that consumers, businesses, and workers do not take advantage of each other by breaking up most monopolies and oligarchies, persecuting fraud, and regulating the safety of consumer products and work environments.
I also believe that Homo sapiens, as the dominant species on this planet, is its steward, and must strive to protect it and all of its life. The environmental impact of development must always be considered. We must always try to keep pristine environments pristine, and do everything within our power to maintain the biodiversity of the planet. Human expansion into outer space is a vital part of this task, as it will allow mankind to survive no matter what happens, and it will lessen Earth's human population, and consequently mankind's impact on the Terran biosphere.
As the Founders of America said, Government exists to preserve the rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights apply to all, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, age (for the record, I support limited rights for minors as well as age limits for political office), or sexual orientation. All people, unless they lose these rights as the result of a fair and open trial by their peers, have the right to live, vote, own property, marry, care for their own or adopted offspring, and own weapons.
I believe that the final right I mentioned, that to bear arms, applies not just to state militias, but also to the individual for two reasons. First, people must be able to defend their family and property from attack by criminals. Second, the people reserve the right to rebel against any Government that may arise which they believe threatens their inherent rights. That said, the Government reserves the right to stop any such armed rebellion, and the victor in such a conflict must respect the rights of the defeated party. (The American Revolution and the Civil War provide good examples of both possible endings for such a rebellion).
In terms of domestic policy, I am first and foremost a Free-Market capitalist. I believe that the exchange of goods and services at prices based on the supply and demand for those goods and services is the best economic system, in terms of efficiency, if not always in equity. To the end of equity, Government must ensure that consumers, businesses, and workers do not take advantage of each other by breaking up most monopolies and oligarchies, persecuting fraud, and regulating the safety of consumer products and work environments.
I also believe that Homo sapiens, as the dominant species on this planet, is its steward, and must strive to protect it and all of its life. The environmental impact of development must always be considered. We must always try to keep pristine environments pristine, and do everything within our power to maintain the biodiversity of the planet. Human expansion into outer space is a vital part of this task, as it will allow mankind to survive no matter what happens, and it will lessen Earth's human population, and consequently mankind's impact on the Terran biosphere.
As the Founders of America said, Government exists to preserve the rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights apply to all, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, age (for the record, I support limited rights for minors as well as age limits for political office), or sexual orientation. All people, unless they lose these rights as the result of a fair and open trial by their peers, have the right to live, vote, own property, marry, care for their own or adopted offspring, and own weapons.
I believe that the final right I mentioned, that to bear arms, applies not just to state militias, but also to the individual for two reasons. First, people must be able to defend their family and property from attack by criminals. Second, the people reserve the right to rebel against any Government that may arise which they believe threatens their inherent rights. That said, the Government reserves the right to stop any such armed rebellion, and the victor in such a conflict must respect the rights of the defeated party. (The American Revolution and the Civil War provide good examples of both possible endings for such a rebellion).
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