As I've noted in other places here, I tend to lean libertarian (note the small "L"). I believe a very limited government with a very limited scope is the best guarantor of liberty and freedom. A government that does a few things well is preferable to the one we have now that does a lot of things very poorly (and expensively).
I tend to think the wisdom of our founders should be our guideline for the structure of the federal government. I believe wholeheartedly in the federalist principle of decentralized governments all acting as little laboratories. Local governments should have a great deal of power to "solve" their own problems as long as they do not step on our basic inalienable rights. Then people can be free to vote with their feet and their dollars.
So, while the above might mean that I think it's OK for certain communities to have certain definitions of community standards and have the ability to censor things and what not, the libertarian in me would tend oppose such measures that limit individual expression (to a point of course).
So, on the one hand I'm libertarian and have a fairly expansive personal definition of "live and let live", I'm also a federalist who believes local governments and communities can "pool" their individual rights and pass laws and regulations they see as in their own best interest. Again, assuming they don't overstep their bounds of infringing on our inalienable rights. This is a somewhat nuanced view, that may be hard for some to understand, though I think it is one that is consistent with our nation's founding ideals.
More to the point, I strongly dislike FEDERAL rules that create a one size fits all policy on things. Utah is not Manhatten, and as such can have different rules if they see fit. As long as the rights of the individual to his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is recgonized and his pursuit of that happiness does not infringe on anyone elses life and liberty. Got that? Clear as a Guiness stout isn't it? (FYI: whenever I say "his" I mean "his/her")
Anyway, as I noted in this post, I basically vote Republican now. I'm not particularly happy about it. But, my choices are GOP, Democrat, Libertarian, or Green, the latter two being protest votes for the most part. The Dems are run by a bunch of former hippy Euro-wannabes who equate the federal government with the economy. THey are stuck in the 1960s. They are almost completely devoid of new ideas. They are the modern reactionaries. The current governmental structure was constructed by modern liberals, who owe their heritage to FDR's quasi-socialism and LBJ's weird mesh of southern big-government conservatism and New Deal liberalism. Modern Liberals have control over most of the big inefficient public institutions and the programs they run. They have powerful special interests that view "reform" as a very bad word.
The Libertarians live in a fantasy land that often lacks recognition of our federalist tradition and is borderline anarchy. The Greens are socialists luddites who view progress as a bad word. Moreover, the Greens don't like America.
In short (yeah, riiiiight), I like less government, especially at the federal level, lower taxes, a beefy national defense, a belief that American Jeffersonian democracy (i.e. a constitutional republic) is better than any other form of government, including parlimentary democracies. I desire school choice, healthcare reform that actually equates to LESS government regulation and a movement away from 3rd party payers, laws that are logical and stand the test of time, and the freedom to write run-on-sentences. I want strict constructionist judges who understand the constitution may need to be interpretted a little more clearly but do not think it's continually editable "living" document. I believe we need to let bio-technology take shape without government interference and I think modern copywrite law needs to be rolled back to be more inline with what's in the best interests of the free market vs. the anti-consumer legal racket is has become. Also, I'm sure my marriage will not be effected either way if gays are allowed to marry, nor can I wrap my brain around marijauna being illegal. Moreover, I want to be able to buy beer on Sunday's yet I also have no problem with judges who hang the 10 Commandments in their offices. I am somewhat pro-choice but I also think Roe v. Wade should be overturned. And yes, I believe their ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing astro-turf and the designated hitter (just kidding).
The order at which I listed those "beliefs" is roughly in line with the priority I give them. Therefore, when I go to the polls, I'm gonna look at politicians priorities. Where I disagree with them, if the disagreement is low on my priority list (i.e. abortion), then it's not a deal killer. So, with that in mind, I'll lay out my thoughts on the candidates for office.
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Posted by: Nersesowl | August 07, 2007 at 02:34 AM