political Position

"No politician is any better than Hitler." --Jason Brown

Introduction
What Government Should Do
What Government Should Not Do

NOTE: What follows is condensed from what was to be my Presidential platform for my 2008 election bid, the first year I will be old enough to run. I have recently realized that I have no interest in becoming even remotely associated with that office, but I feel that the points I have made in this document are still valid. As such, I have edited it and posted it on my "Thoughts" page. --Adam, 8 March 2003

I would like to focus this page on what government should and should not do. Before I do that, I would like to expose you to my basic political philosophy. Readers that do not want to be bothered with these introductory remarks can get by with the following, a one line version of my entire philosophy: THINK FOR YOURSELF.

The quote at the top of this page is by a very good friend of mine. I believe that Jason's point is that people become politicians for personal power and for no other reason. I think this is unquestionably true at the national level, though not necessarily so at the local level. Once it becomes more about winning elections and finance than about issues, whatever the level, this statement becomes true.

Largely because of this greed and power-madness, the two-party system has been strangling the people of this country for 100 years or more. Massive financing and having "more power than the other guy" is what Democrats and Republicans are all about. Anyone that doubts that needs to seriously re-evaluate the situation, along with their position within it.

Unfortunately, "third parties," with their weak financing and generally very issue-specific agendas, cannot provide an effective answer at present. While I welcome the Ralph Naders, Jesse Venturas, and even Ross Perots and Pat Buchanons to political arenas, the sad fact is that they do not have the financial wherewithal and wide support base to make a realistic run for the Presidency.

I think that it is important for visitors to this site to know where I stand in the Great Political Dichotomy of this country (though it is fast becoming a dichotomy in name only). Suffice it to say that, philosophically and theoretically I could be an anarchist, except for the crippling blows that reality imposes on anarchy. I mostly hope that this site will encourage visitors to think for themselves-something that the Parties do not want voters to do. Next time you are in the voting booth, just ask yourself: "Do I agree/disagree with this candidate because I DO, or because the party with which I consider myself affiliated tells me to?" I think most people will find that to be a telling question, one they will be glad they posed.

What Government Should Do:

Protect the Constitution. The Constitution is a very well-thought-out document and, in my mind, requires little interpretation, and it only protects us as long as we protect it. I am reasonable sure that if you have spent any time at all on this site, you already know how I feel about hte importance of the Constitution.
Provide the infrastructure of the country. Roads are an obvious example, others may include power grids, public transportation, and buildings and people necessary to administer government.
Protect people (consumers and workers) from big business. Big business is the single largest impediment to Democracy in the world, hands down. Laws largely do not apply to them, and many have more power than most nations. What few laws that do apply to them are so watered down by politicians on the take that they provide no real protection for people or the environment.
Protect the environment for the future. This does not mean only the environment in this country, or that portion of the environment that is convenient to protect. It means all of the remaining natural habitat left in the world, and a great deal of land that has not been natural for a very long time (such as the vast majority of our national forests).
Provide good health care for those that cannot afford it. This is not optional. All people have a right to be healthy.
Provide other assistance to those who need it. This includes financial help for those who have lost their jobs (but not handouts for those not willing to provide for themselves, though this can be a tricky group to separate).

What Government Should Not Do:

Protect people from themselves. Seatbelt laws, helmet laws, warnings on coffee cup lids-people do not need these things. If one's actions do not endanger another, then government has no business interfering. (I want to clarify that child seat laws are absolutely important, and I think anyone under the age of 18, driving or not, should have to wear a seatbelt. So should pets in front seats, who are not capable of making such a decision.)
Relieve people of their basic responsibilities. Part of being human is to have responsibilities. This litigious society in which we live allows that others are responsible for our actions. My philosophy is simply that YOU are responsible for YOUR actions. This country simply cannot survive if people are not held accountable for their own actions.
Subsidize environmental destruction. Tax breaks to large corporations that belch pollution into the air and subsidies for corporate forms that use excessive fertilizer or fill rivers with pig waste are insane. It never fails to amaze me how many rugged capitalists squeal if they do not get government handouts.
Legislate morality. In my view, morality is a matter of personal choices, different from individual to individual, especially in a country that allegedly keeps religion separate from government. Drug use and abortion are two such "moral" issues that continually crop up. Both are personal, moral choices-government has no business interfering in such matters.
Become entangled with religion in any way. Religion has no place in government in this country. Period. See #4 above.