So I am always asked what is your beliefs, both religiously and politically.   This page will give you a little understanding of what a person like me thinks and what makes me tick.  The first is my political belief system followed by religion.

Here is my political / religious in a nutshell:  I want to keep the democrats out of my bank account and the republicans out of the bedroom.  Simple enough?  Yea, right.

The Politics

does that fall on the big graph of things. 

Personal 

This measures how much I believe government should intervene in people's personal lives. Personal issues include health, love, recreation, prayer and other activities that are not measured in dollars.  

I believe that your standards of morality & safety should be enforced by government. Now do not get this wrong, I am not talking about having a "Religious Police" running around but I do believe that there is a standard moral code that we should live by.

Economic

This measures how much I believe government should intervene in people's economic lives. Economic issues include retirement funding, budget allocations, and taxes. I believe in personal responsibility for financial matters, and that free-market competition is better for people than central planning by the government. I definitely do not believe that a good society is best achieved by the government redistributing wealth. Nor believe that government's purpose is to decide which programs are good for society, and how much should be spent on each program.

So how about individual issues?

The Issues

Individual Rights:

Domestic Issues

Economics

Defense and Foreign Affairs

 

Individual Rights:

Abortion is a woman's right 

I believe that restricting `Partial-Birth Abortions' or other specific procedures is reasonable, but clinic access should be unfettered.  I am pro-choice, but believe that some restrictions are acceptable.

Require companies to hire more women & minorities

I believe that Affirmative Action is better described as Reverse Discrimination. Quotas based on race and gender are wrong, whichever race or gender they favor. Under-represented groups should fend for themselves without government intervention.

Sexual Orientation Protected By Civil Rights Laws

I tend to fall under the belief that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, and therefore those who choose it should live by the consequences of their choice. Marriage between a man and a woman is the central institution of American society.

Teach moral standards In Public Schools

We need to teach values in our schools. The more our children are exposed to prayer, the Ten Commandments and other moral codes, and other traditional values, the better off they are.  These traditional values are not held exclusively to Christianity.  

Return to top

Domestic Issues:

Crime and guns

Death Penalty

I like the code of old " An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life". Though I do believe that there is due process.  The death penalty is appropriate punishment for murder, as a form of justice regardless of the deterrence effect

Mandatory "Three Strikes" Sentencing Laws

Three Strikes' laws put dangerous repeat offenders where they belong - behind bars, for life. Mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement make sure that judges don't let off criminals too easily.

Absolute right to gun ownership

The only "gun right" is to self-defense against criminals and the right to a secure home and a secure person. Tighten registration rules and keep guns away from kids.

Medical/Social security

More Federal Funding For Health Coverage

The government should provide coverage or subsidize health insurance for at-risk groups such as children and the elderly. Society benefits when more people are covered.

Privatize Social Security

Our retirement funds should not be entrusted to the government. The entire Social Security system should be run instead as we currently run IRAs, Keogh plans, 401(k)'s, and other private pension plans.

Education

Parents Choose Schools via Vouchers

School choice helps the poor who would otherwise be stuck in failing schools. Why should only the elite be able to afford private school? Subsidize parents' school choices to foster equality, as long as the school respects separation of church and state, and meets basic state standards.

Other Domestic Issues:

Spend Resources to Stop Global Warming

We should establish a market-based solution for excess carbon emissions, and the problem will be solved. The Kyoto Protocol should require developing countries' participation to make the solution work.

Drugs damage society: enforce laws against use

The Drug War is winnable if we invest enough resources. We should do whatever we have to do: More police, more border patrols, more intervention abroad, more prison terms, more prisons.

Allow churches to provide welfare services

Replace the federal welfare system with services provided by churches and other faith-based organizations. Supply block grants to those organizations instead of funding welfare agencies.

Return to top

Economic:

Tax and Immigration:

Make Income Tax Flatter & Lower

Ideally, the income tax and the IRS should be abolished. Perhaps a national sales tax is a good replacement. Lower and flatter taxes are a good first step.

Immigration helps our economy--encourage it

We should strictly enforce our immigration laws by increasing border patrols, and we should crack down on illegal immigrants already in the US by deportation and by removing all their social benefits. In the long run, we should decrease immigration.

Trade:

Support & Expand Free Trade

Free trade is in our national interest because it provides economic growth and jobs. We should only restrict free trade when it poses a security risk or hurts the US economy.

Return to top

Defense and International Affairs:

Defense:

More Spending on Armed Forces Personnel

We have an obligation as the leaders of the world to maintain a strong military. And we have an obligation to our service personnel to pay them adequately.

Reduce Spending On Missile Defense ("Star Wars")

SDI protects people and developing it is the real purpose of 'Defense' spending. Spend resources immediately to develop it fully.

Foreign Affairs:

Link Human Rights and Trade in China

I oppose linking human rights and trade in China.  Maintain open trade with China as a tool to move China towards democracy. We should conduct open trade with China because it's good for the US economy - we will end up with cheaper prices and more export-related jobs.

Continue Foreign Aid to Russia, Israel, & others

Foreign aid should be targeted at maintaining US interests overseas, and in supporting countries which are critical to our economy or strategic interests. Aid could also be targeted toward fulfilling US international commitments and to support foreign leaders who are favorable to the US.

Return to top

Religion

Sorry not today.  More to follow