A Statement of Beliefs

I believe that basic human freedom is inviolate.

I believe that gays and lesbians should be allowed to get married.

I believe that the easiest way to bolster the economy is to allow people to spend their own money.

I believe therefore that taxes should be kept as low as possible.

I believe that the Founding Fathers got it right the first time.

I believe that government should stay out of religious affairs.

I believe even more strongly that religion has NO place in any kind of government.

I believe that abstinence-only sex education is irresponsible, unrealistic, and dangerous.

I believe that the states have the right to determine whether or not abortion should be legal.

I therefore believe that Roe vs. Wade should be overturned.

I also believe, however, that when all is said and done, a woman should have the right to choose what happens to her own body.

I believe that America should pull its troops out of Iraq.

I believe that American military should not be used as the world’s police force.

I believe that genocide is the only exception to the above rule.

I believe that the United Nations needs to get its act together and be as effective at policing rogue nations and preventing genocide as they are at humanitarian efforts.

I believe that the genocide in Sudan will not be stopped until the Janjaweed militiamen responsible have been thoroughly destroyed.

I believe that a couple squadrons of Apache gunships are ideal for such a task.

I believe that the government that governs least governs best.

I believe that the Second Amendment clearly lays out the right to an armed citizenry.

I believe that anybody who wants to own a firearm should be required to take classes to learn to shoot and store them safely.

I believe that the Second Amendment does NOT give us the right to own submachine guns, assault rifles, machine pistols, land mines, RPGs, or other such heavy weaponry.

I believe that government intervention in the market is a major cause of the nation’s current economic problems.

I believe that the recent bailout bill will be seen as the worst decision made by Congress since the vote to invade Iraq.

I believe that a truly free market will succeed far more often than not.

I believe that the PATRIOT Act is the first step down a slippery and dangerous slope.

I believe that Donald Rumsfeld should be brought to trial for allowing our soldiers to go into battle without the equipment necessary to keep them safe.

I believe that anybody who truly supports our troops should be ashamed of the stop-loss program and of the Pentagon’s unwillingness to provide comprehensive, quality health care to our veterans.

I believe that our political leaders have to date been unworthy of and have completely failed the brave men and women of the Armed Forces.

I believe that if the Iraqis haven’t properly trained, equipped, and deployed their military and police forces out after more than five years of the United States Army and Marine Corps doing their job for them, it’s just not going to happen.

I believe that insurance companies, healthcare companies, mortgage companies, and oil companies have a right to make a profit, but not while inflicting a crushing burden on our citizens.

I believe that regulating these companies from Washington, however, is unconstitutional.

I believe that investment in clean, affordable sources of alternative energy is absolutely necessary, and immediately.

I believe that drilling for oil in the Gulf or Alaska will help nobody but the oil companies concerned.

I believe that in a decade or so, Social Security will make the current budget crisis look like a minor bump in the road.

I believe that throwing tax dollars at an ineffective program is not going to magically fix it.

I believe that allowing the federal government to take control of the healthcare system is a recipe for disaster.

I believe that ‘neoconservatives’ have absolutely destroyed the Republican Party.

I believe that true conservatives would not have invaded Iraq, turned a surplus into a staggering deficit, increased the size and power of the federal government, and kowtowed to the religious right.

I believe that I’m tired of explaining the difference between the two.

I believe that the American dream should be possible for those who work for it.

I believe in the unlimited potential of a man (or woman), his mind, and his work ethic.

I believe in the triumph of the individual over the collective.

(This in no way represents the viewpoint of any organization, movement, or person besides myself. This in no way represents my endorsement of a particular candidate at any level in tomorrow's election. I voted my conscience, as I believe everybody should do.)