I have heard in some of my propagandist papers that to vote for the lesser of two evils is still evil.
The reason I voted for Michael Badnarik has something to do with this. Let me start by saying that I don't believe that either President Bush, nor Senator Kerry are evil men. I believe they are both highly principled, but their principles directly involve taking away my rights from each side.
So I chose to vote for the only person who is claiming to change this. The Libertarian Party does not believe that the government is the answer...to any question. If you ask about the price of gas, healthcare, or milk, the availability of the flu shot, honest politicians, etc., government is not the answer. This was famous rhetoric from President Ronald Reagan that has been utterly lost on today's Republican Party.
The Democrats are fighting "rights" battles with more laws, more regulation, and more judges. Neither response is the correct one in my opinion. So I can vote for neither man. I don't feel compelled to vote for the most likely winner. I voted for the person whose values I hope rub off on future policians.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Play Ball
With the World Series only two days away, good luck to both teams. I will probably being rooting for the Cardinals (being from the National League and all). This has to be one of the best League Championship Series in recent memory. 6 walk off home runs. Multiple extra innings games, and finally, for the first time ever, the Sox came back from down 3-0.
What a season!
What a season!
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Reflection on the Debates
After 3 90 minute debates, I believe it is important to reflect on a couple of questions that were never asked.
First, what's next? Let's assume for a moment that Iraq is no longer a problem. They have had elections, we are pulling out troops, and let's be even very optimistic and assume that France pulls their heads out of their asses on their anti-Americanism. Do we continue to fight a "war on terror?" Is the war on terror kind of like the "war on drugs?" What are the goals of a war on terrorism? Are we to eliminate all terror organizations or are we to just go after Al Qaeda?
Instead, we were treated to literally dozens of nitpicking attacks about partisan policy interpretations and to whom these policies will benefit.
As I told someone yesterday, the debates were essentially:
"My opponent clearly has gray hair."
"Once again, the President is misleading the American people. It is patently obvious that my hair is black, the same color as it was when I honorably served my country as a young man. Did I mention that I fought in Vietnam? Also, did you know that I am a Catholic?"
"There's alot of hard work that goes into fighting against the graying of the hair. Even my opponent's hair can't make up its mind. It is black? Is it gray. America needs a President with consistent hair colors."
Enough already!
First, what's next? Let's assume for a moment that Iraq is no longer a problem. They have had elections, we are pulling out troops, and let's be even very optimistic and assume that France pulls their heads out of their asses on their anti-Americanism. Do we continue to fight a "war on terror?" Is the war on terror kind of like the "war on drugs?" What are the goals of a war on terrorism? Are we to eliminate all terror organizations or are we to just go after Al Qaeda?
Instead, we were treated to literally dozens of nitpicking attacks about partisan policy interpretations and to whom these policies will benefit.
As I told someone yesterday, the debates were essentially:
"My opponent clearly has gray hair."
"Once again, the President is misleading the American people. It is patently obvious that my hair is black, the same color as it was when I honorably served my country as a young man. Did I mention that I fought in Vietnam? Also, did you know that I am a Catholic?"
"There's alot of hard work that goes into fighting against the graying of the hair. Even my opponent's hair can't make up its mind. It is black? Is it gray. America needs a President with consistent hair colors."
Enough already!
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Private Military Corporations
The History channel ran a repeat of a really fantastic program on private military coroporations (mercenaries).
Despite the bad connotation, these PMC's are being used again: in Iraq and elsewhere. Is this the model of future warfare?
What do they do? Well they can and do provide anything from military training, to actual military combat. This would also include peacekeeping activites, including passing out ballots, security, etc.
If you have the opportunity, it is a very interesting special called, "Soldiers for Hire."
Despite the bad connotation, these PMC's are being used again: in Iraq and elsewhere. Is this the model of future warfare?
What do they do? Well they can and do provide anything from military training, to actual military combat. This would also include peacekeeping activites, including passing out ballots, security, etc.
If you have the opportunity, it is a very interesting special called, "Soldiers for Hire."
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Some Wealthy Individuals Want to Pay Higher Taxes
This evening on the unbiased CBS evening news, a very interesting report ran. A school teacher in some socialist, I mean New England school indicated that as a wealthy heiress, she doesn't believe she pays enough in taxes.
In fact, I heard hack, I mean actor Ben Affleck utter the same phrases.
How do I say this nicely? That is simply the most egotistical, idiotic, elitist statement I may ever have heard. I do, however have a solution. There is a great invention that I suggest for those people who have too much money and not enough sense. That word is charity. In fact, in the technologically advanced society in which we live, a donor can determine how efficient a charity is. Just go to www.charitynavigator.com.
I am still looking for the website that tells me how efficient government programs are.
In fact, I heard hack, I mean actor Ben Affleck utter the same phrases.
How do I say this nicely? That is simply the most egotistical, idiotic, elitist statement I may ever have heard. I do, however have a solution. There is a great invention that I suggest for those people who have too much money and not enough sense. That word is charity. In fact, in the technologically advanced society in which we live, a donor can determine how efficient a charity is. Just go to www.charitynavigator.com.
I am still looking for the website that tells me how efficient government programs are.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
There is no such thing as a moderate!
I am sick of hearing (in this election season), about the moderate or undecided voter. Voters pretty much have their minds made up. I believe the real question is whether these "undecideds" will actually decide to vote.
The truth is, there is no such thing as a "moderate" position. People who cross traditional "party lines" such as social liberals and economic conservatives actually have a name: it is libertarian. Social conservatives and Economic Liberals are called "neo-conservatives." The rest is pretty elementary.
The problem is, America (and maybe the world), has an infatuation in being with the majority. People believe that if you believe like everyone else does, you must be a moderate. Given a choice between 1, 2, and 3, and people will choose 2.
The problem is that the majority of citizens in Germany during WWII didn't want to rock the boat either.
The truth is, there is no such thing as a "moderate" position. People who cross traditional "party lines" such as social liberals and economic conservatives actually have a name: it is libertarian. Social conservatives and Economic Liberals are called "neo-conservatives." The rest is pretty elementary.
The problem is, America (and maybe the world), has an infatuation in being with the majority. People believe that if you believe like everyone else does, you must be a moderate. Given a choice between 1, 2, and 3, and people will choose 2.
The problem is that the majority of citizens in Germany during WWII didn't want to rock the boat either.
Mt St Helens
Man, is this exciting. I was actually able to watch the "burp" of Mt St Helens from my office.
For those of you who don't know, Mt St Helens is about 55 miles from Portland. Therefore, on a clear day, it is one of the 5 beautiful mountains I can see from some angle at my office.
I hope this upgraded erruption waits until Monday. I think I will bring my camera.
For those of you who don't know, Mt St Helens is about 55 miles from Portland. Therefore, on a clear day, it is one of the 5 beautiful mountains I can see from some angle at my office.
I hope this upgraded erruption waits until Monday. I think I will bring my camera.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Presidential Debates
Could the debates have been more antiseptic? The problem with the whole process is that nobody was asked a hard question.
For example, "Senator Kerry, you have declared wrong war, wrong yadda yadda. For a moment, let us assume that Iraq and Afghanistan are moderately settled. What is next in the "war on terrorism?"
"President Bush, what is the sign of victory in Iraq? Does that mean that our mission was not accomplished 18 months ago?"
These will not be answered because nobody in the process wants to ask them.
For example, "Senator Kerry, you have declared wrong war, wrong yadda yadda. For a moment, let us assume that Iraq and Afghanistan are moderately settled. What is next in the "war on terrorism?"
"President Bush, what is the sign of victory in Iraq? Does that mean that our mission was not accomplished 18 months ago?"
These will not be answered because nobody in the process wants to ask them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
