- 22 Jul 2009 19:01
#13102456
I've been told multiple times by my (crazy) libertarian roommate that I'm "extremely" conservative. I go to services every week, and on a lot of personal issues I guess I'm fairly conservative. But anyway, here are my political beliefs:
Abortion: States should each decide, but no second or third trimester abortion (life starts at twelve weeks). Personally I am against it, but would not encourage the government to totally ban abortion. No state funding.
Affirmative Action: no race-based affirmative action. Socioeconomic affirmative action only.
Church and State: Separation, for the most part. No government policy dictated by religion. However, keep “under G-d” in Pledge of Allegiance; “in G-d we trust” on money, etc.
Education: Remove funding power from local government and place it fully in the hands of the state governments. Repeal No Child Left Behind. Leave actual educational policy in the hands of school boards.
Elections: co-ordinate elections so that they occur at the same time, for the most part. For example, have mayoral, school board, and gubernatorial elections at the same time (as term lengths will permit), as to maximize turnout. Make Election Day a federal holiday.
Foreign Policy: Non-interventionist policy, generally. Use economic sanctions to promote human rights. Shut down most foreign military bases.
Gun Control: gun control is fundamentally classist. Though the wealthy might be able to navigate its way around the intricate gun laws and/or hire security, the poor have neither the time nor the education to do so. Have basic gun regulations to promote safety and require shooting and safety lessons before operation, as with cars.
Immigration: Beef up border security, but allow more people in legally.
Iraq: didn’t like the fact that we intervened in the first place, but now that we’re there we can’t just pack up and leave. This would only further destabilize the region.
Welfare/Social Security/Government Assistance: Welfare to work is good – prevents people from becoming dependent or lazy. However, we must strengthen government assistance programs, especially disability. Federal government should re-establish programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps and the WPA.
Capital Punishment: Morally and legally opposed to it. Evidence point to the fact that it is exceeding painful; it violates due process (no amount of due process can justify the taking of life); the state has no right to take human life.
Censorship: Only the censorship of obscenity (for my definition, see the Supreme Court’s definition) is acceptable.
Cuba/Iran: Foreign policy isn’t my thing. I don’t care that much.
Energy: Secure emergency oil deposits and engage in offshore drilling, while at the same time providing massive federal funding for research on alternative fuels.
Flag Burning: See censorship – no ban.
Gay Rights: Same-sex marriage will reduce promiscuity and the spread of disease; same-sex adoption will reduce the number of unadopted children – in favor of both.
Healthcare: universal single-payer healthcare. Allow for the competition of private companies, however.
Marijuana/Drugs: No legalization. No lowering of the drinking age. Raise smoking and drinking age to 22. However, focus on punishing the "supply" end of the "supply and demand" -- fines only for possession of small amounts.
Minimum Wage: mandate a living wage. Provide for automatic mechanism which raises it every two years to adjust for inflation.
School Prayer: Allow for a moment of silence. No teacher-led prayer; no spoken prayer; no prayer at football or sports games. Allow students to be excused from class for religious reasons (including needing to pray).
Taxes: Strong progressive tax. Raise taxes on the richest ten percent to fund social programs.
The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.
- John Rawls, A Theory of Justice
ec: -4.50 / soc: +0.15
- John Rawls, A Theory of Justice
ec: -4.50 / soc: +0.15