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In today’s political commentary the country is divided between red and blue states, between Republicans and Democrats, between conservative and liberals and between secular atheists and evangelicals. The reality is much more complicated. Most thinking people do not meet a political litmus test or fit any simple political box. I use myself as an example. On some issues I would be viewed as conservative and religious. On other issues I would be considered to be liberal and secular.
- I strongly believe in a free market.
- I believe that business can generally outperform government at most services.
- I believe that the future of this country must be based on the creation of jobs in the private sector.
- I believe that excessive taxes can destroy economic incentive in the free market.
- I believe in the right to bear arms.
- I don’t believe that the government can, does or should watch out for my best interest.
- I believe in personal responsibility.
- I would never personally participate in the abortion of a life after conception.
- I believe in fiscal responsibility.
- I fear that the federal deficit will undermine economic growth for decades to come.
- I believe in family values.
- I believe in the rule of law and that no civilization can exist without a clear rule of law.
- I believe that judges are to apply the law based upon constitutional, legislative and common law principles rather than simply applying their personal philosophical beliefs.
- I believe that the term “judicial activists” simply means any judge that has ruled in a manner contrary to the speaker’s belief.
- I believe that the success of a society is best measured by the success of its least fortunate members of that society.
- I believe in First Amendment.
- I have been appalled at our Country’s wiliness to ignore constitutional principals in the name of security.
- I believe that we still have a long way to go in achieving true civil rights.
- I believe in a women’s right to chose what to do with her body until a fetus is viable.
- I believe that no one is entitled to wealth or status merely by virtue of their birthright.
- I believe in protecting the environment.
- I believe that society must provide a safety net to its weakest members especially children and the elderly.
- I believe that government must regulate some aspects of business that the profit motive does not consider. This includes activities such as control of adverse environmental practices or fraudulent conduct.
- I believe that we need to reduce our dependence on carbon fuels.
- I believe that global warming is a real event.
- I believe that a strong military is one of the best protections to a free society.
- I believe that government secrecy is generally bad and that the more someone wants to hide something the more likely it is that what has been hidden should never have been done.
- I believe in education.
- I believe that is government’s role to give everyone the opportunity to the best education they can achieve and that in the long run, such an educated society will outperform other societies.
Many of my friends in various “movements” consider me a conservative Republican. Other friends in the business community consider many of my views to be the ravings of a left wing liberal. In reality, like most Americans, my views do not fit a neat litmus test for political affiliation. On some issues, I am a traditionalist and conservative. If it isn’t broke we don’t need to try and fix it. On other the other hand, where our current policies do not enhance economic growth, civil liberty or environmental protection we can do better and my views would be considered liberal.
On the whole, I pride myself in trying to listen to the facts which are often hard to decipher and the corresponding arguments. Unfortunately, much of the media is fact-less. What passes for news is simply spin. Commentators on television and talk radio tend to pander to demonization and stir political hatred in order to achieve ratings. This is not an appropriate use of the media but it is protected speech. Fortunately, these ravings can be easily disarmed if one takes the time to listen and evaluate. I have faith that most Americans take that time and recognize that litmus test politics serves no one except the persons promulgating the tests.
