Why I'm interested in politics. Part 1

I've always had a keen interest in politics.  Not because I think of it as some "sport" where there are winners and losers, or because politics has any real "intrinsic" value.  Quite the opposite, I'm often disgusted by politics, and in how ideals are often trampled under the feet of expediency.

I believe in core values.  Whatever those values may be, I can respect someone who stands for his values above all else.  I'm a conservative with definite libertarian streak.  Or maybe I'm a libertarian with a definate conservative streak.  Either way,  I try to put those core values above everything else.  And I can respect anyone who has core values as well, even if those values are opposed to my own.

For instance, I have very little problem with a communist who comes right out and says he or she is a communist.  Or a socialist who comes right out and says he's a socialist.  Even if that person is running for political office.  I, or the majority of the nation, don't have to agree with communism or socialism.  In fact, we can be vehemently opposed to either ideology, but the person is still just a person, and if he or she is honestly and openly working towards their goals, they'll get no harm from me.  I might fight them "tooth and nail" in the war of ideas, but we could still possibly go and have a beer together afterwards.

When it became apparent the Barack Obama was likely to win the Presidency, for instance, I came to accept the fact that perhaps my nation was ready for some form of socialism.  By the time the 2008 election rolled around, I was pretty convinced that Obama was, indeed, to some degree a socialist, and that there was enough evidence, right out there in public, for anyone who was paying attention to come to the same conclusion.

I don't like it, I don't want it, but if the majority of the people want it, and outvoted me, then so be it.  (I still have the satisfaction of knowing that Barack Obama did not win in my county, even though he did win in my state.)

What I can't stand, on the other hand, is when a person claims to represent "American Ideals", when I know good and well that the "ideals" that person represent are so far from the ideals this nation was founded upon as to be likely entirely foreign to the founders of the United States.

This nation was founded on the ideals of limited government power, and maximum freedom for the individual.  I happen to be one of those who believe that this nation was created by divine inspiration.  In other words, our founders came together under divine guidance, for the very purpose of creating the United States of America, and the United States of American was created for the very purpose of being a beacon of hope and inspiration to the world.

The United States was also created by a nation of rugged, self-sufficient people who for the most part knew how to take care of themselves.  Even the folks who were "city dwellers" could go out in the country and shoot and deer or a turkey, and put meat on the table, if need be.  They knew how to do that.  Even the "city dwellers" made things: silversmiths, furniture makers, woodworkers, builders, iron workers, gunsmiths, seamstresses, butchers, bakers, candle-stick makers, etc.  Pretty much everyone who was anyone could make something that was a salable product with his or her hands.  As a result, the United States was created with the idea of self-sufficiency in mind.  It was believed that there would always be people who prided themselves in being able to take care of themselves.  Thus, the United States was designed for people who could take care of themselves.  Government was supposed to pretty much stay out of the way and let people do what they wanted, barring "doing what they want" was an infringement upon their neighbors freedoms.

I suppose it's in this belief that the "libertarian" streak shows through in me.  I'm for the legalization of marijuana, for instance, because I don't believe someone smoking a joint in the privacy of his or her own home is an infringement upon my rights.  I'm also open to the idea of legalization of other drugs, for the very same reason.

Today, I see our nation perilously close to tipping into an area fully unknown, and undesirable to, the founders of this nation.  Now that close to half of this nation receives subsidy, in one form or another, form the other half of the nation, I see serious danger ahead.  What's going on in Greece today should be a "wake-up call" to all Americans, but it would seem we're still too busy watching television, or listening to music, to notice that the very conditions that have caused the unrest in Greece are what the United States seems to be joyfully rushing headlong toward.

What really gets me, is when someone, like our current President, can stand up and with a straight face declare that his ideals are our nation's ideals, simply because he got the vote of a little more than half of the nation's people.  He wraps up his big-government, wealth-redistribution, and quest for more government control in the U.S. flag and sells it to us like snake oil that will cure all our ills, when we, as a people, KNOW that what he's selling is not what built this nation, nor what made this nation great.  And when he can get over half of 50 Senators, and over half of 435 Representatives, to buy in to his "Hope" for increased expansion of government into our lives, to the point that congress will blindly vote for a bill based solely upon President Obama's promise of what's in that bill, it gives me great cause for concern.

So, I will continue in future writings to expand upon this subject.  Maybe not in the next article, maybe not in the one after that.  Who knows what might pop into my head tomorrow, or what nation might riot next, or what Hollywood celebrity comes out of the closet as a conservative who supports limited government.  Maybe next time I'll talk about horses.

Stay tuned, and don't forget, you can join in and make this a conversation just by pointing your little computer arrow at the word "comments" just below and to the right of these words, and pressing the button on your mouse or touchpad...then type in how YOU feel on the subject.