On The Recent Elections and Other Issues

Well, it has been one week down since the rather memorable midterm elections, and the Democrats sure took a whuppin!  The fact is though that so much over the past few years has failed - the economy hasn't gotten any better, and Obama is bucking for the distinction of being the absolute worst President in American history.  I am neither Republican nor Democrat, but to be honest if either is to be in office, I would much rather it be Republicans for the most part.  However, my own politics are somewhat more radical than many, and I want to talk a little about my own political history.

Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans represent me personally - the Democrats are often too much for big government and special interests, while the Republicans are often for large corporations.  Other than Mitt Romney in 2012 (which was more of a protest vote than anything) I have never voted for a Republican Presidential candidate at all.  And, other than Dukakis in 1988 (the first year I ever voted, and it was a mistake on my part!) I have also never voted for a Democrat for the President.  Most of the people I have voted for in the Presidential races have been independents, beginning with Bo Gritz in 1992, Pat Buchanan in 2000, my own party candidate Kurt Weber-Heller in 2004, and Alan Keyes in 2008 (I didn't even vote in 1996, because that was one of the most boring elections I had ever witnessed - Bill Clinton vs. Bob Dole - and I don't even remember the independents who ran then).   Independents seem to speak more of my own language, and conservative independents are my voting preference.  This conviction was one I carried over to the gubernatorial race this year in Florida, as I refused to vote for either Scott or Crist (reasons I will discuss momentarily), and instead voted for the Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie, whom a good friend in Virginia made me aware of.  I didn't agree with everything Wyllie stood for obviously, but of the three vying for the mansion in Tallahassee, he was the best choice to me, plus he was honest.  Sometimes one has to concede some things on a candidate's platform in order to have a viable voice at the polls, and so it was with Wyllie.  Also, even if there is not 100% agreement with a candidate on certain issues, these things tend to work out when one votes for other things on the ballot.  A good example of that this year was Amendment 2, which was proposing the legalization of marijuana in the state of Florida.  I personally opposed it, but Wyllie supported it.  Another is the whole "gay marriage" issue - I oppose any effort of course to recognize same-sex unions, whether they call them a marriage or not, due to having a strong Judeo-Christian conviction which upholds the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.  However, Wyllie was open to the idea.  It goes to reason therefore that sometimes even the best candidate for public office will not always see eye-to-eye with you on some issues, but the bigger picture is the fact that the guy you are supporting may be the best choice to represent you in government, and therefore the other things can be worked on later.   And, as mentioned, there may be other issues to vote on in the election that will balance the vote too.

As for my own political convictions, I can be defined as a paleoconservative, and by party affilliation I have been actively part of the Christian Falangist movement in the US, which dates back to the early 1980's.   As a paleoconservative, I have developed a pretty specific platform over the years of where I stand.  Essentially, I am for small government, but paradoxically I am also a monarchist.  I also support states' rights, small businesses, and would also advocate between a balance of supporting total self-sufficiency and good environmental stewardship - for instance, I have no issues with the proposed Keystone Pipeline being constructed, but have a bigger issue with too much condo development and such on Florida's wetlands.  I also would advocate for tax reform (the IRS needs to be put out of its misery, as does Obamacare and other big government abominations) as well as a lot of deregulation of things that are over-regulated.  I also would say that schools need to be turned back over to the private sector, and government should not have as much sway over what kids learn as it does.  As a very important issue too, I would strongly recommend term limits on Congress, as some of those geezers have been in there way too long and are becoming career politicians more interested in their own bank accounts rather than serving the people they are supposed to represent, and that is not acceptable.  The idea of mandating more traditional values - including complete religious freedom for all, as well as allowing public displays of one's faith without fear of reprisals - as well as doing way with a lot of bogus litigation and this whole "political correctness" nonsense - people should be able to speak their minds without fear of reprisal from someone whose feelings may get hurt.  If you are that big of a wuss that your feelings get hurt over the use of the term "Black," then maybe you need therapy!  It is just ridiculous as to how much of this politically-correct thought-patrolling has permeated society, and that needs to end.  Any rate, that is where I stand politically, although a complete manifesto would take up much more volume.

That rant being vented, let us now remember that today is November 11th, the traditional observance of Veteran's Day.  Both of my parents are Vietnam vets, and despite other issues in their lives, I can say with all sincerity that I am proud of both Mom and Dad for their military service, and this is their day.  Our vets need prayers, as unfortunately there is a new generation of hostile people coming up who seem to love to villify vets, and that needs to stop as well - if those idiots have an issue with someone serving their country, then they can find another country to live in and not let the door hit them on the butt as they leave here.  I am sick of the lack of patriotism among people today, and two instances in particular got my blood boiling in recent years.  In 2009, Barb finished up a certification program for her work at a local technical college in Clearwater, and at her commencement ceremony of course the Pledge and the National Anthem were said and sung respectively.  Traditionally, when the anthem is sung or the Pledge is said, you salute by putting your left hand over your heart,  Many of the brain-dead idiots sitting in that auditorium that night didn't even bother to get up, much less show respect, and that is a disgrace.  I know you unfortunately cannot punish stupidity, but if I had the opportunity I would have horsewhipped every person in there who didn't even have the good manners to stand for the National Anthem.  Is this what our nation is coming to?   A second incident I have talked about before, and that happened in a Hermeneutics class at my former university just two years ago.  Instead of teaching Biblical hermeneutics like his students were paying him for, he went off on a 20-minute rant about why it is wrong to have an American flag in a church!  Personally, I thought that whole discourse - from a man with a Ph.D. yet to boot! - was uncalled for, as the flag is in a church as a reminder to pray for that nation the church is located in.  These attitudes in recent years have just had me flabbergasted, as I come from a generation where the opening of the day in elementary school was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and then singing as a class something like "My Country Tis of Thee."  Most of these kids today probably wouldn't even know how to do either honestly.  However, it is ironic that the same kids that are too stupid to know the words of the Pledge of Allegiance sure know how to carry revolvers to shoot their classmates with, and that warrants almost a whole other discussion in itself.  Again, though, I have ranted enough.

As we face a sort of new beginning in this country, with solid Republican leadership in the Congress as well as the fortunate possibility of getting rid of one of the most corrupt characters to hold the office of the President since the 1920's when Harding was in office, it gives me hope for the first time in a long time.  Soon, it may be possible to have gas prices under $2 again, and to have a better employment rate in this nation.   However, as the voting public, we have the responsibility of making sure that our duly elected officials don't just run their mouths, but rather get things done.  This election made a lot of statements, and one statement is that the career politicians had better get their butts moving or they will face a firing.  The time has come to reclaim a nation that rightfully belongs to us, and we each have a responsibility to make sure that happens.  God bless until next time, and again, thanks to all those vets who served their country, defending the rights of people like me to say things like this.