Ok Robert, let’s talk.

You called me a “Classic Conservative”, while uncertain I’m comfortable with the term, let’s leave it at that.

What do I believe in, keeping it to Politics and Social Mores?

This might take a while.

First and foremost;

Our Government has a very simple set of responsibilities to the Citizens as a group and as individuals.

It must be fiscally responsible, and fair. The Tax burden in this country is inherently unfair, on a percentage basis the lower to middle class bears the heaviest weight. Federal Income taxes have been leveled some, but the cumulative tax burden hits them (me) hardest. Sales taxes. Use taxes, Property taxes, and so on.

And ... I’ll mention the diversion of public funds into the money sucking quantum singularities of Legislative pet projects that benefit few, if any citizens. (Sorry, pet rant.)

Protect us from criminal behaviors which harm us as a whole and as individuals.

I mean keep the streets, parks, anywhere, kept safe for us to use any time we wish

Not attempt to regulate every single activity, every single minute.

Protect us from rapacious commercial practices. Do not set prices, just keep the playing field level for everyone.

Keep the public infrastructure well maintained. No Compact car gobbling potholes, no bridges falling into the river. Keep the water clean, safe an running out of the tap. (For those who say that a Commercial Operation could do it better? Hell no! This is one utility that’s far to important to our health! One of the very few areas where I have no interest in see it driven by Profit. Somewhere, sometime, someplace, a mid-level manager will want to fudge just a little too much to boost his quarterlies. The consequences of that would be too horrible to contemplate.)

Stay out of the bedroom, livingroom, bathroom. What one, two, or more consenting adults do in private is no one’s business but theirs. (Please note; consenting and adult)

Stay out of our heads, we have the Constitutional Right to think freely. What we believe in is no one’s business but our own. If you believe we’re descended from little blue apples, go ahead. But I have the right to call you an idiot in public. (See next paragraph)

What we say about the Government as well as what we say about another individual must have even more protection. Within certain boundaries, when the speech degenerates to Libel, or threats of physical, financial or other harm, those boundaries have been crossed and the Law should descend with sufficient weight to discourage repetition.

This also means we have the right to ignore anyone we wish.

Keep a well trained, strong, well equipped Military. And use them wisely when needed.

The modern armed forces we have are about as good as it gets. Granted, the (mis) use of those forces over the last few years has bent them quite a lot. But not broken them.

Provide a safety net for those who need it. The truly disabled, those who find themselves trapped by temporary circumstances. But no more, wealth sharing by fiat doesn’t work, never has, never will, get used to it.

Offer aid to other countries in dire circumstances, but not hand over shiploads of cash or food without question. Foreign aid is a tool to help human beings both survive disasters, and give them a boost toward building a world we all can live in. On the other hand, let’s be bluntly honest, it’s also a weapon to enforce a world view we can live with. You don’t feed someone who’s sworn to destroy you, nor do you give him the tools to do so.

That sounds cold, hard hearted, cruel perhaps. But it’s the way it works, deal with it. That’s not fair you say? For God’s sake, use some common sense.

Other than that, lets us live our lives.

Stay out of our way, let us (re)build this country the way our parents, grandparents did. Yes it had flaws, some of which ran deep. But the ideals they held are still valid, they built a Country the world envied, still does.

My views on Social behaviors pretty much follow the same lines.

Be a good neighbor, use common courtesy, speak well of those you can, shut up about those you can’t. Politeness is another trait that’s fallen out of favor these days.

For instance.

I’ve little use for flash, bling or whatever they call it these days. So you blew 1220 bucks for some 21's, 900 bucks for rubber to fit em, on a 2000 dollar ride. Spare me the long braggadocio about it, my ancient truck had the wheels it came with. With the dog dish hubcaps Ford, in its infinite wisdom, chose to install. Know why? They work quite well, and don’t blow out when I hit a pothole. Don’t like the way my ride looks, don’t look at it. It isn’t the way it looks, it’s the way it drives.

No, I don’t want to listen to your thumping tunes, if I did I’d get into the goddamned car with you. That knob or button on the left, it’s the volume, it does have some lower settings.

That little thingy sticking out of the steering column on the left side, you know, the one with the wiper switch on it? It’s actually the turn signal switch, yeah it makes the pretty lights on the ends of you car flash on and off.! Learn how to use it, and when, then learn when to turn the damned thing off!

When I walk into the store on your shift, smile at me, make nice, or I’ll walk back out and go to a store with someone who will. Yes I can be a bit of a pain at times, but it’s my money I’m spending, worked hard for it. Oh, and when I bitch about my order being wrong, don’t cop an attitude with me, you screwed it up, not me. And if your attitude deserves it, I’m likely to tell you so, in no uncertain terms. I’m profit, you’re overhead, that’s the way it works, get it?

The cell phone which has grown into your ear? No problem for me, until I get to hear half an argument about rather personal matters. Which I don’t want, or need to know. And turn the damned thing off in the Movie Theater, Church, Concert, I missed some, but you should get the idea. If they want you that bad they can either look you up in person, or wait.

Oh Lord! I got started, excuse me. I’ll quit now.

Now, for the constant yammer on CE, Offtopic.

One of the greatest strengths of our system of Government is the ability of any Citizen to speak their mind on any subject. With that right comes the responsibility to allow the next Citizen to speak theirs without attempting to shout them down.

The Republic we live in requires that debate, the friction of Civil Disagreement that keeps it in the middle of the road. Sadly civil debate has become out of fashion in many quarters. The hard core fringes have never engaged in it, they can’t see any position but their own as valid. But the more centrist factions recognize the vital need of such discourse within, and without, our Legislative Halls.

Compromise has become somewhat of a dirty word the last few decades. Unfortunate, that’s what makes the wheels go round. It keeps the ship of state on a level keel.

You may have gathered by now I am one of those hard-headed old bastards who will walk away from a screaming match. Won’t waste a second of time on it. If you corner me and try to make me listen? Bad idea, I get rather .... irritated, who knows, your nose might get sort of ... well ... broken.

That sort of exchange does little but reenforce the fringe’s on both sides ideas that they, and only they, have the keys to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, how to make the trains run on time and keep a chicken in every pot.

And the right to force everyone else to their way of thinking.

Don’t try it on me, I’m like the old mule my Grampa plowed the truck garden with when I was a kid. I’ll do my work, mind the guy holding the reins, be real nice and even tempered. Until you push, then I stubborn up, and might kick you halfway down the section line if you get in my face a bit too much.

If any of the fringes want to talk, without constant posturing, without attempting to outshout the ‘Loyal Opposition’. Without the smug holier-than-thou-sneer at anyone who says anything not in the Party Line. Without quoting what some blogoyuk said, or linking to some material from an organization dedicated to their view. Speaking in their own words about opinions they have, with reasonable support from reputable sources.

Maybe I’ll listen, and make an attempt at a reasonable reply to specifics without ad-hominem attacks. If their statement descends to sheer idiocy. I’ll call them on it.

But I do want to send those who haven’t gotten it yet back to my preface about social interactions. Applies to speech as well as behavior.

There are enough posts of mine here over the last few years to get a good idea of what I think about the current administration and situation. Look em up, I can’t and won’t spend the time.

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One specific point, the current situation in Iraq. They screwed it so bad I’m not sure it can be fixed without years of effort, hundreds of thousands of lives and constant stream of C-5's filled with Ben Franklins.

I switched sides on the action, said so here. We should never have gone in, but we did, and now we’re in it good.

Brer Fox done got his feets stuck in the tar, ain’t so sho hows t’ gets em out.

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Your turn Robert.