What I believe. (At least in part)

One of the things I have been re-assessing is precisely where I stand personally, morally and politically.  If I’m going to have a soap-box, I’d darn well better know where I’m standing when I get up on it.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am probably a lot more “conservative” than people might think.

Of course my definition of “conservative” may not jibe very well with the definitions held by Rush Limburger or Pat Robbingson.  And no, if you disagree with me, or do something other than what I might suggest, you are *NOT* “un-saved” and you are *NOT* going to hell as a result of it.  Regardless of what your – or someone else’s – pastor may say about it.

First of all:  I believe in my absolute and total liberty in Jesus Christ.  I also believe in my absolute and total responsibility for the things that I do.  “All things may be lawful, but they are not all expedient.”

Second:  I believe that a rule should “lay flat” and apply to everyone equally, or apply to none at all.

I believe that the various rules and laws should apply to everyone in equal measure – be they individuals, businesses, or governments – everyone should be playing by the same rules.  Be they black, white, red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, or polka-dotted.  Regardless of their race, creed, color, gender, or sexual orientation.  Regardless of their being rich, poor, or somewhere in between.  Rules should apply to everyone in equal measure – and if they cannot do that, then they should be repealed.

For example, if the government is going to give trillions of dollars to Bank of America to bail them out – Bank of America should not be allowed to turn around and slit the throat of people who are being crushed by the economic down-turn by foreclosing their houses out from under them – and then gloat over the “record profits” they claim to have.  If Uncle Sam is going to toss trillions of dollars at Bank of America, General Motors, Goldman-Sachs, and God Only Knows Who Else – then I believe I have a right to expect that Uncle Sam will throw gobs and gobs of money my way to bail out my own turkey ass as well.

I believe that both Governments and Businesses have a moral responsibility toward the “little people” who support them.  It is morally, (and should be legally), a crime for some company to, actually and literally, impoverish an entire city or town by moving all the jobs to Sri-Lanka in the name of increasing their already obscene profits.  And if they DO want to do that – as is their right – then the government should exercise its right to withhold perks, credits, tax incentives, bail-outs, and other government money they may be expecting.  Or demand an immediate refund – plus interest – at the bank's own obscene Credit-Card rates, of course!

I absolutely oppose things like “gun control” for the same reasons.  The Constitution grants us the right to “keep and bear arms”.  It doesn’t say anything about what kind of arms, how they should be “kept” or “born”, or whether you agree, disagree or just don’t give a damn.  It simply says we have that right.  Period.  This reminds me of a sign that I saw when I was working at Gull:  It said “Perform exactly like the specification, or get the specification officially changed.”

The other side of that is this:  If, while “bearing arms” you commit a violent crime using those arms – be it a mugging, a robbery, rape, or whatever – the law should come down on you like a ton of brick.  Period.

I believe that we, as members of human-kind and as citizens of this country, have the right to expect to be treated graciously, reasonably, and with respect.  I also believe that as members of human-kind and as citizens of this country, we have the unflinching responsibility to treat others in that exact same way.

Sadly, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are on the same page with me.

What say ye?

Jim