Reason and Politics

I rarely post anything on politics because I find that people tend to get angry when discussing politics and I really am not into anger, it gives me heartburn. I prefer the more pleasant side of discussing music where it seems that usually, people can agree to disagree on musical tastes a bit more easily than politics.

None the less, I read tweet just this morning that expressed great anger than somebody would criticize president Obama over his handing of the BP oil spill. Many others have gotten angry over Tea Party people calling them terrorists. Why all this anger?

I suppose many would call me a radical as well for my conservative political views but let me make then as clear as possible.

First, I don't see capitalism as always a good thing but the problem in many ways with the world is not capitalism but greed. Frankly, those like Michael Moore who long to call one another comrade should simply read up on the cultural revolution of China and the killing fields in Cambodia of Pol Pot or many other such atrocities. Frankly, I will take greedy CEOs any day to that nightmare.

My position is rather simple. It's good for people to create. Early 20th century capitalism was born of many people who wanted to make the world better by making good things. The problem is that the things and the money became to the focus. If it helps a person to make it home quicker by driving a car rather than riding a horse, so they can be with their families, great! This is a good thing and this is what capitalism has brought to the world.

But if the kids are all in electronic la la land watching some video game that involves killing the most people in the shortest period of time (granted only cyber people) and mom and dad both work and want to make more money to get a bigger house to put more things in rather than spending time with their kids who have a cyber baby sitter, then sure, something is wrong in the land of capitalism.

Bottom line. I don't believe capitalism needs fixing as much as how we use it. Good products are not evil but if they change our lifestyles in a negative way then we need to reexamine how we do things. However, goverment can't change this but only people. Better for the kids to have a bike or go play baseball then to be glued to the TV and better for mom and dad to make less money and be able to spend more time with the kids. I guess this makes me a dangerous radical conservative because I would rather have the kids and mom and dad become the village rather than the other way around but if that's how its percieved then so be it, I'm a dangerous radical.

I guess I also get concerned when I see so many of our industries being effectively nationalized such as the auto industry, the banks and medicine. Government ownership of the means of production is by definition Communism right? Or did I not listen that day in class. I am not being radical here, really I'm not and if I offend people by attacking Obama, then understand where I come from. I grew up in a free country and for my family and me, capitalism has not bee a bad thing, not at all. We ate dinner together and I did not even have video games until around high school. But when my government wants to control more and more it makes me a bit jumpy. If that makes me a tea party person or a terrorist then so be it. I guess I would rather like to see our country find its roots rather than be transformed into a country where big brother is always watching.

On the environment. Look, I don't want to see the environment destroyed any more than the next guy but energy is strongly tied to our economic health as a country. Unless we all want to go back to the stone age, we have to find some way to care for the planet better without destroying everthing in the process. We have to be pramatists here rather than idealists. I just don't think that tripling energy bills for families that are already struggling and sending US dollars to other countries is the way to go. Again, if that makes me a radical, a tea party person, a terrorist then I guess that those who would feel this way are entitled to their opinion.

To end this, let me just say this. "Yes president Obama, I kind of like the country the way it used to be. Can't we find a way to get it back? I'm not sure that I am all that ready to go boldly forward into the brave new world if it costs me my freedom and in the end, is that not what America is all about".

Sorry if I offended anyone.