Welcome, One and All!

Our previous blog was primarily my thoughts on political matters, both past and present. I often felt guilty for not posting more on our family, and I often felt to post some sort of politically related entry quite often, so here's a new site just for that. I hope this can become a haven of political discussion where personal insults and attacks can be left on the recycle bin of your computer. I don't dare hope for it to be a bipartisan blog-I hope for a variety of political orientations to be represented-but do expect it to be a respectful blog.

One of my primary desires in this blog is to elicit discussion, whether complex or simple. I hope to move beyond superfluities and get at the heart of core political ideologies. One of my hopes is to discuss how those ideologies have been manifest throughout history, how they were even created, and further how current political situations reflect such ideas. On a simple note, I also hope for discussion on simple things relating to current events and events now considered history.

Another hope is to make this very much a place of spiritual discussion as well. Political ideas are often taught within my religious faith, and presumably that of the majority of this blog's readers. Scriptures as well as modern day prophets have given counsel on political matters--some very clear and overt, while at times it appears in veiled form through teaching us about gospel principles with direct political underpinnings (such as principles of welfare and consecration). Something I will do quite frequently is post quotes for discussion, often letting the quote itself without any of my commentary be a springboard for discussion. I will use quotes from prophets and politicians alike.

With that said, let me state right up front my core political values and ideologies. I am a conservative, though not so much a Republican. My most liberal stance is my bourgeoning opposition to the death penalty. The majority of my political principles were embodied by Ronald Reagan, thus I claim to be a Reagan conservative (I used this term before Hannity). At my core, I am about smaller government. I believe more power should be found in state governments and less in the federal when it comes to domestic issues, especially welfare and healthcare. I agree with the statement that government IS the problem and NOT the solution. I believe that people are the solution, and that they don't need government subsidies or organizations to empower them to enact solutions to the majority of ailments in our society. As such, I am a strong proponent of capitalism and free enterprise. I believe we should be rewarded by ability and not need when it comes to the federal government. I despise any government entity that destroys the agency of its people through forced welfare rather than exhibiting faith in its people. We the people are why the government exists, and we the people should be the guiding voice in politics today. I feel most politicians speak a different language, a problem I feel has been created by too much government. As it has grown and become increasingly complex and harder to understand, "We the people" have somehow gotten left by the wayside in favor of "We the government."

Enough said. You'll obviously get to know more about my views through this blog. I'll try to keep it updated often, but remember, the only way I know of it's being read is through comments and discussion! As we all participate, I hope there will be a synergy that helps us all understand ourselves much better.