Monthly Archives: October 2012

Oct 12 2012
Leave a comment
Conservatism

My 7 Tenets of Conservatism

What does it mean to be a conservative?  For me, it means to live by these seven tenets, or principles, in our representative republic:

Faith:  The Judeo-Christian heritage was at the heart of the founding of our nation, and it remains so today for me and many conservatives.  We must respect this nation’s many faiths and creeds, but we must also respect those who elect not to believe in some higher power.

Family:  A great nation must have great respect for the family unit.  To me, that means one man and one woman in the support of children, but a great many disagree with that.  Our nation must avoid those laws and regulations that fracture the home and tear apart the nuclear family.  My faith also admonishes me not to be the judge of others.  So I will leave that to a higher power.  I accept that we live in a large, pluralistic society with lots of different opinions.

Work:  “If you do not work, you will not eat” is an admonition thousands of years old.  If you subsidize unemployment, then you will get more of it.  Work is not something to be avoided.  Work provides purpose and security and we should honor it.

Thrift:  Debt kills household finances, corporate longevity, and national sovereignty.  Save, then save some more.

Strong national defense:  “Peace through strength” may be a cliché, but generations of American leadership have proven it to be true.  There are forces in this world who hate the United States and our freedoms, regardless of how many times we may apologize or try to buy their friendship.

Respect for the rule of law:  If we have no respect for the rule of law in America, then we have nothing.  That means that our national executive leaders must enforce the laws of the land, without regard to their opinion of the law.  Yes, that means enforce immigration laws. Defend our borders!

The defense of our personal freedoms:  Assaults on our freedom come in the large variety (healthcare law), and the smaller variety (gun laws and dietary laws).   Each new restriction makes us weaker, not stronger.

Tagged
Oct 09 2012
Leave a comment
Energy Policy

America’s best energy policy is……competition

The energy policy of the United States should be to foster increased competition among existing energy sources.  With an abundance of energy resources in the United States, better education and communication can best serve the American people as individuals and organizations make cost-effective choices about the vehicles, technologies, and fuels available to the American marketplace.

Drilling alone will not create more competition, and in effect, keep prices in check.  If there was an oil derrick over every ten acres in the United States, the oil companies would still control the amount that is pumped out of the ground and the price at which it would be sold.  The oil company oligopoly faces no real competition until consumers have the choice of whether to fill up with crude oil, natural gas or electricity.  The gasoline and diesel fleet is well established.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refueling stations should line the interstate highways to service the trucking fleet of the United States.  Those stations would also serve the infant CNG refueling needs for automobiles.  When the interstates are covered with CNG stations, then CNG stations can creep into the metro areas and the neighborhoods, similar to the crude oil stations.

I think the greatest opportunity lies with the emerging technology of wireless electricity transmission.  For example, a company named WiTricity in Watertown, Massachusetts, is “working to make this future a reality, developing wireless electricity technology that will operate safely and efficiently over distances ranging from centimeters to several meters—and will deliver power ranging from milliwatts to kilowatts.”  Imagine the day when American coal-powered plasma converters will deliver American-made electricity to the roadways to recharge American-made electric cars on-the-go.  This recharging could take place through structures above, beside, or in the road itself.  The cord for the electric car can be gone for good!  This kind of vision has importance for national security policy as well as transportation and energy policy.

America has vast amounts of energy. We need true competition and the courage to use emerging technologies for the years ahead.  Those who see an American decline are badly mistaken.

Tagged ,
Oct 08 2012
Leave a comment
Term Limits

Term Limits for the U. S. Congress

I believe that it’s time for term limits for members of the United States Congress.  Nine terms in the United States House of Representatives and three terms in the United States Senate can give ample opportunity for someone on either side of the aisle to make a difference as a citizen-servant in Washington, D. C.

What would happen if the usual buyers of influence did not have the usual takers of money in the next election cycle?  Incumbents might see the end of their time in Washington and wish to work on their legacy from the first day instead of working to stay there forever.

There is a great depth of willing, capable, and passionate leadership on both sides of the aisle.  It’s unfortunate that America’s highest circle of leadership is bound up with lifeless self-perpetuation.   The United States Congress is held in low esteem by the American people, and with good reason.  Many members don’t have the good sense to move on.  Who is so prideful as to believe that an important American institution cannot go on without him or her?  I believe that members of Congress should go there to serve instead of establishing a life-long career.  If someone wants to serve in Washington for a lifetime, let that person serve eighteen years in the House, eighteen years in the Senate, and eight years in the White House.  I believe that term limits work well for the Presidency. I believe that term limits can work well for Congress.

Tagged