No Generic Labels, Please. No Slogan Politics.

Though I consider myself to be a Conservative, I also consider myself to be a Secular Conservative–i.e. pro-Defense, pro-Fiscal Discipline, pro States Rights, pro-Small Government–and yes, pro Family Values, but not in the traditional sense. I am an atheist, first of all, and so believe that religious values should not be legislated. Morality should be urged, and politicians should be shining examples of human decency (but rarely are). I even think communities should have some say over the morality of their members, as in local government should be able to decide what is considered indecent behavior, etc.

But I am firmly pro gay-rights; pro-choice within reason (though I abhor the concept of abortion!); and anti Church and State. This may not be the status quo of modern Conservatism, but in my mind it is in spirit with the concept of Individual Freedom that true Conservatism exemplifies. On these points, I find myself in unity with the Left, and perhaps I even scare away some Conservative readers. I don’t care. I believe what I believe. On gun control, I believe that communities should have the final word, trumping “higher” levels of government. On education, I think States should have more control, and Federal less.

On marijuana, though I don’t use it, I think it should be legalized, produced by Corporations, and heavily taxed. This way several things would be accomplished: First, we’d free up an overloaded jail system; second, we’d have fewer drug runners crossing the border; third, we’d take money away from drug cartels and put it in the hands of government and into private investors’ pockets; fourth, we’d do away with the pot-dealer, who is so often the cocaine-dealer, the meth-dealer, and the heroin-dealer as well. Marijuana is mostly a gateway drug due to the nature of the purchase. For many teens, it’s easier to get pot than it is to get beer.

I am not a “legalize it” freak, and I think most drugs should be illegal. I think meth dealers and cooks should get stiffer penalties. I think legalizing marijuana would free up valuable law-enforcement resources to fight real criminals.

I just try to look at these issues from a practical point of view. The worst I’ve seen come from a “pot addict” is the unhealthy consumption of chips, cigarettes, and television. Survival of the fittest will “weed” out stoners faster and more efficiently than the government. The worst I’ve seen from other drugs is far more tragic, and it is against these drugs that the bulk of our law enforcement should be focused. I am pro War on Drugs. I just think we need to re-prioritize. You could probably fund the Drug War off of the taxes on legal marijuana.

How’s that for irony?

In regards to abortion, I think that if Roe v Wade is overturned due to its lack of Constitutionality, that the abortion issue should be turned over to the States. This might lead to some States outlawing abortion–true–but people would still have an option. Those states with voters who decided it was an option to get an abortion would be places women could go to obtain one. I think that a Judicial legalization of abortion is no more unconstitutional than a Federal ban would be.

In terms of gay marriage, I think it should be a moot point. I think all adults should have a right to marry whoever they please (but only one at a time, thank you Mormon Fundamentalists) and that the government really has no say in marriage as it is a Church institution. The government should only have the power to grant “domestic partnership” licenses to anybody. Marriage should be conducted by the religious organizations.

In regards to national defense and the War on Terror, I say we need more funding, more training, better technology. We also need diplomacy, of course, and that should not be forgotten. And we should not abandon the Iraqi people as we have in the past, and as we have in places around the world. The entrance and withdrawal in Vietnam were both mistakes. Let’s not do it again! Liberals, don’t you think we owe it to the Iraqi people to finish the job at least enough to avoid an all-out genocide?

In terms of Fiscal Discipline, I’m not against debt by any means–it can be necessary and good for the economy–but I am against frivolous government spending; earmarking; and the deep, dark pork barrel we’ve gotten ourselves into. Something isn’t right, and smacks of corruption and greed.

I believe in lower, lower, lower taxes. We need a flat tax, plain and simple, and we need much lower corporate taxes. Growth is good. More growth means more returns. It’s not how much we Tax, it’s how much we Collect. Liberals always seem to forget this.

In any case, I just wanted to say that probably my views on many things are controversial to both sides. To some, I’m too conservative, to some I’m too liberal. To some I’m too hard on religion, to others I let religion off the hook. Some readers believe I’m too hard on Islam, others find my stance weak.

I just think we need to be honest with ourselves, no matter how people feel about it. We can’t please everybody. Mitt Romney is a good example of this. All we can do is be true to what we believe in, state our arguments, and then listen with an open ear and an open mind to those who would refute us.