i discovered politics during the jimmy carter 70's...i knew who ford was...and i had heard of nixon...but i didn't really begin to grasp the concept of politics until the peanut farmer...and while times were rough...and he blundered the whole hostage thing...i never felt like any of the adults around me faulted carter for how things were...
flash forward to my first vote...the way i saw it...there were three ways i could do it...i could vote for personality...the person i liked...i could vote for politics...the party that served my interests...or...i could vote for my principles...the things i believe in...
nothing else stood for what i believe in more than the libertarian party...i understood that the libertarians weren't likely to get elected...i understood that there were things about the libertarians that i disagreed with...and there have been some libertarians that were downright disgusting...none of that mattered...the way i saw it...the only thing that i cared about was the principle of the matter...
i understand now that was madness...the american political system has always been a very pragmatic one...it goes hand in hand with capitalism...it's based on self interest...the candidate who can appeal to the interests of the most people...wins...and that person goes on to create and maintain...the best working form of government that they can negotiate...towards meeting the needs of those they represent...
ultimately...i have figured out that the libertarians don't represent me...can't represent me...because they have no practical voice in government...in order for me to have a government the most suits me...i need to support the party most likely to be able to make the changes necessary to do so...
watching what went down in new orleans...i now know that reducing government is not the answer...when you reduce government...there is no one there to pick you up when you fall...literally...so...it's long past time for some change...
now more than ever...it is time for change...
as long as the democrats stand for fiscal responsibility...i'll stand for them...
as long as the democrats stand for measured and thoughtful foreign policy...i'll stand for them...
as long as democrats stand for the right to privacy...i'll stand for them...
as long as democrats stand for preserving hard won civil rights...i'll stand for them...
notice...this is not unconditional support...the dems have to...walk the walk...the have to stand up...and be for something...about something...otherwise...i'm still just throwing my vote away...
