Kaukolastan
01-06-2005, 07:42
This is my Handy-Dandy Disclaimer on... myself.
This is the breakdown on what it means to be K-stan, so that you can all appreciate where I come from with my warped opinions and off-key remarks.
I'm an eight on the economic freedom, and a two on the civil freedoms on the compass. I'd vote Libertarian, but they can't win, and they get a little "wet behind the ears idealist" at times, so I tend to be pragmatic and vote Republican.
That being said, the whole "Compassionate Conservative" thing is utter crock; it's Big Government, but OUR Big Government. I'm an olde tyme conservative, even thought I'm in college. I believe in small government, low taxes, and a balanced budget. I don't want to cut Welfare and Social Security to fuck the poor, the elderly, and minorities, but I want to cut those to save the future generations, and to encourage self-reliance.
I'd like no corporate laws, but I know people suck, so I appreciate reasonable guidelines. I work in a Union, and I see the ineptitude it spawns. ("Gee, let's work slower to get more OVERTIME!" and "You can't fire me... I've been here since JESUS was in the FISH DEPARTMENT!") Organized labor is a dinosaur. And a flabby one, at that, but it's needed to counter a unilateral company, if and when they spawn.
I hate taxes, but I know they're necessary. Still, the US tax code requires a college degree to understand, and you could use it as a booster seat at Gigantor's table. DOES IT NEED TO BE THAT FUCKING COMPLEX? How about this: you're taxed a fixed rate... period. Even better: you pay no income tax, but you're taxed on all consumption! That way, the rich, who live extravagantly, would be taxed more by default, and the poor, not as much. (It would also put more money in the economy. Woot!) The current code was written by lawyers, for lawyers.
I think any government official wanting to raise taxes, or their own salary, should be given an old fashion witch test. AKA, chucked into a pond. If they survive, they're burned as a witch. If they drown, they were innocent, and the rest of the government will get the raise.
I believe in nuanced situations, and in grayscale events. I know that not every situation has an easy out, and that broad statements, while fun for Crossfire or these forums, are utter crap. For this reason, I have a hard time giving short answers on the forum, and will bore many of you to tears.
Contrarily (is that a word?), I realize that you need to draw some lines. At some point, you need to set down a law, and say, "This is allowed, this is not." or you will be drowned in eternal dithering. (Hello, Athens! Glad to see you could vote on a war while the Spartans burn down your city!) For this reason, I will infuriate people.
I believe in freewill, in self-reliance, in individual freedoms. I also believe in social responsibility, and in good conscience. I believe in a rational world.
I know people suck.
I combine logic with suckage to form a "Realist" worldview, which, while not pretty, is relatively accurate. People work in self interest, be it enlightened or not. Governments are not people, they do not have friends and enemies, they have interests. Groups want power.
My motto on economics: It is better to rely on greed than generosity. You'll get surer results.
My motto on governance: Everybody loves an authoritarian state, so long as it's THEIR authoritarian state. (This is why I'm libertarian, even though I have strong views on some issues.)
I'm a conservative, but I don't eat babies. In fact, most people think I'm a rather nice guy.
This is the convoluted morass of a modern conservative's mind. Ask anything you want. (Asking me to "die", "suck it", or "eat me" will be ignored.)
Let's Talk! :fluffle:
K-stan
This is the breakdown on what it means to be K-stan, so that you can all appreciate where I come from with my warped opinions and off-key remarks.
I'm an eight on the economic freedom, and a two on the civil freedoms on the compass. I'd vote Libertarian, but they can't win, and they get a little "wet behind the ears idealist" at times, so I tend to be pragmatic and vote Republican.
That being said, the whole "Compassionate Conservative" thing is utter crock; it's Big Government, but OUR Big Government. I'm an olde tyme conservative, even thought I'm in college. I believe in small government, low taxes, and a balanced budget. I don't want to cut Welfare and Social Security to fuck the poor, the elderly, and minorities, but I want to cut those to save the future generations, and to encourage self-reliance.
I'd like no corporate laws, but I know people suck, so I appreciate reasonable guidelines. I work in a Union, and I see the ineptitude it spawns. ("Gee, let's work slower to get more OVERTIME!" and "You can't fire me... I've been here since JESUS was in the FISH DEPARTMENT!") Organized labor is a dinosaur. And a flabby one, at that, but it's needed to counter a unilateral company, if and when they spawn.
I hate taxes, but I know they're necessary. Still, the US tax code requires a college degree to understand, and you could use it as a booster seat at Gigantor's table. DOES IT NEED TO BE THAT FUCKING COMPLEX? How about this: you're taxed a fixed rate... period. Even better: you pay no income tax, but you're taxed on all consumption! That way, the rich, who live extravagantly, would be taxed more by default, and the poor, not as much. (It would also put more money in the economy. Woot!) The current code was written by lawyers, for lawyers.
I think any government official wanting to raise taxes, or their own salary, should be given an old fashion witch test. AKA, chucked into a pond. If they survive, they're burned as a witch. If they drown, they were innocent, and the rest of the government will get the raise.
I believe in nuanced situations, and in grayscale events. I know that not every situation has an easy out, and that broad statements, while fun for Crossfire or these forums, are utter crap. For this reason, I have a hard time giving short answers on the forum, and will bore many of you to tears.
Contrarily (is that a word?), I realize that you need to draw some lines. At some point, you need to set down a law, and say, "This is allowed, this is not." or you will be drowned in eternal dithering. (Hello, Athens! Glad to see you could vote on a war while the Spartans burn down your city!) For this reason, I will infuriate people.
I believe in freewill, in self-reliance, in individual freedoms. I also believe in social responsibility, and in good conscience. I believe in a rational world.
I know people suck.
I combine logic with suckage to form a "Realist" worldview, which, while not pretty, is relatively accurate. People work in self interest, be it enlightened or not. Governments are not people, they do not have friends and enemies, they have interests. Groups want power.
My motto on economics: It is better to rely on greed than generosity. You'll get surer results.
My motto on governance: Everybody loves an authoritarian state, so long as it's THEIR authoritarian state. (This is why I'm libertarian, even though I have strong views on some issues.)
I'm a conservative, but I don't eat babies. In fact, most people think I'm a rather nice guy.
This is the convoluted morass of a modern conservative's mind. Ask anything you want. (Asking me to "die", "suck it", or "eat me" will be ignored.)
Let's Talk! :fluffle:
K-stan