I do dislike “hey, look at me” posts, but, well, maybe we better. ‘Cause, we know Katherine leans left. And we know Moe Lane leans right. But how the heck do I lean?
Twenty things to know about von’s politics follows.
Twenty things about von’s politics:
1. Without getting into a debate regarding certain (conceded) deficiencies in the IMF and WTO, free trade is the salvation of the world. But, as with other forms of salvation, it is not easy, costless, or neat.
2. I supported the decision to attack Iraq, although I criticize certain aspects of Bush’s Iraq policy.
3. Unions were critical in reforming employment laws for the period commencing in 1880 and continuing through 1966. They are no longer.
4. I support gay marriage, although I believe it should be done by legislative rather than judicial act.
5. I oppose abortion on moral grounds — except for cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. For purely pragmatic reasons, however, I support the regulation of (rather than outright prohibition of) abortion in cases other than rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother.*
6. I support the legalization of marijuana.
7. Affirmative Action is still required because racism (and its effects) still linger. Ironically, however, economically-based affirmative action may be a better cure for racism than racially-based affirmative action. (The nuances of this are too complex to address here.)
8. I support the right to bear arms. I believe, however, that many of my firearm-bearing-compatriots misread the Second Amendment in their zeal to hold onto their sweet, sweet guns. The Second Amendment does not confer a personal right, and it does not apply to State prohibitions on firearms.
9. There is only one China. Accordingly, Taiwan must be dissuaded from further asserting its independence. That’s pure pragmatism, folks: In the words of a less-than-temperate Red Army General: No American President will sacrifice L.A. for Taipei.
10. We took an unnecessarily long time to negotiate with North Korea regarding NK’s nuclear arsenal. It made us look foolish and weak, and increased the risk of disaster.
11. I am a proud member of the ACLU. I do not, however, endorse each of its causes.
12. I believe that there are three possible ends to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: (1) a negotiated settlement by which Israel gives up the West Bank and Gaza to a denuded Palestinian state, in exchange for Palestinians giving up the right to return; (2) genocide; or (3) eternal war. I prefer option #1. Until option #1 comes to pass, however, consider me a supporter of Israel.**
13. Although I do not oppose deficits per se, I see little merit (and much danger) in the knowing accumulation of long-term debt. In other words, I opposed most (though not all) aspects of the Bush tax cuts.
14. Intellectual property laws must be enforced.
15. Despite some risks, the privatization of social security would be a net “good thing.”
16. I honestly have not made up my mind as to whether there should be drilling in ANWAR. I don’t even have a gut feeling one way or the other. And, since I appear to be the only person on the planet to have this particular (non) position, I’m gonna put it down as one of my 20.
17. I support the increased use of pollution credits as an environmental measure. I ask only that the number of available credits be fixed, and that they slowly but steadily decrease according to a well-publicized schedule.
18. Everyone should have legal representation after a year in captivity, and, yeah, this includes noncitizen enemy combatants who want to kill us. I have no opinion as to whether this belief finds support in the Constitution.
19. I am categorically opposed to Hummer-sized SUVs in large cities. While I’m on the subject, I’m also in favor of free weights, push ups, dips, and pullups; weight training should never be done exclusively by machine. (There is a tenuous connection, though it’s not obvious. And, yeah, one or two machines are acceptable.)
20. I believe that we must plan to be in Iraq, at present levels of commitment, for the next five years. A pox on anyone who says or implies otherwise.
Now, let’s hear your top twenty.
von
*Why allow abortion in some circumstances but not others? Well, not all existence is equal. Sorry.
**Because option #3 beats option #2. A prisoner’s dilemma, perhaps?
*gasp* a centrist! Quick, get the paralyzing dart so I can fit him with a radio tag!
On the other hand, I agree with a large majorty of the stated points, and there are some, such as 11, that I disagree with as stated but see room for common ground if you were moving beyond the declarative, and I’m no centrist. Bush. Grr.
3. (Toss unions) Well, for most blog readers, but how do you plan to insure reasonable salaries and benefits for menial laborers, school teachers, bus drivers, orderlies, etc? How do you feel about Walmart? And our use of illegal migrant workers?
9. (One China) Screw pragmatism on this one. The other 4/5th of the world should say, Look, you can continue to pretend you own the Taiwanese until such a time as you become a mature nation, but mess with them and you’ll lose our respect and your seat on the Security Council. (Yeah, I wouldn’t want President Clark to include that in his Inaugural Address.)
15. (Privatize Social Security) Doesn’t this mean, subject the poor to market fluctuations so the rich don’t have to subsidize them?
16. (Anwar) Off the table – and as far as I can tell not a serious issue except for Alaska’s political muscle, since it would likely yield a small amount of expensive oil only after years of work. Why not put a point about renewable energy here?
O hell, Von, twenty????????????
Here goes (not in order)
1. Free trade
2. I’m comfortable with whatever tax burden is required to defend the country, educate our children, enforce reasonable laws and provide a social catastrophe net. But not more than that.
3. Government intervention usually leads to a cluster#@^*.
4. The UN is a dangerous organization.
5. The Constitution is a dead document, not a living one.
6. Abortion is always a bad thing, but I’d rather leave the decision in the hands of a family than the gov’t.
7. No death penalty.
8. A national sales tax, with carve outs for clothing, food and housing (need based) is superior to an income tax.
8. School vouchers are a good idea. Let’s give poor kids at least some of the same choices rich kids get.
9. Charitable giving is a moral imperative.
10. More reliance on Nuclear power is part of the solution to our energy issues.
11.The environment and animals should be treated with respect, but not as Gods.
12. If we are going to fight a War on Terror, then we should be on a war footing.
13. Legally at least, gay unions/mariages should have all the same rights/responsibilities as traditional marriage.
14. The Second Amendment conferrs an individual right. (I agree with Laurence Tribe)
15. Federal Budget deficits are bad, and to be avoided, but are not the most important economic consideration.
16. Our current method of Gerrymandering is a significant problem. Districts should be of a non-snake shape whenever possible.
17. Our borders must be strengthened. It should be difficult to get into the country illeagally, relatively straightforward legally. Obtaining citizenship should be made easier. Immagrints are our cultural and economic lifeblood. (Yes that contradicts “war footing”)
Oh hell I’m done.
“1. Without getting into a debate regarding certain (conceded) deficiencies in the IMF and WTO, free trade is the salvation of the world. But, as with other forms of salvation, it is not easy, costless, or neat.”
Ooh, nicely put.
Note also that like other forms of salvation it is easily confused with other issues that are not relevant. Yah, I’m thinking of the “Singapore issues” (see Cancun, collapse of.)
You can color your hair bright pink and still be saved — hell, you can wear a mullet and still be saved. And you can do dumb things (eat Twinkies for breakfast every morning, smoke like a chimney, read and reread Piers Anthony novels) and still be saved.
Similarly, you can restrict or prohibit various forms of foreign investment, refuse to privatize government-owned businesses, and still engage in free trade. Doing those things is not so smart, but it doesn’t directly affect your salvation.
I don’t agree with those conspiracy theorists who think that placing these issues on the WTO agenda was part of the Evil Capitalist Conspiracy to Privatize Everything. But I do think it was tactically a fairly huge mistake, albeit an obvious and tempting one.
Hmm, that’s (1). (2) through (20) might have to wait until we meet FTF. Von, do you live in the greater NYC or DC areas?
Doug M.
In other news, Obsidian Wings is still hanging on at fifth place — not falling, but not advancing either. But it’s still a closely run pack, with second and third place just a few tantalizing votes away.
Come on, people. You do know you can vote again every twelve hours, right?
(Or more than that if you clean your cookies. But that, of course, would be wrong.)
http://wizbangblog.com/poll.php
Doug M.
*gasp* a centrist! Quick, get the paralyzing dart so I can fit him with a radio tag!
But we’re so happy here in our little mini-ecosystem…* 🙂
Moe
*Seriously, I don’t have time to write up a similar list, but looking over von’s list I find that on most of them I’m within at least spitting distance of agreement. So, I suspect, would Katherine.
Screw all that.
The important issue is cats or dogs?
Weeeellll, I can’t address every criticism of every point — I’d be responding ad infinitum. This was only to give everyone an idea of where I’m coming from. (Indeed, I could write several pages in response to Doug Muir‘s points on free trade.) Still, I’ll respond to this:
3. (Toss unions) Well, for most blog readers, but how do you plan to insure reasonable salaries and benefits for menial laborers, school teachers, bus drivers, orderlies, etc? How do you feel about Walmart? And our use of illegal migrant workers?
I don’t reject the validity of unions in all circumstances. There are always exceptions. But, to address one of your groups, I’d say that school teachers’ unions have had a decidedly mixed effect on the quality of education in the U.S.
The important issue is cats or dogs?
Cats. No, wait, dogs. No . . .
(That’s the trouble with the squishy middle . . . )
Oh, and thanks Spc. We have more common ground than I thought (and I agree with item #10).
Well, go ahead and write those pages sometime, when time allows. I’d be interested.
I live in the Balkans, BTW. Sloppy and/or corrupt privatization has done a lot of damage here. Good privatization is a lot harder to do than people realize. So when the state has a very limited capacity for making honest, transparent and efficient sales — which is usually the case — sometimes it’s better to muddle along with a not-so-great state-owned enterprise, at least in the medium term.
I won’t even get into the whole issue of navigating between the Scylla of nationalist xenophobic keep-out-the-foreigners restrictions on foreign direct investment and the Charybdis of prematurely throwing open the doors to all comers.
(Yeah, it works great in theory. “Let’s move to theory. Everything works /there/!”)
Point being, the whole Singapore issues thing could have been handled way better than it was.
Anyhow.
Doug M.
Von, my man, good list: A few meaningless comments
1. Yes for free trade
2. Yes on War
3. Yes, on diminishing need for unions. Certainly, no need for govt employee unions. But, they were vital as a check against Corp. excess.
4. I’m becoming more tolerant of homosexuality as a I get older — and am open to arguments re marriage, but not there yet.
5. Total agreement on abortion. Huge tragedy.
6. Not for legalizin’ dope. Seen too many wasted lives and street urchins strung out.
7. No for affirmative action. Hurts, rather than helps blacks.
8. 2nd Amendment fan, but not a hunter.
9. Support Taiwan
10. Bomb North Korea
11. Similar to unions, we don’t really need ACLU anymore.
12. Strong supporter of Israel; complicated issue.
13. Yes on tax cuts; cut spending to cut deficits.
14. Hire von to protect your patents
15. Yes on partially privatizing social security.
16. Drill ANWAR ASAP. Arctic wasteland out there.
17. Fine with pollution credits
18. No lawyers (God no!) for enemy combattants. Get a uniform or get hanged.
19. Own a “modest” SUV. Opted against those big ass ones.
20. Stay in Iraq as long as necessary.
Dogs
Concisely done, von, and an enjoyable challenge for the day.
1) Free trade is, overall, a good thing; you can futz at the margins but ultimately it’s better to have open doors and competition than a trade war of all against all. Globalization is something you can be about as “for” or “against” as gravity.
2) I was a skeptic-leaning-against on the invasion of Iraq; some of my worries have come to pass and some have not.
3) Unions fulfill the same role as police officers: at least half of their importance is not in what they do as in what doesn’t happen because they exist. I think that despite instances of overstretch they’re still a necessary political force.
4) I’m about as pro-gay-marriage as you can get.
5) I dislike abortion on moral grounds and accept its existence on practical/legal grounds. I’m in the “safe, legal and rare” school.
6) Pass the dutchie.
7) Affirmative action needs to remain in place not as an apology for past discrimination but as a necessary corrective to the structural racism that continues to exist.
8) I stand well to the right of many of my fellow lefties and even many moderates on gun control: I think there is a right to individual possession, implied from the evidence of the 2nd and 9th amendments. There are reasonable restrictions to be made, but they should be taken on very, very cautiously.
9) I’m not a China expert, and can’t be said to have too strong of feelings on this point, but I agree with von that Taiwan is not a subject I want to get into a war over.
10) Yes, yes, yes: we were trying to avoid negotiating so as not to lose face, and ended up losing face by getting to pretty much the same end that we would have gotten to by negotiating earlier.
11) I generally dig the ACLU.
12) I’m a strong supporter of a two-state solution, with an emphasis on the security of the existence of Israel.
13) Deficits are not inherently bad. Big structural deficits that will force higher taxes, the destruction of services, or national bankruptcy down the line are a bad idea, and intellectually dishonest as well.
14) Not a top issue for me, but yes, intellectual property is important.
15) Privatization of social security has its merits, but it would fundamentally change the nature of social security: it would cease to be a true safety net. I’m skittish about it for that reason.
16) I’d happily accept ANWR drilling as a transitional part of a compromise that also radically rejiggered our current dependence on oil. Without a serious commitment to changing that dependence, ANWR drilling is a strategy of childish denial.
17) Pollution credits are a decent policy as long as they’re very strictly enforced and the schedule of reductions is significant and clear.
18) We should always err on the side of allowing legal counsel. Too much due process is safer than too little.
19) If a manufacturer wants to put a car on the road, fine. Just make sure it meets the same standards of safety and environmental friendliness. Also, please don’t park it in a compact-only spot in a supermarket parking lot, or you will be convicted and sentenced to testicular electrocution.
20) We broke it, we bought it, and I think a five-year commitment is probably a smart move, because we want to make absolutely sure that whatever replaces the old regime is both safe and stable.
Heck, it turns out I even agree with Navy Davy on some of these.
OK, so I come off a lot more left than I thought I would, but if these are the categories, most are easy to choose.
Preface: Definitely Dogs.
1. Yes on Free trade (let the rich beware though).
2. No on attacking Iraq (reasonable objective, terribly wrong timing).
3. Unions are not critical.
4. Yes on gay marriage. Yes on legislative solutions.
5. Yes on woman’s right to choose. “Don’t do it,” the advice I give any woman who asks me.
6. Yes on legalizing weed.
7. Yes on Affirmative action.
8. Yes on 2nd Amendment, with stricter laws caveat.
9. Screw China.*
10. Screw NK.**
11. Yes on ACLU.
12. Yes on Palestinian state. No on settlements. Yes on helping Arafat die.
13. No on Bush tax cuts.
14. Yes on copyright law enforcement.
15. No on privitizing social security.
16. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO on drilling in ANWAR. REPEAT NO, NO, NO, NO, NO
17. Don’t know enough to have intelligent opinion.
18. Yes on representation while in prison, even for combattants.
19. No on SUVs in the city. We don’t let 747’s use our highways or Mack Trucks use our bicycle paths. Get those monstrosities out of the city.
20. Yes to being in Iraq until the job is done right.
*Emotional response…good thing I’m not Commander in Chief.
**ditto.
Roughly speaking–really, almost exactly speaking, I’m Seth. Though those aren’t the 20 things I’d put as my highest priorities. I’ll make my own list when I recover from this Corporations final that I just handed in, because this is a very good topic. And not a vanity post. This is a vanity post:
WOOO!!! HOOO!!!! I never have to read the RMBCA or Delaware Chancery Court decisions again! I am done with Corporations forever! Except maybe suing them, but that’s more fun.
(This is all assuming I passed, don’t want to pull a kinehora. But I’m pretty sure I did).
This post is so I don’t screw up everyone else’s html. See, that’s why I’m not posting to the main blog.
ok, if this doesn’t work I give up. sorry.
Von,
FWIW, I think a telling thing would be to limit everyone’s votes to the five they feel strongest about and get a better idea what folks priorities are. From your list for me it’s
1. Free Trade
2. Second Amendemant
3. Legal representation
4. Stay in Iraq until job is done
5. Privatize SS.
Navy Davy
“Drill ANWAR ASAP. Arctic wasteland out there.”
What is it with this wasteland nonsense? This is the second time I’ve run across it today while strolling through blogland.
The coastal plain is NOT a wasteland Navy. Get a grip. (I have no objection to you arguing in favour of drilling for oil in the area, just don’t use that asinine meme to do it please).
Yukoner
Von, Here’s where we differ (:
1. Free trade is the salvation of the world. So force the EU to open up to GM foods, and let Africa stop starving. Use US Market power until the EU stops bitching about US tax structure. No tariffs.
2. I supported the decision to attack Iraq, in 1990, and mourned the half measures in 1991-2003. Bush 41 was well meaning, but failed to stop Mid-east extremists (really a failure since Nixon). Bush 43 is doing great with limited resources. (Don’t get me started on the complete evisceration of US intel in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and ‘90’s.)
4. I support gay civil union, although I believe it should be done by legislative rather than judicial act. I fear the unintended consequences regarding Domestic (child custody and welfare) laws, I would prefer allowing gays to achieve the same “marriage-like” legal benefits through contract, as opposed to “lifestyle approval”. I believe gays should be allowed to adopt, and those who have children are parents, just like straights. But, the clout of the Gay community scares me as regards to whether child welfare enforcement is up to the task — the overworked childrens service is not equipped to buck pc. (There was a particularly horrendous case here in Ohio.) Judicial activism will open the doors to further “defining deviancy downward.” Gay politicization supporting public sex, and especially AIDS is destructive and a tragedy.
5. I oppose abortion on moral grounds — except for cases of a threat to the life of the mother. It is sad that “feminism” has sold the idea that to be equal to men, women should be free (in the sense of free of social censure) to be as promiscuous as the most base male.
6. I support the legalization of marijuana, as long as employers, including the government, are legally entitled to discriminate on the basis of any use of psychotropic drugs.
7. Affirmative Action is rarely required because racism (and its effects) still linger. Economically-based affirmative action is the only acceptable cure for racism, besides recourse to civil rights prosecutions for provable instances of illegal discrimination.
8. I support the right to bear arms as the Second Amendment does confer a personal right, and it does apply to State prohibitions on firearms. In fact the entire Bill of Rights was intended to be incorporated with the passage of the 14th Amendment in 1872, The Slaughter house cases should be repealed, and the privileges and immunities clause enforced (which would immediately affirm the Civil Rights Statutes without recourse to “substantive due process” while at the same time outlaw race-based affirmative action).
9. Taiwan must be encouraged to assert its independence. That’s pure pragmatism, folks: we cannot appease a less-than-temperate Red Army General: No Chinese aparachnik will sacrifice his sinecure, or risk anihilation for Taipei. The Chinese would not invade Vietnam in the ‘70’s, they will not force a sea crossing in the face of a US Fleet.
10. Regarding NK’s nuclear arsenal, Clinton and Carter (especially Carter) made us look foolish and weak by appeasing Kim, and increased the risk of disaster. Bush pressured China to act.
11. The ACLU is a good idea that has been subverted. It is anti-religious, anti-historical, and hysterically anti-republican.
13. Tax cuts are the only way to limit any level of government.
16. Drill ANWAR. Dig coal (the US has a 200 year supply that would power the country). Cut Timber (judiciously). Take the wilderness back from the Sierra Club and its shadows, PETA, ALF, ELF, WWF, Greenpeace. Economic development creates clean, non-burning environment.
17. I support the increased use of pollution credits as an environmental measure. “Global Warming” is junk science.
18. Noncitizen enemy combatants who want to kill us can rot humanely in Cuba. This belief finds support in the Constitution. These thugs should only be released when it assists the anti-terror effort.
19. SUV’s are a red herring. The real problem is over-the-road trucking that destroys the road. Auto drivers, including those with SUV’s, subsidize the trucking industry, make the Semi’s pay their own way, encourage more use of freight rail, limit the number of trailers to one. Damn, I know this will cost money.
My other five: A. Open the borders to guest workers; Close the borders to illegal immigrants; prosecute violations by employers, deport illegals, jail smugglers, make the borders safe; Increase legal immigration (especially guest workers who have shown good behavior).
B. De-fund the UN, it is a gathering of despots with little legitimacy; Laugh at isolationism in any form (Dean and Buchanan are mirror images); work to limit Castro’s influence anywhere and everywhere; mock hollywood and academic support for leftist desposts, Castro in particular.
C. Redevelop US cities — it is embarassing that European cities are so culturally livable, while US cities decline and life is homogeneous.
D. Open higher education to conservatives; encourage western civilization and the study thereof; discourage wahhibism and sharia.
E. Prosecute narco-terrorism as harshly as islamo-terror.
Jeepers, the Instadude linked to you three. Is this the high point???????????
1.Without getting into a debate regarding certain (conceded) deficiencies in the IMF and WTO, free trade is the salvation of the world. But, as with other forms of salvation, it is not easy, costless, or neat.
Agree. But call me nasty if you will I’m wondering if I want all the world saved. I’m having a tough time thinking that the more we “save” the world free tradewise, the less chance Americans (my family specifically) have to reach a higher level of income than I have. I think that there’s a maximum amount of stuff people can buy/use and eventually everything would settle out to a common denominator much higher than your average East African, but much lower than your average American. Not sure I’m comfortable with that. I’m less sure that I’m comfortable with myself for feeling that way.
2.I supported the decision to attack Iraq, although I criticize certain aspects of Bush’s Iraq policy.
Agree
3.Unions were critical in reforming employment laws for the period commencing in 1880 and continuing through 1966. They are no longer.
Agree
4.I support gay marriage, although I believe it should be done by legislative rather than judicial act.
Agree
5.I oppose abortion on moral grounds — except for cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. For purely pragmatic reasons, however, I support the regulation of (rather than outright prohibition of) abortion in cases other than rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother.*
I too oppose abortion, but don’t think we can legislate what happens to a woman. I have a hard time believing that its so tough to bring the child to term, except if the mother is endangered, and offering it for adoption. I think that abortion is mainly a way for women to see a child as an “it” rather than a child and thus make it easier to be rid of vs. having to give it up once born. But in the end, its her body, and her piece to make with (her) God.
6.I support the legalization of marijuana.
On one hand I do too, its like alcohol right? As long as there are laws around the age of purchase and its use while operating a motor vehicle etc. what the heck. However, its also carcinogenic right? If you could go back and have the option, or not of legalizing cigarettes would you? I can’t say. I’m on the fence (except when its used as medicine or pain reliever for those in need, then it’s the individuals choice of pain now, cancer later).
7.Affirmative Action is still required because racism (and its effects) still linger. Ironically, however, economically-based affirmative action may be a better cure for racism than racially-based affirmative action. (The nuances of this are too complex to address here.)
Agree.
8.I support the right to bear arms. I believe, however, that many of my firearm-bearing-compatriots misread the Second Amendment in their zeal to hold onto their sweet, sweet guns. The Second Amendment does not confer a personal right, and it does not apply to State prohibitions on firearms.
I support the right as well, and if some state decides to ban some types, well, shame on those that let them. Don’t like the laws in your state? Move or change’em.
9.There is only one China. Accordingly, Taiwan must be dissuaded from further asserting its independence. That’s pure pragmatism, folks: In the words of a less-than-temperate Red Army General: No American President will sacrifice L.A. for Taipei.
True, but den Beste made a pretty good argument lately about how China could never really invade Taiwan.
10.We took an unnecessarily long time to negotiate with North Korea regarding NK’s nuclear arsenal. It made us look foolish and weak, and increased the risk of disaster.
Agree, but this argument about the US being somehow weak because we decided to take out Hussein before he got nukes and left Kim in place because he has them is poppyc*ck. With the artillery NK has pointed at SK, we’d be tight about invading them even without the nukes. Different situations, different plans.
11.I am a proud member of the ACLU. I do not, however, endorse each of its causes.
Not a member, do support them though.
12.I believe that there are three possible ends to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: (1) a negotiated settlement by which Israel gives up the West Bank and Gaza to a denuded Palestinian state, in exchange for Palestinians giving up the right to return; (2) genocide; or (3) eternal war. I prefer option #1. Until option #1 comes to pass, however, consider me a supporter of Israel.**
Agree. After traveling Europe last summer and seeing the Jewish cemetery in Prague, 5 guards with automatic weapons backed by an armored car as the standard security for a Berlin synagogue etc. etc. I can safely say that if anyone deserves the support of the US, its Israel.
13. Although I do not oppose deficits per se, I see little merit (and much danger) in the knowing accumulation of long-term debt. In other words, I opposed most (though not all) aspects of the Bush tax cuts.
OK, I can live with that. But, I’ll continue to believe that those receiving the largest rebates tend to do better things with the money than buy another private island.
14. Intellectual property laws must be enforced.
Agree
15.Despite some risks, the privatization of social security would be a net “good thing.”
Agree
16.I honestly have not made up my mind as to whether there should be drilling in ANWAR. I don’t even have a gut feeling one way or the other. And, since I appear to be the only person on the planet to have this particular (non) position, I’m gonna put it down as one of my 20.
Hmmm, I’ll say no, simply because there’s plenty of oil out there if we’ll just pay to have it pumped out of the ground and made into gasoline.
17.I support the increased use of pollution credits as an environmental measure. I ask only that the number of available credits be fixed, and that they slowly but steadily decrease according to a well-publicized schedule.
Yeah, ok, but lets get the developing nations on board now rather than weaning them off later huh?
18.Everyone should have legal representation after a year in captivity, and, yeah, this includes noncitizen enemy combatants who want to kill us. I have no opinion as to whether this belief finds support in the Constitution.
Agree
19.I am categorically opposed to Hummer-sized SUVs in large cities. While I’m on the subject, I’m also in favor of free weights, push ups, dips, and pullups; weight training should never be done exclusively by machine. (There is a tenuous connection, though it’s not obvious. And, yeah, one or two machines are acceptable.)
I actually thought of running for SF city council on a platform of making it illegal for any vehicle with a roof that ends at the very rear parking in a spot at the end of a street. I just can’t see around’em.
20.I believe that we must plan to be in Iraq, at present levels of commitment, for the next five years. A pox on anyone who says or implies otherwise.
Agree
21.Crionna’s addition. I am against the death penalty. I used to be for it, in a “just sending some one we can’t deal with on earth to someone who can deal with him” way. But now I’m convinced that 1) it’s a poor deterrent, 2) it costs too much, 3) it’s too risky vis-à-vis killing the wrong person and most importantly 4) denies God a soul. No one should have the opportunity to atone for his/her sins taken away prematurely.
Oh yeah, DOGS, Samoyeds in particular.
Well, let’s go through von’s list before my psychosis fully sets in.
1. Pretty much what von said.
2. Pretty much what von said.
3. Actually, I agree with whoever said that half the good unions do is in the bad things they prevent from just existing. Reform necessary, though.
4. If people want to keep marriage the exclusive province of heterosexuals for religious reasons, then they should support policies that would give the formal legal/social equivalents. If they do not want to do that, then they have no kick coming when both the benefits of marriage and the title are extended to gay people.
5. I can accept the status quo of abortion policy, with the caveat that parential notification systems are not inherently bad.
6. I support the legalization of marijuana, with precisely the same restrictions associated with the consumption of alcohol, specifically including penalties for those found operating motor vehicles while under the influence… but this legalization should not be extended to military forces.
7. Affirmative Action treats the symptoms, not the disease – and does not treat the symptoms particularly well.
8. I consider the Second Amendment to be a personal right, but I do not think that it is unreasonable for individual states to regulate personal ownership of automatic weapons.
9. China and Taiwan… are problematic. I support a two-state solution, but I don’t want anyone to get killed over it.
10. North Korea… is even more so. I am rapidly thinking that the PRC should get this one.
11. I do not belong to the ACLU, but I do not consider it to be a pernicious organization. Quite often wrong, but not always.
12. Like President Bush, I favor a two-state solution… but my sympathies will default to Israel until the Palestinians stop deliberately blowing up civilians.
13. My economic kung fu is weak, but I don’t really blame or credit Presidents for economic conditions.
14. Pretty much what von said.
15. I do not touch the third rail of American politics.
16. ANWAR makes for a useful threat/goad and not much else.
17. Pollution credits seem a bit slick to me, but if they work, use them.
18. I’m not particularly concerned whether enemy combatants that we could have shot out of hand (which, actually, we could have, easily) lack legal representation. Supply them with proper food, shelter, clothing, medical care, yes; torture’s a no-no, and when we don’t think that they’re dangerous any more, let ’em go.
19. I would ban all cars in NYC. ‘Course, I don’t live there anymore.
20. We’ll be in Iraq for a while. So long that the locals will eventually blink and blanch at the loss of all that lovely money going away when we finally close down bases.
And I like both cats and dogs.
19. Own a “modest” SUV. Opted against those big ass ones.
BTW, for those who think I’m a rabid anti-SUV zealot, understand that my reason(s) to be are parkability and chuckability.* And I’m prejudiced against SUVs as a result of my current death-battle with my spouse over “how to replace our ’96 Honda Civic” (a great car). She wants this. I want that.
Pray for us.
von
*Those who know what chuckability is, know.
I just read all of the responses: My goodness. Well, done — there are so many good thoughts in this thread that I’m starting to reconsider some of my twenty.
Perhaps, per Spc, we’ll try this again — but request only the top 5.
von
p.s. I could spend the rest of my evening cheering (and occasionally booing) the insightful picks of others. But I’m so-so-so tired. So sleep I go.
Just a couple of quick responses to Moe (is this allowed?)
12. Like President Bush, I favor a two-state solution… but my sympathies will default to Israel until the Palestinians stop deliberately blowing up civilians.
Well, I do feel compelled to point out that the Israelis also blow up civilians. Whether or not it’s done deliberately can perhaps be argued. But, at a minimum, there’s no question that they’re very, very careless sometimes.
Number of Palestinian civilians killed by Israelis > number of Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians. That’s true even if you take out “collateral damage” civilian deaths (i.e., from Israeli missile attacks on Hamas leaders).
Suicide bombing is very dramatic and attracts a lot of attention; bulldozing a house, say, is much less so. But a civilian crushed under the falling house is just as dead.
Except on the fringe-ish left, Palestinian deaths attract disproportionately little attention in the West. There’s occasionally a ripple of attention when a Westerner gets killed by Israelis shooting at Palestinians (google “Ian Hook”), but this doesn’t happen very often. Yet there have been quite a lot of Palestinian civilian deaths — again, more than Israeli civilians.
N.B., I’m not taking sides (or at least, not in this post I’m not). Just saying that if you’re going to support the Israelis, then “Palestinians deliberately blow up civilians” is a weak-ish foundation for that support.
Doug M.
18. I’m not particularly concerned whether enemy combatants that we could have shot out of hand (which, actually, we could have, easily) lack legal representation. Supply them with proper food, shelter, clothing, medical care, yes; torture’s a no-no, and when we don’t think that they’re dangerous any more, let ’em go.
I don’t have a problem with that, either. The concern here is that the government has arrogated to itself the right to designate “enemy combatants”.
This means that there is literally no legal barrier standing between them naming you as an enemy combatant, stuffing you into an orange jumpsuit, and shipping you off for an all-expenses-paid trip to lovely Guantanamo Bay.
No habeas corpus; no right to counsel; no limit on the duration of your incarceration; no hearing or trial.
Further. The /other/ problem I have with this, is that the prisoners at Gitmo aren’t being granted the full rights of enemy combatants under the Geneva Conventions either. I admit this bothers me less than the first point, but it does bother me.
Either they’re prisoners of war, or they’re criminals. I’m okay with either one. Not so okay with the government doing as it pleases, because it pleases. Top of a very long and slippery slope.
Doug M.
Oddly enough, I agree with almost all of what von said. Or at least I don’t care very much about those things we do disagree about.
Then there’s:
But, to address one of your groups, I’d say that school teachers’ unions have had a decidedly mixed effect on the quality of education in the U.S.
I wouldn’t have put it nearly as kindly. If the teachers’ unions ever come off the position in support of perpetuating teacher incompetence, please wake me up.
Edward’s point about the SUVs is nonsense. A truck on a bicycle path would be illegal. A 747 on the interstate would be illegal. There are much larger trucks legally travelling the roads without Edward’s outrage directed at them. I think most people who are annoyed at SUVs are most annoyed that they can’t afford to buy one. I’m annoyed by that, too, but I don’t blame an organized construction of metal and plastic for it.
I’m occasionally annoyed by Edward, but I wouldn’t dream of trying to legislate him out of my existence.
The annoyance has nothing to do with not being able to afford one, but nice try Slarti.
It’s a size issue. The city streets are congested enough already. Parking is insane. Seeing around an SUV in traffic is impossible. Hence my hyperbolic examples of trucks on bicycle paths.
Just because it’s “legal” to drive an SUV in the city, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea by any stretch. Where does it end? When you can’t even drive down the street because there’s SUVs parked on both sides? Or do we knock down some housing and widen the streets?
It’s totally impractical and it’s getting worse.
It’s also morally offensive because of the excess and the increased fuel usage.
By the way, I don’t have outrage against these drivers. As long as it’s legal, I’ll co-exist. I’ll just legally work to outlaw SUVs in the city.
Can’t say the same for my fellow Manhattanites though. I saw a big Anarchy circle painted on the side of monstrous SUV taking up two and a half parking spaces right in front of a hydrant the other day.
I felt bad for the driver, but I understand the anger that led the graffitist to tag his vehicle.
It’s a size issue. The city streets are congested enough already. Parking is insane. Seeing around an SUV in traffic is impossible.
I’ll second Edward on that. Having an SUV in, say, Boston, New York, Chicago, or San Francisco* is, at best, a frothy mix of foolishness and egotism.
von
*City proper and near suburbs, that is. I’m not so offended by SUVs in La Grange, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). Nor am I offended by families of 25 tooling around in Suburbans — hey, they need the space. What drives me nuts, however, are two late twenty- or early thirty-somethings with no kids(+) blocking traffic on a major street because they either can’t drive or can’t park the damn thing.
(+) Such people inevitable have a dog, however, which they use to justify their purpose. (But how will we take Fido along with us, you cruel man?)
Well, lessee…that size thing.
A Lincoln navigator is only two inches wider than a Ford Crown Victoria. Add an inch, and you’ve got a Hummer H2. Yes, an H1 is six inches wider than a Lincoln Navigator. But a small U-haul on a pickup truck bed is wider than all of them.
Yes, I agree that it’s silly. But I’m not sure how (or where) you’d keep them out. “No Through Trucks”, sure, but “No Through Trucks or SUVs”? What if you’ve got a rather compact one, like the Porsche Cayenne, which is actually three inches narrower than a Crown Victoria?
I think you’ve got a tough row to hoe, there. Best just let the craze burn itself out.
My Rover is actually 2-3 inches shorter in length than my old (’87) 5-series. Because of the short overhangs, its also easier to park. Much tougher to see around, but then again, so are cars with tinted (or stuffed animal encrusted)rear windows. Use the right tool for the job….
Now, as I told someone on Totten’s board a while ago, ALL you cagers are radio-fiddling, child-attending, dog-petting, cigarette-lighting, CD-searching, Coke-drinking, sigother-groping, AC-messing, GPS-studying, makeup-applying, lunch-eating, cellphone-using menaces to everyone else within 20 feet of you. Most times when I see a person on a cellphone in any new car that insulates folks so well form their environment I flip a mental quarter to decide if I should just grab a buncha my Triumph’s loud handle and smash right into you just to get it over with already.
Whew, do I feel better!
Also, I finally remembered my second city council platform. 10% of a candidates war chest shall be placed in escrow to pay for the prompt removal of that candidate’s street advertisements from public property.
Much too lazy to have much in the way of original thought so I will go over Vons list:
1. Free trade is a good thing but what works in the US won’t and shouldn’t be expected to work everywhere.
2. I didn’t support our decision to attack Iraq. Now that we are there we should clean up after ourselves. Leaving early to help a presidential bid is not acceptable.
4. I support gay marriage.
5. People should be allowed to choose for themselves if abortion is acceptable or not.
6. I support the legalization of marijuana.
7. Affirmative Action could be an effective tool but is often instituted in a desperate attempt to ensure compliance.
12. There is way to much religion and history guiding the fate of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: a negotiated peace settlement will fall apart so Israel will extend its boarders to protect itself which will irritate its neighbors and so the cycle goes.
13. I understand the theory of Bush’s tax cuts but feel that in practice its flawed. The money people received from them was either already spoken for in outstanding debt or in the case of the fiscally responsible thrown directly into their retirement accounts.
14. Intellectual property laws must be enforced. – Von trying to make sure he still has a job tomorrow.
19. Hummers and other large SUV’s are like corvettes and other muscle machines – designed to replenish the supplies of self-esteem in the rich and uncomfortable crowd. Running, push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups are all you need to do to stay in shape. Forget machines – I am sick of those infomercials.
Also, I finally remembered my second city council platform. 10% of a candidates war chest shall be placed in escrow to pay for the prompt removal of that candidate’s street advertisements from public property.
I’d like to take that one step further: Anyone caught placing their candidate’s media to a density of more than one in any circle of radius, say, 5 meters, will be subject to escalating fines at the discretion of the council.
Really, if one placard on public land somewhere is good, are twenty twenty times as good? It’s too easy to land-mine the candidates; let the individual supporters pay the fine.
Slart,
Agree in theory, but my proposal ensures that things get cleaned up post election and ties up neither the cops in enforcement or the courts in 1st ammendment arguments.
Now, if the fine was immediately payable to any registered voter catching the culprit in the act, I’d support it….
Now, if the fine was immediately payable to any registered voter catching the culprit in the act, I’d support it….
Sold!
Re: First Amendment rights, the First doesn’t give you the right to litter. Else I could just hurl a couple of tons of leaflets out the back of a C-130, provided I had enough money to do so.
Intellectual property laws must be enforced. – Von trying to make sure he still has a job tomorrow.
Damn straight, Toby.
And, yeah, Slarti‘s right about letting the SUV craze burn itself out. (Just let me keep thinkin’ I’m holier than the Grande SUV thou.)
Dunno if I’m right or wrong, von. Only history will tell. But I’m pretty sure that the one way to get people to fight like hell to keep their SUVs is to pass laws against them.
Twenty points, oh goody!
Definitely fish or other aquatic life but cats are a close second.
(And isn’t the real question Star Trek, Star Wars, or Babylon-5?)
1) I think that the privatization of Social Security and Medicare would both be a good thing. I also think we need to phase in a higher retirement age (70-72), reduce the COLAs which overstate inflation, and means test both programs.
2) I supported the mission in Iraq and consider it part of a larger conflict either WWIV or the War on Islamofacism, take your pick. While there is always room for criticism and improvement in any campaign, I do think that most of the criticism of the post-war situation has been disingenuous and opportunistic and more about tearing down the administration than offering constructive suggestions.
3) I support free trade with (mostly) free nations but have no problem with restrictions in the case of countries that utilize slave labor, violate intellectual property rights, or use stolen, excuse me “nationalized” American assets. I also do not have a problem with using current US barriers as a negotiating tool to get other nations to lower theirs (e.g. agricultural subsidies).
4) I support free market or laissez faire capitalism and therefore industrial policy’s carrot (corporate welfare) and its stick (regulations which go beyond preventing fraud or one party harming another). Ideally things should be run as closely to a system of voluntary exchange of value for value as possible and any regulations (e.g. environmental) should be as market oriented as possible to gets the most bang (improved health, safety, fewer deaths) for the buck.
5) I favor ultimately abolishing all social welfare programs especially those for the middle class. People should be able to keep more of their own money and provide for more of their own needs. I favor policies which move as much in this direction as possible such as school choice, medical savings accounts, tax cuts, personal retirement accounts, and creating a climate most favorable to small business growth.
6) I am officially apathetically agnostic on the issue of global warming (I don’t know for certain if it is happening or why it may be happening but don’t care). There may be some evidence of warming but I am unconvinced that it is necessarily caused by humans rather than nature or that the long term problems may be worse than its benefits or that “solutions” will do more good than harm.
7) I support the right of self-defense and the right to keep and bear arms.
8) I think that judges should go by the original text, its original meaning, and the intent of the framers of the law in that order.
9) I think that federalism and the separation of powers between the States and federal government is the most important guarantor of freedom in the Constitution even if it means that some States will have silly and sometimes bad laws on the books.
10) I support the decriminalization or relegalization of most vices for adults (while allowing local governments to enact zoning and nuisance laws) but am not particularly concerned about it.
11) I support enforcing our immigration laws, deporting illegal aliens, and reforming the laws to make it easier for people who follow the rules and want to become citizens the right way.
12) I support capital punishment on moral and legal grounds but am unsure of whether it is an efficient use of finite law enforcement resources.
13) I believe in the right to protest but recognize that the people who take to the streets to exercise this right are almost invariably fools mostly interested in their own publicity or emotional whims. Anyone who lives in a society which is free and open enough to allow public protest probably has more effective and persuasive means at their disposal to effect positive change than taking to streets, mindlessly chanting a slogan, and becoming the political equivalent of a malfunctioning car alarm.
14) I think that reason and not emotion should be the guide of life and politics.
15) I support American hegemony over the world with the following plan – identify what is great about our society, preserve and protect it, and export it to as many people as possible through trade, cultural exchange, and by aspiring to set the best example we can.
16) I think that conspiracy theorists are generally a waste of time.
17) I believe that there is no difference between what is principled and what is practical.
18) I think that Roe versus Wade was wrongly decided, it should be overturned, and the issue should be returned to the States. If a person is legally considered to be deceased when we can no longer detect a brain wave, then a fetus should be legally “alive” when we can detect a brain wave and entitled to the protection of the law. Barring that I am opposed to abortion used as birth control and therefore favor making it illegal except in the cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother.
19) I have a soft spot in my heart for nature and the environment but generally dislike most people who are held out as “environmentalists.” At least at the political level where it seems more about fund raising and political smearing than coming up with rational solutions.
20) Affirmative action is just as racist as Jim Crow no matter how much its supporters try to rationalize it.
Thanks, Thorley. Clearly, we have points of disagreement, but, even on those, I think most of your positions well-thought out. This, though —
“17) I believe that there is no difference between what is principled and what is practical.”
Seems an invitation to disaster, unless one redefines the term “practical” to an extraordinary extent.
Political Top 20
Von, the “moderate” over at Obsidian Wings starts a discussion on his “political top 20.”…
5. I oppose abortion on moral grounds — except for cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. For purely pragmatic reasons, however, I support the regulation of (rather than outright prohibition of) abortion in cases other than rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother.*
This is incoherent. We agree (I assume) that the mother has full human rights. You must hold that either the fetus has human rights equal to hers, or it doesn’t.
If you believe it does, then why allow the murder of the fetus because the mother was raped or because the parents were related?
If you believe it doesn’t, then why should any other consideration other than the mother’s wishes count? She’s the only person with full human rights associated with the decision, and it (obviously) has serious implications for her.
Either you’re advocating the murder of a human being (the fetus) based on things it didn’t do, or you’re advocating the enslavement of a human being (the mother) by subordinating her wishes to the interests of something without human rights.
Which is it?
You must hold that either the fetus has human rights equal to hers, or it doesn’t.
It doesn’t, as my post implies.
then why should any other consideration other than the mother’s wishes count?
That the mother and the fetus don’t have the same rights does not mean that the fetus has no rights. Quite the contrary, as my post also implies.