As each day passes, I feel as though I'm more and more distant from BOTH major political parties. I feel that this feeling is shared by many citizens, especially those under the age of 40.
I believe that almost every citizen recognizes a few things. The Federal government is too large in general, and cuts should be made.
These are the issues that still demand honest discussion.
If I were to guess, I would say that most are in favor of contracting the military in some way. It is by far the biggest expenditure that we have and has provided us with MORE than enough protection. I know that the military would have you believe that they need every penny. That they need to keep us safe from the radicals in Afghanistan. But I contend that the Middle East does not actually present a military threat. No more so than Vietnam did from 1955 to 1975. We've been in Afghanistan since 2001. We've destroyed Iraq, and replaced Saddam, we've been bombing Pakistan. Yet I feel all this has done is provided an increased threat of retaliation. Bombing is safer than placing troops, yet it inevitably causes collateral damage to innocents.
Yes, an act of terror is always possible, but a terrorism attack is such that it is best thwarted through intelligence and border patrol than it is taking out targets overseas. The bombs will create real casualties that we will be blamed for.
In the mid 90's, a period most would say our country reached its peak financially and perhaps even socially, our military spending plummeted and Bill Clinton did the unthinkable...he balanced the budget.
I'm sure that some may blame the cuts in the military as a reason we were open to attack on 9/11/01. However that appeared to be an issue of bureaucracy and intelligence, not a lack of bombs, guns, or equipment.
Right now, there are U.S. Military installations being maintained in no less than 130 different countries. Why? What possible reason do we we have to be in Greece, Guam and Italy? Why are we in Japan? We've been great allies for decades.
The money that could be saved by retuning troops, personnel, and equipment from many of the places could be billions if not hundreds of billions of dollars. Which considering our nearly $650 billion military budget, would only reduce the total budget of that area by 10%. We would remain a military power, yet be able to be more flexible in other problematic areas domestically.
Our education system, which no doubt has turned out many sparkling minds in the past 200 plus years, has seemed to have fallen behind, as many teachers are often underpaid, and classrooms are underfunded.
It is an embarrassment to our society that we care so little for our future. Educating a work force to become extremely adaptable to the demands of an ever changing world is probably the most important aspect to preserving a future. Yet we ask more and more sacrifice from our public K-12 teachers, who educate roughly 85% of the population. Why are we not changing current policies to help the public school system? I would suggest most Americans would prefer investing in this area with some of the money cut from the military.
The Federal Government should stay out of the morality business. The freedom of religion should apply to all, allowing anyone to chose whom they love. It is certainly no business of the government whom an individual chooses to love. If one church believes that marriage only exists between a man and woman, fine, that is the belief of that particular church. It does not mean that the Government has a role in enforcing a specific church's belief.
I believe that the communities in Alabama are different than the ones in California. Both are different than those in Massachusetts. State's rights should be respected, with the only exceptions being when a state intrudes on individuals rights. (Segregation for example.) I believe the issues of marriage, government funding for contraceptive methods, including abortion should be left to the state to decide.
The war on drugs which was essentially declared in the 1980's under Reagan has been a hopeless fight. I believe that in many ways the criminalization of marijuana is similar to prohibition of alcohol. As the public becomes more educated about the drug, I believe they will view it in a very similar light to alcohol. That abuse of the substance can clearly result in horrific results, but by legalizing and regulating the substance, you can in essence control it far better than if it remains illegal. To boot, it will create many jobs for the private sector and take away income for terrorist organizations, drug cartels, and gangs.
Some, I understand, will argue that this would essentially condone drugs. I believe this to be false. The government is allowing individuals to decide whether or not to use a substance, be it a cigarette, or alcohol, or whatever else. The other laws still apply to you. You still need to pay your taxes and bills, you cannot endanger others.
Just because it is legal, does not mean everyone will begin using. Alcohol is abstained by many, though probably the minority of the population. The total use of tobacco products, one of the most addictive substances in the world, is used by just a quarter of the population.
These are just some idea's about how our society can work, and while both I believe would garner great support, both are outside what both major parties appear to want to achieve.
Both Republicans and Democrats often dismiss new ideas from each others think tanks about what should be done about various problems. Views from self described Tea-Party conservatives, Green Party progressives, or Libertarians, are often seen as outlandish fringe thoughts and should be abolished immediately, in affect repressing thought and ideas.
This I believe represents a fundamental flaw in the thinking of how our society should function. I believe our system is completely based on the freedom of ideas. That the reason this great nation has done so well is that while we differed on many different issues, we could come to a thought out consensus due to a common goal of making the WHOLE country better. We collectively must think about what is good for the country, and not just what is good for certain groups.
I find very few people who are happy with the government, be it on the Republican or Democrat side of the aisle.
My hope is that eventually the two party system will disintegrate, that more ideas and thought processes are given legitimate credence and that this nation will again be united in their patriotism for a country that moves beyond labels of conservative or liberal, but is simply free.
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