My beliefs, since Steel Vanguard has such an interest:
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That's a good start. From that can I assume you oppose nanny state laws about gay marriage, drugs and gambling?
I believe there is a right and wrong in most cases.
When it comes to social interactions, I think there's a lot of grey area. But when it comes to violent crime, property crime, and corruption, I agree. Too much of our criminal justice system is wrapped up in social engineering instead of catching burglars, robbers and car thieves.
I dont believe in lying, cheating or stealing.
I agree again. Although, having been married, some lying is inevitable. Yes dear, your new haircut makes you look JUST LIKE Jennifer Lawrence.
I don't believe in violence (unless it's in a sporting event)
You believe in torture. Torture is violence.
I don't believe in taking life (unless it's in war or to prevent others from dying)
I'm a soldier. From my perspective war is a necessary evil. Imagine what the world would look like if Hitler had gotten the bomb before we did. Scary. Having said that, I think we've used warfare inappropriately in recent decades. Terrorists are criminals. Framing the conflict with Islamic Terrorists as war between the West and Islam elevates criminals to a level of legitimacy that they do not deserve. They should be treated no better than the guys who break into women's apartment to rape them, or people who beat their children.
I don't believe in penalizing prosperity
Agreed. Flat tax, ban all deductions. Tax everything at the same rate (cap gains, income, estates, etc.)
I believe anyone who touches a kid in any sexual manner is a sick, disgusting piece of ****
Fair enough. People with mental problems should be treated. Sooner rather than later, so as to prevent acting out in the first place. Driving them underground makes them more dangerous.
I believe that there are instances where people must put their morals and dignity aside to ensure peace and civilization for those who are peaceful and civilized
I think the instances where "total war" is necessary are rare, and the need for such tactics often exaggerated to justify horrible atrocities. This goes back to the torture discussion. We are not anywhere near being destroyed by terrorism, so there's no need to even consider Extinction Level Event tactics at this stage.
I believe if you touch me or my family or friends, that I'm right in putting my morals and beliefs aside
Which is to say, you don't really have morals. You have a convenient set of rules you expect others to follow, which you will throw out at a moments notice whenever it suits you. As I said, these are the words of someone who has no principles. Whatever is emotionally expedient for you at any moment is what you'll do, and you have a built in set of excuses for why your own supposed morals don't apply. This is modern conservatism in a nutshell.
I believe this is the greatest country in the world and whomever is in 2nd is distant
I'm as American as they come. There are no immigrants in my family going back before the Civil War, after which the trail goes cold. I love America, and while I don't think she's in danger of imminent implosion, I do think we would do well to get her back to her roots. Civil liberties must be restored. Infrastructure must be restored. And our politicians should be more than stuffed shirt talking heads, money grubbing lobby ****** and hate spewing demagogues.
Now, that's a small sample. Where is your list, oh high and mighty?
As a civil libertarian I believe that if the Left and Right would get out of each other's business most of the things both sides want could be achieved. Guns and drugs are a perfect example. If the Left would let the Right have their guns and the Right would legalize drugs, both sides would get what they actually wanted. But for some reason, people just have this thing about controlling what
OTHER PEOPLE do. Live and let live.
As to the issue of Islamic Terrorism, I'm not a fan. However, Israeli Apartheid created the Jihad. There will be no end to hostilities with the Arab and Islamic world and the west until Terrorists are delt with like criminals, and Israeli Apartheid is defunded (which is to say the West divests itself politically and economically). Only then can moderate Muslims be counted on to see the Western world as true to it's principles. "All men are created equal", "Separate is
INHERENTLY unequal". You want an end to Islamic extremism, you should be fighting for the Right of Return for the Palestinian people, and a Unified Democratic Holy Land, not the perpetuation of the current segregationist, racialist, Apartheid Zionist Regime.
George Washington did what he did so you and others like you could sit here as free people and criticize him using today's mores and applying them to his time.
Right and wrong don't change over time. "Thou shalt not kill" was written thousands of years ago. You cannot have war without atrocities. There is no such thing. But those atrocities must be recognized, even when committed by us. That's what integrity is. I recognize that the net result of a lot of very bad things has been the creation of a great nation. But we are always at risk of becoming something less than great if we don't recognize our past mistakes.
What is fascinating is that you have "forgiven" Vick for torturing defenseless animals, but have an issue with our gov't using torture on sadistic animals to ensure the safety of you and your family and friends.
Apples and oranges. I'm not advocating the release of detainees. I'm advocating for them to have a proper legal due process and to be treated humanely because that's what integrity is. Doing the right thing in the face of adversity. Standing for something larger than yourself. Having the courage to sacrifice for principles, rather than just keeping them on hand as a weapon to bludgeon others with, then abandoning them at the first sign of trouble.