The World According to Me

 On the off chance that you might actually want to know more about me, your venerable host, here is information about my philosophy of life and numerous incongruous interests.  Thanks for visiting!

Core Beliefs

What are our core beliefs?  They are the pillars of our world views, the foundations upon which our perceptions of reality rest.  They are not views, no matter how tightly held, on narrow issues.  Being for or against the death penalty, gun control, abortion, and so on, are not core beliefs.   Rather, they are the basic beliefs that a person has about man and his place in the universe.  If you have never taken the time to try to write down your core beliefs, you should.  It will be more challenging than you think.

We have plainly written down our core beliefs below, after much consideration and introspection, so that you will know from which direction we hail.  We are not ashamed of these bedrock beliefs and post them on this site unapologetically.

Religious and Metaphysical

The world was created by, and is sustained through rational laws generated by, a sovereign Supreme Being, whom we call God. 

 

God is holy, almighty, transcendent, and god.  We as human beings can have a relationship with but cannot fully grasp the nature and will of God.

Human beings were created for a higher purpose than gratifying their own selfish desires.  Our general purpose is to enjoy the gifts of creation, to love and serve our fellow man, and to continually learn and grow in ourselves and in our relationship with God.  All of us are also created with a specific purpose towards which it is our duty to strive.

Human beings have free will and have an inalienable and God-given right to determine their own destiny.  Freedom and human dignity are sacred and inviolable.

There is a universal moral law that distinguishes between right and wrong.  We are responsible for the consequences of our decisions, both good and bad.  Our freedom and responsibility are inseparable.

 

Political

 

The world is a dangerous place, and human beings, being social animals, must band together in societies for their mutual benefit.  The needs of society, however, are subservient to those of the individual—individuals have rights; groups do not.

 

Every human being has a duty to make the world a better place, and to be industrious, to live up to his or her full potential, and to contribute more to the world than he or she takes from it.

 

The purpose of government is to mediate human relationships so as to foster an environment in which all can be as free as practicable to fulfill their destiny.  Government exists solely to promote justice in those relationships, and has a duty to protect human beings from each other, not from themselves.  Individual freedom should be subject only to those limitations that are necessary to fulfill those obligations.

While we have a political right to be moral or immoral, we have a moral responsibility to be the best that we can be.  We should therefore conduct ourselves with dignity, self-discipline, humility, stoicism, equanimity, generosity, benevolence, tolerance…

 

We all fall short of perfection.  There is good and bad in everyone.  Rising above this condition requires both the working of God’s power in our lives and our active participation.  We should be engaged in continual self-improvement.  We should recognize our shortcomings with humility but should not because of them put ourselves in bondage to guilt or shame.

 

You may think that this statement of beliefs is painfully obvious, or you may vehemently disagree.  Whatever you think of them, they are nailed here plainly for your benefit. Even if you find them to be inherently obvious, reflect that we often lost sight of our most cherished beliefs in the maelstrom of life.

 

It has taken the better part of 40 years on this slippery rock to learn the truth of these beliefs.  Some of them may change with time, as the world we live in is both more complex and surprising than any human mind has an ability to grasp.  To be seekers of the truth, we humans must have humility about the certitude of what we think is true and be open-minded to consider new ideas.  Your comments are welcome here, from whatever direction you hail.

 

 

Subsidiary Beliefs

 

My core beliefs have their outworking in a lot of specific issues, of course, and they will be expanded upon in some of our article. 

 

My religious beliefs include an absolute conviction that there is a God, who is the standard against the good and evil of all our actions is measured.  As humans, we are separated from God at birth and are on a lifelong search to recover our communion with God and overcome the corrupted and evil parts of our nature.  I do not believe that human beings are totally depraved, but rather believe there is good and bad in all of us.  I do not believe that we are helpless to improve ourselves, but that we have a sacred duty to learn, to grow, and to self-improve with the guidance and strength of God.  I do not believe that all religions are equally valid, but I believe that God has revealed Himself to humankind in a variety of forms and ways and that all religions have something of value to teach us.  I have read the entire Bible through and consider it to be the greatest masterpiece in literature. I have also read the sacred writings of other religions and believe they have much of value to teach us. And I believe that no human being has a right to come between us and our relationship with God—we all have a right to seek the truth our own way.

 

My political beliefs are essentially conservative on economic and foreign policy issues and somewhat more libertarian on social issues.  Many on both the left and right improperly try to impose their beliefs about how we should live our lives on society, and this must be resisted fiercely. My belief about the inviolability of the right of self-determination is the basis for my belief in the free market and rejection of all things socialist and communist.  This is also the basis of my belief that we must reject the paternalism of the left and reclaim the core message of conservatism from the excesses of the religious right. My belief about the fallen nature of man is the basis of for my conviction that we need a strong defense to protect ourselves in a dangerous world.  And so on…

 

I do have strongly held beliefs on specific issues, but I’d rather they come out in discussions and articles.

 

            Where I agree and disagree with conservatism, liberalism, and other –isms:

 

Conservatism

 

Mine is essentially a center-right viewpoint. I am conservative on economic and foreign policy issues, but believe that the conservative movement has become too closely aligned with the religious right, the more zealous elements of which have been allowed to use the organs of government and party to push their agenda of defending “traditional values.”  The excesses of the religious right and a lack of leadership and adherence to true conservative principles were what led to the recent electoral defeat. Religious liberty should be defended from the secular left, but conservatives need to remember that ours is a pluralistic society and that everyone’s freedom is worthy of defending.

 

Liberalism

 

Liberals have, in general, an admirable compassion for their fellow man.  Where I disagree with them is where they allow their compassion to overrun their reason and in their zeal seek to impose their will on their fellow citizens.  They claim to be open-minded and tolerant but the more extreme elements are as intolerant as those on the extreme fringe of the religious right. In our compassion for people, we cannot forget their boundaries and their right to the same freedoms that we cherish.  Those on the left often try to tell us what we can drive, whether we can hunt or own guns, what we can eat…They are tolerant of people only as long as they agree with them and support their agenda.

 

Libertarianism

 

I essentially agree with libertarians on economic and social issues.  Where they go wrong is in underestimating the impact that our individual actions have on others in society.  For example, some libertarians hold that people should be able to possess any kind of weapons they choose, including machine guns and bombs.  Others hold that there should be no restriction on abortion because the government should stay out of women’s uteruses.  But they fail to understand the menace that allowing unbalanced citizens to stockpile weapons caches of small countries poses to the rest of us.   They can be intellectually dishonest in disregarding the fact that abortion seriously transgresses the rights of another human being (by killing it).  They extol the virtues of the free market but fail to realize that corporations do not always behave in an altruistic and honorable fashion (e.g., Enron).  There is a social contract and there must be some reasonable restrictions on us as individuals, though they should be kept to those necessary and sufficient to maintain social order and mediate justice (see core beliefs).

 

Socialisms/Communism

 

I totally reject anything doing with socialism or communism, on the basis that these are false philosophies that are based on a fundamental misunderstanding on human nature and have been discredited by history.  I am concerned that the United States is flirting with socialism just as other countries are discovering the empowerment that comes from economic freedom.  I reject class warfare in all its forms as divisive and destructive.  Enough said – enough lives and words have been wasted on them.

 

Atheism/Objectivism

 

There is a lot of value in the ideas of objectivism and rational self-interest.  However I disagree with Ayn Rand’s rampant atheism and elitism.  Having read “The Fountainhead,” I have two significant criticisms of her thesis in that book, besides being distastefully elitist: (1) it assumes that reason is the only good, that faith has no role, and that the exercise of that reason will inevitably lead someone to her beliefs (atheism, etc.), and (2) from the standpoint of esthetics, it assumes that stark functionalism in architecture (and presumably other human endeavors) is superior to artistic expression.  Reason should govern our actions but there is a place for the spiritual and the artistic in human life; both enrich the human experience.

 

Other –isms

 

We are staunchly anti ism-ism here.  Human knowledge is imperfect and no theory can encompass all aspects of life with total accuracy.  Moderation in all things should therefore govern and ideological extremism always leads to error.  My view about ideology is that there’s theory and then there’s reality.  Too often, if the facts don’t support the theory, we rationalize or disregard the facts.  I say if the theory doesn’t fit the facts, it’s time to get a new one.

 

To describe my own political views in a few words (with some hesitation, as I detest labels), I’d characterize myself as a pragmatic conservative.

 

Where I Stand on the Issues

 

Economics

Budget  The budget should be balanced; small deficits financed by government securities are acceptable in times of national emergency.  Both the Democrats and Republicans have allowed spending to get out of control in the last few administrations; there's a limit to what government can (and should) do.

Capitalism  The only proven economic system for growth and prosperity is the free market.  Interference in the markets should be minimized to that absolutely necessary for justice and social order (prosecution of fraud, etc.).  Any movement towards socialism should be opposed.

International Trade  Protectionism should be avoided; it's a form of corporate welfare.  Free trade will stimulate the economy as tarifs that are intended to protect American businesses and preserve jobs hurt the consumer and are thus counterproductive.

Spending  Government has a fiduciary responsibility to the people to manage its funds efficiently.  Spending should be limited to that necessary to perform the legitimate functions of government.

Taxes  Taxes are a necessary evil.  They should be kept as low as possible to permit people to earn and spend their own money as they see fit.  Money belongs to the taxpayer.

Welfare  While it may be necessary for government to provide assistance in times of national disaster, giving a helping hand should essentially be the duty of private charity.  Taxes should be low so people are encouraged to give liberally.  This applies also to corporate welfare (including protectionism and agricultural subsidies).

Environment

The earth is given to humankind for our use, but we have a responsibility to keep be responsible with natural resources and keep it clean.  There needs to be a reasonable balance between the economic needs of humans and environment.  We need a sound, technically feasible plan for transitioning from our dependence on petroleum (especially foreign oil). Science and not ideology should govern.

National Defense

Diplomacy  All possible measures should be taken to avoid war, and we must invest heavily in diplomacy.  Sometimes we have to engage unsavory states, like the regime in Iran, to further our national interests.  The primary goal of diplomacy is to avoid armed conflict and advance our national interests.  In recent years we have invested too much faith in individuals instead of encouraged democratization (e.g., Yeltsin and Putin).

Human Rights  A secondary goal of diplomacy is to promote human rights.  America should be the worldwide champion of human rights.  We should hold ourselves to high standards as well. 

The Military  Being a soldier is an honorable profession.  The military, if properly used, can be a force for good in the world.  In Iraq, for instance, we removed a dangerous and evil dictator from power.  We need a strong military to give diplomacy some backing.

Terrorism  Terrorism is the #1 scourge of humanity today.  It should be rejected by all civilized peoples and we must take a strong stand against it.

War  War is a profoundly destructive human tragedy that should be avoided whenever possible.  Sometimes it cannot be avoided and then should be conducted so as to minimize human suffering.  There is such a thing as a just war--in defense of human rights (e.g., the Holocaust), to defend freedom (Gulf War), or in self-defense (World War II).

Social Issues

Abortion  Every human being has natural rights, including the right to exist.  Reproductive freedoms should be respected but are trumped by the right of an unborn fetus to life.  Reasonable people can differ about unusual situations (rape, fetal deformity, life-threatening complications).

Death Penalty  Some crimes as so abhorrent that they deserve death.  Extreme care must be taken to ensure that this ultimate sanction is imposed fairly.  The main purpose of the death penalty - and punishment in general - is justice.

Education  Education is the key to economic prosperity and empowering people's lives.  We should support universal education in a democracy so we can all be informed and productive members of society.  Given the state of the public schools, school choice (e.g., through vouchers) should be supported.

Gun Control  In a free society, people need to right to bear arms.  There should be some reasonable restrictions on who can get guns and what kind of guns they can get.  The overtuning of the ant-handgun law in Washington DC was a good thing.

Health Care  People should be allowed to keep more of their own money to buy insurance.  Buying health insurance should be the responsibility of the individual, not the government.  Socialized medicine does not work and should not be done in the name of compassion.

Immigration  Immigration is a good thing, and the intermingling of different cultures enriches us all.  We have laws about how many people can come in and a national security interest in keeping petty criminals, drug dealers, and terrorists out of the country.  People should be encouraged to come to America and we should accept anyone who could be an asset to our society or who is fleeing oppression.  Illegal immigration should be discouraged because then we have workers who don't pay their fair share of taxes and who jump the line in front of those waiting legally to get in.  We should streamline the immigration process, open our doors wide, and expect people to enter in obedience to our laws.

Moral Issues  Morality should be an individual concern, except where it affects our dealings with other people.  We need to be tolerant of other people's moral choices and only restrict personal freedom where people are trampling on the rights of others.  Everyone has different ideas of what is good and you can't coerce people into being "good."

Race Relations  People should be judged on the content of their character, not the color of their skin.  Judging people on the color of their skin or their ethnicity is barbaric and medieval.  We should be a color-blind meritocracy.  That means we should vigorously oppose oppression based on race and do away with race-based preferences.

Religious Liberties  Religion should be a private manner.  The government should neither promote a particular religion nor prohibit the free exercise thereof.  People have a right to believe whatever they want to believe, and to act on it as long as they aren't hurting anyone.  Religious people in government do have a right to bring their worldviews with them when they make public policy, but they need to ensure strict religious neutrality.  Proselytizing should be by persuasion and no coercion.  We also need to remember that this country was founded on broad religious principles and we need to act in accordance with them (not those of any particular religion).

 

Personal Code

 

These are the personal values by which I strive to live my life, and which pervade all my work and my writings.  Note that I said strive to live my life…because while I try to live up to them we are all imperfect human beings and stumble from time to time. 

 

If you have not tried to write a personal code, you should; it will be more challenging than you think.  Here’s my Twelve Commandments:

 

Treat everyone with courtesy and respect, whether they deserve it or not.

 

Treat yourself with respect and conduct yourself with dignity.

 

Face adversity with equanimity and suffering with stoicism.

 

Thou shalt not complain.

 

Find the good in every situation;

Do not be a victim of circumstance.

 

Give more than you take.

 

Live up to your full potential. 

 

Improve thyself; be aware of your shortcomings.

 

Exercise self-discipline in all area of your life.

 

Accept responsibility for the consequences of your actions.

 

Encourage and build up others; do not condemn or discourage them.

 

Be tolerant of others and their shortcomings.  Be tolerant of your own.