Foundations

So before I start regularly analyzing the news, I'm going to outline my general political philosophy in this second post:

If I had to characterize myself along the often used yet inaccurate political paradigm of liberal-conservative, left-right, I'd fall into the leftist/liberal camp, but a bit toward the center.

Yet this dialectic is inaccurate in trying to classify political beliefs. It's not an either or type of thing. There are various viewpoints, intermingled across a web of thought.

Like most Americans today, I'm a political liberal. That is, like our nation's founders and the founder of liberal thought, John Locke, I believe in a government set around preserving individual liberty. The Constitution, and, especially, its corresponding amendments are a testament to this political thought.

Unlike these classic liberals (today's Libertarians or Goldwater Republicans), I envision a larger role for government in the economy. This does not make me a socialist or protectionist, however. I still believe in the innovative power of free markets. Yet our historical experience include numerous experiences where the magical hand of the market fail--fail in providing humans with certain guaranteed rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Because of this, I believe in a minimum wage, some form of universal health care, a welfare system, and the continued state control of social security.

In contrast to these pro-interventionist views, I am not an opponent of free trade and globalization. The term free trade, however, has been twisted by pro-statist businessowners, who pursue trade policies that are far from free or fair. The inevitable "flatting of the world" (as Thomas Friedman describes it) is not something to be feared--globalization will reign in an era of greater wealth, innovation, diplomatic realtions, and human rights, in done correctly.

I am also wary of subsidies and tariffs for "struggling" businesses. Often times these policies go to support behemouth fearful of losing their power to worldwide competition, like American agrobusiness. I believe that outsourcing is overall a beneficial phenomenon, although I have yet to reconcile the short term effect it has on American workers. I do fear that if done incorrectly, outsourcing could result to a "race to the bottom" for the global work force. In other words, my views on outsourcing are mixed.

Having outlined a vague synopsis of my economic views, I'll move on to my foreign policy views.

I do not view the United States as a force for evil imperialism in the world, nor do I view it as a messianic, infallible nation. It is a flawed hegemon. Yet it can and should use its extensive power to promote the general good, the promotion of human rights, stability, and, where possible, democracy. That is the only area where I agree with the neoconservative philosophy--the United States should use its power to promote liberty.

Where I disagree with the neocons is in their simplistic means--unilateral militarism. The United States needs to work with the United Nations (as flawed an entity as it is); it needs to be proactive in promoting multilaterism, and reforming and legitimizing international institutions.

Having given these broad views on economics and foreign policy, I'll give a quick overview of some other issues:

1.) Abortion--I believe in a woman's right to choose to have a child or seek an abortion in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. Although I think the unborn child in these states constitutes some form of life, I do not believe it qualifies as a total human life form. Abortions will be done whether the government prohibits them or not. The question is--how safe will they be?

I do find the constitutional basis for Roe v. Wade a little shakey, however. I'm not sure if the right to privacy argument holds up in the case of abortion (although I do believe in an implied constitutional right to privacy). I believe creative minds will be able to extrapolate another, stronger constitutional basis for preventing government from legislating prohibition against abortion. One idea I've heard suggested is using the 13th amendment's prohibition against involuntary servitude as a basis (women would be forced to carry out a pregnancy against their will). I'm not quite convinced by that argument yet either, though.

2.) Stem Cell Research--Stem cell research, especially embroynic, holds great potential for revolutionizing medicine and helping countless numbers of those suffering from previously uncurable conditions. These cluster of cells, the great majority of which will be discarded anyway, are not human beings. This research should be strongly supported and funded by the federal government.

3.) Gay Marriage--There is no reasonable argument for prohibiting gay marriage. Homosexuals deserve the same rights as everyone else.

4.) The Death Penalty--Because of human fallibility, I am opposed to the death penalty. Innocent people can and have been wrongfully killed. There is a relatively strong socio-economic bias in our judicial system, resulting in inequal practice. I'm also a bit wary of giving the state the power to execute its own citizens.

5.) War in Iraq--A huge and tragic mistake. I do not believe, however, the war was the result of greedy oil-grabbing robber barons, but rather the unrealistic plans of "groupthinking" neoconservative idealogues who assumed democracy would easily flower in Iraq. It has resulted in the death of thousands of American soldiers, and tens of thousands of Iraqis. It has further destablized the region, and greatly harmed the global image of the United States.

6.) Bush administration--President Bush is one of the worst, if not the worst, U.S presidents of all time. This is not a partisan critique. He has been incompetent in almost all possible areas. He has promoted a failed, simplistic foreign policy. He has driven up huge budget deficits and foreign debt, while failing to veto huge pork-filled legislation. He has shown contempt for the Geneva Convention, the timeless right of habeas corpus, prohibitions against torture, the shared powers of the three branches of U.S. government, and the list goes on. One area where I do commend him is for the great attention and funding he has given to the issue of HIV/AIDS, especially in promoting programs for treatment and research in Africa. Now if only he'd give out condoms.

7.) Illegal Immigration--The real victims of this grandiose illegal immigration are not the American workers. These immigrants are working jobs that many today's Americans refuse to do. The real victims, however, are the immigrants themselves. They are often abused, taken advantage of, tricked into a form of slavery, etc. Although their presence does seem like a huge boost to our economy, especially with the resulting low prices for the American consumer, the human rights of these immigrants are more important than that. I do not favor mass deportation of all these immigrants, but rather a way to phase them into our immigration program, for their safety and liberty. We do need to step up our surviellance and enforcement along the Mexican-American border; although I don't think a new "Great Wall" is the answer either.

8.) The Environment--Our government's environmental record is a disgrace. The United States needs to be more proactive on combating global warming, promoting energy efficiency and alternative fuels, and protecing our open spaces and animal life.

9.) Guns--I believe in the individual's right to carry arms for defense or for hunting. I do believe, however, in regulating the sale of guns in a reasonable matter (number one--reenstate the assualt weapons ban), in light of the general interest. That being said, I find that many of the regulation laws that have been and are being proposed are often times ill-thought out and ineffective.

10.) Drugs--I'm against prohibition. It leads, and has led, to a huge violent criminal network, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocents with little involvement in either taking and selling drugs. Everyone will be safer once drugs are legalized and regulated. If individuals choose to purchase and use drugs, that is their individual right (much like buying alcohol and ciggarettes). At the same time, we should educate about their harm and provide services for rehabilitation for those individuals seeking to better their lives.

11.) Taxes--When I see them being used toward useful means and programs, I'm for them. When I see superfluous use of taxation with no countervailing result (as in the case of the city of Philadelphia--one of the highest taxed cities with the shittiest public programs) I'm against them. I'm generally a fan of progressive taxation over a flat tax structure.

12.) Judicial "Activism"--It really isn't as widespread as some make it seem. Our government is one based on balance. Federal versus state. Executive against legislative. AND liberty versus democracy. The Supreme Court is the vanguard of liberty against a sometimes illiberal populace. When the majority passes legislation infringing on the rights of the minority as espoused in our constitution, it is the role of the Supreme Court to step in and uphold the principles of liberty.