My Current Beliefs (subject to change at a moment's notice)

Just a basic summary to help people figure out where I'm coming from...

Politicians are universally loathsome, and trying to claim one is more loathsome than another is an exercise in futility.

I am a small "L" libertarian.  I believe the government should do the absolute minimum necessary, but Big "L" libertarians are generally living in a fantasy world.

I won't vote for a Democrat or Republican, even for dog-catcher, until the two party's hold on power is broken.

Most policies hurt those they are designed to help - the minimum wage being the poster child for this.

Most people and pundits are woefully ignorant of basic economic principles.

I support free trade and enormous amounts of legal immigration.

I am pro choice, but that doesn't mean I'm pro abortion.

I think most political fights are just a distraction designed to keep us voting for one or another party.

I reserve the right to judge you for your behavior while supporting your right to do it.

The Supreme Court is responsible for much of what is wrong with the behavior of our government.

If you give power to the government, it will be used to benefit the powerful, and to the detriment of the rest of us - this applies even if the stated aim of the legislation is to reign in the powerful.

When a big corporation supports a policy that people tout as helping the poor and powerless, you should be suspicious.  Walmart doesn't support the minimum wage because they believe it's the right thing to do.  They support it because it will cripple their competitors.

The existence of my retirement career is an indictment of the US tax system.  I'm kinda for the Fair Tax, but not sure.

The decline of the middle class is mostly a myth, and mostly their own fault.  I plan on posting about this eventually.

Big fan of state and local level control.

Budweiser is evil.

Welfare is out of control - both kinds (corporate and personal).

If the government declares war on something, there will be more of it.

Legalize pot - period.  Decriminalize use of all drugs.

The fact that people think the solution to the problems of public drunkenness is preventing me from walking down the street with a beer tells you we are all sheep.

Free speech is a big deal.  The onus (and it's a BIG onus) is on someone telling someone they can't say something.  Even the guy who said you can't yell fire in a crowded theater thinks it was a stupid analogy.

If an article's headline is a question, the answer is probably no.

I believe in man-made global warming, but also believe carbon controls are not the answer, and if it was, the cost is too high.  We should be investing in mitigation of effects.  All that said, I'm pretty sure it won't be as bad as predicted, because it never is.

Big fan of nuclear power as a bridge to a low emission future.

Paper recycling is bad, plastic bags and Styrofoam cups are good.