I don’t usually get into deep political debates on places like the Foo. Most often it’s pointless simply because the opinions vary as widely as the ages and I don’t think my opinion is any better than the next person’s. But I finally felt it was time to post my rant.

Increasingly I find myself growing frustrated with the conservative movement in the US. Nothing new here, right?

Maybe I should qualify this, I’m a Republican. I like being a Republican, or rather, I used to like being a Republican. These days I’m not so sure. You see, I find myself increasingly on the outside of my own party’s beliefs. I used to be a middle of the road kind of Republican. Suddenly, I’m not really a Republican but a tree hugging, hippy loving, granola liberal who’s just pretending. (sigh)

To me being a Republican has always been about less government control, letting states and their citizens decide things for themselves and reducing the influence of the federal government. It means fiscal responsibility. It means promoting ideas and policies that let businesses flourish, because in the end that leads to increases in quality of life for workers, employers and their dependants. I typically think of small businesses – mom ‘n pop places, not the big multi-nationals.

Okay, so it’s a rosy picture and I’m not naïve. I’m all for compromise. I understand the need for some welfare programs. People sometimes need a helping hand – not a lifelong stipend. I agree with pro-choice, equal rights for everyone, i.e. gays, transgenders, cross-dressers, rats, bats, cats, dogs, vampires and leprechauns, et al, ad nauseum – hmmm, maybe not cats.

On the other hand I’m against Affirmative Action (I won’t support something that intentionally imposes a double standard, separate but equal in reverse) I can understand the need for better physical security, national defense, etc. Doing something to keep the bad guys from harming people at home seems like a pretty good idea to me, going so far as to abandon the vision and principles of Constitution doesn’t seem like a great way to do it.

One of history’s oft quoted, loveable rogues, Ben Franklin said, “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Apply that philosophy to the changes we’ve endured since 2001, this could mean that what we’re doing is as bad as paying the Soprano’s insurance money “in case of a fire.” It’s a slippery slope, once begun it’s difficult to turn back. Fugedaboudit. I think Ben’s worst fears may be coming true. We’re giving up a lot more than just a few liberties. We’ve been seduced into giving up our control of the process of change.

In this country the political process seems to have taken the road less traveled. The parties have lined up and said you’re either all left or all right (pun intended). Where’d the middle go?

Apparently if you’re a Republican you’re supposed to be a Christian, against abortion and for prayer in schools. You should spout Christian phrases at political events to prove your devotion and encourage bigotry and discrimination against segments of the population. By the way, when did faith surpass common sense? Aren’t you supposed to walk with faith and also with your eyes open? I think extreme piety is as bad as extreme evil. Remember the Inquisition?

“Nobody expects the Spanish Inq …” forget it, most of you are too young to remember.

Anyway, let’s not forget the biggest one, you have to want to spend money like a pork barrel Democrat to finance an unpopular war, with no plan, dwindling resources, no clear end in sight and little support.

My fear is one day this will get so bad that I’ll want to move – hmm wonder where I’d go, France? No, not France … Germany? No, not Germany. Gee, who does like us these days?

But what political choice is there? And please don’t say Communism. I don’t do isms.

Liberal? eewww … I may need to rinse out my mouth. I don’t understand the true, hard-core, vocal liberals. Annoying people, small hands, smell like cabbage. I do admire their zeal and I think they have some good arguments. But I always get the feeling that if we left them in charge we’d be in tie-dyes, holding hands and singing showtunes or folk songs. Blech

What happened to the moderates of the parties? The ones who really got what needed doing, done? Oh well, maybe we’ll get lucky and a bunch of good people will switch to the Independent ticket. Or, maybe I’ll just put an Irish flag in my window and stay indoors until 2008 when I can support someone else. Go Hil… sigh … never mind.