| What I believe |
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| Archive - The Archives |
| Written by Bill Roth |
| Monday, 06 July 2009 11:25 |
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2:03 PM 7/19/02 About 10 years ago, my father asked me, in effect, what I believed. Politically. In the same conversation, he asked when, if anything the goverment has done well. My answer back then was in adequate, and I have been working on the answer in my head all these years. Just last week, I finally came up with the framework that would allow me to completely answer his questions. This is my credo: what I believe. I believe that our form of government is unique and represents nothing short of a new step in human evolution. I believe the only legitimate form of government is one based on the consent of the governed. I believe in balanced government, where the people are protected against the tyrrany of the monachical executive and the tyranny of the majority. I believe in an independent judiciary which can be buffeted by neither by the whims of the executive or the passions of the people. I believe that the balance of power between our executive and legislative branches is as close to perfect as is possible. I believe that devolution of power to the states is inherantly dangerous. I believe that citizens have the right to be free of unnecessary govermental interferance. I believe that in exchange for self-government, the people must contribute to it. I believe that government, because of its size and position, is the proper solution for some problems. I believe that we as a people can not let those who are most helpless fend for themselves, and government is the best instrument to assist in this. I believe that the abortion issue is the single most divisive issue in american politics. I believe that government should not play any role with regard to abortion, either for or against. It is a moral issue. I believe that unbridled captialism is ultimately a threat to society. I believe that regulation of business must be done with extreme caution. I believe that goverment can be an instrument of good. I believe that goverment is the right and proper location for certain societal functions. For example: * The Bureau of Economic Analysis * The Consumer Products Safety comission * The Interstate Highway system * The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health * The National Weather Service * The Federal Emergency Management Agency * The Cooperative Extension Service * And so on..... I believe the government has done great things that have improved the lives of the public * The Clean Air Act * The Clean Water Act * The Voting Rights Act * Head Start * The Social Security Act * Medicare * Food labelling * The School Lunch Program * WIC * AFDC * Ban on leaded gasoline * Ban on DDT and PCBs I believe this government has, in the past, done terrible harm. * The Alien and Sedition Act (1800) * The Dred Scott Decision * Prohibition * My Lai * Executive Order 9066, the internment of Japanese Americans * Treatment of Native Americans I believe we are a nation of heros: * George Washington * John Adams * Abraham Lincoln * Fanny Lou Hamer * Rosa Parks * Martin Luther King * Franklin Roosevelt * Harry Truman * John McCain I believe that creating new laws should be done with extreme care, as some laws necessarily diminish our liberty. I believe government should be an instrument of wealth redistribution, in order to avoid concentration of wealth into too few hands. I believe that if too much wealth falls into too few hands, revolution will occur. I believe that the flat tax is regressive, ultimately favoring the wealthy and should be avoided. I believe that people who do not vote get the government they deserve. I believe that government has an obligation to support but not select the Arts I believe the United States was founded as a theistic nation. I believe in the separation of Church and State. I believe in our manifest destiny as a nation. I believe in the essential goodness of this nation. I believe that without the unifying influence of a common language, our nation is at risk. I believe our system of goverment is the future for the human race. SPECIFIC POLICIES I believe that encryption should not be treated as a munition I believe that the burden of current export laws are too extreme, and should be loosened, expecially with respect to conputers and encryption. I believe that patent law is broken and most software patents should be recinded and are an hindrance to the development of technology. I believe that business process patents are an abuse of the patent system and should be outlawed. I believe that the Greenline in San Jose should be defended, and its term extended. I believe that new transit corridors should be developed in Santa Clara county. I believe that planning codes should be modified to focus on developing multi-story high-density housing, similar to San Francisco. I believe that the focus of new development should be target near transit corridors. I believe that the city of San Jose should work to support the San Jose symphony. I believe that the city of San Jose should support the formation of a public radio station in San Jose. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 06 July 2009 11:30 |