American

Dear Friend,

After our conversation last week I have been unable to escape the one thing that really bothered me. This is an unhealthy habit of mine. The truth is that I thought the conversation was good, and that we had more in common than not, but there is a main point that I want you to understand about me that I may not have made clear.

As you introduced me to your friend you did so defining me as a Libertarian. I had just told you that I was closer to Libertarian than Republican, but I am no Libertarian. I think my problem with politics right now centers on this very frustrating point. I am not a respecter of people, parties, factions or special interest groups! As an individual, I choose to define myself in very different terms. I am a father, husband, brother, conservative, manager, student, Christian, beekeeper with a background in education and science. All of these important roles that I play depend on one thing, and that is my ability to pursue happiness by the dictates of my own conscience. The only “political” title that I would ascribe to myself, if it is a political title, is that of American. If you will humor me for a minute I would like to explain why defining me by political party is almost offensive.

Over the past 16 years, coincidentally my entire ‘adult’ life, I have been disappointed with the political machine of this country. I have watched while both sides of a two sided game fight over and for things I don’t agree with and in fact find repulsive. They have set the rules for the game, refereed the game, coached the game, and played in the game, making it perhaps the most dishonest ‘game’ one could imagine, full of conflicts of interest. While I have supported politicians, and even parties in the past, it has always been half hearted and with the knowledge that the individual I support would act in his or her own self interest and against my will. I get that it is an imperfect system and that I may not always be right, I can and have lived with that, but I really want to believe that there is a better way to do this.

All of that said, something dawned on me about 18 months ago. The people that define this game have set it up so that you and I, the ‘spectators’ of the game, have a choice that looks like this:

Democrats----------------------------------------------------------------------------Republicans

On one side we see the earth loving, politically correct, social leftists that are interested in spending other peoples money in order to feel good about not voluntarily donating their own. In short, Democrats. On the other side you have the business loving, selfish, individual righties that would watch school kids go without lunch and the elderly die alone in a trailer park before they lifted a finger to help. Affectionately calling themselves Republicans. I say B as in B and S as in S! We only believe these things because those that have chosen to rule over us have defined it this way. The people I know don’t fit nicely in either category. The terms of the game have been dictated to us and they are at best inaccurate, and at worst down right dishonest. I have come to believe that in the scheme of political movements the scale looks more like this.

Totalitarianism------Democrats---Republicans---------------Founding Fathers----Anarchy

The Founding Fathers of this country understood two things very well. First, they new that there needed to be a way for the people to defend themselves, negotiate with other nations, and to settle disputes between neighbors. In short, they understood that there needed to be a governing body. They also understood, very well, what a government with too much power looked like. They had lived without freedom, and there were those that believed any government would be too much. The years of pain and suffering that would define our nation came to pass as a conflicted group of men made impossible decisions that tried to marry two opposing forces. What they came up with, as Benjamin Franklin would explain to a woman who asked, was “A Republic… If you can keep it”.

Understandably the Founding Fathers tried to shield the people from the uncontrollable hand of government, and to protect the precious freedom for which the country had bled. They turned out a government that was as close to the anarchy line as they could push it. They warned, coaxed and plead with people to remember the principles under which they had formed this government. Without them, they were convinced, as am I, that a government, by and for the people would fail.

I am sorry if this sounds like I am trying to teach you something you already know. The truth is, it is this message that has reshaped my political leanings and has helped to frame my political arguments. I am an American, in every way, I love the ideal that was set by our Founding Fathers. As I understand it, the principles that were nearest and dearest to the founders are the ones that I personally believe in, and would be willing to sacrifice my own desires to see accomplished.

My ideology is not one of a party, but one of my country and by extension one of principle. Principles like patriotism, love of God, family, honesty, life, frugality, charity, personal sovereignty, personal responsibility and the pursuit of happiness.

It would be a good time to discuss those principles, in detail, here, but I actually want you to read this, and that discussion could be an entire book. If you would like to have that conversation, please let me know and I would be happy to expound on the principles that I believe in. That is why when you ask me to describe my political belief I have a hard time wrapping it up in a sound bite.

I do know that the D’s and R’s are out of my life. I will not carry the water for a game that is cooked. The D’s and R’s are going to the same place, and both are on the wrong side of the spectrum. I will vote for the person that acts like a founder, or that has, in his or her life, espoused the principles that are important to me, in their actions.

It is my belief that when we ground ourselves in principle, then all of these silly little issues that we struggle with become much easier to deal with. With a clear understanding of what we believe, the crap that they want us to hear becomes much clearer, and we might even be able to concentrate on what really matters.

Please understand, I am interested in associating with YOU. This is not an issue of D’s and R’s, unless we let them define us that way. I am and will remain an American, same as you, so long as the flag stands for the principles that we share, and not for a governing party, or an individual that seeks power over us. I put my ideology ahead of party in the last election, and I did not contribute or campaign for McCain as a matter of principle. After what I have seen from the current administration I will not contribute or campaign for them either. Unless things ‘change’ quickly I fear the principles I care so much about will disappear from our leadership completely and our voices will grow smaller.

If you made it to this point, thank you for reading and I hope that you better understand me and where I stand politically. I enjoy our political banter and respect you for your defense of what you believe. We can and ought to have open dialogs, and I hope to hear a stirring rebuttal from you soon.

Sincerely,

Your American Friend