Political views

My personal view, which I’ve held for about 4 years now, is that we won’t see real change in Washington or any other part of our government until we start voting in third parties.  I read a very interesting webpage back in 2004 on the Green party website about how much Democrat and Republican parties are alike.  You can view the page here.  While I no longer align with the Green party, it was an eye-opener.

Even last election for the senate, the Democrats promised an end to the War in Iraq.  That hasn’t happened yet.  Promises by both parties get made, and then we never see the promises realized once they are in office.  Whatever happened to not having “entangling alliances”?  Somehow, we have become the policeman of the world.

I do want to mention, before I go further, that I am especially proud of my Congressman, Joe Courtney, for not selling out Connecticut to the bailout plan that was just passed.  He listened to those of us in CT saying that we didn’t want our children’s and grandchildren’s futures to be saddled with more debt.  He was the only congressman from CT to vote nay.

My views now are very closely aligned with Libertarians.   I was always taught growing up the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and state’s rights.  I don’t see any of the mainstream candidates for 2008 supporting these things.  I believe that many of our problems in government are because we continue to give the government more power, to either tax us (Democrats), or borrow and print money (Republicans).  

Neither choice appeals to me.  I would have voted for Ron Paul, but unless he decides to run as an Independent at the last minute, I’m not going to write him in.  That would leave me with the Constitution Party or the Libertarian Party.

While I would describe myself as a conservative evangelical, I’m a little concerned as to what the Constitution Party would become if many of that party were in power.  Here is a webpage summarizing the differences between Constitution and Libertarian Parties.

I would agree with the article, wondering how if Christian ideals were in place in government, how a religious tolerance would be maintained, and how a separation of church and state might be kept.

So at this point, I’m probably going to cast my vote for Bob Barr / Wayne Root, the Libertarian candidates for President / Vice-President.  Do I think they will win?  Probably not, but I believe that a movement has been started, and support for third-party candidates will only get stronger.  I want to at least vote for a candidate that will be in favor of real change, such as getting back to Constitutional Principles, and restoring the freedoms taken away from us in the last 8 years.  This is, I believe, the only hope our nation has in these perilous times.

A couple of additional notes:

1.  I do trust in God, and no matter what, trust in Him for my daily needs.  I don’t look at any politician as being “hope for America”.  However, I believe it is my duty to vote for candidates that I believe will uphold the Constitution.  

2.  I believe Christians should be involved in politics, and potentially will have some additional thoughts on public theology that I will post soon.  I’m reading a book on public theology now, and like what I see so far.  Hint:  the ideas of participating in the public realm are based off the Reformed principle of common grace.

3.  I realize my political views may cost something.  The industry I work in (aerospace) tends to get major government contracts, which under the principles of limited government I would like to see, might mean that the company would get less money for some of their projects, especially military.  With this in mind, I believe that other opportunities would come along, or if I lost my job I would be able to do consulting work for small businesses as part of my consulting company.