Rantings of a progressive conservative

Hello, I'm Bob, and I'm a progressive conservative. Yes, I am a living breathing oxymoron (and for those of you in East Peru, that doesn't mean I'm an oxygen breathing moron...well, maybe it does).

Progressive conservative...isn't that like two polar opposites? Liberals oftentimes like to call themselves "progressives" to shed off the "liberal" shellac that has been applied to them by the neighbors across the hall. Doesn't "Progressive" + "Conservative" = "Moderate"? Not in my case.

Here's my thinking - through conservative principles we can progress ahead. By using the guidelines that our forefathers put forth, we can forge a better country for all without having to resort to socialism/communism, fascism, monarchy, or anarchy.

First of all, I believe in the sanctity of life. I don't believe anyone has the right to take that away from you. That's why not only do I believe abortion is morally wrong but so are state sponsored death penalties. We should avoid at all costs killing others. Of course, in times of war, when we must protect our own (and our families') lives, killing to defend is unfortunately one of the few means of defense, and must be done so if needed. But I do not believe in the profiteering of killings unborn children nor putting to death criminals, no matter how despicable they are. Life should be protected and defended.

Second, I believe that man is fallible, and the bigger the organization/project/task he takes on, the more likely it will really screw up and hurt others. Those who believe that through better thinking, modern technology, and advanced scientific analysis (along with billions of taxpayer dollars) we can cure all diseases, wipe out poverty, make everyone geniuses, and eliminate acne are deluding themselves. Life will NEVER be perfect here on Earth; we can only attempt to alleviate some of the pain and misery.

Now, I'm all for scientific discovery, and modern technology is pretty cool, too. If we can cure diseases, lower poverty levels, and attempt to stop malnutrition, that's fine. However, we must realize that we are not smart enough to conquer every problem; there will always be fine nuances that buck the system and fall through the cracks. It's the old Pareto principle- it takes 20% of the time/money/resources to solve 80% of the problems and 80% of the resources to solve the remaining 20%. It will take the greatest amount of resources to solve the final 1%.

In relation to government, I believe that some government is necessary, but the level we have today is far over-reaching. Government should not be a nursemaid to wipe our little noses, but be there to provide a framework in which to work; Provide basic infrastructure (roads, police, fire protection), justice, and defense of the nation. Handle these things so individuals don't have to worry about how to get from point A to point B without being mugged, shot, or fall into a pothole.

I think our society can progress based upon keeping government simple but responsive. Individuals do their best when given a certain amount of freedom; teamwork is not to be excluded, of course, and organizations do present a certain amount of leverage that an individual may not, but having minimal artificial influence from government is important.

Ah, but here's the catch.

In order for our society to be progressive, just, righteous, and mighty, it must be responsible. Because man is fallible, and therefore will cause issues to others, we must strive to be responsible citizens that do not tread on others. Take care of your stuff, I'll take care of mine. Of course, we all make mistakes, and I will trespass on someone else. That is where government comes in; allow justice to be determined and assist in making things right.

Some would like to believe that our current government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. I don't think that is true anymore. We are not treated as citizens but as servants and serfs. Why is this? Because we either have given up responsibility to maintain ourselves, or the rights that create these responsibilities have been taken away. In either case, we are kept under the thumb of the government instead of the citizens controlling it.

So, you can say I don't trust our current government. The principles by which it was created have been bastardized and corrupted. Our founding fathers wouldn't recognize it anymore. Go to any government office that deals with the public and find evidence of this statement.

In being a progressive conservative, I believe that rediscovering the original principles of this country will give us an opportunity to restore our rights and maintain our responsibilities. It does not mean going backwards, but rather forwards, where the liberties and opportunities envisioned by Thomas Jefferson and others can be realized. The socialistic tendencies of liberalism is the wrong path, and its cheerleaders, Clinton and Edwards, use it to take away rights from the people. Both will do and say anything to get elected. Of course, they are not the only politicians that are like that.

Giving amnesty to border jumpers will not get us there. Continuing to kill millions of unborn babies will not, either. Nor will continuing to run a trade deficit with a country that also carries most of our national debt. It means truly drawing a line in the sand and saying, "No more, we will no longer stand for this. We want our country back."