U.S. Political Parties: Conclusion

Well, thank God that is over. I learned a lot but as you could tell, I got a bit distracted for a little while. I mean, hello, I'm buying a house & moving...geeze. Hehe

For a list of several other political parties in the U.S. check out this Wikipedia page. Some of the are quite interesting like the Marijuana Party, the Christian Socialist Party, the Pirate Party of the United States, etc... LOL

Here is a chart I found that did an overview of the differences in the parties I covered.

From this research, I have decided that I'm somewhere between a Constitutionalist and a Republican. I like the more conservative stance the Constitution Party takes but I disagree with them about pulling out of Iraq & Afghanistan and I also don't really understand their idea on taxation. They don't support a flat tax or sales tax or much of taxation at all. While that would be great, how do you pay for the military? I do support a flat tax but not a sales tax, but then again, I really don't understand much about taxation, I just know that I pay for a lot of crap that our government has no business sticking their noses in not to mention the immoral issues our taxes support.

I do have more ideas for more series I want to do including a series on comparative religions, comparative denominations, basic theology, and a series on heroes in the history of the Church such as John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, etc. Anyone have any opinion on what you would like me to cover first?

U.S. Political Parties: The Green Party

Ok, this one isn’t as long. Also…I am so not a Green Party person. LOL

The Green Party was officially recognized in 2001.

The Ten Key Values of the Green Party are as follows:

1. Grassroots Democracy
“Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives and not be subject to the will of another. Therefore, we will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.”

2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
“All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.”

3. Ecological Wisdom
“Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.”

4 Non-Violence
“It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society’s current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.”

5. Decentralization
“Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economical institutions away from a system which is controlled by and mostly benefit’s the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.”

6. Community-Based Economics and Economic Justice
“We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a ‘living wage’ which reflects the real value of a person’s work.” “Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers’ rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our ‘quality of life.’ We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.”

7. Feminism and Gender Equity
“We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.”

8. Respect for Diversity
“We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.” “We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of our leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for other life forms than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.”

9. Personal and Global Responsibility
“We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.”

10. Future Focus and Sustainability
“Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of our ‘unmaking’ all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.”


In addition to these, the Green Party is for reducing the military budget, are pro-choice, support a single-payer national health insurance (socialized medicine), oppose capital punishment, oppose the war on drugs, against penalties for marijuana, and they are against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA which states that marriage is to be between a man and woman only).


Resources:
The Green Party
Wikipedia: The Green Party

U.S. Political Parties: The Constitution Party

First off, I want to apologize for the length of this post. I didn't think it would be anywhere near this long. Feel free to ignore this post, jump around to the headings of interest, or read it in completion. Really this whole series has been more for me to learn about our political system.

Next, I would like to say that I knew virtually nothing about this political party going in to this but I would have to say that this is probably the party I fall more in line with. I thought I was a Republican but now, I think this party is more how I feel. Granted, both parties share many of the same ideals. I also don't necessarily agree fully on every topic but I do with the vast majority of what they believe.

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The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 under the name of U.S. Taxpayers’ Party. The name was later changed in 1999 however, some state affiliate parties use other names. In Michigan they have kept the name the U.S. Taxpayers’ Party, in Connecticut they call themselves the Concerned Citizens Party, in Nebraska they are now known as The Nebraska Independent Party. Other Parties, such as the Reform Party, Independent American Party, American Independent Party (yes, those are two different parties), & America First Party, have discussed merging with The Constitution Party. They now refer to themselves, “America’s Fastest Growing Political Party.”

According to their website:

“We declare the platform of the Constitution Party to be predicated on the principles of The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, and The Bill of Rights. According to the original intent of the Founding Fathers, these founding documents are the foundation of our Liberty and the Supreme Law of the Land. The sole purpose of government, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, is to secure our unalienable rights given us by our Creator. When Government grows beyond this scope, it is usurpation, an liberty is compromised. We believe the major issues we face today are best solved by a renewed allegiance to the original intent of these founding documents.”

Their Preamble of their platform reads:

“The Constitution Party gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of the United States. We hereby appeal to Him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and the protection of His Providence as we work to restore and preserve these United States.

“This great nation was founded, not by religionists, but Christians; not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been and are afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.

“The goal of the Constitution Party is to restore American jurisprudence to its Biblical foundations and to limit federal government to its Constitutional boundaries.

“The Constitution of these United States provides that ‘no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.’ The Constitution Party supports the original intent of this language. Therefore, the Constitution Party calls on all those who love liberty and value their inherent rights to join with us in the pursuit of these goals and in the restoration of these founding principles.

“The U.S. Constitution established a Republic rooted in Biblical law, administered by representatives who are Constitutionally elected by the citizens. In such a Republic all Life, Liberty and Property are protected because law rules.

“We affirm the principles of inherent individual rights upon which these United States of America were founded:

• That each individual is endowed by his Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are the rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness;
• That the freedom to own, use, exchange, control, protect, and freely dispose of property is a natural, necessary and inseparable extension of the individual’s unalienable rights;
• That the legitimate function of government is to secure these rights through the preservation of domestic tranquility, the maintenance of a strong national defense, and the promotion of equal justice for all;
• That history makes clear that left unchecked, it is the nature of government to usurp the liberty of its citizens and eventually become a major violator of the people’s rights; and
• That, therefore, it is essential to bind government with chains of the Constitution and carefully divide and jealously limit government powers to those assigned by the consent of the governed.

• 
  

Here are some of the platforms upon which they stand:

Sanctity of Life

• They believe that life begins at fertilization & that abortion should be illegal in all cases including rape & incest. As to matters involving in which the life of the mother is directly compromised, they did not clearly say in what I read.
• They also oppose supporting or funding “any state or local government or any organization or entity, foreign or domestic, which advocates, encourages or participates in the practice of abortion. We also oppose the distribution & use of all abortifacients.”
• They believe the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Roe vs. Wade was a usurpation of their position & should be resisted by all levels of government.
• “Further, we condemn the misuse of federal laws against pro-life demonstrators, and strongly urge the repeal of the FACE Acts as an unconstitutional expansion of federal power into areas reserved to the states or people by the Tenth Amendment.”
• They also “oppose the funding and legalization of bio-research involving human embryonic or pre-embryonic cells.”
• They are “also oppose all government ‘legalization’ of euthanasia, infanticide and suicide.”

Conscription

• They are opposed to the draft & any other form of compulsory government service. (Which if you have been paying attention to what Pres. Obama has said & by the his administration asking Hollywood to include volunteering in their scripts of last weeks sit-coms, one could postulate that our President may have in his mind some idea to make “volunteer” work required by all. I’m not being irrational. He has stated in several of his speeches that he believes all people, from the youngest to the oldest, should volunteer in some way, shape, or form. Also, free tickets were offered for a speech that Pres. Obama was going to give back in August. People who claimed the tickets were later called & told that in order to receive a ticket they would have to volunteer 6 hrs for the campaign in a 3 day time period. Sorry…I digress)

Cost of Big Government

• “A legitimate & primary purpose of civil government is to safeguard the God-given rights of its citizens; namely, life, liberty, and property. Only those duties, functions, and programs specifically assigned to the federal government by the Constitution should be funded. We cal upon Congress and the President to stop all federal expenditures which are not specifically authorized by the U.S. Constitution, and to restore the states those powers, programs, and sources of revenue that the federal government has usurped.”
• “One of the greatest contributors to deficit spending is war. If the country is to get rid of debt, these United States cannot become gratuitously involved in constant wars. Constitutional government, as the founders envisioned it, was not imperial. It was certainly not contemplated that America would police the world at the taxpayers’ expense.”

Crime

• They favor capital punishment & requiring restitution for the victims.
• They are opposed to “hate crime” laws.

Defense

• “It is a primary obligation of the federal government to provide for the common defense, and to be vigilant regarding potential threats, prospective capabilities, and perceived intentions of potential enemies”
• “We oppose unilateral disarmament and dismemberment of America’s defense infrastructure.”
• “We condemn the presidential assumption of authority to deploy American troops into combat without a declaration of war by Congress, pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.”
• “We are opposed to any New World Order, and we reject U.S. participation in or a relinquishing of command to any foreign authority.” (Be on alert, because this one is quite possibly about to happen this year…hopefully not, but possible.)
• “We call for the maintenance of a strong, state-of-the-art military on land, sea, in the air, and in space.”
• “We reject the policies and practices that permit women to train for or participate in combat.”
• “We fully support well regulated militias organized at the state level. Further, we fully support and encourage the restoration of unorganized militia at the county and community level in compliance with our patriotic and legal responsibilities as free citizens of these United States.”

Education

• “The law of our Creator assigns the authority and responsibility of educating children to their parents. Education should be free from all federal government subsidies, including vouchers, tax incentives, and loans, except with respect to veterans.”
• “Because the federal government has absolutely no jurisdiction concerning the education of our children, the United States Department of Education should be abolished; all federal legislation related to education should be repealed.”…”Under no circumstances should the federal government be involved in national teacher certification, educational curricula, textbook selection, learning standards, comprehensive sex education, psychological and psychiatric research testing programs, and personnel.”
• “We support the unimpeded right of parents to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including home, private or religious. We oppose all legislation from any level of government that would interfere with or restrict that liberty. We support equitable tax relief for families whose children do not attend government schools.”

Energy

• “We call attention to the continuing need of the United States for a sufficient supply of energy for national security and for the immediate adoption of a policy of free market solutions to achieve energy independence for these United States. We call for the abolishing the Department of Energy.”

Environment

• They believe that we should be good stewards of the natural resources God has given us. “In that role, we are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, and to replenish the earth and develop it (e.g., to turn deserts into farms and wastelands into groves). This requires a proper and continuing dynamic balance between development and conservation, between use and preservation.”
• “we wholeheartedly support realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution - air, water, and land. We reject, however, the argument of the perceived threat of man-made global warming which has been refuted by a large number of scientists.”
• “We also call for the repeal of federal wetlands legislation and the federal Endangered Species Act. Moreover, we oppose any attempt to designate private or public property as United Nations World Heritage sites or Biosphere reserves. We call fro an end to this United States participation in UN programs such as UNESCO, Man and the Biosphere, and the UN Council on Sustainable Development. We oppose environmental treaties and conventions such as the Biodiversity Treaty, the Convention on Climate Control, and Agenda 21, which destroy our sovereignty and right to private property.” (I would also assume they are against the Copenhagen Treaty set to be signed this December.)

Family

• “The law of our Creator defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman.”…”No government may legitimately authorize or define marriage or family relations contrary to what God has instituted. We are opposed to amending the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of defining marriage.”
• “We reject the notion that sexual offenders are deserving of legal favor or special protection, and affirm the rights of the states and localities to proscribe offensive behavior.”
• “We stand against so-called ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘hate crime’ statutes that attempt to legitimize inappropriate sexual behavior and to stifle public resistance to its expression. We oppose government funding of ‘partner’ benefits for unmarried individuals. Finally, we oppose any legal recognitions of homosexual unions.”
• “We recognize that parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to nurture, educate, and discipline their children.”…”We affirm the value of the father and the mother in the home, and we oppose efforts to legalize adoption of children by homosexual singles or couples.”

Foreign Policy

• “We are opposed to the negotiation or ratification of any treaty, agreement, or partnership that would deprive United States citizens of their rights protected by the United States Constitution. We are also opposed to any union whether political or economic, of these United States, Mexico, and Canada (NAU).”
• They believe we should withdraw from NATO.
• They “oppose American participation in any form of world government organization, including any world court under United Nations auspices.” They also call upon the termination of our participation in the UN & any of it’s subsidiary organizations.
• “There is no constitutional basis for foreign aid.” “Therefore, we demand that: no further funds be appropriated for any kind of foreign aid program; United States participation in international lending institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, be ended; the Export-Import Bank be abolished; all government subsidies, tax preferences, and investment guarantees to encourage U.S. businesses to invest in foreign lands be immediately terminated; and all debts owed to the United States by foreign countries, or foreign entities, be collected.”

Gun Control

• “The right to keep & bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution”
• “We oppose any attempts to prohibit ownership of guns by law-abiding citizens, and stand against all laws which would require the registration of guns or ammunition.”
• “We call for the repeal of all federal firearms legislation, beginning with the Federal Firearms Act of 1968.”
• “We call for the rescinding of all executive orders, the prohibition of any future executive orders, and the prohibition of treaty ratification which would in any way limit the right to keep and bear arms.”

Health Care and Government

• “The Constitution Party opposes the governmentalization and bureaucratization of American medicine.”
• “We denounce any civil government entity using age or any other personal characteristic to: preclude people and insurance firms from freely contracting for medical coverage; conscript people into socialized medicine, e.g., Medicare; or prohibit these people from using insurance payments and/or their own money to obtain medical services in addition to, or to augment the quality of, those services prescribed by the program.”
• “The federal government has no Constitutional provision to regulate or restrict the freedom of the people to have access to medical care, supplies or treatments. We advocate, therefore, the elimination of the federal Food and Drug Administration…”
• “We affirm freedom of choice of practitioner and treatment for all citizens for their health care.”

Immigration

• “We oppose the abuse of the H-1B and L-1 visa provisions of the immigration act which are displacing American workers with foreign.”
• “We favor a moratorium on immigration to these United States, except in extreme hardship cases or in other individual special circumstances, until the availability of all federal subsidies and assistance be discontinued, and proper security procedures have been instituted to protect against terrorist infiltration.”
• “We also insist that every individual group and/or private agency which requests the admission of an immigrant to the U.S., on whatever basis, be required to commit legally to provide housing and sustenance for such immigrants, bear full responsibility for the economic independence of the immigrants, and post appropriate bonds to seal such covenants.”
• “The Constitution Party demands that the federal government restore immigration policies based on the practice that potential immigrants will be disqualified from admission to the U.S. if, on the grounds of health, criminality, morals, or financial dependence, they would impose an improper burden on these United States, any state, or any citizen of the United States.”
• “We oppose the provision of welfare subsidies and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal aliens, and reject the practice of bestowing U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in their country.”
• “We oppose any extension of amnesty to illegal aliens. We call for the use of the U.S. troops to protect the states against invasion.”
• “We oppose bilingual ballots. We insist that those who wish to take part in the electoral process and governance of this nation be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship. We support English as the official language for all governmental business by these United States.”

Personal and Private Property Security

• “We affirm the Fourth Amendment right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effect against unreasonable searches and seizures, including arbitrary or de facto registration, general and unwarranted electronic surveillance, national computer databases, and national identification cards.”
• “We deplore and oppose vigorously legislation and executive action that deprived the people of their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights under claims of necessity to ‘combat terrorism’ or to ‘protect national security.’”
• “We oppose the monitoring and controlling of the financial transactions of the people through such proposed laws as ‘Know Your Customer.’”
• “We support privacy legislation that prohibits private parties from discrimination against individuals who refuse to disclose or obtain a Social Security number. We also call for legislation prohibiting all governmental entities from requiring the use of the Social Security number except for Social Security transactions. Additionally, we call for the repeal of all laws, regulations, and statutes that require the use of the Social Security number for any purpose other than Social Security transactions.”

Religious Freedom

• “We call upon all branches of government to cease their attacks on the religious liberties of the people and the states, regardless of the forum in which these liberties are exercised.”
• “We assert that any form of taxation on churches and other religious organizations is a direct and dangerous step toward state control of the church.”
• “We assert that private organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, can determine their own membership, volunteers, and employment based on their oaths and creeds.”

Social Security

• “The Constitution Party advocates phasing out the entire Social Security program, while continuing to meet the obligations already incurred under the system.”

State Sovereignty

• “The federal government has no authority to mandate policies relating to state education, natural resources, transportation, private business, housing, and health care, ad infinitum.”

Taxes

• “We propose legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, and will veto any authorization, appropriation, or continuing resolution which contains any funding whatsoever for the illicit and unconstitutional agency. We are opposed to the flat-rate tax, national sales tax, and the value added tax proposals that are being promoted as an improvement of the current tax system. The Sixteenth Amendment does not provide authority for an un-apportioned direct tax.”
• “When elected, we will act to cease collection of direct Federal personal income taxes. We also support ratification of the Liberty Amendment which would repeal the Sixteenth Amendment, and provide that ‘Congress shall not levy taxes on personal incomes, estates, and/or gifts.’”

Terrorism and Personal Liberty

• They oppose the National Security Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Domestic Securities Enhancement Act, and the Military Commissions Act.
• “The Constitution Party is unalterably opposed to the criminal acts of terrorist, and their organizations, as well as the governments which condone them. Individuals responsible for acts of terrorism must be punished for their crimes, including the infliction of capital punishment where appropriate. In responding to terrorism, however, these United States must avoid acts of retaliation abroad which destroy innocent human lives, creating enmity toward these United States and its people…”

Wage and Price Control

• “We deny that civil government has the authority to set wages and prices; so doing is inconsistent with principles of individual liberty and the free market.”

Welfare

• “Charity, and provision of welfare to those in need, is not a Constitutional responsibility of the federal government. Under no circumstances should taxpayers of these United States be obligated, under penalty of law through forced taxation, to assume the cost of providing welfare for other citizens. Neither should taxpayers be indentured to subsidize welfare for persons who enter these United States illegally.”
• “The message of Christian charity is fundamentally at odds with the concept of welfare maintenance as a right. In many cases, welfare provisions by the Federal government are not only misdirected, but morally destructive.”
• “It is the intended purpose of civil government to safeguard life, liberty and property - not to redistribute wealth. Such redistribution is contrary to the Biblical command against theft.”
• “We encourage individuals, families, churches, civic groups and other private organizations, to fulfill their personal responsibility to help those in need.”

Resources:
Constitution Party
Wikipedia: Constitution Party

States Exploration: Assignment 2: My State's Name

State Name: Texas

Research where the name of your state came from. Is there a story to tell?: There are several stories but the most common is that the Native Americans in East Texas referred to themselves as thecas or “friend” when they met some Spanish explorers. Later it was found that this word was probably actually Texias which more correctly translated into any ally against the Apaches. It was spelt differently many times including tejas, but eventually we ended up with Texas. You can read a more in-depth story here.

What does the state name (the word) itself mean?: According to another site & supporting what I said above, “Texas comes from the Hasinai Indian word tejas meaning friends or allies.”

When was it established as it’s “official” name?: After breaking away from Mexico during the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas became a it’s own nation in 1836. Nine years later, in 1845, Texas joined the United States of American as the 28th state.

Several states were owned by other countries. What was your state’s name before it was a part of the US?: Six flags have flown over Texas. This is where you get the name of the amusement park Six Flags which originated in Texas. Those countries that have owned Texas are: Spain (1519-1685 & 1690-1821), France (1685-1690), Mexico (1821-1836), The Republic of Texas (1836-1845), United States of America (1845-1861 & 1865-present), and the Confederate States of America (1861-1865).

What main nationality were those who first populated your state? Did their nationality have anything to do with the naming of your state?: The native people of Texas were several groups of Indians including: Comanche, Caddo (where we get the name “Texas”), Tonkawa, Apache, Lipan, Karankawas, & Coahuiltecan. Read more about them here.

Was your state name after a person? Tell us about the person & how they inspired the name.: No, the name is not after a person but many of the cities & counties are named after famous people including: Bowie county (after James Bowie who fought at the Alamo; the county I am originally from), Austin (after Stephen F. Austin who is known as “The Father of Texas”), & Houston (after Sam Houston who commanded the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution).

Were there any particular people involved in naming the state?: The Caddo Indians & the Spanish explorers (especially Alonso De Leon, Damian Massanet, & Francisco de Jesus Maria)

U.S. Political Parties: The Libertarian Party

Founded in 1971, “Libertarians believe the answer to America’s political problems is the same commitment to freedom that earned America its greatness: a free-market economy & the abundance & prosperity it brings; a dedication to civil liberties & personal freedom that the makers this country above all others; and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, & free trade as prescribed by America’s founders.”

2008 early registration ballots announced 24.82% of the population registered Libertarians making it the third largest political party in the US.

Their Stance on the Issues:

The Economy: "A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society."

Civil Liberties: “ The defense of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect & to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Bill of Rights provides no exceptions for a time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight & transparency.”

Crime & Violence:

• Step 1. Protect Victim’s Rights: “Libertarians would do more than just punish criminals. We would also make them pay restitution to their victims for the damage they’ve caused, including property loss, medical costs, pain, & suffering.”

• Step 2. End Prohibition: “Drug prohibition does more to make Americans unsafe than any other factor.”

• Step 3. Get Tough on Real Crime: 'The Libertarian Party is the party of personal responsibility. We believe that anyone who harms another person should be held responsible for that action. By contrast, the Democrats & Republicans have created a system where criminals can get away with almost anything." "For instance: sentences seldom mean what they say. Fewer than one out of every four violent felons serves more than four years. Libertarians would dramatically reduce the number of these early releases by elimination their root cause - prison over-crowding."'Since nearly six out of every ten federal prison inmates are there for non-violent drug-related offenses, it’s clear that drug prohibition is the primary source of this over-crowding."
  

• Step 4. Protect the Right to Self-Defense: “We believe that the private ownership of firearms is part of the solution to America’s crime epidemic, not part of the problem.”

• Step 5. Address the Root Causes of Crime: “The Libertarian Party would increase employment opportunities by slashing taxes & government red tape. We would also end the welfare system with its culture of dependence & hopelessness. Most important of all, we would promote low-cost private alternatives to the failed government school system.”

Environment: “Government, both federal & local, is the greatest single polluter in the U.S. This polluter literally gets away with murder because of sovereign immunity. Libertarians would make government as responsible for its actions as everyone else is expected to be. Libertarians would protect the environment by first abolishing sovereign immunity.”

Foreign Policy: “Foreign aid is little more than welfare for nations -- with the same disastrous effects as domestic welfare programs.” “If Americans truly want to help other countries, they can best do so not through failed foreign aid programs, but by improving the U.S. economy, so that U.S. businesses have funds to invest abroad, and pursuing free trade policies.”
Freedom of Speech: “We defend the rights of individuals to unrestricted freedom of speech, freedom of press & the right of individuals to dissent from government itself.”

Gun Laws: “Law-abiding, responsible citizens do not & should not need to ask anyone’s permission or approval to engage in a peaceful activity. Gun ownership, by itself, harms no other person & cannot morally justify criminal penalties.” “Studies show that where gun ownership is illegal, residential burglaries are higher. A man with a gun in his home is no threat to you if you aren’t breaking into it.” “Rather than banning guns, the politicians and the police should encourage gun ownership, as well as education and training programs. A responsible, well-armed and trained citizenry is the best protection against domestic crime and the threat of foreign invasion.”

Healthcare: “The Libertarian Party knows the only healthcare reforms that will make a real difference are those that draw on the strength of the free market. The Libertarian Party will work towards the following: (1) establish medical savings accounts, (2) deregulate the healthcare industry, and (3) remove barriers to safe, affordably medicines.”

Immigration: “For those workers already in the United States illegally, we can avoid ‘amnesty’ and still offer a pathway out of the underground economy. Newly legalized workers can be assessed fines & back taxes & serve probation befitting the misdemeanor they’ve committed. They can be required to take their place at the back of the line should they eventually apply for permanent residency.”

Websites to check out:

Libertarian Party
Wikipedia: Libertarian Party

States Exploration: Assignment 1

So this is from a blogger I've just recently started reading. This is a project that she does with her children (she homeschools) & has opened it up for anyone to be involved. So, since you're never too old to learn something...here it goes.

Name of your state: Texas

How long have you lived there?: 29 years, with 2 years living in a dorm in Arkansas while at college but my permanent address was Texas, so that still counts, right? :)

Area of the country your state is in: I would say south but most maps say southwest. So, whatever.

What are some things your state is known for? Cowboys, rodeos, The Alamo, The Bush's (W & H.W.), longhorn cattle, horses,....

Which season do you like the best about your state?: Fall. You finally get a break from the terrible heat (even though this year hasn't been that bad & by today's weather, it seems fall has come early...no complaints here)

What are some of the things you dislike?: The heat, the crowds & traffic of the big cities, the allergies I see to have now that I live near Dallas, mosquito, humidity, dust, the assumption that if you are from Texas you must like country music & wear cowboy boots & hats (I'm rock & roll, enough said), I have a love/hate relationship to our accent (it's enduring but sometimes people think you are not intelligent because of it)

If you have ever lived anywhere else, what differences have you noticed?: weather, accents, different words used to describe the same item. For example, when I moved to Arkansas, I told my friend to get a buggy, she laughed & said they call it a cart. Another time, I told my friend to go set something on the bar & she spent about 10 min looking for a wet bar when I actually meant the counter in our kitchen. LOL Loved that story. Poor Catholic girl staying in the house of a Southern Baptist family. LOL

U.S. Political Parties: The Republican Party

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in Ripon, WI by anti-slavery activists. It was referred to as the Grand Old Party, hence the “GOP.” Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican President in 1860.

During the Civil War, “Republican of the day worked to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery, the Fourteenth, which guaranteed equal protection under the laws, and the Fifteenth, which helped secure voting rights for African-Americans.” The Republicans “also played a leading role in securing women the right to vote.” (GOP)

When FDR enacted the “Second New Deal, “it was heavily criticized by the Republicans in Congress, who likened it to class warfare & socialism. The volume of legislation, & the inability of the Republicans to block it, soon made the oppositions to Roosevelt develop into bitterness. Conservative Democrats, mostly from the South, joined with Republicans lead by Senator Robert Taft to create the conservative coalition, which dominated domestic issues in Congress until 1964.” (Wikipedia)

Main Platforms

National Security:

• Homeland Security: “We must continue to remove barriers to cooperation and information sharing. Modernized 9-1-1 services must be made universally available and be adequately funded. We must be able to thwart cyber attacks that could cripple our economy, monitor terrorist activities while respecting Americans’ civil liberties, and protect against military and industrial espionage and sabotage.”
• Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation: “The U.S. should lead that effort [nuclear arsenal reduction] by reducing the size of our nuclear arsenal to the lowest number consistent with our security requirements and working with other nuclear powers to do the same.” “We must develop and deploy both national and theater missile defenses to protect the American homeland, our people, our Armed Forces abroad, and our allies.”
• Better Intelligence: “We must increase the ranks and resources of our human intelligence capabilities, integrate technical and human sources, and get that information more quickly to the war fighter and the policy maker. The multi-jurisdictional arrangements that now prevail on Capitol Hill should be replaced by a shingle Joint Committee on Intelligence.”
• Immigration, National Security, and the Rule of Law: “Our commitment to the rule of law means smarter enforcement at the workplace, against illegal workers and lawbreaking employers alike, along with those who practice identity theft and traffic in fraudulent documents.” “The rule of law means guaranteeing to law enforcement the tools and coordination to deport criminal aliens without delay -- and correcting court decisions that have made deportation so difficult. It means enforcing the law against those who overstay their visas,” “denial of federal funds for self-described sanctuary cities,” “it does not mean diver’s licenses for illegal aliens, nor does it mean that states should be allowed to flout the federal law barring them from giving in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens, nor does it mean that illegal aliens should receive social security benefits, or other public benefits” “We oppose amnesty.” “We celebrate the industry [legal immigration] & love of liberty of these fellow Americans.” “In our multiethnic nation, everyone -- immigrants and native-born alike -- must embrace our core values of liberty, equality, meritocracy, and respect for human dignity and the rights of women.” “We support English as the official language in our nation”
• Providing for the Armed Forces: “They and their families must have the pay, health care, housing, education, & overall support they need. We must significantly increase the size of our Armed Forces” “Injured military personnel deserve the best medical care our country has to offer.” “We oppose reinstituting the draft, whether directly or through compulsory national service.” “To protect our servicemen & women and ensure that America’s Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service.”
• Fulfilling our Commitment to our Veterans: “We want to build on the bipartisan expansion of the GI Bill by encouraging private colleges to bridge the gap between GI Bill education benefits and tuition costs.” “The VA’s current disability compensation formulas need to be restructured and modernized.” “There must be adequate counseling when veterans return home”
• Israel: “We reaffirm America’s commitment to Israel’s security and will ensure that Israel maintains a qualitative edge in military technology over any potential adversaries.”

Economy:

• Republican Tax Policy: Protecting Hardworking Americans: “We believe government should tax only to raise money for its essential functions.” “doubling the exemption for dependents,” “permanently ban internet access taxes and stop all new cell phone taxes,” “continue our fight against the federal death tax,” “The Alternative Minimum Tax, a stealth levy on the middle-class that unduly targets large families, must be repealed.” “We support a major reduction on the corporate tax rate” “we support giving all taxpayers the option of filing under the current rules or under a two-rate flat tax with generous deductions for families.”
• Small Business: the Engine of Job Growth: “Republicans will advance a multi pronged plan to support small business & growth of good-paying jobs.”
• Free & Fair Trade: “we need to be at the table when trade rules are written to make sure that free trade is indeed a two-way street.”
• Supporting our Agricultural Communities: “We advocated the creation of Farm Savings Accounts to help growers manage risks brought on by turbulence in global markets & nature itself.” “we affirm our fight against the death tax.” “We reaffirm traditional state supremacy over water allocations and will continue to make available renewable rangeland under sound environmental conditions.” “The U.S. government should end mandates for ethanol and let the free market work.”

Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First: “Republicans believe the key to real reform is to give control of the health care system to patients & their health care providers, not bureaucrats in government or business.”

• “We will protect citizens against any & all risky restructuring efforts that would complicate or ration health care.”
• “We will encourage health promotion & disease prevention.”
• “We will facilitate cooperation, not confrontation, among patients, providers, payers, & all stakeholders in the healthy care system.”
• “We will not put government between patients & their health care providers.”
• “We will not put the system on a path that empowers Washington bureaucrats at the expense of patients.”
• “We will not raise taxes instead of reducing health care costs.”
• “We will not replace the current system with the staggering inefficiency, maddening irrationality, & uncontrollable costs of a government monopoly.”

Education:

• “Education is a parental right, a state & local responsibility, & a national strategic interest.”
  
• “We advocate policies & methods that are proven & effective: building on the basics, especially phonics; ending social promotion; merit pay for good teachers; classroom discipline; parental involvement; & strong leadership by principals. We reject a one-size-fits-all approach & support parental options, including home schooling, & local innovations such as schools or classes for boys only or for girls only & alternative & innovative school schedules.”
  
• “we support the English First approach”

Crime: Protecting Our Families:

• “Republicans remain the party of vigorous action against crime & the party that empowers the law-abiding by protecting their right to keep & bear arms for self-protection.”
  
• “We support the law prohibiting gambling over the Internet.”
  
• “Illegal alien gang members must be removed from the United States immediately upon arrest or after the completion of any sentence imposed.”
  
• “Courts must have the option of imposing the death penalty in capital murder cases & other instances of heinous crime”
  
• “We support the right of off-duty & retired officers to carry firearms. Criminals should be barred from seeking monetary damages for injuries they incur while committing a crime.”

Preserving Our Values:

• “We uphold the right of individual Americans to own firearms”
  
• “We condemn decisions by activists judges to deny children the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance in public school.”
  
• “We support freedom of speech & freedom of the press & oppose attempts to violate or weaken those rights, such as reinstatement of the so-called Fairness Doctrine.”
  
• “we assert the inherent dignity & sanctity of all human life & affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.”
  
• “We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion & will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values & the sanctity of dignity of innocent human life.”
  
• “we oppose the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, was well as the elderly & infirm, just as we oppose euthanasia & assisted suicide”
  
• “we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man & a woman”
  
• “The public display of the Ten Commandments does not violate the U.S. Constitution & accurately reflects the Judeo-Christian heritage of our country. We support the right of students to engage in student-initiated, student-led prayer in public schools, athletic events, & graduation ceremonies, when done in conformity with constitutional standards.”
  
• “We affirm every citizen’s right to apply religious values to public policy & the right of faith-based organizations to participate fully in public programs without renouncing their beliefs, removing religious objects or symbols, or becoming subject to government-imposing hiring practices.”

For the full most recent platform, click here.

Websites to check out:

• Wikipedia: The Republican Party
• GOP
• Republican National Convention

Economic & Social Ideologies: Capitalism

Capitalism usually refers to an economic & social ideology “in which investment in & ownership of the means of production, distribution, & exchange of wealth is made & maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations.” In other words, you earned it, you keep it. “Labor, goods, & capital are traded in a market; profits are distributed to owners or invested in new technologies & industries; & wages are paid to labor.”

“Economists usually put emphasis on the market mechanism, degree of government control over markets (laissez faire), & property rights, while most political economists emphasize private property, power relations, wage labor, & class.”

Support:

• Economic growth: increase in GDP (Gross Domestic Product), improved standards of living (better availability of food, housing, clothing, & health care), decreased number of elderly & children in the work force & a decreased number of hours worked per week, increased opportunities for people to rise above their current conditions
• Political freedom: “transactions in a market economy are voluntary, & the wide diversity that voluntary activity permits is a fundamental threat to repressive political leaders & greatly diminish power to coerce.”
• Self-organization: Friedrich Hayek described self-organization thusly, “From transactions between buyers & sellers price systems emerge, & serve as a signal as to the urgent & unfilled wants of people. The promise of profits gives entrepreneurs incentive to use their knowledge & resources to satisfy those wants. Thus the activities of millions of people, each seeking his own interest, are coordinated.”
• Moral imperative: Ayn Rand said that a laissez-faire capitalism “allows people to be free to act in their rational self-interest.”

Criticisms:

• Religious criticism & opposition: Jews, Christians, & Muslims have been critical as to this form of economy leading to greed & selfishness
• Tendency toward oligopoly & monopoly: many critics have associated capitalism with an unfair distribution of wealthy, cultural exploitation, & repression of workers
• Environmental destruction: “Environmentalists have argued that capitalism requires continual economic growth, & will inevitably deplete the finite natural resources of the earth, & other broadly utilized resources.”

Economic & Social Ideologies: Socialism

Socialism, according to dictionary.reference.com, is “a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of ownership & control of the means of production & distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.” Karl Marx described socialism as the transition stage a society goes through when evolving from capitalism into communism.

Socialists believe capitalism places all the power in the hands of the wealthy. Their idea is to redistribute this power & wealth based on the amount of work employed. However, disagreements in how this should be performed has lead to many different types of socialism. “Some socialists advocate complete nationalization of the means of production, distribution, & exchange; others advocate state control of capital within the framework of a market economy.” (Wikipedia) “Social democrats propose selective nationaliztion of key national industries in mixed economies, while maintaining private ownership of capital & private business enterprise. Social democrats also promote tax-funded welfare programs & regulation of markets.” (Wikipedia)

From what I understand, socialism is an attempt to make everyone in society equal. It sounds nice but cannot work. People are too lazy, selfish, etc for this type of lifestyle. Ideally, in a socialistic environment, the fellow frying up your French fries at your favorite fast food restaurant would be compensated the same as your doctor who spent 10+ years in college & who knows how much money.

Current Marxist-Leninist socialist countries include: People’s Republic of China (since October 1, 1949), Cuba (since January 1, 1959), Laos (since December 2, 1975), North Korea (since 1948), & Vietnam (in unified Vietnam since July 2, 1976, but in the north since 1954). Countries who reference socialism in their constitution & subscribe to many of the ideologies of socialism but do not necessarily follow Marxist-Leninist ideas include: Bangladesh (since December 16, 1972), Egypt (since September 11, 1971), India (since November 2, 1976), Libya (since September 1, 1969), Portugal (since 1976), Sri Lanka (since September 7, 1978), Syria (since 1973), & Tanzania (since April 26, 1964).

Forms of Government: Conclusion

There are hundreds of categories & subcategories of government types. And, in reality, this list is possibly infinite. There are probably as many ideas on how people should be governed as there are human beings.

There are several forms that I did not cover in this series mainly because I may be covering them in another series later on, such as, communism, socialism, & fascism.

Here are a few other types & a very brief description:

• Dictatorship - a form of government in which a person or group holds complete authority without restriction of laws or a constitution and the people do not have the right choose their own leaders
• Ecclesiastical - ruled by a church or religious group
• Technocracy - a form of government in which engineers, scientist, & other technical experts are in control of decision making in their respective fields
• Theocracy - a government that a deity is recognized as the supreme ruler but the god’s laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, priests, mullahs, etc…)

Forms of Government: Anarchy

The immediate onset of the French Revolution has been often referred to as a time of anarchy. Freetown Christiania in Denmark claims to be a current community of anarchy.

The symbol for anarchy is an encircled letter “A.” Often the colors of red, black, & white are also associated with anarchy.

Wikipedia states, "Anarchists are those who advocate the absence of the state, arguing that common sense would allow people to come together in agreement to form a functional society allowing for the participants to freely develop their own sense of morality, ethics or principled behavior.”

Most people refer to anarchy as complete lawlessness, renegade, rebellious, chaos, lack of control but those who promote anarchy prefer to think of it as “an anti-statist society that is based on the spontaneous order of free individuals in autonomous communities.”


“Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” -- Louis D. Brandeis (American Supreme Court Justice; 1856-1941)

Forms of Government: Republic

The term “republic,” through history & today, represents many different ideologies. It was first used by Niccolo Machiavelli to refer to any government not ruled by a monarch but by the people.

Most republics name a President as the head of state. The U.S. was the first to use this title. The President is usually elected to the office by the people. According to Wikipedia, “In states with a parliamentary system the president is usually elected by the parliament.”

In political systems referred to as “crowned republics,” there is a hereditary monarchy but the power of the monarchy is relatively ceremonial & most of the real political power resides in the elected officials.

Some countries claim to be a republic yet operate more like a monarchy, such as in the case of North Korea & Syria. In these states, the leader has assumed absolute power &, even though there is no constitutional requirement, the title seems to be being passed down from father to son.

Elective monarchy, such as in Malaysia & the Holy Roman Empire, are rare today but were not uncommon in the past. These forms of government give the leader full authority but are elected by the people, sometimes for life & sometimes for a set period of time.

Since adding “Republic” in the name of a country is awfully popular nowadays, many countries have come up with descriptive words to better describe the system in which they adhere to. I have already described a “parliamentary republic” above. Another example would be a “federal republic” or “confederation” or “federation.” Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Russia, & Switzerland follow this system. It can be described as “a federal union of states or provinces with a republican form of government.”

Islamic countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, & Iran are all ruled by Islamic law & are referred to as “Islamic republics.”

“Democratic republic” seems to be the preferred moniker that communist countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo & the former German Democratic Republic tend to use in order to insist they are democratic.

China & North Korea like to use the term “people’s republic” to mean that they are directed for & by “the people,” however this is typically done by indirect elections.

Wikipedia states:

“States of the United States are required, like the federal government, to be a republican in form, with final authority resting with the people. This was required because the states were intended to create & enforce most domestic laws, with the exception of areas delegated to the federal government & prohibit to the states. The founding fathers of the country intended most domestic laws to be handled by the states, although, over time, the federal government has gained more & more influence over domestic law. Requiring the states to be a republic in form was seen as protecting the citizens’ rights & preventing a state from becoming a dictatorship or monarchy, & reflected unwillingness on the part of the original 13 states (all independent republics) to unite with other states that were not republics. Additionally, this requirement ensured that only other republics could join the union.”

Quotes about the Republic:

“Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction.” Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the United States & author of the Declaration of Independence; 1762-1826)

“This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.” Elmer Davis (American radio announcer & news commentator; 1890-1958)

“That book [Bible], sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.” Andrew Jackson (7th President of the United States; 1767-1845)

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag

“Every citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman, and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution.” Mark Twain (American humorist, writer, & lecturer; 1835-1910)

Forms of Government: Democracy

This form of government we hear about all the time. Democracy means “rule by the people or the majority.” This was a common form of government in the Greek city-states between the 5th & 4th centuries BC.

Surprisingly enough, there is no universally acknowledged definition of democracy but, according to Economist.com “most observers today would agree that at a minimum, the fundamental features of a democracy include government based on majority rule & the consent of the governed, the existence of free & fair elections, the protection of minorities & respect for basic human rights.”

Democracy originated in Ancient Greece but every society that has instilled this form of government has added it’s own spin on the ideology leading to numerous democratic systems. A representative democracy involves a group of representatives & a head of state being elected by a majority. These representatives are elected to act on the behalf of their constituent’s beliefs & interests but they do have the freedom to use their “best judgment.” A representative democracy can be further broken down into a parliamentary democracy & a liberal or constitutional democracy.

Another form of democracy is a direct democracy. With this form, the representatives are eliminated. The people vote on all issues. Historically, this type hasn’t really worked & had to be limited to smaller groups of people. However, California now uses this form to run their state. I personally believe this may grow in popularity or at least become a more possible option with the advancement of technology, communication, & transportation in today’s culture. There are many other forms but those are probably the two most common forms.

Democracy is not the “holy grail” of government ideologies, however. There are many criticisms of democracy. One such criticism is that voters tend to be very uninformed on the issues such as the economy. People (like I’ve stated previously & including myself) tend to be lazy & not want to study even the basics of politics. This is where lobbyists & the media can influence the people. This is a bit of a evil cycle, here. We have to rely on the media to tell us what is going on in D.C. but, nowadays media doesn’t just report the facts. Their political leanings tend to infiltrate or even guide their reporting causing their viewers to be influenced unless they are aware of what is going on. So watch, but watch with discernment.

Another serious criticism was brought up by Plato in his The Republic. He claimed that
democracy grants the people too much freedom eventually leading to mob rule/tyranny. Our forefathers were not stupid & tried to prevent this by creating the Constitution that would limit the powers of what a majority could impose.

According to Wikipedia “Traditional Asian cultures, in particular that of Confucian & Islamic thought, believe that democracy results in the people’s distrust & disrespect of governments or religious sanctity.” They believe that it eventually leads to a moral decay of the society. And, you know what? I can certainly see this happening today in our own country.

Other concerns include: political instability, short-termism, slow governmental response, & vote buying.


Links of interest:

• Democracy at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Democracy
• American Thinker: How Democracies Become Tyrannies -- A great article about Plato’s “The Republic” in comparison to what is going on in our country today.

Forms of Government: Oligarchy

Oligarchy essentially means the “rule of the few.” This can be in the form of a family, royalty, military similar to a military dictatorship, the wealthy, intellectuals similar to a technocracy. According to Wikipedia, “Oligarchies have been tyrannical throughout history, being completely reliant on public servitude to exist.”

Oligarchies commonly tend to be a transitional government from a monarchy or dictatorship to another form of “power-sharing” government. Some examples of oligarchy societies most of the city-states in Greece between 1000 & 500 BC, the Etruscans, the Roman Republic, & a more recent form would be South Africa during the apartheid in which race was the requirement for the “caste system.”

A theory known as “iron law of oligarchy” states that “any political system eventually evolves into an oligarchy” & that “modern democracies should be considered as elected oligarchies.”

Forms of Government: Monarchy

Monarchy is a form of government that is ruled by one person. That person is usually referred to as a king/queen, prince/princess, emperor/empress, or duke/grand duke/duchess. This was the most common form of leadership in ancient & medieval times & continues to be a common form today. According to Wikipedia, there are currently 44 nations that have this form of government, 16 of which are Commonwealth nations of Britain.

Most postings to monarch are inherited but some, as in the case of the Pope in the Vatican, are elected.

Now, there are different degrees of monarchy. The most strict type is absolute monarchy. With this form, the monarch has complete authority over every aspect of his subject’s lives. There is no constitution or legal restriction over this monarch. Some examples of this type of rule would be Louis XIV of France, the Tsars of Russia (until 1905), and James I & Charles I of England. Some of the nations that claim absolute monarchy today include Vatican City, Swaziland, Brunei, Oman, Qatar, & Saudi Arabia.

Another form of monarchy is constitutional monarchy. As the name states, with this type of monarchy, the leader must act within the parameters of a constitution or rule of law. According to Wikipedia, “Most constitutional monarchies employ a parliamentary system in which the monarch is the ceremonial head of state & a directly- or indirectly-elected prime minister is the head of government & exercises effective political power.” Countries that use this form of government include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand & the UK.

Forms of Government

I've decided to do a bit of research (because I'm that kind of nerd) on the main forms of government around the world. I will be posting a series of entries based on what I find. Don't expect much, this isn't an exhaustive study. More of a quick Wikipedia or search on these types of rule. My entries will be short. Just a basic over view. I may expand later on certain topics but for now, I just want to be general.

With all that is going on in our country & world today, maybe it is time to understand where we came from, where we are, & where we may be headed. I've never been big into politics but over the past year, starting with last year's Presidential election & the extreme moral decline of our nation that is becoming more & more evident every day, I have become greatly interested in politics & a desire to learn more about what is happening today & what has lead to this decay.

Here are the types of government I plan on addressing:

• Monarchy
• Oligarchy
• Democracy
• Republic
• Anarchy

After that, I would like to cover a couple of other ideologies including:

• Communism
• Socialism
• Capitalism

And, after that, I plan on covering the main political parties in America (there are way more but these are the top 5, I'll list & link to some of the other parties just because some of them are so hilarious like the Marijuana party...LOL):

• Democratic party
• Republican party
• Libertarian party
• Constitutional party
• Green party
  

I get into debates & hear others arguing quite often & I am struck by how ignorant some of these people are & no matter how passionate they may be of their beliefs, their arguments are ineffective due to their lack of knowledge &/or skills of debate. I'm not saying these people are not intelligent people, they either just don't know how to debate effectively or have not gathered the facts. I have even fallen into this trap myself before. I may be right but because I haven't studied the topic, I actually do more harm to my side because I appear as an ignorant fool. This goes for any area that you may debate whether it is politics, religion, food, movies, interior decorating, whatever topic you enjoy. So, here is a bit of my attempt to learn more. It may be very elementary but one can't run a marathon if one has never even walked. I guess this will be my Couch-to-5K of politics. :)

Politics: A History Lesson: "Separation of church & state"

Trivia question:Where in the US Constitution does the phrase "separation of church & state" reside?
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Answer: No where. The phrase has been tracked down to have first occurred in a letter between Thomas Jefferson & the Danburry Baptist Association in 1802.

Many people claim that the First Amendment is speaking of "separation of church & state."

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Well, I guess it is a bit.

It does say that the government cannot make a law against or exalting a particular religion, but it says nothing about a religion getting involved in politics.





As a bit of interest, it does appear in another country's constitution. Here is a direct quote translated into English with the country's name removed so you can guess the country:

ARTICLE 124. In order to ensure to citizens freedom of conscience, the church in ______ is separated from the state, and the school from the church. Freedom of religious worship and freedom of antireligious propaganda is recognized for all citizens.

Can you guess which country?
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Answer: The USSR

How democracies fall according to Socrates

clipped from www.americanthinker.com

How Democracies Become Tyrannies

On the surface, and to most reviewers of Plato's writings, the Republic is a dialogue on justice and on what constitutes the just society. But to careful readers the deeper theme of the Republic is the nature of education and the relationship between education and the survival of the state.

justice and happiness in a community rests upon the moral condition of its citizens

without proper moral conditioning a regime's "defining principle" will be the source of its ultimate destruction. For democracy, that defining principle is freedom. According to Socrates, freedom makes a democracy but freedom also eventually breaks a democracy.

The short version of his theory is that the combination of freedom and poor education in a democracy render the citizens incapable of mastering their impulses and deferring gratification.

Eventually, this uninhibited quest for personal freedom forces the public to welcome the tyrant.

clipped from www.americanthinker.com

In this stage "there is neither order nor necessity in his life, but he calls it pleasant, free, blessedly happy, and he follows it for as long as he lives."

In short, the young man has no anchor, no set of guiding principles or convictions other than his thirst for freedom. His life is aimless, superficial, and gratuitous. The spoiled lotus-eaters of his generation have defined themselves simply by mocking all forms of propriety and prudence. What's worse, as these Athenian baby-boomers exercise their right to vote, they elect "bad cupbearers" as their leaders. The new cupbearers want to stay in office so they give the voters whatever they desire. The public, according to Socrates, "gets drunk by drinking more than it should of the unmixed wine of freedom." Conservative politicians who attempt to mix the wine of freedom with calls for self-restraint "are punished by the city and accused of being accursed oligarchs."

clipped from www.americanthinker.com

"A teacher in such a community is afraid of his students and flatters them, while the students despise their teachers or tutors." Conservatism becomes unpopular just about everywhere, to a point at which even the elderly "stoop to the level of the young and are full of play and pleasantry, imitating the young for fear of appearing disagreeable and authoritarian."

The explosion of boundaries and limits extends even to national identity itself, so that resident aliens and foreigners "are made equal to a citizen."

slavery comes to mean being under any kind of master or limit including the law itself.

The politicians heat up the crowds by vilifying business and wealth and by promising to spread the wealth around. The people then "set up one man as their special champion" and begin "nurturing him and making him great."

clipped from www.americanthinker.com

The people's "special champion" however transforms from leader to tyrant. He "drops hints about the cancellation of debts and the redistribution of land" and continues to "stir up civil wars against the rich." All who have reached this stage, says Socrates, "soon discover the famous request of a tyrant, namely, that the people give him a bodyguard to keep their defender safe for them." The people give him this new security force, "because they are afraid for his safety

After a series of unpopular actions, including stirring up a war in order to generate popular support, the leader begins to alienate some of his closest and most ardent advisers who begin to voice their misgivings in private. Following a purge of these advisors the tyrant attracts some of the worst elements of the city to help him rule.

The citizens finally decide they've had enough and begin to discuss rebellion.

clipped from www.americanthinker.com

First, those of us who are incapable of self-mastery will always shamefully prostrate ourselves before messianic political leaders.

Citizens capable of self-mastery will always choose to be left alone. In other words, they'll always choose limited government.

Second, freedom without limits paves the way to tyranny by undermining respect for the law.

As Socrates warned: extreme freedom will instill a paranoia about any kind of "master" including objective measurements of right and wrong, and of merit based forms of achievement. But when the citizens become enslaved to their vices they'll dutifully cry out for another kind of master.

The ethos of American education has been for many decades saturated with a simple mantra: choice. What's worse, those few remaining educators who chant the old, Socratic mantra of "judgment" are vilified and harassed by the modern day lotus-eaters as hateful conservatives.

But it is judgment not choice that enables a young person to erect a citadel in the soul.

Read entire article here.