Read all about it, then vote for me!

There's been a lot of discussion just lately, including in my home town, regarding same sex marriages. There's been a movement here to support a law that would force the government to only recognize marriages that are between a man and a woman. Apparently these religious homophobes have forgotten that the constitution has as one of its founding principles the separation of church and state. The state may not dictate to a person what they may do within the scope of their religious beliefs so long as it doesn't violate any other constitutional tenet. Besides which, the real issue for gay couples is not whether God will smile on their union but whether the state will protect the rights of the individual that has made a commitment to another individual only to have that commitment broken. The state protects the rights of traditionally married individuals in the form of spousal and child support, visitation, insurance protections, pensions, etc.

Gay couples are asking for the same financial and legal protections. They don't require our approval of their lifestyles and emotional needs. They're asking for the same protections that straights have. I have no problem with this, and therefore am totally against the homophobic movement to deny them the recognition and protections under the law that straights have.

China's government is known the world over for its horrid abuses of basic human rights, its total disregard for the religious views of its populace, for the reckless stamping out of anyone that opposes the old guard. The CNN article on China: "Revolution Is No Dinner Party, But China's Reform Is" explains why China's government is not viable and why we cannot allow it to stand unchallenged. When billions of dollars of public money are being spent to throw parties while the general population lives below the poverty level, there's a problem. It's my honest belief that China will not only disregard our attempts to change its political and social policies, it will begin considering expanding its territories. Look at the strides China is making to accelerate its space program. Consider this a prediction:

We will go to war with China in the next century, and part of the politics that foments that war will be played out over extraterrestrial territories such as the moon and Mars.

First off, a little side note about Y2K: It should be "Y2G". You see, one "K" is equal 1024 and one "G" is equal to 1000. "Y2K" therefore would be the year 2048 whereas Y2G would be 2000. But I digress...

I want to finish off the millenium by going back over my basic stances on things I feel strongly about.

1. Hate. Perhaps we can't legislate what people think, and at the time of this writing I'm going around with a very articulate individual about attempts to legislate motive, but I still feel that crimes committed under the auspices of promoting hate or as a representative of a hate group should be punished more decisively, more publicly, and more strenuously as a means of societal modification. I personally cannot accept living in a society that does not punish hatred based on racial or religious differences.

2. Gun Control. Some say we should legislate punishment. I say we should legislate prevention. I would also say we need a clear and final interpretation handed down from the Supreme Court on the Second Amendment, which in its full text clearly does not guarantee the common citizen the right to whatever firepower tickles the Rambo in him.

3. Taxes. Flat rate, 2 exemptions, categorical voter control over expenditures, and no pay raise for legislators that is not voted upon.

4. Welfare. Right now there are various programs for free training in select trades and aid for people who don't have marketable skills and have kids to support, but there is no blanket program for providing everything one needs to get back on his or her feet. This needs to be provided, but with limits that will motivate people to do what they have to do to get back off the dole.

5. Three Strikes, the Death Penalty, Sex Offenders, and Prison Reform. These go hand in hand, and you can't successfully have one without the other. In fact, in conjunction with my views on guns, welfare, and hate laws, these constitute the beginnings of social program reform.

I see our judicial system as probably the only current mechanism for human evolution, and I have no problems with throwing away those that can't cut it.

6. Domestic Violence. Both women and men should be held responsible for their actions.

7. Socialized Medicine. It should be a fact of life here. Everyone should be able to afford good, personal health services.

8. Gay Rights. Hey homophobes, homosexuals are a fact of life. There are always going to be some, they are humans, they have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness just like everyone else.

9. Internet Censorship and Taxation. The Internet needs self-censorship in the form of page ratings, and taxation of any kind should be limited strictly to sales tax applicable to the location the product is shipped to.