Why I believe what I believe...

My random question in my profile asks why you believe what you believe. I feel it is only fair to answer that question myself.

Like most people, my family has played an important part in shaping my beliefs, both from a political and cultural standpoint. From an early age, I was taught that hard work and discipline would/could lead to success in life. Duty, both to family and to country, was a concept that was placed at the highest point on the pedestal of ideals.

But before a conclusion can be made that I am simply marching in lockstep with my elders, I want to emphasize that my family, especially my grandparents, taught me how to think, not just what to think. Thinking logically, in concert with established principles, forms the basis for my beliefs and opinions on most topics. I suppose that's why.

So what do I believe? Politically, that limited government can be most easily controlled by its citizens (that's you and me, folks) and that government expansion gradually erodes, directly and indirectly, our freedoms as guaranteed in the Constitution. Culturally, while I am not a prude, I do believe in basic parameters on how we should treat one another and it's when those parameters start to break down that society follows. The American media does a fantastic job in not only breaking down these parameters and blaming other people and concepts for the results of their actions BUT ALSO passing judgment on those who *ahem* try to pass judgment (i.e. say something is wrong or not as good as it could/should be.)

But most importantly, I believe in humanity. Not in the sense that everybody is a good person, and they're just "misunderstood." There is evil in this world and I will spend considerable time on this blog discussing that. I believe that humanity is resilient and will, over time, do the right thing. And the most important things necessary for humanity to do the right thing (which is always subject to debate I suppose) is to a. be free and b. have incentive. Over time I hope to define a. and b., which should cause much teeth-gnashing.