So working and living in Los Angeles, I'm in the political minority:  I'm conservative when it comes to economics and foreign policy and libertarian when it comes to social policy.  Several of my friends are liberal.  I respect that.  I'm fine with that.  Sometimes I feel they aren't though.  I've been asked more than once, "Why are you a Republican and why are you so stubborn about it?"  Well, I'd like to perhaps explain myself.  I'm very passionate about what I believe.  I am a Taurus and I certainly admit my stubbornness; when I know I'm right about something, you're not going to convince me otherwise.  So what?  I don't make flippant decisions about issues.  I examine both arguments before reaching a conclusion.  I don't always agree with the Republican base on some issues.  I feel the "religious right" faction of the party brings up fluff issues that only serve to fuel the mostly unfair view of Republicans as being religious zealots out to hang minorities and gays.  I don't care about gay marriage or school prayer, am against capital punishment and am undecided on legalizing drugs (certainly marijuana should be legalized).  This is why I consider myself libertarian on a lot of so-called social issues.  

Anyway, I feel strongly that the only truly effective government is a SMALL government (see previous post with my favorite Reagan quotes).  That really isn't debatable; it's been proved over and over again!  The United States has prospered best and most when our government has been kept reigned in...when the free market is left alone to function...when we remain proactive in defending ourselves.  Our crappy public education system practically ignores economic education.  When you hear people bemoaning the lacks of arts in our curriculum (and I agree arts are important), I want to scream, "What about economics?"  Most economists are conservative.  That's because they understand economics.  The difference between a liberal and conservative who both understand economic theory is not that the liberal disagrees that capitalism is the best system we currently have; it's that the liberal understands that but in spite of that, still wants the government to have more say in how the private sector is run.  That is strange to me, but oh well.  

I cringe when I hear anyone, especially elected officials talk about curbing CEO pay, Wall Street fat cats & swindlers, corrupt corporate America, blah blah blah.  Seriously?  Who the hell are Nancy Pelosi or Barack Obama to decide that some CEO makes too much money?  It's none of their damn business.

To paraphrase Milton Friedman, most economic fallacies are derived from the incorrect assumption that a transaction can't occur without one person getting screwed.  (Apologies to Mr. Friedman for bastardizing his much more eloquent words.)  I always chuckle when I hear some fathead saying, "This company is only in business"___pause for dramatic effect____"to MAKE MONEY."  OMG.  How horrible.  Really?  I thought General Motors was in business to give away cars to illegal immigrants.  Yes, businesses are in business to make money.  That's not evil.  They are not in business to screw the little guy.  They wouldn't last if they couldn't stay competitive and engage in MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH CONSUMERS.  Does anyone force you to buy a car?  I don't think so.  Is GM going to sell you a car with no engine just to get money from you?  Of course not.  They wouldn't stay in business and not because the government would swoop in to save you from these fat cats, but because consumers would catch on and STOP BUYING THEIR PRODUCT, hence a mutually beneficial transaction would not occur.  See how that works?  

Basically, I want the government to leave me the hell alone as long as I'm not infringing on someone else's rights or property.  That's how the USA's founding fathers intended our country to be and it's the most fair and right.  

By the way, Republicans are called right-wingers because we're RIGHT, as in CORRECT.  ;-)

Good grief, I've rambled on and on.  

That's my rant on my little soapbox for the day.