This is exactly what I think the purpose of this website is about. We need to get people talking together so they know what they are voting for. The problem with politics is that so many people consider it so complicated that they feel that they have no place. My own father has told me that he just votes strait republican because he considers that party to be closer to his values than the other party. We need people to focus on values and principles and demand it from our politicians, regardless of their party. The way we do that is by establishing what those principles and values are in our daily lives as crabapple said.

I want to present my idea of what conservatism really is. I feel like we are in a good place for a discussion so I want the liberals on this site to comment on what aspects of my views and feelings you disagree with and why.

I believe in people. I believe that by working hard and not giving up people have a good chance to succeed. I realize that this is not always the result, because of chance or some other hedge in the way, I think that is okay! It's okay to fail! It's okay to be sick! It's okay to die or see someone die! These things will and must happen! The government can't change that with welfare or socialized health care.

I think that this life is based more on the journey, that our happiness actually lies more in the pursuit of happiness than at some mysterious destination. I have firm faith in an afterlife that gives me hope, without that I don't understand how anyone could possibly find happiness in this life. I believe that with the natural course of things, be it natural selection, free market economy, freedom of religion and beliefs, that the vast majority of people will want good things and strive for the greater good of mankind. I believe that we will generally treat each other with respect and care without a government mandate if we are entrusted with that choice.

This is my personal belief of what conservatism really means: not that we belong to a club of Republicans, but that we believe that each individual wants good things, for themselves and for others. I believe that if we give individuals liberty to choose they will choose those good things. I feel that when we use the government as a weapon to threaten, enforce, and inflict the people with a specific ideal, that is simply having no faith that humanity is inherently good. I trust myself to make good decisions, don't you?

I can't tell you how many people I hear don't vote because they think their vote "doesn't count." The two party system if inherently flawed and we need people to serve, not professional politicians to lead us. That being said, when we do find those that are honest with morals and principles, they should be celebrated and respected, not demonized with the rest of the D.C. scum. I am open to ideas on how to do that though...

Here's a comedic look at a comparison of American torture vs. other torture.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJygJQNQHkw&fe..." target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJygJQNQHkw&fe...

health care isn't a human right. Its a human right to do with your health what you want. Living is generally a natural occurance. The reason why the system is so out of hand is because people think that drugs and doctor visits are part of life! It wasn't always like that, nor should it be! Socialized health care is just one more reason for America to eat more burgers and be a lot less healthy. I think that if people are held responsible for their well being, maybe health care wouldn't cost so dang much. If people would eat a vegetable every once in a while, we wouldn't need constant health care to just live. I don't want to pay for someone to think it is their unalienable right to eat candy all day and then get free insulin shots.

It's not that I think people who have cancer or diabetes chose to be such. I understand that sometimes we are handed things in life that we didn't ask for at all. But doesn't all of this just push us in the wrong direction? I have faith in people and I have faith in our bodies. Anyone who has taken a general ed biology class knows that the human body has much more genius in it than the local doctor looking at his symptoms chart.

I almost liked your comment. Then I saw your stab at Glen. He's doing a good thing bringing you and I here to discuss what's going on. He's not telling us what principles and values we need, he's trying to unite us under the principles and values we already have. Have you payed attention at all to what this project is about?

It's just wrong for the government to do. It's not their place. Help should not come in the form of a check coming from Washington after filling out paperwork. Even if most of those people really do need the help and aren't lazy morons working the system. We should have the choice to be charitable. Giving should be a happy and rewarding thing, not like pulling teeth, which is what it feels like every time I look at my paycheck. Nobody looks at the taxes they pay and think, I'm glad the government is doing such a good job helping poor people--not even liberals. But everyone feels good when they volunteer at a soup kitchen or give money or food to the local food bank. Does no one believe in the humanity of America anymore? Does no one believe that given the choice we WILL help people in need?

It's a nice idea that we would think that people actually care enough, or even had time to care enough to want to read bills. No, we need to stick to the plan. We need to unite the people and our Representatives in the government on PRINCIPLES and VALUES so they can do their jobs. We need people that understand legalese to be working in those jobs. But if they can't be honest and they aren't representing the people as they should, then we need to get them out and elect new ones.

I like to think that I'm pretty logical and I've never heard a socialist argument that made sense, ever. Informed, honest people just don't choose to be socialist. The only people I've seen to be in favor of such policies are people in power or people who want a free ride.

I'm also young and I'm going to take advantage of Obama's free college while it's there. I work two jobs and pay my own tuition. I understand how hard it is to get on your feet when you don't have much. But I didn't ask for it, and I will fight those kind of ideas and policies for the rest of my life because it destroys the lessons that this country has always taught. I want to believe that someone can succeed if they work hard. I want to believe that I can succeed by working hard.