"I Think Government Should be Optimistic" ~SNS

Last night I was on the phone with a friend who isn't typically very political. She's relatively informed, but basically she doesn't find politics all that interesting, so she pretty much leaves it all alone. We don't usually talk about political things, because... well, we just never have.

Anyway, we were talking, and Christine O'Donnell came up in conversation, as is her wont. We made fun of Ms. O'Donnell for a few minutes, mostly because she's absolutely ridiculous, and then my friend said something that got my attention [paraphrased, because who takes notes when chatting with a friend?].

"The Tea Party makes some sense. She [O'Donnell] came up and beat up the party. That's great, because nobody seems to have any ideas how to fix things." She went on to say that while younger people are typically socially liberal, they're only just now starting to pay and worry about taxes, and worry about being the ones facing the need to pay off the national debt. "Neither party has any ideas how to fix this mess, which isn't to say I have any ideas, but they certainly don't seem to know what they're doing."

I was kind of blown away, so I didn't really say anything (I may have been snacking, too, but that's beside the point). She's not wrong, but the idea of agreeing with the Tea Party seems so... icky, that I just couldn't not think about those implications.

This morning, I was still trying to articulate why I didn't agree with those folks, so, on my 45-minute train ride, I decided to write down what I believe the role of government should be in our country. I'm gonna do a teensy bit of editing on the fly, but overall this is what I wrote out on my Blackberry notepad app at 8:15 while at the same time trying to balance my coffee.

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I believe that government should exist to protect all Americans equally.

I believe that our government should help to level the playing field.

I believe that our government shouldn't engage in needless wars, and instead should focus on preventing them by supporting human rights and civil liberties around the globe.
I believe that taxes are an important part of our system, and that a system of progressive taxation is what makes the most sense.
I believe that our government should have a strong military, but shouldn't waste money on projects and products it doesn't need.
I believe that our government shouldn't insert itself into the private personal lives of its citizens.
I believe that our government should support environmental conservation efforts globally (including here at home).
I believe that our government should recognize owning a weapon is a privilege.

I believe that our government should support an educational system that would prepare children for the future.

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So what does this mean?

Practically, it means I support the "high" taxes that gave us the economic success we enjoyed in the mid-20th century. It means I'm a big fan of equality for all Americans, straight, gay, black, brown, white, male, female, whatever. I think that we should make the basic necessities available to everybody without forcing people into the arms of corporations who don't have to compete anymore. I'm a big believer in the right for a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy, because it's her body and LORD KNOWS I couldn't even begin to contemplate having to make that decision. I think that we need to invest in building up our national infrastructure, and improving (creating, in some instances) green public transportation systems. I think our government needs to work to help stop pollution and to clean up our environment.

I'm in favor of stricter gun-control laws, because no one can honestly think the founders wanted people running around with assault rifles. I think our government needs to re-evaluate the way it looks at our educational system, and should make it a priority to make a high-quality education available to everyone, regardless of economic status. I think that we need to take a long hard look at our defense spending and realize that we spend far and away too much money on things that don't do anyone any good, while ignoring ideas that could actually help solve some of our national security problems. I think welfare, unemployment, and job training programs should exist to help pick up the slack when non-governmental aid groups can't do the job.

Basically, I think that government is a tool we have at our disposal to help people compete in the marketplace, get back up after they're knocked down, and prepare for anything that lies ahead.

I think a "government of, by, and for the people" is pretty much what it sounds like. Something that we have, because we want it. It's not big and evil, it's basically something that can be used however we want it to be used.

And because I think government can be used to make our country and our world a better place, I'm a progressive, a liberal, and a Democrat.

So there. Bite me, Christine O'Donnell.

Waiiiit, Which Party are we Talking About?

Last night in the Delaware Senate primary, the outside-the-CW candidate surged to defeat the establishment candidate, deciding that principals were more important than winning. This race could easily cost the party the majority in the Senate in the November's elections.

SHOCKINGLY, we're not talking about the Democrats! The Tea Party candidate, Christine O'Donnell came from behind to beat Mike Castle, who has held elected office in Delaware since 1966. Castle, a moderate Republican who has been able to win statewide office in the face of nationwide Republican losses, was seen as a sure win for the Delaware Senate seat last won by VP Joe Biden. Exit polling from yesterday's election reports that 44% of Castle voters yesterday would rather vote for the Democratic candidate, Chris Coons than O'Donnell.

It was a great night, and I just saw that Harry Reid and Lady Gaga had a little Twitter conversation yesterday, so everything's awesome.