2:03 PM 7/19/02

About 10 years ago, my father asked me, in effect, what I believed. Politically. In the same conversation, he asked when, if anything the goverment has done well.

My answer back then was in adequate, and I have been working on the answer in my head all these years. Just last week, I finally came up with the framework that would allow me to completely answer his questions.

This is my credo: what I believe.

I believe that our form of government is unique and represents nothing short of a new step in human evolution.

I believe the only legitimate form of government is one based on the consent of the governed.

I believe in balanced government, where the people are protected against the tyrrany of the monachical executive and the tyranny of the majority.

I believe in an independent judiciary which can be buffeted by neither by the whims of the executive or the passions of the people.

I believe that the balance of power between our executive and legislative branches is as close to perfect as is possible.

I believe that devolution of power to the states is inherantly dangerous.

I believe that citizens have the right to be free of unnecessary govermental interferance.

I believe that in exchange for self-government, the people must contribute to it.

I believe that government, because of its size and position, is the proper solution for some problems.

I believe that we as a people can not let those who are most helpless fend for themselves, and government is the best instrument to assist in this.

I believe that the abortion issue is the single most divisive issue in american politics.

I believe that government should not play any role with regard to abortion, either for or against. It is a moral issue.

I believe that unbridled captialism is ultimately a threat to society.

I believe that regulation of business must be done with extreme caution.

I believe that goverment can be an instrument of good.

I believe that goverment is the right and proper location for certain societal functions. For example:
* The Bureau of Economic Analysis
* The Consumer Products Safety comission
* The Interstate Highway system
* The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health
* The National Weather Service
* The Federal Emergency Management Agency
* The Cooperative Extension Service
* And so on.....

I believe the government has done great things that have improved the lives of the public
* The Clean Air Act
* The Clean Water Act
* The Voting Rights Act
* Head Start
* The Social Security Act
* Medicare
* Food labelling
* The School Lunch Program
* WIC
* AFDC
* Ban on leaded gasoline
* Ban on DDT and PCBs


I believe this government has, in the past, done terrible harm.
* The Alien and Sedition Act (1800)
* The Dred Scott Decision
* Prohibition
* My Lai
* Executive Order 9066, the internment of Japanese Americans
* Treatment of Native Americans

I believe we are a nation of heros:
* George Washington
* John Adams
* Abraham Lincoln
* Fanny Lou Hamer
* Rosa Parks
* Martin Luther King
* Franklin Roosevelt
* Harry Truman
* John McCain

I believe that creating new laws should be done with extreme care, as some laws necessarily diminish our liberty.

I believe government should be an instrument of wealth redistribution, in order to avoid concentration of wealth into too few hands.

I believe that if too much wealth falls into too few hands, revolution will occur.

I believe that the flat tax is regressive, ultimately favoring the wealthy and should be avoided.

I believe that people who do not vote get the government they deserve.

I believe that government has an obligation to support but not select the Arts

I believe the United States was founded as a theistic nation.

I believe in the separation of Church and State.

I believe in our manifest destiny as a nation.

I believe in the essential goodness of this nation.

I believe that without the unifying influence of a common language, our nation is at risk.

I believe our system of goverment is the future for the human race.

SPECIFIC POLICIES

I believe that encryption should not be treated as a munition

I believe that the burden of current export laws are too extreme, and should be loosened, expecially with respect to conputers and encryption.

I believe that patent law is broken and most software patents should be recinded and are an hindrance to the development of technology.

I believe that business process patents are an abuse of the patent system and should be outlawed.

I believe that the Greenline in San Jose should be defended, and its term extended.

I believe that new transit corridors should be developed in Santa Clara county.

I believe that planning codes should be modified to focus on developing multi-story high-density housing, similar to San Francisco.

I believe that the focus of new development should be target near transit corridors.

I believe that the city of San Jose should work to support the San Jose symphony.

I believe that the city of San Jose should support the formation of a public radio station in San Jose.