Post #1,001: The Principles and Themes of this Blog

           In the first of what I hope will be a second thousand posts, I thought I would summarize my political principles and express the major themes I have been advancing on this blog.

            It is necessary and right to defend or promote liberty, equality, the separation of powers, the rule of law, representative government, and the free market, both in America and abroad, which is also in the self interest of the United States and in the best interest of the world.  Accepting the American Creed that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights is what makes a person an American.  For the U.S., federalism is essential.  The independence and sovereignty of all legitimate states must be respected.  Nationalism is appropriate if it is expressed in the creation of nation-states, as long as minority rights are respected or autonomy granted to distinct cultural areas, and such states do not commit aggression.  

            There must be public acknowledgement that freedom comes from God.  Public policy must be based upon morality, including respecting the dignity of all human beings.  Government should be as small as possible and fiscally responsible.  Openness and transparency are necessary protections against corruption, as well as safeguards against ineffective government.  Common sense is trustworthy, when it is based upon reason and basic knowledge, as opposed to populism that is a consequence of cynicism, foolishness or ignorance.      

Authoritarianism, nativism, protectionism and isolationism must be opposed. 

            The following are the major themes of this blog:

Defending language is defending liberty.

Government’s responsibility is to protect liberty.  The economy is not government’s responsibility, except in limited respects.

U.S. coinage and currency should be unifying, not divisive.  Therefore, they should not display the images of political leaders, at least not those who were not Founding Fathers.

Terrorism is an illegitimate strategy (and, thus, a war crime) of targeting innocent civilians with violence in order to intimidate the populace to give into the terrorists’ political demands.  Other motives or the targeting of other targets are, therefore, not terrorism.

It is prudent to vote in every primary, special or general election, because every office affects its election district, at least, and elected officials can ascend to higher offices after gaining experience in lower ones.