For the record.
I'm proud to be an American. I am not proud of our current government or the ways that it is choosing to handle the many difficult realities facing our country.
- I don't think that "send in the guard" is a good way to start to try to fix the multifaceted immigration problems. There are plenty of problems there, but I don't believe the national guard - who some say are already over tasked - are the right people to be sent to "strengthen" the border. I believe we should encourage people to immigrate and to do so legally. The vast majority of our families were immigrants at one time or another in the past. I also recognize that there are a bunch of other issues which will need to be addressed - adequate public services, adequate fair pay, adequate housing, adequate education, etc etc etc etc etc etc.
- I have serious problems with a government who on one hand is clearly not able to manage taking care of the citizens it is supposedly empowered to protect (Note, Katrina), and on the other hand, is spending lots of money and eroding basic constitutional rights in the name of fighting the "War On Terror." We are not far from a federalized police state. We are becoming that which we fought several wars against.
- I have serious problems with a government which sold its citizens a pack of lies and then sent young men and women to die in a country which was not previously a direct threat but now is a hotbed of terrorism and instability, while at the same time is not appearing to deal very capably with several other world hot spots.
- I have serious concerns about the idea "if you're innocent, you have nothing to hide." There are people out there who will take advantage of anyone. By not protecting my privacy and my rights, I leave myself vulnerable. I may be innocent of any crime, but, I'd also like not to be a victim.
- I believe everyone is due their say, that ideas are best shared and considered, but I don't believe blanket "Fuck you" type statements are productive.
- I don't think that "send in the guard" is a good way to start to try to fix the multifaceted immigration problems. There are plenty of problems there, but I don't believe the national guard - who some say are already over tasked - are the right people to be sent to "strengthen" the border. I believe we should encourage people to immigrate and to do so legally. The vast majority of our families were immigrants at one time or another in the past. I also recognize that there are a bunch of other issues which will need to be addressed - adequate public services, adequate fair pay, adequate housing, adequate education, etc etc etc etc etc etc.
- I have serious problems with a government who on one hand is clearly not able to manage taking care of the citizens it is supposedly empowered to protect (Note, Katrina), and on the other hand, is spending lots of money and eroding basic constitutional rights in the name of fighting the "War On Terror." We are not far from a federalized police state. We are becoming that which we fought several wars against.
- I have serious problems with a government which sold its citizens a pack of lies and then sent young men and women to die in a country which was not previously a direct threat but now is a hotbed of terrorism and instability, while at the same time is not appearing to deal very capably with several other world hot spots.
- I have serious concerns about the idea "if you're innocent, you have nothing to hide." There are people out there who will take advantage of anyone. By not protecting my privacy and my rights, I leave myself vulnerable. I may be innocent of any crime, but, I'd also like not to be a victim.
- I believe everyone is due their say, that ideas are best shared and considered, but I don't believe blanket "Fuck you" type statements are productive.