I’m a registered Republican. How’s that sit with you? My guess is that it just made at least one person turn to the next page. So much for being open-minded.
To be completely honest, I am a compassionate conservative, which means I’m a person who believes poverty is a top priority and those in it should be taught how to get out of it.
I believe in a smaller, less controlling government. I believe in free markets. I believe in capitalism and credit much of America’s success to it. I credit the rest of that success to our founding fathers, especially George Washington. I give most of the credit, though, to our military and the men and women who’ve died for America, its freedom and you, no matter what your beliefs are. I credit our constitution, the bill of rights, and the Republic. Yes, the Republic. America is a republic.
I’m pro-life. As in: when the child is conceived it is a human being and has a right to life.
I believe there is good and evil in this world and Islamic jihads are the evil, as well as anyone who sympathizes and/or harbors them. I believe in God and that his son, Jesus Christ, is my lord and savior and died for my sins. I believe in freedom of religion (which includes Christianity, as some have forgotten).
I believe it is my duty as a citizen of this country to question authority-not disobey, just question.
I believe in the right to bear arms and protecting the 2nd amendment. I believe in working for wealth, not begging or taking or taking then giving (welfare).
I am not a follower of Al Gore’s manufactured cash cow that is the global warming craze. I believe in wind power and nuclear energy. I believe America must drill her own oil and drop all restrictions preventing it. You could say we do, but I would say that much, much more could be done.
I believe Hillary Rodham Clinton should have divorced Bill as soon as she first found out he was unfaithful. Then she would have an ounce of my respect.
I believe Barrack Hussein Obama should actually be a leader of something that is 1% the size of America before he is President. Even .1 percent would suffice. He’s enormously un-qualified although I believe he will be the next president.
I believe John McCain is one of the weakest conservatives in American politics – and I will vote for him.
I believe government-run universal healthcare will fail, just as Social Security has and most of the other programs the government has tried to run (free markets work).
I believe this country is great, though, and its future is in the Facebook and MySpace generation’s hands. Yes, the Facebook/MySpace generation. That’s us.
I believe history repeats itself and that is why it is important to know it – especially the history of Ancient Rome and Greece.
I believe that the pornification of America is the result of Californication and the hippie generation. I believe Marijuana should remain illegal. I believe the drinking age should be 18.
I believe Ronald Reagan was correct when he said that good friends will agree on 80 percent of every issue they come across and disagree on no more than 20 percent.
I believe that Comedy Central is the last place anyone should get their daily news.
I believe there must be an American military presence in Iraq for at least five more years to ensure stability, train Iraqi police and military, help government leaders, and unite the Sunnis, Shiites, and the Kurds in an effort to prevent civil war when American soldiers eventually leave, and to further prevent Iraq from being a safe-haven for organized terrorist groups.
I believe USM students need to better understand conservatives and Republicans.
I want to give you food for thought.
Dustin Gilbert is a compassionate conservative hoping to help his fellow students better understand right-wingers.