A Moderate's Core Beliefs

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Well as the title suggests, I basically am a moderate. What does that entail? Does that mean that I am a conservative? Does it mean that I am a liberal? Does it mean that I am neither? Does it mean that I have no backbone and stand for nothing?

Let me try to address these questions in such a way that makes sense to everyone concerned. First of all, being a moderate DOES NOT mean, contrary to common belief, that a person is "middle of the road" and "afraid to take a stand" on the issues. It definitely DOES mean that a person DOES take positions. It just means that those positions are neither way far to the left nor far to the right. For instance, one moderate position that I hold is that the federal budget should be balanced. I do not believe that the federal budget should entail reckless spending way beyond our means for countless programs despite the costs (which would be far left position); nor do I believe that the budget should be so restricted that the utilization for federal money is strictly for national defense and for nothing else (which would be a far right position). And once again, being a moderate in and of itself IS a position and is not a cop out or in any way a lack of commitment to a position or indicative of a lack of courage to take a position. Moderation in and of itself is a position and it is the position I take. I am a moderate and proud of it. And I invite all of the millions of other moderates out there to post replies to this blog as well because I know that you all have original ideas and want to be heard as well.

What are some of my other positions? Here, in a nutshell, are some of my more pertinent positions:

1) I believe in a strong military. I believe that the stronger and more competent the military is, the more of a deterrent it is and that the more of a deterrent it is, the less likely it is that other potential enemies will mess with us. (A largely conservative, Ronald Reagan viewpoint).

2) I believe that the United States should not intervene unilaterally in the affairs of other countries without assistance from at least two of its allies such as Great Britain and Germany. (A largely liberal view).

3) I believe that we should continue to do research on new weapons systems and keep up our technology as state of the art at all times despite the costs because the costs to our safety of NOT doing such is too great. (A largely conservative, Ronald Reagan view).

4) I believe in the 2nd Amendment, the Right to Bear Arms because I believe in the Jeffersonian view that the citizens always should retain the right to bear their own militia. (A largely conservative view).

5) I believe in protecting the environment and coming up with as many innovative ways of reducing auto emissions, making environmentally friendly cars and protecting the forests and rainforests as possible. (A view shared equally by conservatives and liberals today).

6) I believe in providing sufficient funds to support law enforcement and fire suppression efforts without compromise. (A largely conservative viewpoint).

7) I believe in supporting public education and class-size reduction. (A largely liberal viewpoint)

8) I support home based instruction because I believe that such is the parent's Constitutional right. (A largely conservative viewpoint).

9) I do not believe in litmus tests for Supreme Court nominees on their views on such issues as Choice or Pro-Life or the Death Penalty. Rather I believe in judging the nominee based on his/her judicial background and expertise as a judge and abilities in interpreting Constitutional law. (A uniquely Kevin McClarty view).

10) I believe in the legalization of marijuana just as soon as our society proves that it has successfully overcome all of the societal problems that have emerged in our country as a result of the legalization of alcohol. (Another uniquely Kevin McClarty view).

11) I believe in providing health care for the working poor who do not have it at this time right now but do not believe in compromising the private health care that anyone has at this time. (My unique view again).

12) I believe in keeping the "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag in the public schools. (A largely conservative view).

13) I support a Constitutional Amendment to make it a misdemeanor to burn an American flag with the rationale that to do so is to desecrate a living national monument rather than to act out any kind of freedom of expression. (A largely conservative view).

14) I strongly support the full exercise of the Bill of Rights. (A view in sharp contrast to that of strict constitutionalists, including Associate Justice to the Supreme Court, Anthony Scalia).

15) I strongly oppose NAFTA and believe that the outsourcing of American jobs has contributed greatly to the decline of our economy, the increase of crime and the demoralization of our overall society in recent years. (A both conservative and liberal view, depending on who is talking).

Well these are some of my views that altogether make me a moderate. I invite all other moderates as well as conservatives and liberals to post replies on this blog as well. Let's keep the dialog going. After all, this is the United States of America, the nation of free speech and freedom of the Press. We all agree on that!!