The government that I prefer is one that is focused on reducing the national debt; maintaining a strong military defense and a secure infrastructure; reducing its size; and eliminating its intrusive nature while still fostering innovation in its citizens and its industries.

If you're still reading this, here are twenty plus things about me.

I am:

1.  Pro-life for myself.
2.  Anti death penalty/pro forced labor camp.
3.  Pro Iraq War / War on Terrorism.
4.  Anti-conventional war / Pro Brown Note Warfare.
5.  For limited government.
6.  For term limits.
7.  Pro-guns.
8.  Pro-weed, coke, snow, ...  (not really)
9.  Anti genetic experiments.
10. Anti-Ear Marks.
11. Not sure about government run space exploration.
12. Not sure about the environment.
13. Against discrimination, including affirmative action.
14. Pro-marriage.
15. Pro United States before all others.
16. Pro drilling for oil where ever there is oil.
17. Pro alternative energy / Against using corn for fuel.
18. Not really sure about technology and other luxuries.
19. Not a fan of the media.
20. Not sympathetic to irresponsible people. 
21. A neophyte.
22. Married to a conservative.
23. Hispanic. Not that that is important.
24. Sadly, no longer in Texas.

1. Pro-life for myself.

Pro-choice for certain others, such as in a situation where a choice to save one life must be made- the unborn child or the mother. I don't know how common such a thing is, but I think that in such instances, the choice to have the baby should be left to the mother and father. In cases of rape, if the victim were my daughter, I'd want her to protect life, but I would leave the choice to her.

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2. Anti death penalty/pro forced labor camp.

Like I said, I'm pro-life. That extends to the worst among us.  As much as they may deserve it, killing a criminal is too kind. Coddling a criminal with crap like cable TV is stupid and a waste of my money. 

Instead, criminals should serve in labor camps. Hard labor.  Put them to work.  Force them to work for the rest of their lives.   Have them make a product and then sell that product, using the profits to support the prisons and the victims and their families.

Such a scenario isn't likely to happen so I'd sooner side with those that favor the death penalty over those that oppose it.

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3. Pro Iraq War / War on Terrorism.

Some say we had 9-11 coming because our government meddled with other countries for so long. They think we deserved to be attacked because we started it first. I don't care whether or not we started it. We should finish it.

We spend billions (maybe even trillions, I don't know, but we spend a lot) of dollars waging war against our enemies. I think we should benefit from this. War for oil. War for whatever it is the enemy is denying us. To the victor goes the oil and all that. Sure, we can help them rebuild, but it's on their tab.

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4. Anti-conventional war / Pro Brown Note Warfare.

It seems to me that the media fed public have an aversion to war, even one in defense of their own country. And, as it is today, unless you kill a great number of the enemy, the enemy will just keep coming at you with greater and greater disdain. Even if you are good at killing, eventually someone on your side will complain and pretty soon the world sees you as the enemy and your enemy as the victim. Besides, Shock and Awe wasn't very shocking nor awing.  Keep the enemy alive and teach them to fear for their lives in our presence.

I imagine there has to be an effective way that we can incapacitate the enemy without having to risk our own lives. We invest a ton of money on our military machine. Spend some of that trillion dollar budget to build giant evil looking robots armed with mega-rays! It would have to be something that will make them feel like their guts are being turned inside out, but it can't be anything too grotesque, otherwise you'll lose the PR battle and be demonized for torturing the enemy. Just something effective enough to give them second thoughts about taking up arms against us.

The brown-note, despite it being an urban legend, comes to mind- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_note  ZPHTPPPPHT!!! They'll crap themselves, then run home and warn their brothers not to fight us. Sure, their brothers will want to find out for themselves and when they do, they too will crap themselves and run home. Eventually, they will crap and talk themselves out of wanting to fight us.

The whole point here is that with war the way it is fought today, the media and weak-kneed among us will lose the will to fight and inevitably serve the cause of the enemy. You can diffuse their argument with giant robots and crap inducing mega-rays. 

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5. For limited government.

I expect my government to protect the borders and interests of our country.

The government should not necessarily control, but help ensure that we have a solid infrastructure to provide an adequate power supply, communication network, travel network, food supply, emergency response system, and anything essential for basic survival.

The government should be equipped to help those that need a hand in getting started. But there should be limits to this and the recipients of such aid should provide a service in return- pick up litter, build homes, pave roads, train others, guard prisons, wage war, build giant robots, etc.

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6. For term limits.

Do your time, accomplish what you can in two terms, and get the hell out. If you're still jonesing to play a role in the government, seek a different office or become active in helping someone that shares your goals get elected.

While we are at it, reduce the salaries and benefits of all politicians. They should have other jobs as well as their political office. They should be in office because they are willing to make a sacrifice for a number of years, not for the perks. In fact, there shouldn't be any perks. Civil servants shouldn't be pampered. Anything but. They should travel with the rest of us. Fly coach (or first class if they can afford it on their own dime). Drive their own car or take a frickin' cab to the next meeting, press conference, campaign stop. Eat their lunch at Luby's or McDonalds. Pay their own way. I pay for my own expenses to get to and from work. So should they.

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7. Pro-guns.

I favor guns as a means of hunting and for defense- but not as a means of revenge or criminal activity.  I'm pro-life and conflicting as it may seem, that extends from the unborn to those we wish were never born.

Basically, I'm not for killing folk. But I think we should be able to defend ourselves and our property. So just wing 'em!

I do favor some measure of gun control.  Seeing how we live in such a high tech world, I'm pretty sure the technology exists for all guns to use biometric technology so that the only people who can fire the weapon are those who's finger prints are recorded in the gun's memory. That's the way it works in the movies, anyway. I'm not up to speed on the battle between those that want guns and those that want to take away guns, so I don't know the pluses or minuses on that issue- but it seems to me that such a device would help prevent accidental deaths. Maybe it would even keep gangs from obtaining newer weapons. Maybe not. In any case, bio metrics or not, you have a right to defend yourself. Guns seem like the most effective and convincing way to do so.

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8. Pro-weed, coke, snow, cain, sherm, red, bud, crack, dippers, primos, pcp, kool, p-dog, angel dust.

Drugs? Just say "now". Just kidding! I'm not pro-drugs.

I can't imagine the mayhem that would ensue if drugs were legalized. Would they serve it at bars? Seems kind of odd to sit at a table and order up a tray of cocaine. And just imagine all those that would do nothing but get high all day. They'd want the government to help them do the other things, like pay for food and clothing. I don't think legalizing drugs would put dealers out of business. If anything, it would help dealers establish franchises. Still, if you want to get high, have the decency to keep it off the street and do it in the privacy of your own home. And if or when you fall, don't expect much help from the government. It'll be too busy building the giant robots.

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9. Anti genetic experiments.

I'm not sure how it all works, but I believe we each have a soul. What if our souls are up in Heaven just waiting in line to occupy a living being. Some make it. Some get aborted. Some get sent to science for research.

I read somewhere that researchers combined human and cow DNA and that the test subject survived for three days. It's bad enough that there are these embryos sitting in a dish, just waiting it out, only to be used in some experiment. But just think what the poor soul that became part cow had to endure. I'm told it's for the betterment of mankind. Think of all the good things that have come and will come from such experiments. Still, I don't think we need to be fiddling with such things. Bad juju there.

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10. Anti-Ear Marks.

I realize that the government needs my money to build the robots that are going to fight my wars and for other things. But don't spend my money on crap that people want. Give them what they need. Nothing more. And when you come asking for money, have a detailed plan for how every cent will be spent.

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11. Not sure about government run space exploration.

Our government put men on the moon; we have a space station orbiting the planet; we've sent robots to visit Mars.  Nicely done.  Congratulations to us.  I am sure we have benefited in many ways from these efforts. Yet, what is the ROI? All this space exploration seems like it cost a lot. Maybe more than it's worth.  Can't we get some form of corporate sponsorship to help cover the costs?  Maybe Nabisco or Coca-cola could chip in?   It wouldn't bug me to see the shuttle adorned with some marketing slogan if it meant we'd save a little money in the process. 

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12. Not sure about the environment.

I'm convinced al gore is putting us on with his global warming/climate change slide shows. I recently read John Coleman's comments on the global warming hoax.  A compelling read, indeed.  

Still, I know my family makes a lot of trash- at least one garbage can full a week. You should see the piles of junk my neighbors produce.   I'd love to visit a land fill just to see first hand how that stuff works. 

I think we are doing better than our parents did.  The roads seem cleaner.  Air seems better.  And we are doing better than other countries on this front, right?  I mean, look at China and that side of the world.  No one ever talks about the Asian Brown Cloud anymore.  I can't imagine that civilization can go on indefinitely producing and dumping waste without some sort of natural or man-made backlash. So I recycle what I can and am patiently waiting for the day when science (without the aid of genetic experiments) produces a time traveling delorean that uses garbage for fuel. Until then let's send the garbage out to space on the next Nabisco Shuttle.

UPDATE: My township now recycles through this thing called Recycle Bank, which offers coupons for groceries, entertainment, and other things in exchange for your recycled stuff. Since starting the program, I noticed that much more than half of what I throw out is now recycled.  Pretty nifty!

UPDATE 2: If you are a fan of using something till the wheels fall off, check out freecycle.org- it is made up of folks like you and me that rather not toss out something they don't want that could be used by someone else- books, cds, whatever.

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13. Against discrimination, including affirmative action.

Yes, we are all equal. Now, what we do with that equality is up to each of us. I don't expect to have the advantage over someone of equal skills just because of my skin color, ethnicity, height, weight, gender, or sexual preference.

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14. Pro-marriage. 

If you're fortunate in life, you'll find your soul mate. I love my wife. She loves me. We are soul mates. We are married.

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15. Pro United States before all others.

The United States is a great country with the ability to do great deal of good around the world. We spend billions helping other nations. I suppose it is meant in part to help foster good relations around the world (though it doesn't seem to be working very well). As long as our government is doling out the dough, I think that we can do more for ourselves first. Use some of that money to create opportunities here, conduct maintenance and repairs, reduce taxes, etc. If we are going to help others around the world, we should first make sure we are helping ourselves.

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16. Pro drilling for oil where ever there is oil.

I'm not in favor of making a big mess and leaving things worse that we found them, but I believe the technology exists that would allow companies to do what they need to do without causing a lot of damage. Also, unlike some, I like the sight of oil derricks and ocean platforms on U.S. territory. It makes us look busy.

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17.  Pro alternative energy / Against using corn for fuel.

Unless we can make more than enough to do both, I'd like to eat the corn, not use it to fuel my car. Otherwise, I'm all for finding alternate sources for energy (solar, nuclear, wind, water, fusion... what ever). 

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18. Not really sure about technology and other luxuries.

I prefer to slow life down rather than look for the latest and greatest to speed it up.  Of course I think technology is great and that we can all benefit from the use of technology. It makes our lives easier, provides us greater access to a greater number of things, entertains us, protects us, heals us, and feeds us. Yet it seems to me some people are irresponsible with technology. I am referring to those that cannot see that it is more important to save their money for essentials like food, clothing, diapers, education and such rather than spending it on stuff like fancy cars, cable television, satellite dishes, nintendo, xbox, ipods, HD TV, flat screens, lap tops, hand held PCs, cell phones, digital cameras, high speed internet, WI-FI,  and on and on. 

I drive to work everyday through some poor neighborhoods. Many of the houses are run down and in need of maintenance.  Yet they all have satellite dishes! Maybe they get it for cheap- still, it would seem to me that the money they spend on such a thing could be put towards saving for college or other worthwhile investments.

Technology shouldn't take the blame. It's in our DNA.  I suppose if these techno luxuries didn't exist, people would still spend money on something else.  And their welcome to do so since it's their money.  But it bugs me when my tax dollars go toward paying for the things those people should have paid for on their own.

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19.  Not a fan of the media.  

I like reading news, but I hate "news" programs and most news papers.   The media are incapable of reporting just the facts.  News is their product, which they hype up to sell ad time.  The people in the media look for the sensational and exploit it.  It's a business disguised as a public service.  "Tune in tonight to find out which products maybe killing your children- the pie in the eye team investigates!" OR  "Major flooding and fires in downtown Bumbledump and channel X was there to film the carnage!" OR "Considering breast implants?  Our undercover cameras reveal some far out findings."   Screw that. Just tell me the facts and if you can't don't call yourself a news program. 

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20. Not sympathetic to people that refuse to take responsibility for their actions. 

We see and hear more and more each day about people declaring bankruptcy because they've lost their jobs, cannot pay their bills, cannot find a new job, are about to lose their car, cannot afford to buy meat, ad nauseum.  And they all blame the system, the President, the economy, the evil mortgage company, the GOP, the auto dealer, depression, the sun, the moon, the stars, anybody but themselves.  I understand how people can fall into a rut, I've been there.  I know it's not easy to get out of and it is easy to slip further down.  But I cannot understand those that don't even try to help themselves and instead look to the government as the primary cause/solution to their problems. 

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21. A neophyte.

I am sure it is obvious, but I'll still point it out- I have no clue how to solve the worlds problems and don't think of myself as an expert in political affairs. If I were in charge, the world would be a smoldering ball of cinder before the end of the week. Anyway, given the points listed above, I don't consider myself a hard core conservative- maybe I'm a libertarian lite.  Like a conservative, I'm pro-guns, pro-life, pro-limited government, anti-earmarks, and put the United States before all others.  Yet I am anti-death penalty and neither for nor against gay marriage.   

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22. Married to a conservative.

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23. Hispanic! Not that that is important.

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24. Sadly, no longer in Texas.

I was born in Texas! I was born in a small town and spent the first part of my life in a country/small town environment. I love small town life. When I was 11 my parents moved us to Houston. I hated it at first, but after three years or so I warmed up to it and it started to feel like home. Houston is an interesting experiment in urban planning. There is no zoning and for a while the city just seemed to annex neighboring towns like a kid collecting baseball cards. Anyway, I like Houston and consider it home base. I stayed there until I was 28ish, then moved to Fort Worth to be with my future wife while she was in medical school.

We moved to NJ when I was 33. I miss Texas, but I do not miss the Houston humidity. NJ is our home now. Unlike Texas, which sports a mean summer and a mild winter, NJ has all four seasons! I was surprised to find out that I really enjoy the bitter cold weather. I was also surprised to learn that it really is a Garden State, mostly made up of small townships that look like something out of Mayberry. At least the southern half is. I haven't spent too much time in the northern half. We live about 15 miles from Philadelphia, so in some ways, it is very much like living in a suburb of Houston.

I am amazed at how people in NJ are so willing to open their wallets to the government. Some that I have spoken with seem to look at is as a matter of pride. For them, giving more money means they are helping more people. I suppose it makes them feel better and maybe even more patriotic. No thank you, vp biden.

As for me, I do not want my government to tell me what to do with my money and I do not trust my government to spend my money in the best interest of others.

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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"- Will Rogers.