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It's just that most of the people I have known in my life that have a similar view of religion that you do are dyed in the wool socialists.

Broad brushes don't do justice to who I am. I hate socialism.

Contrary to what you may think, I am not against God or religion. I never said I was. Even though I am a skeptic, I do not claim to know the truth. My only objection are those who claim they do but will not or can not provide evidence other than their own personal testimony, yet insist they are right. In all honesty, I can't accept that or else I might as well accept everyone else's testimony to the contrary.

I don't particularly like atheists either. I don't like their arrogant matter-of-fact claim that there is no God. I ask them the same question I ask of believers: "how do you know that?!" I would rather accept my ignorance and admit to it then jump to conclusions because it may be more comfortable to do so.

Since we are on an off topic, I am a social and political conservative, and always have been. I served this country with honor. I am a retired US Naval officer.

I don't believe the government should have to save idiots, although I do believe the government, community and neighborhoods ought to try to advise them correctly.

If a pond has a sign "NO swimming allowed" and someone decides to swim and drowns, oh well...I believe people ought to take responsibility for their actions, I believe everyone owes respect and consideration to a fellow human; we are all citizens of this world, by birthright. It's everyone's world.

Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. You have the right to drive but you also have the responsibility to drive safely. I believe the minimum driving age ought to be 18. I think the lower age has been pushed as a means to sell more cars without regard to all the lives lost by such a decision. It's unethical. Kids don't need cars.

I believe voters should pass an information test to make sure they know what they are doing and understand the issues they are voting for. I believe in educated voters and educated consumers as checks and balances against corrupt government and fraudulent business practices.

I believe white collar criminals ought to serve in maximum security prisons as a deterrant to others who are contemplating mail and credit card fraud.

I believe free poeple have the right to live where they wnat and with whom they want. I believe they have the right to hire and fire as they see fit, and for their children to go to the school of their choice. I believe the government should stay the heck out of busing children to and from school (that's parents' repsonsiblity) or engage in any social or demographic engineering.

I don't believe God should be in the Pledge or on dollar bills. That is an innovation this country did without until the 1950's, althouhg God was on a dime way back in the 19th century for some reason. The Government should stay out of religion, period. Yet, people in the government should be afforded an opporutnity to pray in desingated areas and shools, but not in public.

I don't believe the government has the right to force citizens what to buy, what to eat, etc. I believe the government is a servant and should act as a servant, within the jurisdictions the people gave it.

I am a strong supporter of referenda. I think most important issues should be decided by a referendum because our representatives in Congress sometimes show more loyalty to their parties then to the people who elected them. Minorities deserve protection but democracy is about majority, and majority should carry the day.

I believe parents are fully responibile for their children and their children's misbehavior. Children need to be supervised 24/7. I think irrepsonible parents need to be held accountable proportionally to the degree of damage their negligence caused others.

I even believe the society needs to agree on minimum requirements for someone to be a parent, for the common good and children's sake. Everyone sould be afforded an opporutnity to be a responsible parent as an obligation, the way citizens are held to the obligation to be loyal to the country. Children deserve protection and care by the parents and the society. That may include restrictions until they can make their own decisions.

I don't think children and prisoners have the same rights as law-abiding adults. I don't believe human rights come without corresponding responsibility.

So, there you have it. You asked.