Confessions of a Capitalist Piglet

Despite its faults and flaws, about which I complain regularly (having voted in the last election and thus earned the right to do so), I love the United States of America. There is nowhere else on earth that I would prefer to live.

That said, I believe "we, the people" in every land tend to be very much alike. There are good guys and there are bad guys (and girls) everywhere. I cherish my friendships with people from around the world. I'm fascinated by other places and cultures and I love being able, through the miracle of technology that is the Internet, to share my thoughts and exchange ideas with folks thousands of miles away, most of whom I may never meet in person.

I believe in the U.S. Constitution, not as a "living document" that can be interpreted in whatever way fits the fancy of the Judge of the Day, but as the Rock upon which my country was built. I believe in freedom of speech, even speech I abhor - but I also believe in my right to speak freely against that speech. I believe in freedom of religion, including for the most fanatical atheists -- but I don't believe they have any more right than anyone else to impose their (non)beliefs on the rest of us.

I believe in the right to keep and bear arms, and I believe it's a right of individuals, as are all the other rights recognized in the Bill of Rights. I'm a sustaining member of the NRA-ILA and I am a strong supporter of the purest form of gun control: being able to hit your target. I also believe that those who (mis)use firearms to commit crimes should be punished severely.

I believe in law and order, but I also believe in the fourth amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and neither the War on Drugs, the War on Terror nor any other war should override it.

I believe in the fifth amendment right to remain silent, and often wish some people would exercise it more often. I believe in the sixth amendment right to an attorney, although I often wonder if maybe Shakespeare wasn't right about the lawyers.

I oppose a tax system and anti-trust laws that punish those who work hard to become successful and reward those who are content to live off the labors of others.

I like Microsoft software, although it's fine with me if you want to use Linux (just don't call me in the middle of the night to help you recompile your kernel, please). I do own one "token Mac," who sits in an obscure corner of the office now that its role as kitchen computer has been usurped by our HP TouchSmart. Prior to that, I often had to restrain Tom from throwing the iMac into the lake.