Conservative View of The Dog and Pony Show

     As I write this, an internet search for "United States 2012 Election News" brings up some interesting stories.  One is about a poll that explores how many Americans want politicians to talk about religion.  Another tells about Mitt Romney and an "Etch a Sketch" campaign.  Another reports the launching of a new Political Action Committee (PAC).  There is another about how much money Barack Obama is raising for his campaign and one about who former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is endorsing (hint: it's Mitt Romney).  Although these stories have some interest, the big question about all of these is:  Who Cares?  These articles only serve to draw the public's attention away from the real issues of this election.

     As a Conscious Conservative, I believe that here are only five questions which a presidential candidate must answer in this or just about any other election.

1.  How are you going to respect my body and property?

     

     We now have a government that spies on its own citizens, can imprison them indefinitely or kill them without trial and takes their property to give it to a private business interest.  This question is far more important than which famous person endorses a candidate.

2.  What do you believe about Taxes?

     

     By some estimates, the United States Tax code is over 15,000 pages long.  Why?  Because it is designed     less to raise revenue than it is to control behavior and grant favors to political supporters.  This is more important than an "Etch a Sketch" comment.

3.  How are you going to handle the issue of Us vs. Them?

     Typical political strategy in Washington D.C. is to divide and conquer.  Pit women against men, rural vs. urban, young vs. old, rich vs. poor, etc...  We need a President who refuses to categorize people.  This is more important than a candidates's religion.  In fact,a candidate stating a religion is just more Us vs. Them rhetoric.

4.  How will you protect the US Dollar?

     Inflation has been the largest curse that government has inflicted on the American people in the last 50 years.  Households have to earn more than ten times what they used to in order to keep the same standard of living.  People find that their life savings are worthless.  This is more important than how many donations a candidate is receiving.

5.  How will you restore faith in the election process?

     Voter turnout for Federal Elections hovers around 50%, even during Presidential election years. The President needs to do everything in their power to assure people that their vote matters.  This would include advocating open ballots and working more to help the United States than to win re-election.  Fair elections are more important than who supports which PAC.

     You almost never hear candidates talking about these issues.  They prefer to dodge real issues for easy fluff.  The press also fails to do its job for not asking these questions.  What is left is gossip, innuendo and a Dog and Pony Show.   

Is The Fix In For Romney?

     I just read an article that said Rick Santorum won the Southern States this week, but that Mitt Romney was still the victor for the week because he won the South Pacific. Really?  Hawaii is the only state in the South Pacific.  Although I have nothing but respect for my friends and fellow citizens from the Islands, the Pacific Island Nations are sovereign protectorates that do not participate in the Electoral College.

     It appears that the Republican Party and the Press have been pulling strings for Romney from the very beginning.  First, Romney won Iowa, then he didn't.  He was projected to win South Carolina, even though he didn't.  The Ron Paul campaign disputes the Nevada results.  Romney was declared the winner of Maine on February 11th, even though the voting wasn't supposed to be over until March 3rd.  About this time, some outlets started declaring him the "winner" of the nomination, even though Romney only had 10% of the delegates needed and not all of them were definitely pledged to his campaign.  Romney then won his home state of Michigan, or maybe he didn't, but the Michigan Republican hierarchy voted to give it to him anyway.

     As a Conscious Conservative, I realize that the caucus/primary system is very complex and that some elections are hard to call from early returns.  However, it appears that every benefit of the doubt from the Press and the various Republican Committees goes to Mitt Romney.  It sure makes it look like the fix is in.    

Ron Paul, Conservative Values

  I rated Ron Paul on the Conscious Conservative Scale (see earlier posts).  It appears that Dr. Paul scores:

90 points -- Conservative

Ron appears to favor a free labor force and ending the Estate Tax.  He seems to favor abolishing the Income Tax and the Federal Reserve.  Paul has spoken against the Inheritance Tax.  However, Ron Paul favors government meddling in personal issues, if done at the local level.  Ron Paul is much more conservative than Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich.  He can really be called A Conscious Conservative.

Is Rick Santorum As Conservative As He Seems?

  I rated Rick Santorum on the Conscious Conservative Scale (see earlier posts).  It appears that Mr. Santorum scores:

55 points -- Moderate

Rick appears to favor a free labor force and ending the Estate Tax.  He seems to favor a Progressive Income Tax and the Federal Reserve.  Santorum has spoken against the infamous Kelo decision.  However, Rick Santorum favors the Patriot Act, waffles on the issue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and supports all sorts of  government meddling in personal issues.  Rick Santorum is more conservative than Mitt Romney and slightly more conservative than Newt Gingrich, but he can't really be called A Conscious Conservative.