My Political Views

Lately I’ve felt the need to update the My Political Views page here at Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde.  My personal views haven’t changed much.  I’m still very much a fiscal conservative in an era when conservatives of all stripes are demonized, vilified, and demoralized – especially conservative women.  While I’m also largely a social conservative in my personal life, I see no reason to force my social views on anyone.  In fact, that is largely why I cannot bring myself to openly support many social views held by social liberals.  There are many aspects of such causes I’d love to support, but there is always a catch.  Whatever social cause they may champion, if you personally do not agree 100% with their narrow world view, you are wrong, considered uneducated, or worse, racist.  When one political group looks to impose their world view on everyone, I simply cannot offer my support in any form.

Many may view my political views as inflexible and untested at first glance.  It couldn’t be further from the truth.  I grew up in a small town surrounded by small business men and women, as well as teachers.  My parents have spent their adult lives growing their small business, and my Mom taught for 32 years as well.  I grew up seeing and debating the issues facing the public education system and small business.  I was fortunate to grow up in a very loving home, surrounded by extended family, lacking nothing.  I also had access to a wonderful public school education that prepared me well for college.

When I arrived at Michigan State University in 1999, I prepared to test all of my political views.  As part of my education, I studied abroad in Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.  I also took the opportunity to participate in MSU’s Alternative Spring Break programs in Mexico several times.  Throughout all of those experiences, both in and out of the classroom, my political beliefs only strengthened.  My eyes were opened to the extent of political repression both here in the United States and abroad.

As much as I love to travel and experience new cultures, I fell even more in love with my country.  I am convinced the system of government in the United States of America is unique and most ideally suited for greatest possible personal liberty, even in its current form, even if it isn’t perfect.  There is no place I’d rather live, and I am grateful that my ancestors made the difficult choice to leave their homelands in exchange for greater freedom and opportunity.  Unfortunately, I view that freedom and opportunity under constant threat from within and abroad.

Sadly, I feel considerably less free than I did even ten years ago.  I simply find it harder to recognize the country of my childhood.  Ten years ago I did not worry about finding opportunities to support myself financially; I could always find a job when I needed one.  Today opportunities seem non-existent.  I am spending the prime of my life still trying to create a career.  Unfortunately I know that I am far from alone.  When economic opportunities disappear, personal liberty disappears as well.

Courtesy Townhall

I do not want to live in a society where most people are completely dependent on the government.  Personally, I don’t want to be dependent on the government for anything other than basic public safety and national security functions.  Unfortunately, I view the federal government in its current form not performing the one essential duty for which it was created:  National defense.  Not only are we refusing even to begin address issues with our border with Mexico, we punish states that take that matter in their own hands (i.e. Arizona).  As a nation, we are allowing Iran to continue to defy the rest of the world.

Courtesy Townhall

Personally I have no idea what the best course of action should be with Iran.  I do know that we need to do something.  It saddens me to think that we’ve failed to deal with Iran as a serious national security threat literally my entire lifetime as I happened to be born toward the end of the Iran hostage crisis.  Nothing seems to change and one day we will pay dearly.  It may already be too late.  As always, I hope I am wrong.

Sincerely,

Lindsey J. Russell

P.S. – A few notes:

• Please note you can find the original version of My Political Views page here:  My Political Views ~ The Beginning
• All political cartoons used on this page are courtesy Town Hall.  You can find more political cartoons here.
• I reserve the right to change this page any time I’d like.
• Comments prior to February 25, 2012 pertain to the original My Political Views page.  See above.
• I may decide to add additional pages further explaining my political views at a later date, at my discretion.
• I decided to include the music video below for entertainment purposes only.
• Enjoy!

UPDATE:

The following is a comment from reader SJ.  It is just beautiful and I could not have said it better:

“I am also a fiscal conservative, but I don’t know where my social views lie.  I have a problem with people trying to legislate Love.  I have a problem with people trying to force their political and religious views down other peoples throats through legislation.”

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