Reply #8: I have some questions [View All]

[McScotty007]

I will preface my comments by openly telling you that I am new to being politically active, so I'm not really sure whether I would consider myself a republican, a democrat, or somewhere in between and some of my friends told me this is a great place to ask questions/ receive answers, and it seems like you guys are pretty smart over all, so I wanted to start a dialogue with you if I could. I have many topics which interest me, so I wanted to hear you guys thoughts on them.

IRAQ:
I am more than dismayed that we have found no WMD's in Iraq. I don't know how the entire world was so wrong about this and I fully agree we should have waited for more conclusive proof, but I have a few problems with saying we should not have gone. First, why did Saddam kick everyone out if he was not operating or trying to creat another WMD program? I haven't heard either side really talk about it at all, and that seems to me to be an argument in favor of him beng taken out. Second, even if he had no WMD, Iraqi's no longer have to live under a brutal dictatorship, where he gassed his own people and even if the new constitutional society which is attempting to be put in place fails, then at least they will have had a shot at freedom. I do not want anyone to rant about the fact that we gave him the gas in the first place, it still doesn't give him the right to use it on his own people/ The war still does not sit easy with me, but I feel like the world is safer with him captured. Also, I have read reports that France and Russia's unwillingness to go along was based on Oil contracts they were likely to try and secure. Anyways, please tell me where you think I have gone wrong on this topic. I realize it is limited, but just initial feelings

Government:
I still don't know how I feel about big government/little government. I have always been very independant and I don't like the thought of when I reach the upper limits of earning potential as a lawyer, that if Kerry is in the White House, his goal is to take half of my earnings for other people. I've always felt like a safety net is supposed to be there for those who can't/won't take care of themselves, but I feel like individual donations for charity is the best way, rather than government mandate. Individual responsibility is very important to me, and it scares me when I see a federal program being created for everything under the sun. I know George Bush is the worst spender of all, so should I just assume that large government spending is here to stay?

Please ask me more questions on other topics or offer comments. I would like to start a dialogue. You guys can be my litmus test for the 2004 election. LOL