This November, we once again elect the leader of our nation and by many accounts, the leader of the free world. Most have already decided for whom they will vote. I am no different. It seems irrational that there are undecided voters when the candidates and the parties are so politically and philosophically different. These undecided voters cannot be taken seriously…except for their eventual votes. Meanwhile, we engage in the usual ritual of sound bites, gotcha’s, accusations, and rhetoric. Hmm…what fun!

Most people recognize that the candidates attempt to cross over to the other side a bit in a calculated method so as not to lose many of their own while gaining an even greater number of votes from the other side. Meanwhile, both sides continue to be caught in contradictions, gaffes, and even outright lies. Again…what fun!

It seems that one should be looking at the candidates platforms instead of the person fronting for them. Personally, I am not pleased with either of the choices we currently have. Neither McCain nor Obama was ever a serious consideration of mine. To me, their projected nominations are both a waste of political opportunity and progress for this nation.

What I do prefer is the preservation of American ideals and traditions. The American political system is unique among world governments and it has allowed us in our short history to evolve into the greatest and most powerful economic and political force in world history. The world looks to the United States for leadership in times of crisis and disaster as well as in times of stability. So why is there a great cry for change? Why are so many now crying for a quasi-socialistic state?

We just fought and won a fifty-year cold war against socialism. We simply waited for collectivism to implode upon itself. It is incredible that so many people are now embracing a political philosophy that impedes individual achievement and success and that is assured of its own eventual destruction. How is it that we condemn socialism around the world as suppressing human rights yet many here feel it will work for the United States?

With socialism, only a small segment of the population initially benefits. In time, the built-in disincentives of socialism create an imbalance of consumers over producers. When there are not enough producers in an economy, the system fails because there are so few benefits and goods to be distributed.

One needs only to look at our Bill of Rights for guidance. The individual is protected from government tyranny and intrusion into one’s personal property, thoughts and beliefs, and life. It gives us nothing except the freedom to pursue our own individual form of happiness without undue governmental intrusion. Far too many believe that rights involve the receipt of material goods or services. Put another way; we do not have a right to be taken care of when we fail. We have the right to something much greater…the right to be left alone!

A current Democrat mantra is that certain groups have rights to others property. They call many of these theoretical rights entitlements, though such rights are clearly beneficial only to those so entitled. It is absurd that anyone can believe it should be a right that a government will take property (money) away from one who has earned it and simply transfer it to someone else. The Bill of Rights says nothing about such “rights.” It only allows us to be free from governmental intrusion and meddling while granting all individuals the opportunity to participate without restraint. Do we really want to trash the Constitution or somehow rationalize our way around it?

Socialism and all degree’s of collectivism are a direct intrusion into everyone’s personal life since it promotes a common group identity over individual rights of freedom and success. As a nation so diverse in culture and heritage, this clearly cannot work. The liberal concepts of diversity as a strength and collectivism are at odds with one another. It cannot work both ways. Besides, the human spirit always strives for something better and the incentive for individual struggle is destroyed when group rights overtake individual opportunity for success.

We all know how difficult it is do deal with governmental bureaucracy. Government agencies do not compete in a free market so there is no economic incentive to be helpful or to exceed, let alone meet, expectations. Individual excellence is depressed as enthusiasm wanes. Why expand this system of inefficiency? Does anyone really believe that politicians and governmental minions without personal fortunes at stake can run an organization better than intelligent businesspeople competing for a share of the free market?

A vote for the conservative ticket is a vote to insist on the American way of life. Conservatives promote freedom from governmental intrusion with an opportunity for productive work, economic participation, and success, coupled with a solid infrastructure and a strong national defense. Democrat’s actively promote the nationalization of private business, the suppression of individual success and achievement, governmental custody and responsibility for raising our children, and increasing most forms of taxation, some of which actually result in a reduction in revenue, and thus, benefits to the poor. After all, sticking it to the man, according to the presumptive Democratic nominee, “is an issue of fairness.”