"It does not respond to what the American people want." - Senator Kennedy

What's more important senator? What people want or what is right? Are you such a slave to public opinion that you will abandon millions to civil war and terrorism simply because some wealthy, ignorant Americans don't see the light? It seems so.

Victory, Mr. President? - Independent

Pull out?

All those who want to pull out of Iraq now seem to want one thing: to protect their own hides. How is pulling out going to help the Iraqis? Didn’t the mosque bombing clue them in? These terrorists aren’t fighting a war against America. They are fighting a war against any form of freedom; freedom which the Shiites currently support; freedom that has taken power away from the minority Sunnis. And it’s not even the Sunnis. It’s a small faction within the Sunnis, combined with foreign terrorists. These are the killers in Iraq.

The fact is, no war is won by setting an end date. Every war is won by setting a goal, no matter the time or cost involved. Our goal should be a stable and democratic Iraq. This is Bush’s goal. The Democratic goal seems to be to beat Bush and the Republicans. I know no one is innocent here. There are lies, scandals, and partisan politics on all sides, but if I put that behind me and think of the Iraqis, I wonder what choice we have. Will we let petty politics condemn these people to losing their chance at freedom? Getting our troops out is a bad objective, if it simply means setting a timetable. It is a wonderful objective if it means making the war more effective by uniting behind the cause of a stable and democratic Iraq. It will require time, money, and, worst of all, lives. But freedom has always required lives. This should not shock anyone. It is hard, it is undesireable, but is unavoidable.

Forget the past for now. Finish the war. Unite and do what it takes to rid Iraq of the insurgency and allow our troops to leave the country. Then, and only then, when Iraq is stable and our troops are back home, should we look back and say, what can we learn from this? Doing it now is distracting us, diverting resources and support, and will drag us down in the end. I am not against questioning our government. I am against questioning our government at times when it will hinder such a delicate and vital process.

Guys with Heart

Check out Café Hayek. After reading just a few of their posts, I’ve found that they are smart men. And they aren’t just smart, they care about people. They aren’t political for the sake of argument. It seems that they really want what they say to make a difference in this world. Check it out. The link will permanently be in the sidebar.

Rational War

Sunk costs are irrelevant. This is a significant part of economics. It means that decisions made in the past should not affect decisions made now because you cannot change those decisions. What matters is the consequence of the decision that will be made now. So, if I am deciding on whether to write this post or do my homework, the fact that I chose to play computer games yesterday instead of doing homework shouldn’t affect my decision. Yes, the fact that I didn’t do homework yesterday means I have more homework to do today, but the fact that I chose to play computer games yesterday does not weigh into my decision today. The only things I consider are the importance of doing my homework now versus the importance of writing this post.

You’re probably wondering what I’m babbling on about. Well, I am saying that sunk costs are irrelevant and this applies not only in my private decisions, but also in the national and international arena. Many Democrats are calling for a set date to pull out of Iaq. They attack Bush on the muddled reasoning for invading the country. These two issues have nothing to do with each other. Whether or not we were justified in entering Iraq, the fact is, we are there and this country depends on us if it is to rise out of this mess without falling into civil war. Joe Leiberman wrote an excellent editorial regarding this subject. We are in Iraq and have an opportunity to save millions from tyranny. We are a nation founded upon this principle of freedom and we must unite to support it. We have made mistakes in Iraq. We made mistakes in every war, though. Our government and military are man-made institutions. If we look for flaws, we will find them every time. If we concentrate on those flaws, we will miss this opportunity and these people will once again lose hope.

Pulling out of Iraq is not an option. Yes, it will save our lives, but it will condemn millions to a life they have a chance to leave behind forever. If we back down from this challenge out of our own selfishness and pride, the blood of those people will be answered upon our own heads. Every life has a cost, but when that life is lost in fighting for freedom, than that life is not lost in vain. I salute the thousands of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq, attempting to bring one of the most precious of American ideals to a foreign land – freedom.

The Sombrero Galaxy. Funny name, but this picture (it is an actual picture taken by the Hubble Space Telescope), stirs deep emotions within me. It is a picture of an object to immense and so distant, it is beyond imagining. And it is beautiful. Within it a billions of stars and wonders that we can hardly imagine. Perhaps there are planets within with life, with intelligent life. WHat is in the depths of that galaxy? I'll probably not know in this lifetime.

Victory! For Now...

We did it! The US is retaining control of the internet. A forum has been set up for world governments to have their say, which will ease some pressure, but not much. People tend not to like to just say words. They want to have control. Understandable. Having the interent so heavily dominated by the U.S. does make it difficult for those who don't speak English, but this isn't because of our government. It is because the internet grew up here. Of course we influence it heavily. Of course other languages are less common. The only thing stopping these other languages from becoming common on the internet is the fact that people that speak other languages haven't started using it. If the tools are provided, these languages will become common because businesses will find it more profitable to use the internet. As they begin using, they will innovate and discover ways to make it easier to use their language on the internet. We need time, not some international government agency to force it to happen. If world governments provide the freedom for businesses to operate on the internet, the growth will occur and this amazing tool will become the multilateral network they want it to be. Be patient!

College Life

This is the college student's perfect excuse.

Capitalism

I am a capitalist. I support free-markets as the best way to manage the economy. So what? I have been reading some scary things in the news lately coming from socialists and those who believe government can best manage the economy. Let me begin.

Riots

The story begins in Paris. Two weeks ago, two boys were electrocuted in a Paris suburb. Since then, there have been constant riots in the Parisian suburbs and they have spread throughout the country. Why would the death of these two boys spark such chaos? I believe it has a great deal to do with economics. Joel Kotkin, writing for the Wall Street Journal, provides the evidence for this argument. France's socialism, and Europe's in general, is strangling its immigrants. In the suburbs where these riots are occuring, the homes of a large portion of France's immigrants, unemployment looms around 40%. No wonder they are rioting. Though they are only hurting their cause, they are a frustrated people who have found no help from a prejudiced and selfish nation.

Multilateralism?

The next danger has to do with the medium through which I am communicating. Perhaps the greatest miracle of communication, the internet, faces a danger that threatens to destroy its vitality and openness. There has been a proposal made for the UN to govern the internet. This is dangerous. I support Mr. Coleman's view in this editorial that giving control of this powerful tool to an organization which is being heavliy influenced by those who stand to lose from a free internet is a stupid idea.

The argument is that the internet is influenced too heavliy by the US. I would have to agree that it is heavily influenced by the US, but that is changing and will continue to change as the internet grows. Currently, the US government has little control over the internet. The majority of the internet is controled by private firms. This means that private firms from anywhere can have a say in governing the internet.

Is this happening? Not yet. A communications tool that grew to maturity in a country will be heavily influenced by that country and the companies that fostered this growth. As the internet spreads, however, companies in other countries are and will continue to enter the markets that shape the internet, giving the international community a say in how it works.

Handing the internet over to a bureau is asking for politicization of the internet. If it happens, we will probably watch the internet become a tool for the various governments as they regulate out what they don't like and regulate in the propaganda that support their actions.

The Heir Apparant

We may never be rid of the lies of communism. Just as China begins opening up to capitalism and as we wait for Castro to die, Castro's ideological heir rises up in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez supports the same communist lies that caused the economic ruin of Soviet Russia, China, North Korea, and virtually every country that has tried it before. He is tearing his country apart, destroying the only hope it has for economic progress. Yet his people believe in him. Why? For the same reason they follow any revolutionary demagogue: he provides new and different lies. There is hope in his words. Capitalism, for whatever reason, hasn't worked in South America. Rather than propose solutions, Chavez is successfully diverting the people's anger towards the wealthy and successful. Rather than encourage them to work hard and publicly discuss solutions to Venezuela's and South America's woes, he offers a seemingly quick and easy path to prosperity. Just as for anything worthwhile, there is no quick and easy way. Economic progress, except for notable exceptions, is slow and steady. As Chavez diverts his people's attention from markets and working to achieve prosperity, he will drive the economy into the ground. Look forward to yet another starving and struggling country.

The Answer

I do not believe markets hold all the solutions. Markets can be just as dangerous and devestating to people as the government. And the government is needed to make up for the market-system's shortcomings. But in all these cases, people want to rely heavily on the government. This strategy will not succeed. The combination of the market and a limited government, as the US and other market driven economies have substantially proven, brings economic growth and prosperity. It leads to efficiency and innovation such as the internet. Turning towards government places your freedom to act in the hands of fallible human beings. Be wary of the government and the attempts around the globe to extend its powers. I support capitalism and my freedom to choose how my life will be. I have no desire to place that power in the hands of a government.

Prayer

I had a wonderful experience today. It began, surprisingly enough, with algebra. I was in my math lab, struggling through a problem. Frustration started to get the best of me. After a good half hour on the problem, I finally finished it. Then I decided to check my e-mail. Nothing. I started to feel angry. No one was writing me. What was the deal? Didn't anyone care? By this point it was time to go to my next class.

As I was walking by anger was building and I was feeling pretty lonely. Then I remembered an important fact: I am never alone. There is always one being who is always waiting to hear from me and speaks to me whenever he has the chance: our Heavenly Father. So, while I was walking, I said a little prayer to him, sharing my frustrations with him and thanking him for always being there. During this prayer a wonderful feeling of peace spread through me. The feelings I had had just a moment before melted away.

Prayer is real and there is nothing more comforting and helpful. Our father in heaven is waiting to hear from us everyday, just as our earthly parents eagerly await every phonecall and e-mail. And he will share with us his love. Nothing is of greater comfort and you will never find a better listener. I know this through experience. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Engrained

I'm stuck in Blogger. Ok, not stuck, but my loyalty is with Blogger. MSN Spaces looks fun, but it's not for me. I don't care about posting pictures and the other things you can do with it. I like the less structured feel of Blogger.

Prepare

In kindergarten, my class performed a little experiment. We put a few caterpillars in a plastic terrarium and watched for a few weeks to see what would happen. At first, there was nothing terribly exciting. The furry little bugs just crawled around and ate leaves. The biggest change would be that the leaves would get smaller. Then, a couple weeks into our observation, something did happen. The caterpillars started to wrap themselves up in thin, silky thread. We watched one caterpillar spin the thread about itself. After a short time, it was completely enclosed and cut off from the world.

What was going on? These ugly little bugs were shutting themselves up? Wouldn't they die in there? Though all of us knew ahead of time the miracle that would occur, it was still a wonder that these bugs would do something so seemingly foolish. But we continued to watch for ages, it seemed. Finally, after what was probably only a week or two, something happened. We watched as out of this cocoon emerged one of God's daily miracles: a butterfly. THis delicate insect had come out of that restrictive cocoon, the same cocoon that had before held an ugly caterpillar. Now it emerged, ready to finish its life and perform its most important task: continuing the species so that this earth may be continually blessed with these amazing creatures.

It's a common misconception that wrapping oneself in a protective cocoon is restrictive and dangerous; that the cocoon will smother the person. After all, how is one to learn if they have rules that stop them from truly living life? I ask, how are we supposed to become the amazing beings we have the potential to be if we don't wrap ourselves up in that cocoon?

At my young age I have vast potential. I have reached adulthood and can, theoretically, take care of myself. Legally, I can live on my own, get a job, and abandon all the restrictions I've been raised with. But, what if I'm not ready? I've been raised in a cocoon, protected from the many dangers out in the world. Is it time for me to emerge? Am I ready to face the world?

No, I don't believe so. If I try to break out now, I'll come out an underdeveloped being, without the ability to use my wings. I need more time in my cocoon. I need more time preparing for that dangerous world out there. If I come out now, with my wings still growing, I won't have what I need to fly away from the dangers that the cocoon currently protects me from.

Perhaps that's what my mission is most important for: it is the point when I can begin, under the guidance of the Lord, to break free of that cocoon. Then I can begin to spread my wings and practice using them. When I return home, I'll have dried off my wings and I'll be ready and poised not just to fly from danger, but to fly towards those gardens and flowers where I can find beauty, safety, and nourishment. I'll be ready to seek out all that I need for happiness and joy that will last an eternity.

MSN Spaces

I'm exploring my options right now as far as blogs go. I think I may have found something I like better than Blogger. I'm looking at MSN Spaces. The things I like about it are that it is easier to post pictures and you can put up music and other things. It kind of combines Myspace and Blogger. I like it and I'm going to keep testing it. So, for a day or two, things might get a little redundant and i might switch back and forth. It's probably a good thing to do it now, though, before too many people are reading my blog. if you have any comments about which one you like to read better, let me know.