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I'm going to lay my basic beliefs out there for your enjoyment (derision, appreciation, dumfounded amazement, etc). I'll likely touch on many of these as this blog progresses. I'll also add to the list as I stumble upon new stories that annoy me and as I remember things I left off the list. The list will be rather random and is certainly is not necessarily in order of importance.

In general, I am socially liberal, fiscally conservative and I tend to vote Libertarian when given the option...

Many of my political (and even economic) thoughts stem from this basic philosophy: What you do is of no concern to me as long as it doesn't affect me or others (i.e. my rights end at the tip of your nose)

The government shouldn't be in the business of "marrying" anyone. The government should apply civil unions to any applicants who can sign their name to the form and pay the registration fee. Churches should be able to "marry" any couple they wish (while excluding any couple they don't want to marry), but this should carry no weight over the government's civil union. It's just a ceremony affirming people's commitment religiously.
1. A legal contract between two consenting adults who wish to enter into a civil union shouldn't be questioned. This includes cases where the adult may already be in a civil union with another person. A special provision should be made in these cases that all affected parties must sign the contract (i.e. if you are taking a 2nd husband, the first husband has to sign that he agrees with the new civil contract).
A fetus is a parasitic growth within a woman until it is viable outside the womb. This is my opinion. I do not ask others to accept it as theirs and I appreciate it when others don't ask me to take ownership of their opinion.
1. A woman has the right to choose to have the parasite removed until such time that the parasite is viable outside the womb (some arbitrary developmental stage would have to be determined. For argument's sake, let's make it the beginning of the third trimester). I have a son who is the most incredible person I have ever met. Neither my wife nor I could imagine ever being a participant in the decision or action of an abortion. But, I also am not sanctimonious enough to believe it is my place to tell another person what they can do with their own parasite.
2. If a woman has non-implanted, potential future-parasites stored somewhere other than the womb (most likely in a cryogenic lab somewhere, but maybe in canning jars in the basement or wherever else she may have these fertilized eggs/embryos) and decides that she no longer wants them, she and the male who is responsible for the sperm half of the equation (assuming he hasn't signed away his rights to his sperm (i.e. sperm bank donor)) should be able to do whatever they please with said "useless" embryos. That includes whatever sort of medical / scientific experimentation they deem appropriate.
God should have nothing to do with the government and the government should have nothing to do with God. I am not a zealot in that I don't believe that we should go around defacing history for the purpose of wiping out religious references. However, I don't think we should further glorify religion through government action. (I do favor taking the words "Under God" out of the pledge, removing "In God We Trust" from future pressings/printings of money, and abolishing the practice of beginning congressional sessions with a prayer among other basic actions).
The welfare system and social security should basically be eliminated. Welfare recipients should be told they have a specified period of time (i.e. 2 years) to get themselves in a better place financially and after that date, the checks stop coming. Similarly, I would voluntarily pay social security taxes with no expectation of receiving future compensation if they agreed that anyone under the age of X (I say 40...), and all subsequent generations would get no future social security benefits. Take some personal responsibility for your financial health.
The death penalty should be applied more often, more swiftly and for a broader array of crimes.
Imprisoned felons should have very few creature comforts (basically some clothes, some bedding and some books).
The legal definition of cruel and unusual punishment should be much more narrowly defined.
Conversely, when a person serves the sentence for their crime, leave them alone -- they've done their time.
I am a free-market capitalist. I have been accused of being an anarcho-capitalist. I don't think I'm quite there. But, if everyone else was a free-market capitalist, I would be (although, in that scenario, everyone would be an anarcho-capitalist, wouldn't they?).
Seat-belt and helmet laws should be repealed and Darwin should be allowed to take over.
The legal drinking age should be 18 (I didn't drink until 2 months before my 21st birthday anyway. I just think it's asinine that you can serve in the army at 18 (as I did), but can't drink for another 3 years).
Marijuana should be legalized. I've never smoked the stuff, but I don't know why other "soft" drugs (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine) are legal and this one isn't
The current tax system needs a major overhaul/simplification. I haven't studied this enough to determine what I think is the best alternative, but the Fair Tax seems, on the surface, to be pretty decent. I definitely like the idea of some sort of usage tax.
I don't think we need such a thing as an "Immigration Policy." I do believe that immigrants should have to register to travel/move to the US, but I don't think they need our "permission" (when they arrive at the port, they simply show proof of their application (that would have already been checked against whatever security database we are using at the time) and are waved through and told to enjoy themselves. If their application is not found or they have not cleared the "terrorist watchlist," they get to sit on the Group W bench until such a time that we clear them, deport them, arrest them or shoot them (ya know, if Osama is sitting on the bench or something)). This country was founded by immigrants who had no permission to live here and was strengthened in later generations by yet more immigrants. I am not aware of any ancestors in my lineage who are "native" to North America, but I do have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. Does that mean that I'm illegal?
1. My previous statements regarding welfare and social security should remove all arguments regarding "illegal" immigrants unfairly using our tax base to their advantage. Further statements regarding the overhaul of the tax system should further alleviate any concerns over "illegal" immigrants not paying their "fair share."