Personal Platform

Economy: I would like to be in charge of what happens with most of the money I make. Certain taxes are definitely important, but on issues that only concern me and my health or wealth, I would like to invest my money where I choose. In terms of the nation's economy, it seems to me that our goverment spends far too much in certain areas that most Americans forget cost us tons of money, such as war, imports and investments in inefficient "new" technologies.

Environment: I have always valued nature. In that respect, I believe that we need to take care of it as much as possible. There are other motives for protecting nature, however. I think what people tend to forget is that humans are just another species of animal. I don't think that the fact that we have more developed brains makes us any more invincible than any other species. The fact that we are cutting down trees, the very plant that gives us the most oxygen to breathe, proves that. The Neaderthals lived hundreds of thousands of years before they went into extinction. That a long time compared to the tens of thousands that Cro-Magnons (our ancestors), have lived. I wouldn't be surprised if it was our industrialization, born of our more advanced brains, that brings us to extinction. So, in that respect, I don't feel like we have complete control over what is happening. That doesn't mean that I think we are doomed, so there is no point doing anything, but neither am I obsessed with how horrible I am because I fill up a trash can, or take daily showers. On a final note, though, I do fully support all efforts to clean the oceans, lakes and rivers, to preserve species that are going excint and to become more environmentally friendly.

Military: Our military is here to protect our country and our values. There is no reason we should use our military to invade another country unless it is solely for the purpose of protecting. We are no longer America if we use our military to conquer.

Abortion: I definitely see the need for abortion, or rather the need to women to be able to make their own choice about abortion. Even so, the thought of killing a forming baby makes me cringe a bit. I personally think abortion should only be used right when the pregnant woman finds out she is pregnant against her will, like after having been raped, not after 5 months of carrying the baby. Why would you put yourself through so much of the pregnancy, just to kill the baby? In terms of what girls who are not yet 18 can do, I believe that they should be able to make the decision of abortion on their own, but I do see the value of letting a trusted guardian know, because pregnant girls don't always have access to good doctors, or don't have the sense to fins a good one.