Why yes, I would like a strong dose of Political Theory!

As I was listening tonight to President Obama's speech to Congress, I was reminded of the key reason why I and others disagree with his principles. I already knew what it was, it's just that I had'nt managed to put it all to words yet.

The phrase 'the ends justify the means' means that if doing something can accomplish something really good, then it does not matter what you do to accomplish those good things. Many countries around the world use this principle when governing. China keeps its citizens from watching pornographic, lewd, and anti-government material on the internet which produces citizens that are not expsoed to those things and who are unlikely to revolt against the government. The Chinese care not about the fact that they denied what we would call basic freedoms to their people, they only have eyes for what it does.

In America, however, the ends don't often justify the means. In fact, I would say that the ends virtually never justify the means. We live by our basic freedoms. It's why our country is so different from everyone else and why our form of government has so much left to prove to itself, to its citizens, and to history. Whenever politicians start to bring up cases where they look ahead to the result of what they are doing, but fail to see the wrongs inherent in the means, they make a fatal error(If you are wondering how I am going to bring this back to Barack Obama, then hold on for just a second).

I would venture to guess that many Americans out there want the same things. The problems and differences start when we use different means to get them. Most Americans believe in equality for everyone and fairness, its just that not all of us think that must be played out in the abortion of millions of human babies, or gay marriage, or a whole host of other things.

Back to politicians making fatal errors....When I watched President Obama's speech tonight, I was struck by his frequent use of the phrase 'whatever it takes'. This really denotes two things, both of which show his inexperience and his ultimate inaedequacy for his position: First, that he probably does not know what it will take to accomplish what he wants; Second, that he is willing to let his ends justify his means.
Hello Socialism.

America needs a President who has a developed plan, who will surround himself with knowledgeable and trained professionals, and who is willing to work through proper means to accomplish the ends that we all probably want anyway.