We're Only Immortal for a Limited Time: WWRD? or, Human Animal Hybrids

I try to refrain from politics on this blog, not for any specific reason other than my own lack of time to devote to the issues. I could waste the entire day researching my arguments and surfing the various political blogs. I don't do this, mostly because I become an angry, mean-spirited asshole when I hear from the empty heads with open mouths who try to tell me that they know what's best for me and the rest of the country.

So, I try to stay out of it.

Those of you who have been reading this blog for awhile know what my personal political leanings are. For those who don't, and are too lazy to click the above link, I am conservative when it comes to government spending and control, but liberal on several rather important issues that prevent me from registering as a Republican.

I am a large supporter of small government; they should stay out of our lives as much as possible when it comes to taxes, spending, business regulations, abortion, religion, and sex. I believe that every able-bodied and able-minded American should rely solely on himself (or herself) in good times and his family and friends in bad, leaving off the hook the government and anyone who doesn't want to be involved. It's their prerogative to not have to help if they don't want to.

So what's the point of all this, you ask? I admit that I am reluctant to criticize Republicans in general, and the Bush administration in particular. I truly believe that President Bush is doing what he believes is best for the country. I support the war effort in Iraq and Afganistan (yes, they are still there, too). I cringe when I hear liberals calling our soldiers over there "our children" or "boys and girls." They are all adults. They made the decision to join the military and are not being exploited by the governement. They knew the consequences when they signed up, many even joined because they wanted to go and fight. If you don't want to go and fight to spread democracy to new nation, don't do it. But don't call those who want to do it terrorists or murderers. It's just not true.

Back to my point, I usually support President Bush, and I normally consider Google one of the most potentially dangerous companies in the world. My fears have now been justified. The U.S. Department of Justice is using the court system to get Google to give up their search records.

Heroically, Google has told them no.

This has severe consequences. Internet users rely on search engines to provide quick, easy access to anything on the web. They do so with the understanding that their search will remain private and without government monitoring.

I wouldn't have much of a problem with it if this action were taken by the DoJ in support of finding terrorists and those who seek to do our country harm, as in the case of the perfectly legal wiretaps ordered by the Bush administration on known terror suspects. But it is not. This is a large-scale witch hunt of ALL of Google's logs for anyone searching for pornography. Not selective enough for my taste, and not done in an act of war or criminal activity (unless you count self-abuse as a crime, which I do not).

They are trying to use the information from Google's database to show that the Child Online Protection Act should be reinstated. I am all for keeping porn away from kids, but shouldn't parents be responsible enough to:

Monitor their kids' Internet use?
Install a filter on the computer to keep porn and other unwanted content out?

Let's face it, if a 14 year-old boy wants to look at boobs, he's gonna find a way to do so. Don't let the government keep a record of every American's personal turn-ons and preferences based on their Google habits.

President Bush seems to be too focued on the religious stance regarding pornography, and not on the laissez-faire policies of his presidential predecessors. He needs to stop asking himself "What would Jesus do?" and start asking "What would Ronnie do?"

Lagniappe

Somebody really jumped on Bush's ramblings about cloning and human-animal hybrids.
Kudos to this site for quick action and entrepreneurial spirit! You couldn't do this is a socialist, communist, or dictatorial regime. Viva la capitalism!