US Election 2004

In Dr. Hurd’s recommendation for President Bush’s re-election, he talked about his selfish reasons to vote for Bush. 

In recent conversations, I have been surprised how many people do not think about this choice selfishly.

For example, my 13-year old daughter, who will not yet be voting, said that she would vote for Kerry because she thought he was cool.  So I asked, “Don’t you know that Kerry wants to require mandatory community service on your time with an organization they approve as a requirement for high school graduation?”   While she chooses to volunteer time in support of her values, she would not want to be told when, where, and how long by the government.  If you think this is an exaggeration, consider that an Eagle Scout in North Carolina sued the local school for not accepting his unapproved volunteer work.

In another example, a friend railed against Bush’s stupidity in the war and proclaimed that he would be voting for Kerry.  So I asked, “Aren’t you aware that Kerry plans to drive profits out by imposing tighter federal price controls on the industry that you work in and that when Clinton took similar action a significant number of people at your company lost their jobs?”  Frankly, to him a vote for Kerry is a vote to lose his job.  

Personally, out of wholly selfish motives, I support Bush because he will be more aggressive against state sponsors of terrorism than Kerry would be.  The most important question that is actually in disputed in this election is one of Justice:  Should we make war against state’s that attack the US and our allies through terrorist surrogates, and thereby weaken international terrorism by eliminating this critical force multiplier for the terrorists?  The Bush doctrine says YES.  As best I can understand Kerry’s position, he says NO unselfishly.

Tomorrow I encorage everyone to vote selfishly; it is the moral thing to do.

UPDATE 11/2/2004:  The Institute for Justice has a background page on litigation involving manditory community service.  The Boy Scout case that I referred to was Herndon, et al. v. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Board of Education Fourth Cir. Case No. 95-2525.

An interview with Paul Sanders (President, Citizens Against Mandatory Service) can be read at Capitalism Magazine (HERE). 

The Kerry Draft (10/20/2004)

Image Source: Cox and Forkum

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