Hi, Anonymous!

I put off really answering your message until tonight because it had so much thought and content in it. I felt it deserved the courtesy of a better reply than I could give earlier.

What is Hippy you ask. Well, thinking back I’ll be darned if I know. It had a lot to do with the pride of youth. We all thought that we could find a better way of living than our parents had. And we were ready to try any untested idea or theory that came along..searching..for what I am not sure. Streaking, skinny dipping, communes, open marriage, meditation...finding God.

It also had to do with fear. We were the first to grow up with the threat of the atomic bomb. We were all convinced that we would never live to see old age. And, the war. We were the first to see young men dying in our living room thanks to the advent of TV. It had to do with compassion. We knew of hunger in America and we were ashamed of our full bellies and fat wallets. It had to do with fairness. We wanted a fair deal for all in this country that we loved so much and were free to criticize.

Yes, we thought with our youth and enthusiasm we could fix it all. And, we despised our elders for having not done so already.

Why did I change? Well, on many things we got our way. I have lived to see the result of the changes. And I am ashamed. Now, there is so much more poverty. The educational level has dropped. Crime has risen. Fatherless children everywhere.

What we did not understand was that if you make things too easy for people they will become lazy, greedy and self indulgent. They won’t bother to learn to be productive when everything is free.

Apparently, we both agree that there needs to be a fair tax system. At first glance, I like the consumption tax. It would tax the poor less because without much money they would no doubt be doing less consuming. Also, it would force everyone who takes advantage of the good things this country has to offer to pay at the point of purchase. Therefore, the people who do not report income would pay. Drug dealers would pay. Illegal aliens would pay. No loopholes! That’s what I like about the idea.

As to Clinton’s sexual peccadilloes, heck I don’t know what other presidents have done. I am sure there were some good faithful husbands among them. But, I would be hard pressed to name them. It all goes to the character of the man, however. Somehow, I think that the leader of our country should be among the best we have and he just doesn’t seem to be it.

I am dead set against abortion. I believe that the child a woman carries within her body is a unique individual the minute the DNA combines to create that uniqueness. I have a son whom I love dearly and it breaks my heart that he has no real say about the life of his unborn children. There is an unfairness about this that infuriates me. My beautiful son..a sperm donor? No, my son a father.

By definition, a conservative opposes political change of a radical nature. So does that make me a conservative or a liberal? I want political change. I have decided that Mom and Dad did know best! I would like to change many things back to the way they were with the exception that I do like the fact that we seem to have a more even playing field now. There is more opportunity for all who are willing to do their best.

I am, however, a religious liberal. If you saw my web page you already know that I am a Unitarian. This is without any doubt right for me.

Well, Anonymous, That’s about it. Why don’t you tell me some of your insights about these things. I would be interested to know.