Freedom of Philadelphia

Saw this tonight over at Human Event’s and wanted to write a quick post about it. In it the author lists what were the results of polling by Human Events as to the top 10 issues among conservatives. I’ll list them and then give some of my thoughts on it.

1. Illegal immigration — 86%
2. War on terrorism — 80%
3. Federal spending – 65%
4. Supreme Court and other judicial appointments — 64%
5. Flat tax/tax cuts — 61%
6. Size of government — 61%
7. Iraq — 55%
8. Social Security — 45%
9. Entitlement programs — 38%
10. Abortion — 36%

I’ll list them in the order I think they should be in and would really welcome some feedback on what everyone else thinks they should be.

1. War against the global jihadist movement. This has got to be number 1 in my book. It’s high time we decided to truly tackle the enemy and it starts by naming names. It’s not a “war on terrorism”, that’s a pure misnomer. It’s a war against Islamic jihadists. No not Islamic “extremists”, they aren’t extremists, they are the Islamic main stream.  We need a leader who will go after them and go after them hard. Afghanistan and Iraq are important and a hell of a good start. However, it’s got to go further. Now I am not neccessarily calling for more military action, but let’s turn off the money pipeline to countries and organizations that aid and abet in islamic jihadism. Saudi Arabia that means you and your pet dog CAIR. Sure there might be a revolution there if we don’t support there, but I’d like to think that the Royal Family there would have to meet some problems head on rather then exporting them.
2. Illegal immigration. This is a big one and tied to #1. Some of the Fort Dix terrorist wannabes came here illegally. Not to mention that it’s fundamentally against the American dream (you know that thing the libtards say these people are after) to break into our country, steal identities, and then demand more rights! Yes, I’m for the deportation of as many of them as we can and the arming of our Border agents. Perhaps have the National Guard, um guard the frigging nation!
3.  Federal spending and size of government. Human Events list these separately but they really are the same thing. Ronald Reagan once said to the effect that the scariest words in the english language was “I’m from the government and I’m here to help”. It’s so true, for crying out loud the government can’t even run a damn DMV right so the last thing we need is more of that type of incompetent leadership spending our tax money.
4. Education. This didn’t even make the list, but honestly our public schools stink. My son goes to public school and during a meeting with the teachers we discussed how bored he was in the class and I mentioned that he thinks he is smarter then his teacher and he might be right. The sad thing is, is that while I was looking to make a point to the administration, there was alot of truth in that statement. We need to apply a little business sense to the schools. Teachers who students perform better get raises, those teachers who’s students don’t perform well could lose their jobs. Have every teacher a student has get invested in their future. Each year put a set amount of money in an interest bearing fund, if that student goes to college and graduates all the teachers who had a hand in that students education get a share of the money. This would help keep good teachers around longer and invest them in the students education long term.
5. Iraq. We’re there and it would be criminal and un-American to leave them to slaughter. Besides I’d much rather have us fight them there then here. ‘Nuff said on that.
6. Social Security. Either give me my money back or make sure that it’s there when I’m ready to retire in 30 years or so.
7. Supreme Court candidates-We need more judges that don’t legislate from the bench, but rather interpret the Constitution without trying to split hairs.
8. Flat Tax-I’ve been a big fan of flat taxes since I heard Steve Forbes talk about it back in I think 92. Sure it would put the IRS mainly out of business, but really is that a bad thing?
9. Entitlements-Seriously?  Most people who get some sort of entitlement either don’t work for it or have never worked for it. Like alot of great ideas we took them too far. Sure Welfare and Unemployment are needed but with a set limit and with the expectations that the people on them earn them.
10. The ACLU. This is one of the buggest enemies American values and traditions face. It’s leadership is nefarious, well monied, and determined to bring down all this country is and lower it to the standards of 3rd world countries.

I’d really like to hear from my readers what your thoughts are on what the main issues facing America today. What stands do you want your next President to take?