Politics and Facebook

I wish to preface this whole post by first expressing the following:

1.  I am a very politically aware person...
2.  I am conservative...
3.  I am easily frustrated by others political views

I have come clean.  I sincerely have the best wishes in mind for this country.  I am not some extreme, right winger as some would like to categorize me.  I am educated and intelligent, but none the less, I am most easily classified politically as conservative.  I vote Republican.  I am terrified of Obama's vision for the future of this country. I cannot support collectivism, because I don't believe it is rational.  I absolutely dislike government intervention.  I think that the people in this county who call themselves "progressive" really think like 15th century French Monarchs, which in my mind is not progressive.  I wish to be left to my own devices, left to my own success, and just as importantly, left to my own failures.  These belong to me, and those around me who I choose to share them with.  Some talking head in Washington NEVER knows what is best for me.

I believe that freedom is not easy, nor should it be.  I think that individual responsibility, accountability and the determination to succeed are the core traits necessary to explore what freedom really is.  Freedom is scary, uncertain and probably the most rewarding experience we will ever know.  I believe that people are inherently self interested, and that it should be that way (Darwin thought so too).  I know that Capitalism isn't moral, nor should it be.  Capitalism allocates the limited resources of this world most efficiently.  It rewards hard work.  It rewards those who are independent, responsible, accountable, and most importantly, dedicated to personal success.  It reward those who are willing to risk everything they have in the name of individual prosperity and freedom.  I believe that government intervention is THE LEAST successful method of creating a moral, responsible, and selfless population, because government is inherently none of these things.

I am generally very vocal about all of this.  I have no problem, no shame, and no difficulty wearing all of this on my sleeve.

HOWEVER.... I use Facebook to keep in touch with my FRIENDS!!!  I don't want to get into some sort of online discussion over gay rights, healthcare, fiscal responsibility or the full host of other hot-button political catch phrases of the moment on Facebook, with people who are my friends, who I know disagree with me.  That is something best served in person.  It is nearly impossible to express exactly what you wish to express inside of the context of a website serving up platters full of "lol, byob, OMG" and other nonsensical acronyms, misspelled words, and ridiculous photos that you really wish would just disappear!

In the end, all we end up doing is alienating the people we choose to like....this seems silly to me.  There are plenty of people I really don't want to, or need to like...and the people who are my friends on Facebook aren't those people

To that end, lets all agree to keep Politics Off of Facebook.  In the famous words of Rodney King, "Can't we all get along?"