A Material Vision Inspired by Faith

Tim Shipe is a Democrat running for Florida House Seat 31.

This vision of interlocking goals, pro-natalism, increase of living
standards, and improved physical environment- all three being strived
for simultaneously- is the basic blue print for my political action
plan.

With so many issues to consider, it is useful to review my basic vision.

I believe that the best political vision for the State of Florida and
the State of the Union, is one that encompasses three interrelated
goals.

1. We must be a pro-life, pro-natalist, society. We need a
child-friendly economy and culture. Many issues like Social Security,
Health Care expenditures, Elder Care Costs, Excessive Immigration to
fill economic needs, and more, are related to our not
supporting/encouraging enough children to be born and raised in stable,
married households. There are simply not enough young persons around to
take care of our aging population. If not for immigration, we would be
in an even more severe crisis- like that being experienced in Japan,
Russia, and Europe in general. Look for drastic cuts in social
programs, social services, social security and healthcare, for the
retired and aged, unless we alter our lifestyles and governmental
policies soon.

2. We must judge our economy not by the total worth of our GNP or
combined wealth assessments. We must look directly at the living
standards of all Floridians/Americans. The common good excludes no one.
Obviously, some people will opt out of educational and work
opportunities, for personal reasons often beyond the control of
government policies. We can discuss that reality later. But for the
vast majority of folks, we are trying to make a decent life, and the
system we live in is a huge factor. I've lived and travelled in many
countries in pretty raw shape economically, and I found that most of
the people were simple victims of the large systems of
politics/economics that strangled their ambitions and opportunities.
Living Standards must continue to rise for everyone who seeks to work a
fulltime job. That is the benchmark of a successfully led political
system. We must have more energy available to all, at more and more
affordable prices, because energy is what makes for a productive
economy and a comfortable home. Bottom-line, the market cannot be the
final word on determining living standards. The market is an excellent
means for delivering many positives, but it is not to be worshipped.
The State and the states, can and must intervene at times, regulate,
set the juridical framework for a just and merciful economy.

3. The physical environment must be maintained and/or improved. What
good is it to have all of this abundant energy, surfing the net all
night for pennies, and driving a Big Economy with loads of consumer
products, if we are choking on pollution? We can't look at having
bunches of beautiful children, providing them with well-lit,
comfortable homes, and then sit back in ease while they eat
hormone-laden, dubious-quality food, and drink water that smells like a
swimming pool. I have a sacramental view of the physical universe, I
believe the material universe has deeper causes and meaninings. I don't
equate a human child with a cow or a tree, but there is a real link
between the quality of our human lives with the healthfulness of
animals and the natural ecology. I want to see us develop progressive
technologies so that we can have the above-mentioned abundant energy
for all- but I know again that the market forces are not going to get
the job done. The oil industries would probably like to see us max out
their product before they will offer up, or encourage, our various
levels of government to help get our societies beyond the fossil fuel
era. I would like to see the switch over to nuclear, hydrogen and solar
energies, asap (I'm not dismissive of Global Warming theories). Nuclear
energy could have a completed fuel cycle, whereupon the spent fuel is
reprocessed rather than stored under some mountain in Nevada. And
plants across Florida and the nation could be standardized, small and
passively-safe- to escape the Three Mile Island large plant/human error
nightmare scenarios. We could have effective regulation and inspection,
completely open to media and environmental experts. I fear that
Republicans will go the nuclear energy route someday, but they will let
industry and money dictate terms, and then we would end up worse off
indeed.

This vision of interlocking goals, pro-natalism, increase of living
standards, and improved physical environment- all three being strived
for simultaneously- is the basic blue print for my political action
plan. There are many specific issues to debate, how to accomplish these
goals- but I wonder, if one doesn't share these goals, what do they see
as the better possible society- One with fewer children? More wealth
disparity between the haves and have nots? An unhealthy, ugly
environment?

My vision is positive, life-affirming, healthy, ambitious, loving, and
optimistic. We may not find perfect agreement on all the specifics- but
if you want a candidate who thinks exactly like you- then you should be
running as a candidate yourself! I, for one, welcome a good debate from
all quarters. I have not arrived at all the answers, I may ask you a
few questions so that I can learn something new. Next up will be more
specific proposals. Thanks, Tim