onetime2

I think the vast majority of my beliefs are fundamentally based in reality and what is doable. I would gladly put them to an idealistic/realistic test.

I certainly have idealistic goals (like politicians being honest and being held to the same universal standards) but see them as more of a direction to move in rather than a realistic end point.

For example, I believe the government should be forced to spend tax revenue efficiently. Programs need to have honest and measurable criteria set to gauge whether they are succeeding or failing. Further they need to be prioritized so that, rather than increasing taxes or deficit spending for a new program, they can be compared to existing programs and the least valuable one (or several) are eliminated or reduced.

This certainly doesn't mean I believe we will ever be completely efficient or that political manipulation/bias won't come into play. It simply means that the status quo is not acceptable and there is absolutely a better way to do things. The sooner we move in this direction the less it will cost us and our descendants.

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Strive to be more curious than ignorant.