A Statement of Purpose
I think it is impossible for anyone who is a student of history or is in any way invested in the future of their family or community or nation, to not form opinions about the affairs of the day. I have also found the practice of writing to be one of the most effective ways to organize one’s ideas, clarify thinking, or articulate a position. For me at least, this cannot be done in complete solitude, for rigorous conversation with other intelligent and engaged minds is required to test one’s hypotheses, find inconsistencies, discover new facts or otherwise unconsidered viewpoints. This humble journal lives at the confluence of these ideas.
The things that I will write are an exercise in articulation, and may express views that will change over time. They will be entirely my own. It is my firm goal to remain unpartisan in the discussion of politics and to be productive, constructive and respectful of the diversity of opinion that makes up American culture today. While I may endorse a candidate for office or an item of legislation, it will be based on the argument that I present–not on any party affiliation of theirs or mine. Please test me on the merits of my logic and articulation, and separately on each subject for I assure you that my intent is an independent analysis of each issue–not the blanket application of political philosophy or party platforms.
As a critical analysis of today’s two party environment will undoubtedly come up, I chose a name for this blog that’s a play on words to Teddy’s Roosevelt’s Bull Moose party of the early 1900’s (which threatened the two party system). As someone with his stature and qualifications can pull off characterizing themselves as a Moose, he had been shot mind you, I have no such political resume or larger than life background. It is just a name, and I am not too concerned about it. I am far more concerned with the rigor of what I intend to write, the time I have to find to write it, and the connection I hope to make with those who stumble upon this.