Wednesday, January 11, 2006

My Tucson: Let's agree, or agree to disagree, but no name-calling

Barney Brenner

Tucson Citizen

Dec. 13, the Tucson Citizen introduced seven local writers, chosen from about 90 applicants, to launch its new "My Tucson" column.

We're a diverse group: an art museum director; a political historian; a retired police officer; the longest-running former Citizen teen columnist; a UA journalism graduate; an adventurous, keen-eyed Tucson newcomer; and myself, a conservative Republican.

Since some view that label negatively (or so I've heard), I thought defining my perspective might be in order.

Then I saw Billie Stanton's Page 1 headline Dec. 27, "Republicans are people, too - at least in her neighborhood," and read C.T. Revere describing the political parties Dec. 22 as "two camps of citizenry who often don't even try to understand one another."

That convinced me this piece would be appropriate. So, with hopes of better understanding, here's some of what I believe and why.

It's silly or worse to think any of us don't want such things as clean air, good schools for our kids, a prospering economy with high employment, a low crime rate and a peaceful world.

Our differences lie not in our desire for these things, but in the means we think best for getting them.

Problems arise when bad intentions are ascribed or the discussion degenerates from "You're wrong and here's why" to "You should be fired. . . . You're a bumbling idiot" (with which C.T. was reviled).

We should honestly debate issues, not slander each other. Our country has enough problems from those wishing to do us harm without our attributing evil intent to fellow citizens with whom we disagree.

So, what approaches do conservatives think best? And just what is it we want to conserve?

Well, the principles in our Constitution for starters. It's a surprisingly small document that all citizens should read and understand.

Our founders believed in limited government, the right to own property, civil and religious liberty, protection of life, the rule of law, the rights of self- and national defense, personal responsibility and free enterprise.

As a conservative, these are principles I hold as well. They're what made this country great and why many people from all over the world risk everything to come here.

As for approaches, here are a few:

When our system of education doesn't produce the high outcomes we all want, some declare that we're not spending enough.

But with 60-plus percent of Arizona's budget already going to education, conservatives say we need more freedom of educational choice for families and more competition for excellence in schools.

To support a good economy, low taxes are essential. Paradoxically, but true to economic principles, tax cuts under George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy actually produced increases in revenues.

Conservatives believe gun-control laws are ineffective because, well, criminals don't obey the law! Washington, D.C., has the toughest gun laws and the highest murder rate.

It's ironic that Thomas Jefferson's letter mentioning "a wall of separation between church and state" (which has never been in the Constitution) is preached far and wide, but his statement from another letter that it's a citizen's right "to be at all times armed" is virtually forgotten.

And in words from George Washington's first annual address to Congress, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

So there's some of my perspective. Whether you agree or not, thanks for reading. And here's hoping you enjoy the writing of all the My Tucson columnists!

Barney Brenner barneybrenner@cox.net) is the former owner of Barney's Auto Parts and a past president of the Pima County Republican Club.