Empowerment Politics

With the election right around the corner on November 2, it's time to make a choice between the candidates. My choices will be based on the belief that government exists to empower the individual (my apologies to Hobbes). That doesn't mean that individual liberty is the paramount value. In fact, I remember what they said at my law school graduation -- these are the laws that make men free! What empowerment politics is about is creating an environment in which individuals will be able to best achieve their full potential. This is a paradigm that crosses party lines. For example, welfare and big business are bad for the same reason -- both have the potential for stifling the ability of individuals to achieve. The goal is to foster civil society, local government, and small business.

Against this measure, neither major presidential candidate has much to recommend himself. But my vote's going to Bush.