Commentary - February 2000

If I Were President

Part One of a Series

by Lyle Brennan

What a thought! Here starts a series of commentaries I will be writing over the next few months. Everyone, including myself, has a complaint or criticism about our current and past presidents. The complaints include things they have, and haven’t done. During the daily course of operating a business, when one encounters problems, a valuable skill is the ability to creatively reason through to potential resolutions. I advise my staff that identifying a problem is the easy part. They must think it through and propose solutions. Thus practicing what I preach, I propose to outline my platform, "If I Were President." (Note: I am not running for the office, but I believe if am to be a critic I should suggest solutions.)

First, to define the problem I see with our country and the direction it seems to be heading: The moral fabric of our nation is being torn apart by progressive immoral behavior to the point where stability and viability of our civilized citizenry and our nation is at risk (our society is deteriorating). We must reverse this trend before it destroys us all. If anyone thinks this position is to severe, just look at the simple statistics depicting violence in schools, infidelity and adultery, teenage pregnancy, fatherless homes, abortion, substandard performance of our public school system, sexual promiscuity, pervasive and addictive pornography, the proliferation of illegal drugs, etc. Statistics on all these subjects have gone through the roof, especially during the last 40 years. All of these social pathologies attack and corrupt the essential building block of our civilized society, the family unit. If a behavior pattern adversely impacts the welfare of the people in our society, it must be restricted or prevented. This enables us to judge behavior objectively by evaluating its impact on society rather than judging people and their ideologies.

For example, it is a fact that homosexual behavior is destructive to what society must do to survive. The primary objective of any society is the perpetuation of a civilized human race. Homosexuality places this long-term objective at risk because it prevents society from perpetuating. An examination of most fallen civilizations shows that they were afflicted with rampant homosexuality. I believe it is not productive to discriminate against homosexuals because it places a "stumbling block" in their path in resolving to change; but we certainly should take appropriate steps to discourage people from engaging in the behavior. The question is rather fundamental: why should any society tolerate and even subsidize behavior that puts a substantial portion of its members at risk? Unfortunately, many argue their misbehavior must be tolerated and even subsidized in the name of "freedom". They want the freedom to misbehave but not the obligations that are essential in society that help preserve and maintain the conditions that protect the security and well-being of their fellow members.

Platform Position #1: As President, I will not support any special recognition of the homosexual lifestyle or their request or demand for special rights; nor will I support any discrimination legislation that would persecute them.

Next issue I will present my "Platform Position #2" regarding the separation of church and state. Stay tuned.

Coalition for the Protection of Marriage

The coalition is a citizens group consisting of Nevadans working together to prevent same sex marriages. "Only a marriage between a male and a female person shall be recognized in this state." They believe "Nevada citizens and officers of government everywhere should promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen marriage as the foundation of society." For more information contact the coalition by phone at (702) 307-6175 or fax at (702) 307-6177. Their website is www.protectmarrriagenv.org

Lyle Brennan Publisher
COMMENTS? email: lyle@nbj.com