6. Military

A. While maintaining armed forces is necessary for any democracy that faces enemies, military budgets are typically bloated and should be cut substantially, with funds saved best directed to social programs. A strong emphasis on the military as a vital institution in society is more likely to promote belligerence and war than to prevent them. While some wars are justified, unless it is clear the adversary is about to launch a war against us, nearly all pre-emptive strikes are immoral. We should also not keep various military bases around the world or use our military in other nations’ conflicts all over the world (with the exception of preventing genocide). This puts our men and women at risk and wastes considerable money that is best used domestically. Military and militarism is something that a civilized society should reduce, not encourage. Therefore, the military has no business trying to recruit at civilian educational institutions—whether high schools or colleges.

B. The military in our free, democratic society is there to ensure that un-free, un-democratic societies are deterred from undermining our way of life and our freedoms. Our military should therefore receive ample funding to ensure its superiority against the military forces of our adversaries. While war should be the last resort once diplomacy fails, our enemies and their surrogates should always know we have the capacity to strike them anywhere in the world. To preserve our vital national interests, there are occasions when a pre-emptive military strike is appropriate, for example in thwarting a country from acquiring capabilities that would greatly endanger our security, or to prevent crimes against humanity committed against other nations. History shows that the militaries of free democracies have had a crucial role in liberating millions of people from oppression and tyranny. Being a vital institution in society, the military should be given access to promote ROTC programs and conduct on-college recruitment drives.

7. Same-Sex Marriage

A. Gay people deserve our respect as equal human beings. They also deserve legal protections against unfair discrimination. Their desire to form strong, lasting relationships should be encouraged in the form of civil unions, with the ability to benefit from virtually all the rights enjoyed by married people. Society, however, has the right to acknowledge what has been maintained throughout history up until very recently in all societies and all traditions without exception: there is a value in maintaining marriage as a legal union only between man and woman. First, if society doesn’t have the right to exclude same-sex unions from the definition of marriage, what legal basis is there to exclude multiple partner marriages or close relative marriages? Second, if society recognizes that marriage between gays and marriage between opposite-sex partners is completely identical, then how can we favor adoptions with opposite-sex couples over same-sex couples—even though experience and common sense tell us that a child gains something unique from a female role model (mother) and a male role model (father)? Third, if society recognizes that marriage between gays and marriage between opposite-sex partners is completely identical, then how can we say no to books depicting same sex marriage when presented to very young children entering school? Fourth, the complete social acceptance of same-sex unions as equally valid will result in more young people experimenting with gay lifestyles, causing greater gender confusion and furthering social disintegration.

B. Any form of discrimination against gay people is immoral, including the prohibition against gay marriage. Civil unions were a step in the right direction, but gay people deserve no less than the full rights enjoyed by any other citizen—including the right to legal recognition of their same-sex union as a marriage. Children of gay couples are not deprived in any way, as two loving parents of the same sex can offer a child everything that opposite-sex parents can offer. Therefore, there is no reason to give adoption preference to opposite-sex parents over gay parents. All children in society, even young children, should grow up knowing not only that there are many gay people in the world, but also that they themselves may realize at some point that they are gay. Early exposure to this possibility creates an open atmosphere without fear or shame, and a loving acceptance of others and of oneself. Society can still prevent marriages of multiple partners or of close relatives if it so wishes, but while there are only a handful of people seeking multiple-party marriages or close-relative marriages who aren’t allowed to, there are millions of gay couples who wish to be married and are denied this right.

8. Labor Unions

A. Labor unions are not uniformly good or bad. Unions are sometimes good for their members but not necessarily for society as a whole. Teachers’ unions are arguably good for their member teachers, but rarely do they have the children’s best interest at heart. Big labor unions may be tougher negotiating partners with big business. But, when it’s time for the employer to take steps to remain competitive in the modern global economy for the survival of the entire business (or to prevent the business from moving abroad), unions are notoriously inflexible, often to the long-term detriment of their own members. Public sector unions represent public servants, yet their benefits packages have mushroomed so much that the average public sector job now pays more than a private sector job when total benefits are considered. Because of union-friendly politicians and policies, employers now lack the ability to more easily hire and fire employees, which stifles economic growth in the rapidly changing business environment of the 21st century. With or without unions, great employees will nearly always be appreciated by any employer, and an employer who doesn’t treat his employees well will find it hard to keep good workers. Private employee unions should remain legal, but their potential negative power should be recognized and limited by voters and policy makers.

B. Unions are beneficial for workers in industry and government and for society as a whole. Workers are the weakest negotiating partner unless they are unionized. Because businesses and government agencies have high-powered representation of their interests by executives and lawyers, employees need high-powered representation as well in the form of union leaders and labor lawyers. The stronger the union, the better matched it will be when dealing with management, which otherwise would only care about the bottom line and shareholder profits. Union salaries are higher than non-union salaries, which is good not only for union members but for their families and broader communities. Job stability allows for family stability, and workers who know they can’t easily be fired go about their lives with less fear and a greater ability to plan for their future. Government union workers deserve generous benefit and pension packages because they do the work for all of us, and because highly competitive benefits packages can also attract more qualified workers to fill government jobs.