stand up for something: a manifesto (incomplete)

when i'm older and take a more mature approach to this perhaps it'll become legitimate political commentary, less vulgar and extremist, but for now i'll just rant about what bothers me. i get excessive, but more to shock you into reading than because i mean it. it's an attention-getting tactic, though at the time i may mean some of it. the point is, don't go around thinking i'm some anarchist nut or marginal crazy. maybe i am, but that's not why i write like this.
my politics are an odd mix of economic liberalism (meaning less government regulation/intrusion), cultural socialism, and personal freedom. basically, i don't like government intrusion in my life, be it federal or state, but i do want the government to help coordinate care for those less fortunate than me, those who slip through the cracks of a capitalist society. it should care for the poor and the old and the left-out. i don't like the power the wealthy have in this country, because it undermines the representative democratic ideals on which america was founded. i don't believe religion should have a role in determining policy, nor should morality stemming from religion control politics. america is designed to protect minorities against those who would oppress them, but gerrymandering, money politics, and and corruption have combined to allow vocal, wealthy, and zealous groups to control the debate, and thus the power, in our country. that's not right. we should steer a middle path socially, with a tendency towards progressiveness, not conservatism.
for example: abortion is a personal issue. i don't want the government making decisions for me about that (er, for women, since as a man i can't have one). the same with homosexuality. in fact, i should be free to do as i want provided it doesn't interfere materially with other people's freedoms. which means, homosexuals should be protected against discrimination, and should be allowed to marry. we shouldn't kill people because it denies the victim a right to live. i think most illegal drugs should be legalized, though regulated for our safety. i think blanket policies on most things are inherently unfair, and there must be room for courts to make decisions on individual cases with different circumstances.
i guess i don't really have the time or patience to go into all my beliefs right now, but they'll come out and you can analyze them as you please. i'm open to discussion/challenge/debate about any of these, and who knows, maybe you'll change my mind.
but i doubt it.