Steve Kroll

I’m a 20 year old college student from the Milwaukee area in Wisconsin. Unlike many other people who live here, I do not despise winter. I love the change of seasons and the Wisconsin culture.

I’m a very passionate individual when it comes to things I believe in. However, I am not like most political pundits who are close-minded and full of themselves. I believe in listening to what other people have to say and considering their arguments.

I identify myself as a Conservative. This being said, not all of my stances are 100% conservative. People have brains and should be able to make decisions for themselves without having to rely on a political party or group to tell them what issues they should believe in. My beliefs are:

• Fiscal responsibility on both the federal and state levels
• Less-dependence on foreign oil by drilling our own oil
• Opening more refineries
• Strict Interpretation of the Constitution
• Tax-Credits and Incentives for Businesses: More business = More Jobs (look at Texas)
• Shrinking our bloated bureaucracy on the federal and state level: for those who argue that this would result in jobs lost, I make the argument right back that these jobs were created for temporary government programs that never went away.
• Privatizing Social Security: I feel that social security should be kept the same for individuals who are currently in the system or are 15 years away from collecting. As for the rest, I would like to see a move towards the system federal employees have.
• Realistic approach to illegal immigration: It is not realistic to send back all of the illegal immigrants in the country overnight. Instead, we should start by sending back the illegals who have committed crimes and would serve jail-time here in the United States. Send back those who are not offering something to this country. You would be shocked how much money would be saved by not jailing these criminals here.
• Civil unions should be allowed: While I personally have nothing against gay marriage, I feel that civil unions are more reasonable and likely to be passed in the short-term. The gay community should be able have the same rights with respect to insurance, custody, divorce etc. While many private sector companies already do this, I would like to see an adoption by the states. Gays and lesbians who are in relationships are just as much in love with each other as heterosexuals, so why not have the government recognize them the same way they recognize straight couples?
• Breakdown women stereotypes: Women are characterized as having to birth children painlessly, take care of household duties, look like Victoria Secret models, take care of children, please their husbands, make dinner, work a job that is seen as "supplemental income", never complain, this list goes on. More and more, young girls are shown what they "should be" via television, magazines, the internet and more. Let these girls be kids. I can’t wait for the day where people will stop saying thing like "That’s really impressive, considering she’s a woman."
• Anti Death Penalty: As a christian, I feel that God will judge the criminal for the crimes they have committed. In addition to the moral component, I feel it is outside of the government’s jurisdiction to perform executions.
• Pro-Gun: Law abiding, well-informed individuals don’t kill people. People who have illegally obtained firearms do. Banning guns just makes it much easier for criminals to commit crimes. For those who disagree, look at it this way. If you are a criminal who is going to rob somebody with a gun, would you rob somebody at gunpoint in Washington D.C. where guns are banned or would you rob somebody in Texas where conceal-carry is allowed? Pretty simple. Rob the person who doesn’t have the gun.

These are just some of my stances. Most importantly, however, is standing up for what I believe in. I am a conservative and I do not shy away from it. Young indivduals almost unanimously identify themselves as liberals because they are surrounded by many people who feel the same way. It is easy to fall in line with the flock of sheep. It is much harder to stand up for what you believe, even in the face of adversity.