[dmtu]

There has been a good deal of fighting, ignorance and, plain old fear mongering going on for a while. Let's see where we stand on the "issues" that American politicians like to use when they are stumping. Maybe we will find we have more common ground than the divisive labels suggest. I'm not starting this thread for a debate about right and wrong, liberal or conservative just your personal opinions. Copy/Paste the list below into your post and throw a short blurb under the headers and lets see how much we really have or don't have in common. Energy is absent because I think we all have about the same view and it's too complex for the purpose of this thread. Flames and debates will be heavily moderated, just stick to the list. Fill in your opinions before reading the other posts, there's no fun or education in parroting someone else.



Country of origin

ABORTION

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

BUDGET & TAXES

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM

CRIME & DRUGS

EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")

FOREIGN RELATIONS

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET

GAY RIGHTS

GUNS

HEALTH CARE

IMMIGRATION

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS

[TrueKaiser]

Country of origin: United states of america

ABORTION: for it, for nine months~ your part of your mothers body.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: only if it means no advantages because of race.

BUDGET & TAXES: you shouldn't spend what you don't have, the government needs to learn how to live within it's own means.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM: allow anyone willing to run, to run. set a no tolerence limit on spending, you go over you are out.

CRIME & DRUGS: i have yet to form a solid opinion here.

EDUCATION: japan is a good model for what we need to be doing. no more of this well rounded, touchey feely stuff.

ENVIRONMENT: we should respect it and not rape it like we do other wise it will get revenge.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die"): depends on the case in question.

FOREIGN RELATIONS: same as above.

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET: should be followed to the letter.

GAY RIGHTS: why not? they don't seem to be doing anything harmfull, at the very least they can adopt the kids no one else wants and give them a loving home.

GUNS: hmm firecracker here. imho they should be treated like we treat cars. anyone who wants one needs to be licenced, needs to prove they can properly handle them to get this licence. the licence must be renewed yearly.

HEALTH CARE: imho a right.

IMMIGRATION: no opinion yet.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE: ditto

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS: labor unions are needed becuase all business care about is there bottom line and if let to there own ends would care little about who gets hurt or killed by saving a little here and a little there.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS: they willingly put there lives in harms way for who ever is in charge. they should be givin everything they were promised. no loopholes for the government to worm through no if's and's or but's about it.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS: i would like to know i have a little money coming back to me after all i gave up on my paychecks through my life when i get older.

[Chicagoan]

Country of origin
Illinois

ABORTION
Against after the first trimester. Use birth control.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Completely against.

BUDGET & TAXES
Keep taxes as low as possible, but avoid debt like the plague!

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
I believe that power should be returned to states and counties. We should return to our federalist roots. Washington is too far removed from the average citizen to effectively govern the country. It is too easily influenced by corporations. States and counties are closer to the people and can more easily be held accountable.

CRIME & DRUGS
Drugs be dealt with on state and local levels. Crime should be as well, unless it involves a threat to the entire nation, such as terrorism.

EDUCATION
Should be funded at the state level. Other then that leave it the way it is.

ENVIRONMENT
The national government has a horrendous environmental record. Leave environmental protection to the states. An exception should be made for national forests and waterways.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
Leave it to the states

FOREIGN RELATIONS
I believe in a non-interventionist foreign policy. Unfortunately, we are involved in very messy situations. We have to clean up our mess!

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
It must be protected at all cost. If not for the internet, how many of us would even be aware of peak oil?

GAY RIGHTS
Leave it to the states.

GUNS
The right to bear arms is protected by the bill of rights.

HEALTH CARE
I support public healthcare as long as it is on the state level.

IMMIGRATION
Should be restricted. I would support a great wall of Mexico.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
We need to get out of those trade agreements.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
States

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
We should have a large standing army capable of defending the Union. troops stationed on foreign soil should return home as soon as possible. Military pay needs to be increased.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS
It has to go. I would support enforced savings, but only on the state level.

[Itch]

Since I personally think that all energy related events are worthy of all my attention, I find the following issues to be of minimal importance. Therefore, I've once again entertained myself by writing goofy shit.

Country of origin -- US

ABORTION -- I'd be a bit upset if some self-rigtheous cheesedick said I couldn't get rid of some unwanted brat. Besides, who the fuck would want to be a child of a mother who would have prefered to get her kid yanked out at a young, young age, but couldn't do so because some corpse told her so? And do we really need any more fucking people on the planet?

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION -- If this admits more Asian girls into the school system, then lets spend all revenue on this.

BUDGET & TAXES -- If I were in control, I would continue doing what the people in power are doing now: recklessly spend borrowed money that will probably never be paid back.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM -- Blah blah blah let's have honest politicians and elections. And I do mean honest. Honest as in "we are fucking you dumbass peasants in so many ways that we spend most of our time laughing about it, except for Dick; he just hates all of you. Why else he always have that look on his face?"

CRIME & DRUGS -- I suggest we spend more money to increase these things.

EDUCATION -- It's fucked no matter what. Unless our culture changes in a significant way, most kids will continue to not want to learn, rather spending their time doing whatever they do these days. This isn't a bad thing, of course; we'll need all of the useless people we can get, so they can be at the front of the line when the time comes to jump into the meat grinder.

ENVIRONMENT -- Since I eat, drink, use electricity and gas, and occasionally buy things, I'm as guilty as everyone else when it comes to fucking up the environment. In my fantasy land, I'd love to see a restoration of the environment. Of course, there will need to be less people for that to realistically happen.

EUTHANASIA -- Sure, why not? There are plenty of people who should have "the right to die."

FOREIGN RELATIONS -- The rest of the world will stomp our guts out no matter what, so we might as well make fun of them some more. My only request is for the insults to actually be funny.

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET -- People, including myself, say the dumbest shit sometimes, so lets stop pretending that this is something we'll fight and die for and outlaw that whole "free speech" thing, just so we can make ourselves look less dumb.

GAY RIGHTS -- Who gives a fuck who gets married?

GUNS -- I think it would be interesting to see what happens after every US citizen is given a machine gun of some sort. I think the results would be entertaining at least, and hilarious at best.

HEALTH CARE -- Yeah, lets provide free health care to a country where the majority of the population is composed of fat fucks with fat fuck-related diseases. Great idea. I think the best thing anyone can do is not get hurt in the first place.

IMMIGRATION -- Immigrants are awesome because they piss off white people. We need more of them.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE -- Let's just do whatever we have to do to keep Asian food restaurants running properly.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS -- Well, I personally hate going to work. I'd probably pass a law banning work.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS -- Well, we aren't as good at war as some people would like to believe. We've always had an unfair advantage against all opponents in every war in the past 100 years. Therefore, we should spend this money on something we are actually good at

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS -- They've outlived their usefulness. If there is ever a dog food or fast food burger meat shortage, there's a substitute for those.

[dmtu]

Country of origin
US

ABORTION
Womans choice especially in the first trimester, in my opinion you should have figured it out by then. Late term is pretty sickening. Womans health always a priority

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Not particularly fond of this one. I know this position is highly arguable but I don't feel that reverse discrimination advances any cause.

BUDGET & TAXES
Balanced budgets! National sales tax with no corporate loopholes. I do not believe the citizens of New York should have to pay for pork in Utah and I do not believe D.C. knows better how to spend my money.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
The current system represents the money, not the people. I don't expect this fact to change. I would prefer to pay our federal representatives more and quit letting them sell out to the highest bidder but that's an over simplification

CRIME & DRUGS
Hard on crime, pederast, murderers and rapist need hard time. Decrim regulate and tax the hell out of drugs. The drug war is a black hole for funds, a war that will never be won.

EDUCATION
I would like a better choice, although privatization might be too dramatic I think a person should be able to write off private school expenses to some extent under the current tax system.

ENVIRONMENT
Fully open corporations to fair litigation, Erin Brockovich style. Mileage standards. The list could go on.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
All for it. I wouldn't make my dog suffer, why the hell would I let a loved one suffer who is already beyond their time due to medical advancements.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
Think Sweden

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
Leave us the hell alone

GAY RIGHTS
I'm a bit of a phobe but I wouldn't tell a person who they can bugger. I don't really know why but, personal displays of affection by two men just kinda give me shivers. Other than that, it's really none of my business.

GUNS
Leave em alone.

HEALTH CARE
I Feel that socialization will degrade health care in the US. Look no further than Social Security. Serious MALpractice of course merits litigious repercussions but, I feel that in the US we go overboard in that area. My understanding of the Canadian system is that there are long sometimes fatal waits for necessary procedures.

IMMIGRATION
No handouts. I don't have a problem with immigrants but i feel that if a person makes the personal decision to come to this country they should do so to become a citizen and try to assimilate into the general culture. I'm not particularly fond of politicians pandering to immigrant groups.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
I probably should educate myself in this area. Overall I feel that free trade is the best route but trade agreements such as NAFTA are not in my opinion free.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
I think we will find unions making a comeback in the near future. Common people have no voice under the current system and corporations are becoming more greedy all the time. Through all of this people will become more restless and more willing to take a chance on screwing "the man".

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
I believe in a strong military but I also don't like projecting all over the world. As a vet of the first gulf war I supported that effort. I've never agreed with Gulf War 2, I hate that our troops are in harms way in a war that A.) is tantamount to imperialism B.) Can't be executed in a way to win overwhelmingly C.) is over a depleting resource. Again, I like Sweden. Vets deserve heath care and benefits according to their disabilities and other personal injuries inflicted during war.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS
The greatest Ponzi Scheme ever devised. It's such a train wreck that I don't believe it will ever be fixed or if it is fixed it will be through hyper- inflation and fixing the benefits. Total bullshit.

[Barbara]

Country of origin Italy/EU

ABORTION yes in the first trimester

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION doesn't exist here, dunno what is

BUDGET & TAXES progressive taxation-not local

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM tv commercials not allowed for elections

CRIME & DRUGS free marijuana - hospitalized heroin - forbidden synthetic drugs; hard punishment on pedophily; no capital punishment in any case; no life sentence

EDUCATION public and free, it's an human right

ENVIRONMENT strict laws to protect it

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die") only when a person choose it freely

FOREIGN RELATIONS do your business and let other people rule themselves the way they like

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET free speech

GAY RIGHTS what "gay" rights? gay are persons, they can do what other people can do, that's all.

GUNS not allowed in any case

HEALTH CARE public and free - it's an human right

IMMIGRATION open doors to families - closed doors to men alone

INTERNATIONAL TRADE abolition of WTO and other organizations

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS fixed minimum wages on national scale

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS light army, no offensive, no nukes

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS public social security, minimum pension for everybody (we have it)

[Andy]

Country of origin : Jamaica W.I.

ABORTION Yes under specific circumstances like child of rape, health issues etc. No as an after the fact means of birth control.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION : Complex issue. The playing field is not level for each race but at the same time wronging one race by the use of affirmative action can't right injustices on others. Would have to say I am nuetral. A better system needs to be found.

BUDGET & TAXES All for moderate taxes if used appropriately. Live within budgeted limits whatever the limit may be. No for the use of taxes to finance empire. Use taxes for long term sustainable investments like rail systems, alternative renewable energy, health etc. defence (I mean strictly defence not offensive)

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM Absolutely essential. Eliminate corporate campaign contributions. Corporations are not biological, living entities. They should have no say in politics. Present system rots and stinks to high heaven. Similar in many countries.

CRIME & DRUGS Drugs are public health, not criminal issue. I don't take drugs but I don't see how its use is criminal. Think tobacco. Similar treatment should be accorded for drugs.

EDUCATION Absolutely essential. Illiterate, ignorant people won't make wise decisions regarding future investments etc. Taxes should be used for this purpose, very essential.

ENVIRONMENT Must be cared for to allow for our continued survival. Failure leads to inevitable. I am not a tree hugger/animal rights person however. Most animals are fellow competitors with the exception of a select few essential ones.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die") When the situation is ridiculous like person brain dead etc. the answer is a no-brainer.

FOREIGN RELATIONS Mind your own business, lead by example, co-operate where possible. Defend yourself when necessary.

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET Definitely allow free speech etc. as long as views not imposed (forced down others throats)

GAY RIGHTS No marraige rights. Two men/two women cannot procreate which is the foundation of marraige. This has been the case sine the beginning of time. No to changing this concept now. The right to be left to live without harrassment etc. however.

GUNS Allow people to have guns as long as they use them responsibly. Failure to do so however results in sanctions.

HEALTH CARE Provide health care to the populace with public funds.

IMMIGRATION I am a beneficiary hence I support it. I recognize however that soon, the door will have to be closed. Allow only those most determined to be productive in. Help other countries to devise feasible economies (not necessarily rich) but at least allow some kind of economy to function.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE Necessary but will have to be scaled down significantly.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS Labour Unions!!, ambivalent. Good sometimes in garnering workers rights etc. but sometimes a pain.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS Use military strictly for defence of borders and against imminent threats. Not pre-emptive strikes on non-threats for resources etc. Treat veterans with respect, pay them what they are due and provide them with necessary healthcare.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS Will be eliminated in the future when peak oil hits but good while it lasted. Our young generation will not live long enough that social security will be an issue.

[JoeW]

Country of origin
USA

ABORTION
It's disgusting, but women should be given a choice. Any laws restricting abortion should include provisions for women who have been victims of rape or incest, as well as women who risk personal injury by carrying the child to term.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
We need to crack down on discrimination, but affirmative action in the form of quotas makes no sense. The best-qualified person should always get the scholarship/job/whatever, and race should never be identified on any application.

BUDGET & TAXES
We need to shore up the budget deficit in the US. Devaluation of the dollar will continue. A progressive tax makes sense because the capitalist system ensures that money continues to flow upward toward the capital owners, while there is no guarantee that workers will ever be able to attain owner status.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
The system is flawed. So is every system.

CRIME & DRUGS
We need to crack down on crime. I'd more concerned with the schmucks who broke into my car a couple months ago than I am with the 45-yr-old computer geek smokin' a doob in the privacy of his own home. We need to let people have freedom over their bodies, but at the same time we need to protect people by enforcing strict penalties for Driving Under the Influence.

EDUCATION
This is the key to giving everyone opportunities to become owners in the capitalist system. Everyone needs to understand how the system works, and have the chance to make it work for them. Secondary education should be free for those who choose it.

ENVIRONMENT
Some people here might think we are destroying the earth. We are not. The earth will remain long after humanity has been removed from it. The more important thing is that we need not destroy ourselves, so there have to be limits on what we do the environment.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
There is no one right thing to do. Every circumstance is unique.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
The US is the schoolyard bully taking everyone's lunch money. If the other kids ever get together and stand up to the bully, there's gonna be trouble. We need to get back to "speak softly, but carry a big stick."

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
Free speech is good.

GAY RIGHTS
Let's treat them like people. After all, that's what they are.

GUNS
We need to protect the rights of the private citizens in our country to own guns. It is part of the checks & balances system constructed by our founding fathers.

HEALTH CARE
We need to make this available to everyone.

IMMIGRATION
Immigration is fine. All US citizens are descendant from immigrants. Illegals, on the other hand, we have to do something about... Get them on the path to immigration, or if they are not interested in that, give them the boot. Either way, we can't let companies hire illegals and pay them half of what they would pay citizens. It is unfair to the US citizen looking for work.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
It's really just legalized slavery. US companies can't treat workers like this in the US, so they do it in China and Taiwan instead, and their coffers fill with coinage.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
I've seen unions that work, and unions that are abused.
This job market stinks. Bush's tax cuts were planned before the job market slumped, and then he said that his pre-planned tax cuts were the fix. Excuse me, but I believe that you should design a solution for the problem, not figure out what problem matches your solution. In any event, it has failed to create job growth. Big surprise there.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
We need to support our troops by sending them to battle only when it is strictly necessary to defend our people. when you send troops all over the place for illegitimate reasons, it is going to effect recruiting efforts sooner or later. Or maybe not, since the average American voted for Bush anyway.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS[/quote]
The system is broken. It is a pyramid scheme, and we all know what happens in the end. The Democrats pretend there is no problem, and the Republicans pretend they have a solution. The real solution may be Peak Oil.

[seb]

Country of origin
France (now in Japan)

ABORTION
For it, but we have to fix a limit (first semester?) because the risk for the mother becomes too big after a while.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
no strong opinion. Inevert faced that, not in my culture. I would say "against".

BUDGET & TAXES
we can not continue with governements running out of money after 9 months in the fiscal year and the 3 months left become debt. Improve bureaucracy efiiciency and (why not) raise taxes.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
The society is not naturally stable : richs become richer end poors poorer. The government is here to try to balance it as best as possible. I think governments failed recently with it and we to reinforce government ability to redistribute the fruits of growth.

CRIME & DRUGS
Tolerate soft drugs (mariroana...) consumption. For others try to prevent and, if no choice, sanction. Better chase the dealers than the consummers.

EDUCATION
My grand parents can write French properly but left school when 12. Now people who degreed from university can not. A step back is needed. School is not a "funny" place, it is a teaching place!

ENVIRONMENT
Reduce CO2 (end other gas) emission as fast as possible. Nuclear might be of help. Reforest where we deforested. Reduce consumption of almost everything. Cross fingers.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
I am ok with. Have to be careful being sure it is not a disguised murder!

FOREIGN RELATIONS
I don't know... Too complex for me. Anyway I do not think the game is played in Europe now. It is all about US and Asia now.

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
not anmerican so no 1st amendment. Free speech, of course! But it is manipulated since the media choose which speech they emphasize. We need to destroy the big media companies.

GAY RIGHTS
An official paper to recognize they relashionship and make the couple safe is a minimum. Not really for gay marriage, but to me marriage is just another form, so... For adoption, I am not really for. But why not... We need a bit more time to know the impact on children.

GUNS
Absolutely against. I really really do not understand why this would be a part of freedom... Sorry, I tried but I am not american. I've never even SEE a true gun in my life. Just plastic ones.

HEALTH CARE
100% protection for everybody. Provided by government and not by private funds.

IMMIGRATION
Political asile for everybody is a minimum. Everybody may be free to immigrate if he/she can justify it would find a decent job to live in the country.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Taxeson all transaction. Yes, we need money for helth care and no deficit. This an essential part of the system to balance between poors and richs.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
Power of CEO's must be balanced by labor unions. A company can not fire employees if it does not a bad financial situation. In other words, you can not fire people just to give more money to share holders. Heavy sanction against this kind of attitude.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
Army mainly turnes to defend countries and not to invade neighbourgs. The UN might be able to say to a country that it crosses the red line if it goes too far with its arsenal or if 25% of the population is in the army. National defense based on an army 100% made of professionnals.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS
As for health care, 100% protection against unemployment and so on. Seniors' pensions do not come from private funds. PRivate funds are forbidden. Big redistribution of the money through heavy taxes on heritage.

[gary_malcolm]

Here Goes



Country of origin
US Empire
ABORTION
Government OUT of the Uterus. Mind your own F*ing business.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
There's a lot to make up for... Split up the 40 acres and a mule and then we'll talk.
BUDGET & TAXES
No deficit. You spend it... you tax it. Period.
CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
Poltical Speech != Commercial Speech. Free air time on public air waves as a cost of doing business sounds reasonable.
CRIME & DRUGS
Punish wrong-doers for wrong-doing not for what they might do.
No laws to protect insurance companies, it's my body you nosy b*stards!
EDUCATION
It's up to us... if we believe society is better with reading, writing, arithmetic we must step up to the plate. However it's time to stop the baby-sitting subsidy.
ENVIRONMENT
There is only one and it's going fast. Corporate interests have designated the 'environment ' as equivalent to economic worth. Do we judge people by the amount of minerals they contain?
EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
It's my body you nosy b*stards!
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Government breeds war. War is killing. Killing is wrong.
FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
Mind your own business you nosy b*stards.
GAY RIGHTS
Mind your own business you nosy b*stards.
GUNS
Car licensing ~= Gun Licensing.
HEALTH CARE
Why do we collect taxes at all if this is not part of societies purpose? Corporate medicine must give way to communal health. Even freakin' Cuba recognizes this.
IMMIGRATION
Mind your own business you nosy b*stards.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Solves itself. Peak Oil remember?
LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
People should have free association and be able to bargain as a group. The AMA does it, why shouldn't I?
MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
War is killing. Killing is wrong. I've heard veterans claiming to be responsible for my civil liberties. Bullsh*t. The veterans responsible were probably all dead by 1825. After that you can look to leaders like MLK
SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS
Good Luck.

[KiddieKorral]

Country of origin
USA
ABORTION
It's wrong, but it's either legalization or coat hangers in the back alley.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Wronging one race won't help another.
BUDGET & TAXES
Don't spend what you don't have. The government wastes too much of our money, and needs to be drastically reined in.
CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
Anyone who wants to run should run, but bring back the Fairness Doctrine.
CRIME & DRUGS
Drugs should be legalized. We could handle legalized drugs in the 1800s, and we can now. DUI, on the other hand, should have stiff penalties.
EDUCATION
The key. To everything.
ENVIRONMENT
Respect it. You gotta love the Malaysian punishment for corporate polluters: whipping.
EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
Don't like it, but people should be able to do what they want with their bodies and their lives.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Lead by example. Being the bully of the world is sowing the seeds of a new generation of bin Ladens.
FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
Free speech is the bedrock of other rights.
GAY RIGHTS
See my position on euthanasia.
GUNS
The Bill of Rights is sacrosanct- including the Second Amendment.
HEALTH CARE
Ambivalent.
IMMIGRATION
No problem as long as it's done legally.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Get out of all of those trade agreements. They're bringing us one step closer to slavery.
LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
Labor unions are necessary. Businesses as a whole are incapable of regulating themselves.
MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
Close foreign bases unless there's some extreme extenuating circumstance. Cut waste (there's a lot of room to cut), and put that money into higher military pay and veterans' benefits.
SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS
Social Security could use a little tweaking, but it's beneficial overall.

[Ayoob]

Country of origin

USA

ABORTION

Support

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Mistake. Achievement should be the yardstick.

BUDGET & TAXES

Spend only what you have. Enough deficit spending. Run the government at a profit.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM

Corporations should not have a right to freedom of speech in a political campaign. They are not people.

Have campaigns paid for by a federal government fund. No private money should be used to endorse candidates. Otherwise, we end up with Kerry v Bush. Yay.

CRIME & DRUGS

Legalize the drugs and let nonviolent criminals out of jail. Lock up the murderers, rapists, and criminals who use guns in conjunction with violence. It's a waste of money to lock up a pothead who could very well be renting you a movie at Blockbuster instead of doing a couple months in prison.

EDUCATION

I don't understand why the schools in Beverly Hills are any better than the schools in Compton. Why bother having a public school system if it's stratified by the parents' wealth? You might as well just have a private school system.

ENVIRONMENT

Protect, protect, protect.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")

This should be nobody's business but that individual person.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Nobody should be allowed to use violence in international relations without UN approval. Do away with the Security Council, by the way. I'm on Smedley Butler's side when I say that our military should be used only to defend against the attack of an aggressor, and that our navy should extenc only as far as three miles from our own shores.

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET

Absolutely unrestricted freedom of speech, and an un-tracked internet.

GAY RIGHTS

Who cares? If two guys want to do things to each other in the privacy of their own homes or in the middle of a park, who cares? I'm mystified by how many people really care whether two guys are doing things together.

GUNS

Provide free classes on gun safety, marksmanship, law, cleaning and storage, and hunting. Have the police teach these subjects to the citizens. Stop restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms.

HEALTH CARE

Universal and free. Tax the rich to pay for it. Over $250K income, whether earned or received in the form of dividends and capital gains, taxed at 1% to subsidize health care for the poor.

IMMIGRATION

We need the Great Wall of Mexico with a fucking roll of razor wire on top. I'm sorry y'all, but we need to make sure we have enough for the people who are here rather than opening the border to over a million illegal immigrants a year. Over a million. More than ONE MILLION EVERY SINGLE YEAR. That's a lot of people. I live in LA, I know what I'm talking about. By every year, I mean 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004... that's SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE. That's half of greater metro Chicago, more than half of LA, almost a third of NYC. Come on, this is fucking stupid.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

I'm lost here.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS

Support unions, hope good jobs and worthwhile businesses grow.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS

Veterans should be respected and cared for by the population. Free health care, good pay, good benefits, educational opportunities, shall-issue CCW permits in all 50 states (following a sanity check... hahaha), respect, and admiration.

No foreign wars without UN approval. No more war on terror, communism, or any other nonspecific bullshit made-up gangster-for-capitalism any more. I don't want people to die to support Standard Oil.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS

We gotta have something in place for the old folks who can't work anymore. Maybe a Salvation Army type thing or a YMCA-style dorm for them? I'm just not sure that SS is the way to go. Maybe it is. I don't really have a good answer for this one. As the Peak sets in, I wonder how we're going to handle this. I kind of prefer the YMCA type deal because it's a physical thing we can build and guarantee a minimum level of service to seniors rather than cutting them a (meaningless) check.

[Carmiac]

Country of origin

USA, more specifically New Mexico, the forgotten state

ABORTION

I don't like it and am against it in most cases, but I am also against banning it as that doesn't actually solve the problem.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Unfortunatly necessary in some places, but should be phased out over time. From personal experiance, reverse discrimination sucks.

BUDGET & TAXES

The current government spending spree is extremely unhealthy. It is necessary to allow deficit spending, but it should be kept to a reasable amount.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM

The current two party system does not allow a sufficiant diversity of voices and forces the two parties to spend all their time fighting each other instead of working on solutions. The voting system should be reformed to something that will allow third parties to be heard. I personally prefer approval voting and proportional representation, but just about any of the major alternate systems are a huge improvement over what we have.

CRIME & DRUGS

The war on drugs is the single greatest cause of crime in this nation. Possesion/use of all drugs should be decriminalized and should in fact be leagalized for softer drugs (pot, mushrooms, extasy, etc.). The money saved should go to treatment programs and education.

EDUCATION

NCLB is a horrible failure. Schools need a massive infusion of money, particularly teachers salaries, and at the same time need to be held to higher standards. Students should be sent to different schools based on performance. Trade schools should be introduced at the high school level.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental change, loss of species and the toxification of the planet are major problems. Kyoto should be a first step to major environmental policy change.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")

Mixed feelings. It should probably be allowed in terminal cases.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

We are all on one planet. We must work together. Unilateral action is always a mistake.

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET

Abolute protection.

GAY RIGHTS

Support. Equal protection under the law, including marriage, adoption, etc.

GUNS

I have owned a few. I like the car analogy. Liscense, insurance, etc.

HEALTH CARE

Should be a universal human right.

IMMIGRATION

Moderate immigration is fine.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Should be free and open as much as possible. Taffis and embargos are a useful political tools against rouge nations.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS

I support strong unions. In fact, I would like to see more things like Spanish syndiclates than the current union system.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS

A strong defensive military is necessary, but strike forces should be kept small and stratigic. The current American military busget could be cut in half and still be strong enough for nation defense.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS[/quote]

Is important and should not be privatised. Could be paid for by proposed military cuts.


BTW, I am a registered Green. If you have seen the Political Compass I am a libertarian leftist.

[Zeiter]

Country of origin - Good ol' U.S.A.

ABORTION - Yes, if done during 1st trimester

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION - Philosophically, I oppose it, as I don't think people should be given preference due to their skin color. However, considering its huge practical necessity, I strongly support it. It is needed so badly by the millions of African-Americans who are disadvantaged from the very beginning of their lives, considering their (usually) lower income, worse public education, worse community infrastructure, inherent discrimination that still unfortunately exists, etc.

BUDGET & TAXES - More spending on education, health-care (actually, we should really have nationalized health-care), much less spending on the military, on corporate "subsidies" AKA, corporate welfare, and of course, investment into the field of renewable energy on the scale of the cold war arms race. As far as taxes, I say, at least 50% on people earning over $1 million, Nobody below the poverty level pays any federal taxes, not even for their own social security accounts (those $1 million people can foot that bill). For the super-rich billionaires, I'm thinking like 75%. For the middle class, I'm thinking slightly lower than now, but not much. The real problem for the middle class lies in the fact that everyday expenses for education, health-care, etc. are much too high because the government isn't holding up its part of the bargain on those things.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM - I support a ban on any political advertising on TV whatsoever. Instead, candidates will educate the voters on their stances on the issues through campaign stops and a grueling schedule of 10+ debates. Furthermore, any candidate with who garners more than 1% of the population of the country in nationwide petitions to get them on the debates should also be on the debates. These debates should be independently run.

CRIME & DRUGS - Let people do whatever they want as long as they don't harm others. Marijuana should be legalized. The war on drugs has failed. Let's move on to something more productive. We also need to address crime at its source: unequal economic conditions and lack of community, parental, and educational support.

EDUCATION - Public education should be completely free as long as one passes one's classes. People should be able to continue as far as they want as long as they meet this criteria, including college. If someone fails to do pass their classes, they forfeit their right to public education, except for one final year of vocational training.

ENVIRONMENT - Recycling needs to have incentives, renewable energy needs to be rapidly developed, as I have said. Human population growth needs to be immediately and dramatically addressed.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die") - Let people do what they want, for heaven's sake. People own their bodies, do they not? How, then, can anyone tell you what to do with your body? Furthermore, doctors assisting this are NOT violating their hippocrating oath (assuming the patient requests assistance), as they are actually helping the patient much more than if they were to try to eke out every last minute of life from the patient.

FOREIGN RELATIONS - Why not try being friendly to other nations for a change? Let's cooperate better with our allies, and seek to address the sources of the differences standing between us and our "enemies". We should focus on removing the incentive for others to hate us. This means, in some cases, getting rid of military bases, ending exploitation and unfair relationships, ending our support of dictatorships, only taking action when approved by the U.N., except when we've been OVERTLY attacked, as in, there are Russian ballistic missles en route to Los Angeles, or something. And of course, foreigners who are less fortunate and less wealthy than us will always feel slightly jealous. It's only natural. The solution: Spread the wealth! What would they say to hundreds of billions of dollars of aid per year?

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET - There is NO excuse to limit freedom of speech, not even in time of war or anything. I don't even think it should be illegal to shout FIRE! in a crowded theater. If people helplessly fall into blind panic and lack the basic ability to judge and reason, and quickly ascertain the validity of such a statement by themselves, then they are fully responsible for any harm that comes to them. Furthermore, those who purposely push and trample others should be found guilty of assault.

GAY RIGHTS - Let people do what they want, as long as it doesn't hurt me. Why would I care if two guys screw? How does that affect me?

GUNS - Citizens should be able to obtain any type of handheld, conventional weapon, including machine guns, RPGs, etc. both for domestic defense, and for the occasional revolution or two when the government no longer represents the will of the people. I agree, provide free classes on gun safety, usage, etc.

HEALTH CARE - Nationalized health-care.

IMMIGRATION - Let them come. It's our fault we're so wealthy.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE - As long as it really is "free trade" and not "trade with a nation that uses police oppression to keep workers working for low wages."

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS - Personally, I would like to see labor much stronger. However, it's not like I can order people to join unions. Nevertheless, restrictions barring unions anywhere should be abolished. Corporate welfare should be terminated.

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS - Less spending on military. Veterans should receive more benefits.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS - Give people the option of privately investing it if they wish, as long as you make clear to them the HUGE risks involved.

[smallpoxgirl]

Country of origin
The Chickasaw Nation (currently occupied by the United States Government)

ABORTION
I'm a doc, and I do them.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
A clumsy solution, but probably gets us closer to equity than not having it.

BUDGET & TAXES
Against both.

CAMPAIGN & POLITICAL REFORM
Does abolishing the US government count as a reform?

CRIME & DRUGS
I think crime and selling drugs are terrible problems. I think the government should stop doing both.

EDUCATION
Home school=good. Public school=12 years of brain washing.

ENVIRONMENT
It is us and we are it. Love it or die.

EUTHANASIA ("Right-to-Die")
Not sure that those two terms are synonymous. In general I think that if people want to die they should be allowed to do so. People with mental illness...much more sticky question.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
US out of North America! (and the Middle East and Africa and Asia and South America and Europe. They can keep their base in Antarctica though. )

FIRST AMENDMENT, FREE SPEECH & THE INTERNET
First Amendment-good.
Free Speech-good (though not very effective w/ corporate media)
Internet-high tech dinosaur.

GAY RIGHTS
Depends. Think the government should generally butt out of things like marriage. Why should senators decide who should marry whom? Isn't that what priests are for? Don't necessarily support hate crime legislation. Do support gay's arming themselves and deffending themselves. Do support equal access to housing, work, etc.

GUNS
My precious!

HEALTH CARE
Currently a wastefull ineffective monster. Good at making profit, horible at making health. Gonna have to change a lot to become something sustainable and sensible.

IMMIGRATION
Against it. All whites should go back to Europe.

Seriously, why do white's figure they can move in, take all the land and *THEN* it's time to complain about immigration. (Hint: almost all those "wet back" Mexicans are Mestizos. i.e. they are decended from Indians. They were running around North America for 10,000 years before Columbus showed up.)

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Good for the occasional trinket. Bad way to meet your every day needs.

LABOR UNIONS, JOBS & BUSINESS
Unions: Some good some bad.
Jobs: no thanks
Business: no thanks

MILITARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE & VETERANS
Blow up building. Kill inocent people using bomb dropped from plane: patriot
Blow up building. Kill innocent people using plane as bomb: terrorist
"The dead know only one thing....that it is better to be alive" - Full Metal Jacket.

Not my nation. Not my military. Just extorting me for taxes. Far as I'm concerned they can both sod off.

Veterans: Largely average joe screwed over in somebody else's scam. Deserve compasion and help even if the things they did were atrocious.

SOCIAL SECURITY & SENIORS
Social Security: Might last till 2010
Seniors: Any of them that still remember how to live outside the petroleum acid trip need to speak up, and we need to listen. Many of todays 80 and 90 year old have a lot to teach us. The 50 and 60 year old, much less so.