Since we are sharing many other things, I thought this would be kind of fun.

While I consider myself a conservative, I actually lean left on many issues. I think I've touched on all of the major issues of the day. I put a star beside the issues that are most important to me and are driving my voting decision in the presidential election.

*Foreign Policy - Support diplomacy with war as last resort. Support contact with rouge nations through back door channels and third party nations. Believe going to war with Iraq was a major mistake, though I did support the war initially. Must look for an exit strategy, but don’t like time-tables.

*Economics – Believe strongly in Market Driven economy, with little Government interference. Don’t believe tax cuts were as effective as we are being led to believe, but feel they should remain in place.

*Health Care – Believe it is a tragedy that so many Americans are without health insurance. Feel that Government should provide incentives for private enterprise to solve the problem.

NAFTA – Support the free trade agreement with our North American trading partners. Overall, I believe there are more positives than negatives, and don’t believe it should be repealed.

Illegal Immigration – Believe in strong border. Feel that each state should be responsible for securing their border, as they see fit. Federal Government should provide financial incentives for them to do so. Believe there should be a path to citizenship for those illegal immigrants who are currently here and have no criminal record.

Morality – I don’t believe the Government has any business in one's bedroom or private life. I think prostitution should be legalized, but regulated. States should have jurisdiction in these matters.

Social Issues – This is where I kind of go back and forth. The conservative side of me is uncomfortable with handing out blank checks. The liberal side of me wants to reach out to those less fortunate. I prefer to take each program on a case by case basis. I think it is important to track the results of each program and weed out the ones that are not working, while continuing to fund those that are.

Religion – I was raised a Catholic, but have long since abandoned the Catholic Church. I don’t believe in an all powerful God. I believe Evolution alone should be taught in science class and that creationism should be relegated to religious studies courses. I have no problem with keeping the traditional references to God in place and enthusiastically embrace the Christian holidays. I believe current religious fixtures that have been in place for many years should be left alone, unless a majority of people vote to remove them. I also believe that no religious group should try and introduce religious symbols where there are none today, again, unless a majority of people vote to install them.

Flag Waving - I'm proud to say that I'm a flag waving American who happily displays his flag every chance he gets. My pride doesn't hinge on who is president or how popular we are with the international community. I was just as proud to be an American, when one of my least favorite presidents was in office (Carter), as I am today.

Gun Control - I don't own a gun, but feel strongly that every american has the right to own a gun. I don't think there is any reason for the average american to own assault weapons, and feel these need to be better controlled.

Capital Punishment - I am a strong advocate of capital punishment. However, I think that we should use the new DNA advances wherever it makes sense to ensure that we don't execute an innocent person.

Environment – I’m a certifiable tree hugger. I think the jury is still out on Global warming, but I’m willing to listen to both sides. While I applaud the spirit behind the Kyoto Accords, I don’t think it is in the US best interest to be a signatory to this treaty. I feel very uncomfortable giving up any control to an international body that could work against our best interests. Having said that, I think the US needs to set a good example and be a responsible steward of our limited resources. I don’t like what Bush has done in this regard.

Energy – I applaud efforts to explore alternative energy sources, but am concerned the slow pace here could cause some serious shortages in the short term. I think we need to be a little more open to Nuclear energy.

Drug Policy – I see this as a miserable failure. I believe that drugs should be legalized but heavily regulated at the federal level.

Assisted Suicide – I believe that terminally ill patients, who are of sound mind, should be allowed to die with dignity. They should have available to them the choice to terminate their life by a qualified physician. I believe this should be left to each State to decide.

Gay Rights – I support Same Sex marriage and feel that each State should address this according to the will of the people within each state. I support Gays in the military and think we should get rid of the archaic don’t-ask-don’t tell policy.

Abortion – I am pro-choice. However, I feel this should be a States Rights issue, and this puts me at odds with the Roe V Wade proponents.

*Foreign Policy - Just like QBC, I support diplomacy with war as last resort. I strongly support Obama's position on leaving open an avenue for discussion with Iran, North Korea and others. I believe that the US should maintain a strong military in which every (NO EXCEPTIONS) US citizen (and those wishing to become citizens) would be required to serve two years after their 18th birthday, or completion of HS. In the event of a war there would be a military draft. Hopefully this would prevent the attitude that was so prevalent at the start of this war, where so many people treated it like a sporting event, or a video game.

*Economics – The "Trickle Down" theory is a miserable failure. We need to build a strong base to build our economy upon. Instead of dishing out billions of dollars in corporate welfare, that money should go to making sure that every US citizen is able to become a functioning part of our society. Our main focus should be making sure that every child in this country receives the very best education, regardless of where they live.

*Health Care – I have no faith at all in the Bush/McCain proposal that Americans should have to fend for themselves in dealing with health insurance companies. While in so many other countries health care is a part of citizenship, this country lacks woefully behind, because of so much pandering to large health care, and drug companies.

NAFTA – Do not support it! Americans have gotten the far less than the citizens of other countries, and we have watched jobs siphoned from our borders at an alarming rate. I say it's time to renegotiate.

Illegal Immigration – Can't argue with QBC, "Believe in strong border. Feel that each state should be responsible for securing their border, as they see fit. Federal Government should provide financial incentives for them to do so. Believe there should be a path to citizenship for those illegal immigrants who are currently here and have no criminal record."

Morality – Morality is something that should be talked about in our homes with our families, and in our places of worship. It is the governments job to enforce laws.

Social Issues – I believe that America will only be as strong as the weakest of those amongst us. We all have a need, and a duty to make sure that every one of us lives his or her life to their fullest potential. The government needs to protect the less powerful from falling victim to the empowered, and connected. Education is the key, to most if not all that ails this country.

Religion – I am a Roman Catholic, and I believe it is because of my faith that I have adopted many of my politically liberal beliefs. I believe that as a Christian, I must try to live my life as closely to the Gospel as possible. I believe that Jesus, The Prince of Peace, wants us to care for the weakest of those, not only in this country but everywhere.
# Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
# Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
# Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
# Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
# Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
# Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
# Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
# Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Flag Waving - I am proud to be an American, but think that the issue of "flag waving" is a non issue that unnecessarily divides distracts us. The energy we spend on finger pointing, is energy that can be spent on solving real issues.

Gun Control - (Again I agree with QBC, and have nothing further to add)I don't own a gun, but feel strongly that every american has the right to own a (my emphasis) gun. I don't think there is any reason for the average american to own assault weapons, and feel these need to be better controlled.

Capital Punishment - I would abolish capital punishment. It has done nothing to lower the violent crime rate in this country in all these years.

Environment – America needs to be a leader in this area, developing a real plan of action based on REAL science, and not the voodoo of the past 7 1/2 years.

Energy – Again, America needs to take the lead on this issue. I believe that there are real jobs to be created in conjunction with the development of, and deployment of new energy.

Drug Policy – Drug dependence is an indicator of deeper problems with the individual and with the society as a whole. Drugs offer those feeling hopelessness and despair escape from a situation or life that they see as inescapable. Until we have the courage to look within ourselves as a society, and ask "how are we failing these people we will never get to the root of the problem. There are too many Americans in prisons who do not need to be. Maybe they had a small amount of pot on them, or was only with someone who did.

Assisted Suicide – I believe that terminally ill patients, who are of sound mind, should be allowed to die with dignity. They should have available to them the choice to terminate their life by a qualified physician. I believe this should be left to each State to decide. (ditto)

Gay Rights – I support Same Sex marriage and feel that each State should address this according to the will of the people within each state. I support Gays in the military and think we should get rid of the archaic don’t-ask-don’t tell policy. (ditto as well)

Abortion – The notion of banning legalized abortions is the equivalent of putting a bandage of a serious wound. There are too many males in our society who think of manhood as nothing more than boning some chick. There are also too many young ladies who feel that having a boyfriend is their only path to an identity. But they have grown up with parents and neighbors who see life that way as well, and a ill prepared to offer them directions to a better way of seeing the world, and seeing themselves. Schools have failed to show them that they matter, and can succeed at greater challenges. We have failed them by allowing woefully funded schools to exist in "the land of plenty". I would like to see all students be required to take a Child Psychology class in high school, and parenting classes as well.

*Foreign Policy - I believe in diplomacy, and I believe pre-emptive war is illegal. Foreign policy is intertwined, like so many other issues, with international economics and globalization. We cannot be a global policeman, but we need to do something about the fact that so many things we take for granted in daily life are made in sweatshops in China and other "developing" nations.

*Economics – I believe that capitalism causes more harm than good on a global scale, and that an active government safety net is required to mitigate the most serious inequalities caused by capitalism.

*Health Care – I want a national health care system in this country - ideally a single-payer system like that of Canada.

NAFTA – Cancel it - all trade needs to be done on a case-by-case basis with protections for labor and environment.

Illegal Immigration – Everyone in this country is an illegal immigrant except the Native Americans. We should frame our policy accordingly.

Morality – Morality is a subjective and nebulous concept such that policy cannot be created simply on the basis of it.

Social Issues – I'm a civil libertarian - I believe in maximum freedom in personal affairs.

Religion – should have no place in government.

Flag Waving - Which flag?

Gun Control - I'm for it.

Capital Punishment - I'm against it.

Environment – Global warming must be addressed immediately as the most serious global crisis.

Energy – We must get off of fossil fuels - the only truly viable alternative energy that can be easily produced on a large scale is nuclear power.

Drug Policy – Legalize and provide treatment centers for addicts.

Assisted Suicide – I'm for it.

Gay Rights – Total equality means more than just marriage equality - equality in jobs, housing, and everything else that heterosexuals take for granted.

Abortion – Hate the procedure, but better safe and legal than unsafe and illegal.

Gee...we are more in agreement than not

I don't "grok" tax cuts when our infrastructure is crumbling and we are 5 years into a failed war. I do not want to see these war profiteers continue to get tax cuts or any incentives. I would like to see corps who operate in the USA with American workers get the tax cuts. I also agree with Obama on tax cuts for our seniors making less than
...is it $100,000 a year. We have borrowed much too much money to pay for this war. We should not allow that to continue. If we can't pay for it, then why borrow against our kids futures while the profiteers make off like carpetbaggers...my big beef!

I'd still like to see single payer healthcare. Because I deal with the insurance companies on a daily basis, I know how they screw the patients and I am more than willing to see their gig be up. For profit healthcare just stinks.

NAFTA...redo it...environmental and wage protections. The farmers in Mexico got screwed and Archer Daniels Midland got the gravy...not a good deal for any farmers, small American farms suffer as well.

Death penalty...that's a tough one for me. If someone molested or murdered one of my kids or grandkids I would want to administer it personally...but too many mistakes have been made. Life in prison with no parole works for me.

So QBC...let me be the first to tell you that you are a closet LIBERAL!!!!

Interesting. I have a whole different list of "The Issues."

1) War and greed - are remnants of the barbaric 20th century, and if not curbed or eliminated may cause extinction of the human race in the 21st century due to technology. War is a complete waste of all resources caused by a medieval mentality.

2) Medicine - eliminate the direct association of money to medical treatment. Be as good to your neighbor as you are to your dog or yourself. Save the money from war and spend half of it on medical treatment.

3) Arts and Literature - spend the other half of the war budget on arts and literature. The treasures of a civilization are under constant development.

4) Food and transportation - a fed population is a happy population. Use renewable agricultural resources to transport the food, and engineer a low carbon footprint. Engineer renewable fisheries powered by wind and tide.

4) Science and exploration - by now we were supposed to be exploring nearby stars and placing research facilities on the planets. Channel human aggression into the search for universal truth.

5) Communication and socialization - information and education must be uninhibited. Freedom to associate across all spectrums of life must be encouraged.

Foreign policy: Diplomacy is the first recourse unless the nation is attacked in force. Ecconomic manipulation that hands the resources of other countries to our corporations are just as much an act of colonization as landing an occupying force. It's also one of the reasons so many Muslim nations would like to castrate us.

Health care: I am an advocate of a single-payer system, government run, not for profit. It's the civilized thing to do. Health care in this country went in the toilet when the corporations were allowed to buy out the public, non-profit hospitals.

Ecconomics: Capitalism is not neccessary for human happiness and well-being. It is just a convenience. Capital is not the source of wealth. Labor and natural resources are. Capital is just a system of accounting for who owes whom how much for labor done to create wealth out of resources. If a measure is good for capital, and bad for labor, it is bad for the country. Minimum wage laws are vital. The value of a day's labor is a decent day's provisions, and the absence of minmum wage laws merely allows entrepreneurs to collude to steal labor.

NAFTA: Bad idea. Scrap it. Re-impose tariffs based on the differences in wages. The entrepreneurs will scream rape, but that is better than reducing our working class to starvation or serfdom. The other nations can raise their wages or forget about trading with us.

Immigration: We need to control the border better than we do now. H1 visas need to be cut back drasticly. They just drive down wages for Americans with the very skills we need to foster.

Religion: The wall between church and state must be strengthened. The state has no divine authority, and religion is based on faith and not everyone has faith. Church intervention into state affairs just fosters hypocricy.

Environment: Degradation of the environment reduces the value of our national resources. There is no trade-off. Global warming is real and we had better do something about it, including environmentally-friendly energy sources.

Gun control: The assault weapons issue is a red herring. I favor laws which restrict the ownership of any weapon by certain categories of people, specificly, felons, addicts, lunatics, wife beaters and kiddy-fiddlers. I also think there should be a training requirement. A title for each firearm is a good idea, because it would make stolen weapons harder to fence. Concealed carry is a good idea. It makes it much more risky to rob or rape anyone. I actually pack a pistol myself, and I'm damned good with it.

Taxes: The graduated income tax is the best ever invented. It puts the burden of paying for the infrastructure squarely on the shoulders of those who derive the most financial benefit from it. And there is no way to earn a living in a civilizewd society without using the infrastructure, so I consider anyone who says they want to opt out of it to be just ignorant whiney children. The capital gains tax should actually be higher than earned income tax. The only break should be for capital gains derived from a retirement account, up to a reasonable level.

To the Left. Must be my bum knee.



Assuming we're going by my definition of "major issues"...



WAR in Iraq: It already belongs to Iran just like I said it would years ago.
Time to leave the problem to them and punish those that got us into this catastrophe.

WAR on Drugs: A government that wages war on it's own people is a tyranny. The logic of ending this farce is irrefutable.

Poverty: A respectable abode and food for those that want it.
If we can fund a war with no new taxes, we can feed and house the poor without them too. Stopping waste will provide funds for most everything we need to do.
The funding is there already, it's just being wasted.

Health Care: The revenue from legalizing recreational drug use amongst adults will pay for complete health care for everyone and then some.

Food Crises: Hemp is food.

Energy Crises: Hemp is fuel. Oil needs to be illegal.

Humanitarian Crises: Hemp is shelter and clothing too.

Economy: Implementing all of the above will repair the economy by default.

Environment: Implementing all of the above will repair the Environment by default.

Punishing Traitors: Investigations against all BushCo officials and their corporate connections, against all PNAC Signatories, against any and all foreign entities that may have conspired with them, and against those in the media who knowingly and willingly aided and abetted treason.

Foreign Policy: Bush is gone and that's half the battle. A little respect goes a long way. So does the occasional big stick. But peace is the deal of the day.

By now we're doing so well that we can fix the rest of it on the fly.

Gosh, yer right, Christine! This is a kewl thred and I will give it a run-at soon!

Kona sez....


There are already plenty of investigations, I want trials first here then in the world court....for crimes against humanity after they are convicted of treason...

Oh...and what to do about War Profiteers....

Liberal and what Captainkona said.

here's a good place to see where you're at

http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

Forign Police. We are not the worlds cop. I say more carrot and less stick.

Economics. Note to the rich, If you have all the money no one can buy your shit. I'm still waiting to see something/anything trickle down.

Health Care. Make Health Care / Not War.

NAFTA. Fuck Free Trade, I want Fair Trade.

Illegal Immigration. Back Burner. Our borders are porous, there is nothing short of Herculean effort that will change that. We'll work it out.

Morality. According to whom?

Social Issues. If there wasn't so much greed, opportunity could be there for all, and we could weed out the slackers.

Religion. The Great Unknown.

Flag Waving. I just brought it in before the rain, I'll raise it again in the morning.

Gun Control. While in Army basic training I missed getting an Expert Marksman medal by three shots three times. I hit fiftyseven out of eighty pop-up targets placed every fifty yards from fifty to three hundred yards three times. I'd bet I could hit sixty now.

Anyway, I feel comfortable being armed with just my wits but I have no qualms about my fellow Americans wanting to be armed.

Death Penalty. The only way I could get on board with this is if the standard of proof were modified to ''Absolutely No Doubt'', otherwise ''Life without the possibility of parole''.

Environment. Lets go green. Every chance we get.

Energy. I would put Dennis Kucinich in charge of it.

Drug Policy. Wasn't that our first Czar? Or was that Tsar? I think the Govt. ought to just give the shit away. You want to blow your mind? Here it is. Then use the money saved from fighting the gangs to offer alternatives to the ones who show up for the drugs. No more stigma, no more fear, just can we help you?

Assisted Suicide. Justifiable Homicide. It would have to be vetted somehow.

Gay Rights. I'll be glad when Gay Rights is just a footnote in a history book. I have zero problem with Gays marrying and having the same benefits as Hetero unification.

Side note: I predict if Gays are granted marriage rights they will have the same success/failure rate as Straights. in other words... normal human behavior.

Abortion. I view abortion like I view any other killing of human life. It should be the last resort.

I fall in line with you on all except "punishing traitors". I think realizing war is no longer an option, will be the best ending. but dragging the country through a long legal battle that even dems, for the most part, dont want will do nothing but drop our $ even more.

Foreign Policy - Diplomacy, negotiating with our enemies. Especially with our enemies. Coalition-building, cooperation and compromise. And a strong military. We’re nobody’s fools

Economics – Regulated Capitalism. End corporate personhood. Being a corporation is not a right, it is a privilege granted by the state. In return for the benefits of being a corporation, these entities should rightly be expected to function in the public interest.

Health Care – Single-payer national health system along the lines of Medicare. All Americans deserve the same level of healthcare now provided to members of Congress.

NAFTA – There isn’t any such thing as free trade. NAFTA is nothing more than a tool that corporations can use to export jobs and evade US employment standards and environmental controls. Such as they are these days. We need trade agreements but they have to work for the people as well as the corporations

Illegal Immigration – Revise the laws to provide more open borders and more orderly immigration. Geo-political issues and climate change are going to foster more immigration not less. We can deal with it now or we can deal with it later when the problem is much worse. And immigration is not a bad thing. Remember no one wanted the Irish or the Chinese or the Slavs back in the day. Benj Franklin was even worried that the Germans were going to take over. They didn’t.

Morality – To a limited extent the government needs to protect people from themselves, but its main job in this regard should be protecting people from other people. It shouldn’t try to legislate morality beyond what it necessary to do this.

Social Issues – I believe that we owe ourselves and our fellow citizens healthcare, education, and a basic civilized level of support should they be unable to take care of themselves either in the short term or permanently. As for the aged, citizens of this country should not have to worry about what will become of them when they are too old to work.

Religion – I am an atheist. Church is Church and State is State.

Flag Waving – On of the greatest disservices the Repugs have done us is to turn displays of patriotism into symbols of aggression, torture, religious extremism and xenophobia. We need to take our flag back.

Gun Control I’m for it and I believe it’s possible to strike a rational compromise between the individual’s right to own recreational firearms and society’s right not to have things like assault weapons and other people killers freely available

Capital Punishment – Until we get either a mistake-proof justice system or we figure out how to restore life and health to the dead we shouldn’t be executing people.

Environment – We can take the lead in this area and create thousands of jobs and a whole new economy in the process or we can sit back and hope that others do it for us and that we will be able to afford to buy what we need from them.

Energy – See above

Drug Policy – Legalize, regulate, and tax. It works with liquor and should pretty much eliminate the criminal empires that are the result of our current policies. It’s not a moral issue for the state, it’s a practical one.

Assisted Suicide – Oregon’s law seems to work just fine.

Gay Rights – Full legal equality including of course marriage rights and being allowed to serve openly in the military. Certain religions can continue to preach against us all they like, but when it comes to law and rights this is a secular democratic republic not a theocracy.

Abortion – Should be freely available and paid for under any sort of national health system that we come up with. I don’t like abortion but it’s a necessary evil and it should be safe and available. Comprehensive sex education and involved parents have been shown to decrease the number of abortions at least among young people.

With the loss of our "Bill of Rights", the pic and choose of our Constitution and laws, the flag must be flown upside down.

While this thread is intriguing, it lack the basics. The definition of RW and LW leanings, and how you see yourself upon that scale. The RW want's less big Gov't, less laws, less regulations. The LW wants us to have the right to live as we choose, without harming or inflicting grave danger on others. So I of course go along with the left. To remove laws and regulations, one allows GREED to enter the picture, to regulate is to allow all within to flourish equally. Having said that, for instance, guns. I live in the country, guns are very important me. Why, you may ask? Simple, if I have a morbidly sick animal be it cow or horse, I want to be able to put it out of it's misery asap. If it is to drive off predators, I would like to reserve that right, hell Chicago had a cougar!!! It's all about interfering with my fellow citizens right to the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let's face it, not everyone wants us to be happy, let alone be successfull. We should be able to defend ourselves against that. Now Horse theives in the 19th century knew it was a capital offense, and yet they still did it. Even my hero Wyatt Earp, convicted horse thief. So obviously the threat of death only matters to one once they get caught, not while they are committing said offense.

it's simple - bring 'em home NOW.



me, I want government oversight, supervision, inspection, and monitoring... is that what you'd term interference?

I want my food inspected (ever had shigellosis or e Coli?), my medicines tested (turns out I was taking one of the FDA-listed "10 Most Dangerous Prescription Drugs - charming!), and I want my children's toys to be SAFE, nd not give them lead-poisoning, or a date-rape drug overdose.



HAH !! sir Pique, health care needs to have the PROFIT motive removed.

oh, and I love purple houses... my secret plan is to buy a place in view of yours and paint it thusly:

Agree with government oversight, supervision, inspection, and monitoring. I see those functions as necessary.

Was hoping this thread would be used as a supplement to the "Introduce Yourself" thread.

I do agree that a separate RW versus LW type thread would be intriguing.

Alas, there are too many circumstances that don't allow for DNA testing and still allow for killing innocent men.

I admit a bias that the institutional hypocrisy is too much for me in the first place - the voice of Oz declaring no one has the "right' to take a life, except the state when the people are really pissed off. I think it's wrong before we get to the fact that innocent men have been executed. But allowing for DNA testing is just a sop to help salve the conscience of those who know we kill innocent men, and that the penalty is haphazardly applied, save for the head start to the chamber given to minorities and the poor.

Does this apply to corporate welfare, too?



Twist, turn and somersault however I may, I'll be damned if I can figure out how this is an issue of any kind.

The closest I can come to anything that means anything here is the reference to our standing in the international community. In my experience, when I'm most disgusted and appalled by our government - now, for example - it also happens to be when we're held in the lowest regard by the international community. It ain't a coincidence.

On the other hand, if I thought everything was just dandy, and the rest of the world was routinely condemning us, I'd like to believe I'd have the brains to recognize their perception is a cause for concern, and that I'd better take a closer look.

Hey, if everybody you know tells you they're worried about you, you're acting strange and you keep offending people left and right, only an idiot might not wonder if there's cause for concern.



What do you believe those two sides are, generally?



And the solution for handling of waste is...?



Cool. But it's too bad too people at the same stage with the same illness have different rights depending on their address.



If we'd gone the same way with racial discrimination, blacks still wouldn't have civil rights in several states.



See above

OK I'll bite. I am a Conservative. Usually when I say that I get comments like "Why do you support the war in Iraq?" I always answer, "I don"t." Most people have preconceived notions about me when I say I'm Conservative. Most people confuse 'Conservative" with "Republican." At one time the two terms were interchangeable. This is no longer the case. I believe in a small Government. I would really like the Government to stay out of my personal life. Speaking of Government, since our Government is basically unable to run the country without screwing things up, I find it rather silly to give them more money to run more programs when they can't even run the programs that are in place now. I don't really like paying high taxes. I think English should be our national language. I think our borders need to be protected against those who wish to enter this country illegally. I believe in a strong military. I don't believe there is such a thing as an honest politician and I can remember when everyone knew that. The price of gasoline is way out of hand, and I think taxing the oil companies is a stupid idea. What else? Oh yeah. Gay Marriage? Don't much care, but if you feel it is owed you than by all means pursue it. Abortion. Don't support it, but it's the law. Can't do much about that.

No.




Those who believe Global Warning is man made and those who don't. There are pundits on both sides of this issue.

I feel its better to be safe than sorry, but I don't yet sense the urgency or feel our days are numbered if we don't act immediately. My view could change as I learn more about this issue.




I don't claim to have all of the answers, but do know there are many countries that are successfully using this technology. Many posters point to France as a model for various social programs such as health care. I point to France as a model for the use of Nuclear technology.





You are confusing marriage with gay rights. Gay rights are legislated at the federal level and should remain there. Laws governing marriage and divorce reside with the states.



Laws governing abortion resided with the States prior to Roe vs. Wade. The federal govenment has since steppted in and taken that away from the states. While I am pro choice, I think Roe vs. Wade was a mistake.

I have to admit, the way the issue is represented in the world media it seems
normal to see it as those two sides.

The real Global Warming view is that such conditions do occur naturally in a cyclic fashion.
It's just that the fouling of our atmosphere intensifies those natural conditions. Making things warmer and so on.
It's not just an either/or issue.

I'm pleased you are remaining open to this phenomenon, Peak.
The threat is real. The sense of urgency is similar to that of Health Dept. rules concerning the handling of food in restaurants.
You know you can leave a pizza out on the counter at home and probably not get sick.
But the potential of bacterial illness is high depending on the conditions around the counter (temp, insects etc)

The threat is real. As you said, "better safe than sorry" in this case.

*Foreign Policy: Speak softly, and frequently. Carry a big stick, and swing it only when necessary.

*Economics: Stake in the heart to Reaganomics®/Supply-side/Trickle down policy. Trade needs sensible regulation.

*Health Care: Health care, not insurance. The government can underwrite a medical education in exchange for time served in Public Health. End TV and print ads for prescription drugs.

*NAFTA: Burn it. Start over.

*Illegal Immigration: Put a sock in Lou Dobbs' mouth before we engage in any national dialouge.

*Morality: ____________<-your dogma here. Mine ran away.

Social Issues: I'm with Randi on this one. We are only as strong as our weakest member of society. And unfortunately, laziness is a weakness. If you're going to lift everyone up, it is going to include those who do no lifting at all. This does not mean writing a "blank check" or "throwing money at the problem."

Religion: is poison.

Flag Waving: Looks cute when little kids do it.

Gun Control: Hitting what you aim at.

Capital Punishment: I used to be a big supporter of it, but as much as I hate to spend money keeping murderers alive, I now feel society has to aspire to be better than the individual criminal.

Environment: We're lucky to still have one.

Energy: If only we had listened to President Carter.

Drug Policy: As in "War on?" Huge failure.

Assisted Suicide: Fine for you. Let me decide for me. (Although I have come more and more to believing in the AA phrase: Don't leave 5 minutes before the miracle. Still, if I'm brain dead, let me go.)

Gay Rights: Of course.

Abortion: I am a man. Not my right to decide. What a woman does is between herself and her Higher Power.

Foreign Policy: Wars, like laws, should exist only to protect rights, not fend off potential rights violations. it should be used only when diplomacy is exhausted and when the opposite side is already turning the gears of war.

economics: Lets set aside our greed and not be so selfish when it comes to our income concerning taxes. at that point we might be able to spend them on something useful.

health care: don't care how everyone gets it as long as they do if they want it. i personally am 25 and dont make a lot, so i would opt out, unless my wife gets pregnant then i'll be falling over myself to get it.

nafta: ditch it

illegal immigrants: living the american dream while natural born americans watch american idol and eat what the immigrants grow and provide. imaginary lines mean nothing in a real world.

Morality: grey area. can we really expect girls to grow up to be strong feminist women when we think it's okay for them to sell themselves for sex? When all they see on TV are women portraying themselves as sex objects? sure prostitutes and pornstars are people too, but come on. porn might not really hurt a competent adult but we wouldn't let it go up on a highway billboard.

religion: free for all, no walls or borders, no exaltations or inhibitors

flag waving: personally i think it's idiotic but whatever

gun control: reasonable self defence, no machine guns, no kids

death penalty: rare circumstances, can be more humane than letting someone rot in prison all their lives

environment: leave it alone

energy: used to hate SUV's, now i pity those grasshoppers. the sun gives light, and it's free! nobody has to pay the earth to get hot on the inside, or the sea to make waves. perhaps free is better than paying for it.

drugs: pot is better than smoking and liquor, bring it on board, ditch the stuff that ruins people's lives. i could care less if they napalm the poppy fields.

assisted suicide: hara-kiri

gay rights: sexuality isn't anyone's business, but bringing it before the commonwealth makes it public business. if the commonwealth supports the union that's fine, but court decisions can be counter-democratic. state's rights.

abortion: the state should provide a highly supportive alternative program. i'm personally against it but it is counter-intuitive to force my beliefs on others. i think the greatest shame of all is that a woman would get an abortion because she has no other choice, or that she was too dumb to use protection. provide useful alternatives and sane regulation.

Economics: I believe in the Trickle Up Theory of economics. Give poor people money, or don't take so much away as taxes, and they will spend it real quick, thereby stimulating the economy. Rick people tend to sit on their extra money cause they have so much.

Foriegn and Military policy: Close down the 700 foreign military bases and concentrate on consumer economics, medicine, environmental aid to the world thereby bring stability which will aid democratic governments.

Religion: Churches should pay property tax like everybody else. Churches which get involved in politics should not be allowed to be tax free and need to file as such. George Carlin is not in heaven, he was an atheist. He's dead but he lives in the hearts and minds of the living, like you and I will hopefully. Intelligent design is a lot of crap and should be banned from public schools.

A Zen one of these:

X-Ray-Spex here. McGovern style Liberal. But you knew that already.

While I consider myself a liberal, I actually don't fit in with the traditional left on a lot of things.

*Foreign Policy - Talk loudly and carry a quiet stick. Diplomacy and trade, with American interests first in most cases - especially trade.

*Economics – Reform socialist. Trade needs much more strict but also user friendly regulation. For each increase in stricture, a simplification must be made to ensure compliance is easy. I don't think that rules require hostility. I think we have the wrong rules, regulating the wrong things, for the wrong reasons. Make predatory lending illegal. Caveat Lendor. Strengthen consumer credit protection laws and open FICA to public scrutiny. Eliminate thin file persecution. Legalize and tax pot.

*Health Care – Medicare for all. Single payer, doctors won't even notice the bump.

NAFTA – Renegotiate it. We know more now. Let that inform new agreements.

Illegal Immigration – I really am not moved by this issue so I guess I have no opinion.

Morality – I don't believe the Government has any business in one's bedroom or private life. I think prostitution should be legalized, but regulated. States should have jurisdiction in these matters. Equal rights for all means equal rights for all.

Social Issues – I don't know what that means.

Religion – Baptized in many Christian faiths. Did a stint as a Buddhist before settling on total atheism.

Flag Waving - Sure...whatever.

Gun Control - Between a nuclear weapon and a knife there is a line to be drawn. Local communities - not the federal government, should draw that line.

Capital Punishment - Abominable waste of resources. State sanctioned killing violates the rights of every person morally opposed to killing who also pays taxes by staining us with blood. It is a rape of our souls. I do not sanction killing people but for defense when no alternative is available.

Environment – Techist. Technology is the answer. We need better batteries, better energy production, and better electronic technologies. I would like to see harmonic architecture "tech city" projects started by the federal government to explore new ways building citties informed by our last 200 years of amazing breakthorughs. There's no reason that we can't build citties that are also forrests. We can live IN the environment and not just with it. New urban planning is everything.

Energy – Need a new manhatten project. Fund the hell out of new organizations

Drug Policy – I see this as a miserable failure. I believe that drugs should be legalized but heavily regulated at the federal level.

Assisted Suicide – I believe that terminally ill patients, who are of sound mind, should be allowed to die with dignity. They should have available to them the choice to terminate their life by a qualified physician. I believe this should be left to each State to decide.

Gay Rights – I support Same Sex marriage and feel that each State should address this according to the will of the people within each state. I support Gays in the military and think we should get rid of the archaic don't-ask-don't tell policy.

Abortion – I am pro-choice.
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Here is what I think:

*Foreign Policy - The US has been a source of great evil and great hope in the world, my point of view is that we need to pull the troops back to the US from all the countries we are deployed in and make it smaller, reactive, and terrifying to behold. We can then address anything militarily that needs to be addressed and then get the hell out. Genocide, invasion of allies, etc. need to be addressed, but we should be the agents of the light, not darkness. We should also make ammends with all the countries we have screwed over the previous 60 years with the CIA, and let them know that from now on, we are an honest broker of peace.

*Economics – Level the playing field and then let the chips fall where they may. A brilliant poor person should be a doctor if he so chooses, society benefits from that. In that regard, free University systems need to be in place. A student has to know if he or she studies hard, they have a guaranteed degree waiting for them, including boarding, at their state university. A little more socialism is needed in this country in that regard. I also think the government should strongly regulate anything that is necessary for survival, that is food, fuel, shelter and medicine.

*Health Care – We have an infrastructure in place with hospitals, insurance companies, and medical research and development. Use it to our advantage, and offer Universal health coverage for all. Corporations will not be unfairly burdened with the expenses, everyone pays and everyone benefits.

NAFTA – Fair trade, not free trade.

Illegal Immigration – Let them in, but no benefits until citizenship. Shorten the path to citizenship and let the tax money flow in. If they still violate the law, close the business that hires them and permaboot them. It should be so easy to gain citizenship that circumventing it would be silly, though.

Morality – You don't know me, and I don't know you, lets keep it that way. Just don't hurt anyone.

Social Issues – You don't know me, and I don't know you, lets keep it that way. Just don't hurt anyone.

Religion – Deist. There is a god, I know that because Reagan got Alzheimers disease. (He is the first to ban stem cell research)

Flag Waving - False idols, patriotism is the refuge of scoundrels.

Gun Control - Silly replacements for penises. Hunting is fine, but completely unnecessary, I would love to ban hunting and all guns but again, thats just my opinion. The second ammendment should have never been written that way, but since it has been, you cannot take away from it. Just don't hurt anyone.

Capital Punishment - I am a pacifist, this is never acceptable. You cannot hold moral authority as a nation by implementing that which you abhore. Murder is wrong, capital punishment is murder.

Environment and Energy– I think we need alternative energy, I think it is too expensive to develope so it wont get done. There are 2 trillion barrels of oil shale in the western states owned by the US government. Lease out that land, bring oil prices down, and fund alternative energies with it. We need to maintain as much of our natural resources as possible, the US is incredibly rich in them, so stop shitting in the water and keep our biodiversity intact.

Drug Policy – Marijuana should be legal, Opiates should not. Since you can buy a joint in a drugstore the pushers don't get a shot at pot smokers to try worse things. Marijuana is a gateway drug because right now, thats the only place you can buy it, drug dealers. Tax the piss out of it and it will still be cheaper, use that money for health care or education.

Assisted Suicide – If you want and need to die with some shred of dignity, it is barbaric anyone should tell you differently. Doctors help patients do this everyday, but it needs to see the light and be accepted.

Gay Rights – Abolish the term "marriage" and make it a religious ceremony like first communion or a bar mitzfah. Everyone is now in a domestic partnership on a legal basis, and can choose to have a religious ceremony if they so choose, unregulated. I didnt have to get a liscence for my first communion, why this religious ceremony?

Abortion – I do not have a vagina, so I shut the fuck up.