Because people really want to see my odd political leanings.
Abortion?: I am adamantly Pro-Choice, and while I, being where I am in life, would not need abortion, I would not hesitate to recommend the procedure to a fifteen year old girl or a single drug addict. Yes, I would prefer for unwanted babies to be adopted. There are some wonderful people in the world who need babies to raise. I always find it a mystery that Republicans are so anti-abortion, and yet the instant the baby is out of the womb, Republicans feel they should be able to care for themselves. They cut health care for children of low income families, they refuse to pay for a decent education, they force single mothers to work minimum wage jobs which don't cover child care so that the children grow up with no adult role models, and prevent babies from being adopted by loving, same-sex couples. I want the lives that come into this world to come into loving, safe and healthy environments.
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Death Penalty?: I am against it. I do not believe a state has a right to punish someone by taking their life, ever. I have no problem locking someone up for life, but I do not think we should be wielding death as a punishment. I realize that my Anti-Death Penalty stance may seem at odds with my Pro-Choice stance, and in fact the only Anti-Choice view I can respect is an across the board No Killing Ever view. But there are several important differences. First, there is the difference between an individual choice and the choice made by the State. Second, Abortion is not punishment for the child, it is most often a heart-breaking admission by a woman or couple that they do not have the means to care for the child properly and third, I do not think that a three or four month fetus yet has "life". My deviation from Pro-Choice is I do not think a third trimester abortion should be preformed except in the case of rape, incest or the mother's health.
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Prostitution?: I think legalizing prostitution is important. Not because I agree with the concept, I can't even fathom paying for nookie, but prostitution is real, has been around since the dawn of time and is never going away. Legalizing prostitution would allow for greater safety and medical care for all parties, it would allow unions and price controls, it would allow taxation and it would remove the Pimps and Madams who beat their workers, force them onto drugs and take 90% of their take from the equation.
Alcohol?: Used with a modicum of sense, it is a wonderful thing. I do not favor the banning of anything just because it can be misused by the less intelligent among us. I do think that alcoholism is a disease, like any obsessive-compulsive disorder, and needs to be treated medically.
Marijuana?: As I have never seen any evidence that suggests that marijuana is any more dangerous that tobacco or alcohol, it needs to be legalized and taxed.
Other drugs?: Here is a trickier area. Personally, I have never used them, would never use them and advocate strongly against anyone else using them. The drugs impact on society is also dangerous, causing petty theft, prostitution, and enabling gangs to earn a living, On the other hand, I am not one to say flat out something can not be done. So, I would advocate the legalizing of all drugs if the following steps were taken and rigidly enforced. 1. Drugs may only be sold and consumed at licensed clinics staffed by medical professionals. 2. That the buyer would have to buy the drugs with verifiable income 3. The buyer would not be allowed to leave the premises before a medical professional determined that the effect's of the drug had passed. 4. The buyer would be subject to occasional lectures and demonstrations about the health dangers of the drugs in use. Unless all of these steps could be guaranteed, I would not agree with legalizing other drugs. And even if these steps were taken, I would be very vocal in trying to keep people from using them.
Gay marriage?: Should be legalized now. There is simply no valid, legal case for preventing them.
Illegal immigrants?: I think the US should have Open Borders. I do think there should be a screening process, and we should limit known terrorist and felons, but other than that, I think everyone should be allowed to live here that wants to live here. Just because I was lucky enough to be born in this country does not mean I should have the right to prevent a person from trying to build a better life for themselves and their families. Anyone willing to come to uproot themselves from their home and move their family to a totally new place on the faintest hope of a better life is the kind of person we need in this country. We have the room, we have the resources.
Smoking?: Just don't let my kids see you, and don't do it close to my wife, she has asthma. And for the love of God, don't go around yelling that your rights are being taken away because I want to sit in a restaurant without inhaling your garbage.
Drunk driving?: One infraction, and they put that little breath lock on your car for life. Period. And improve the breath thing so that it recognizes an particular individuals breath.
Cloning?: My Pro-Cloning stance is well known to those you who read my blog a lot. I am dead serious that I want a clone of me created so that I can have a brain transplant and live another hundred years. On a more serious note, advanced cloning technology could have saved my sister.
Racism?: An evil that should be stamped out with all speed and haste. I have no brilliant ideas how to do that sadly, but I will keep working on it.
Premarital sex?: Do it safely, pick your partners wisely, and don't kiss and tell. Other than that, use your judgment. By the by, I don't agree with waiting until you are married to have sex. Sexual incompatibility has broken many a household and that aspect should be investigated before tying the knot.
Religion?: A wonderful thing. It has done a lot for me personally, and is a great tool in personal growth. However, the instant someone believes they have a right to dictate to me how to live and what to think, it have left the realm of religion and become a personal power trip.
The war in Iraq?: An idiotic blunder. I can only imagine what was going through Bush's head, they only thing I know he was not thinking about was the safety of American citizens.
Bush?: I believe he is a gregarious if not overwhelmingly intelligent man who landed ass-backwards into politics because of his family name and some advisors that convinced him he could win. I believe this country is run by Dick Cheney and Karl Rove.
Downloading music?: I am very torn on this. I want the artists to be taken care of, but I want art to be free. Charging $.99 a song seems like a decent compromise. As long at $.90 of the price is going to the artist.
The legal drinking age?: If you can get drafted, you should be able to drink. Therefore, move the draft age to 21.
Porn?: Consenting adults? Then whatever...
Suicide?: If you are in constant pain, and have a few weeks to live, then do what you think is right. Otherwise, don't do it. Ever. There are other drastic changes you could do without destroying those around you. See a phycologist, divorce, move, change sexes, whatever. But suicide is never an option.
