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Post by Dragon Spirit on Sept 6, 2009 20:40:25 GMT -5
Well, due to the discussion we were having over in the 'Conspiracy Theories' thread, I thought I'd start a politics topic. So this is just for talking about politics in general, namely that of the U.S., but also the politics of other countries. What administrations do you agree with, which ones did you dislike, etc. Begin by stating what party you side with (if any). Also, please avoid using strong words for this discussion. It depends on the situation, but even calling a senator/president/someone "stupid" can cause reasonable discussions to escalate into unreasonable arguments. If you really must use less-than-advisable words to express yourself, then please emphasize that these are just your thoughts by saying things like "In my opinon," or "I think that...", and then go on to explain your reasoning. I don't mean to sound too harsh, but I don't want to have to resort to banning someone in the event that they do not comply with these rules and the general rules of the site. (Better to be safe than sorry... ) Anyway, onto the discussion... I personally lean towards the Democratic point of view, though I actually don't really care much for participating in politics in any way, shape or form. Despite this, I do actually pay attention to politics, especially since my parents are quite active. So... As for the Obama and the current administration in the U.S., I think it's still just a bit too early to judge. Things definitely seem bad, but most of that is due to the previous administration. All in all, thought, I think that the president and much of his staff is doing quite well at the moment. Except maybe for Joe Biden, but then again, he's only the Vice President... I do get slightly frustrated with the republicans (be they senators or citizens) who are going around to these town hall meetings and disrupting them, or else are promoting this kind of behavior. If you couldn't tell already by the conditions set down for this topic, then let my emphasize that if there's any one thing that I really like to see in politics, it's reasoned discussion. I understand wanting to let your voice be heard, but there is a good way and a bad way to do so.
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Post by khaos54321 on Sept 7, 2009 17:23:48 GMT -5
Darn, I was going to make a thread like this, only give it a stupid name like "Polisticks" or something I got from other comedians. Oh well, you beat me.
Well I for one will try to be as civilized as I can, especially since my partisenship is much different than most people. I'm a Libertarian which can be translated in English to "real Republican". I heavily support privatization of many aspects; business, marriage, what you pay for, especially when going to the East side *wink-wink*. As for my view on Obama, I think that his standard should be much higher than Bush's seeing as how he's following a former president within their party that really did so much for America and yet we're still awaiting better, especially after eight years from the opposing side. I wouldn't say he's terrible, but he's started with a couple of weird sounds and we don't want to find out that those weird sounds end up being an explosion before it's too late. There's not a doubt in my mind that we picked better, but my belief is that we picked the lesser of two evils. And believe me, I used to like McCain, of course until he dissapointed me. Then after that, all that seemed to come out of his mouth and into my ear was "Charley's in the tree". It's just I'm hoping that next time around people start to look deeper and see, I don't know, maybe Ron Paul (please, Ron Paul 2012).
I have major problems on the two other sides, though; the Republicans and the Democrats. The Conservatices and the Liberals. The Gun Nuts and the People with Normal Sizes. It's actually a little disturbing how both parties operate, both of them willing to go back to the way it was, wanting more rules, yet argue over the silliest things. I don't like the Republicans' approach in putting Christian values into politics, and with that same detest, I also don't like how Democrats use sensitivity over reason, and so make laws based on personal moral (I'm still bothered that smoking is banned in restaurants bars of all places). That's why I like the Libertarians. We believe in making laws that only follow through whether it one's free will effects another's freedom, privatizing since the conditions of schools, businesses, and other government involved bodies are terrible, and most importantly, unaffected by the polls. It's best to understand that a real leader does what is right for the country and not what the mob, or to put nicely, the people, want as we run the country.
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Post by Dragon Spirit on Oct 2, 2009 21:55:53 GMT -5
I didn't think McCain would have been too bad as president, though having Sara Palin as Vice President scared me half to death (though Biden isn't much better.) Even just as VP, neither of them seem very competent. Still, Obama was my choice. (Hillary kinda scared me, too, but at a much lower level in a more competent way)
I personally don't see Democrats as overly-moral as far as politics go. As I understand it, the smoking thing is more about the health of those who have to endure other people smoking. As some semi-famous quote goes, "Sure, you could throw a punch at my face. But your right to punch ends where my nose begins." (that's loosely the quote... not exactly.) In short, your free to do what you want, but not when it infringes on other people's right to (in this case) breathe clean air.
Being more or less democratic. I agree with this stance, to some extent. Banning smoking in public I sort of agree with (since it affects the health and comfort of those around the smoker), though perhaps letting each individual business owner choose whether to allow it or not would be best. As far as banning things for the sake of lowering health expenses or increasing the overall health of the public (minor example - banning pop machines in schools) is infringing on people's rights, in my opinion. If we want to kill ourselves, fine - if need be, the government can just make sure that we're the ones paying for it.
I don't think privatizing schools would be a great idea... it would make it too expensive for too many to go to school. Sure, the quality of education is much higher (I know from experience), but it's not worth abandoning everyone else to no chance at an education. Maybe creating a private system where the government will pay a base amount for every child's education would work... I don't know.
But what do you think about the healthcare debate?
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Post by khaos54321 on Oct 15, 2009 17:47:30 GMT -5
I actually do have a strong stance about the healthcare debate, and sorry I was gone for a while. My Humanities and Chemistry teachers have bombarded me with a countless amount of homework during this month and I'm finally free of one of those classes. My opinion is simply to either fix it or drop it altogether. I'm so sick and tired of people saying that just because they're American, they have the right to get taxpayers' money to remove a pole stuck in their head because they were stupid enough to do a flip on a trampoline, or clean our the fat in their arteries because they ate millions of Big Macs in their life. People are not priveliged to go from 10 to 11, especially when people in Africa, Asia, or below us where we're spreading poisons in the air to kill their plants just because we like cocaine, are desperately trying to get from 0 to 1. I understand that a homeless veteran isn't getting the attention he needs or an officer is fighting for his life after getting shot a bunch of times, but for someone who burnt themselves because they put their hand in a frier vat after they tried to get their engagement ring and then they want coverage? They can pay it themselves. I do not want to waste my money on a moron who had fun. I'd rather have my money go to an armless kid in Africa who lost them to the diamond harvesters than to someone who practically covers themselves with diamonds and then becomes "ol' french fry for a writing hand". It's just nonsense, and people should absolutely realize that the money that we give out for healthcare should go to people that desperately need it. If I trip and fall on a glass bowl and my kidney is shaking hands with a shard, my fault, I was stupid, and I should have to pay for it. If I need a bullet taken out of my stomach because a guy tried to kill me since they think I'm wrong about the man in the sky, that's something the government should step in for. Shard from a glass bowl and shard from a pipebomb is two separate things. That's something the government should be able to distinguish. I feel Obama is lacking in that field and it dissapoints me that he's promising national healthcare by the end of his first term. If we spend the money right, we wouldn't need more taxes. Obviously we're spending it wrong if Obama wants to take more out.
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