In what respect do your political opinions differ from those of DU orthodoxy?

[Bucky]

Just how aberrant are you from the perceived norm? For examples...

* "I happen to think Dick Cheney is merely demented, not actually malevolent."

* "Underneath it all, Ralph Nader is doing his level best, not just stroking his ego, when he says Dems & Republicans are indistinguishable"

* "Despite the occasional scandal, Christianity has by far been a greater benefit than detriment to the United States."

* "With all the difficulties of today, marriage equality, while a laudible goal, should not be a top priority for our party."

Caveat: try not to engage issues in this thread -- I only hold to half of the examples listed above, anyway. I'm interested in seeing where others perceive their deviance from the norm rather than discussing the issues themselves.

[eauclaireliberal]

1. RE: In what respect do your political opinions differ from those of DU orthodoxy?

*I don't believe that Israel has a "right to exist."

[Bucky]

20. I went out and bought a lot of popcorn to read the responses to your opinion.

I wasted my time and limited popcorn money

[eauclaireliberal]

35. Does the U.S. have a right to exist? How about the rest of the Americas?

No country has that to claim. A country's existence is based on the removal of others and its resources. Blood conquest. Thousands of years of it. Nothing new.

[Bucky]

41. Hmmm. What are your thoughts on Locke's theory of natural rights?

Regardless of whether those rights are respected in practice, do people actually have rights, such as the right not to be conquered?

[Orrex]

99. All rights are granted rights

Granted by society at large.

A "natural" right that can be wholly suppressed is indistinguishable from a "natural" right that simply doesn't exist.


Rights only exist by consensus, if at all.

[mainegreen]

2. I don't oppose the death penalty on moral grounds, only practical grounds.

Oh no, I think some people most certainly deserve it.

I just don't think we as a society are capable of a truly just and fair criminal justice system.
At least not one that is of a high enough quality that it has the right to hand out the death penalty.

[Bucky]

21. Down here in Texas we got a saying: "Oh, he needs killin' "

Some people clearly do need it. The problem is the imperfect humans who end up judging just who those people are just happen to find black men (and not just the ones with bad lawyers) more likely to be in the need.

[mvd]

103. I'm completely against the DP, but I will say that..

my emotions about it get more riled in some cases than others. But the consistency is something I'm proud of.

[OmahaBlueDog]

107. There's an even more practical ground - sheer cost

One might think the Death Penalty is a swell idea, and that most recepients richly deserve it. But here's a fact: it costs a whole bunch of money to send someone on to whatever comes next as opposed to just letting them rot in a cell.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty


As a taxpayer, the DP is a horrid proposition.

[begin_within]

3. Americans are far too selfish for socialism or anything like it to work in the U.S.

[Inchworm]

4. Pistols are cool.. add beer

a joyous afternoon.

I prefer a .22 because the shells are cheap. I can shoot a beer can out of sight into the woods with 6 shots.

:D

[Dogtown]

153. Pedestrian

Float them beer cans on the lake. It's much cooler to try to hit that bobbing target.

[KitchenWitch]

5. I am disappointed with the shift to the right the party has taken

And contrary to what you might believe, a lot of DUers are NOT for marriage equality.

I also believe in the right to keep and bear arms. I own no guns myself, but I think gun ownership/or lack of is a matter of personal conscience.

[Bucky]

22. Hey, that used to be me.

I used to be not for marriage equality--and for the most craven of reasons: I simply thought the issue would cost liberals too many votes in the medium run. Then one day I just woke up: I found myself posting in these boards the statement There's no such thing as 'gay rights'; there's only unalienable rights.'

Anyway, far as I know, the official DU policy is that espousing any reluctance for full civil rights for Americans is simply not allowed here--it's akin to hate speech. Equal protection under the law (the 14th Amendment) isn't up for debate. Anyone who doesn't get marriage equality doesn't get America.

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. First, you need to outline the orthodoxy of DU political opinions

The only standard I know of here is arguing politics.

[Inchworm]

7. Politics is

hehe

:yoiks:

[Kali]

18. seconded

I have no idea what the orthodoxy here is. I see a LOT of diversity.

[blondeatlast]

80. Exactly. For instance, this is one of the few posts I've ever seen that don't have an argument wit

:rofl:

[XemaSab]

8. Here goes:

I think most environmentalists are dumb.

I think most anti-gun people are naive. (Hint: the second amendment is there so we can revolt against a tyrannical government.)

I think most people advocating for cultural relativism are misguided.

I think capitalism can accomplish a lot of good... within bounds.

I think most hippie-types are dumb and naive.

I think at some point you have to resign yourself to the cruel facts of the world: some people are dumb, some people are misguided, some people are evil, some people are lazy, some people are thugs, some people are naive, some people are just wrong.

[XemaSab]

45. And to add:

Democracy is an inherently superior form of government.

[RagAss]

77. Agreed...especially on the hippies....watch for it this summer...

The boomer ass-kissing of Woodstock will dominate the media...and the footnote that will be paid to a man who landed a tin can on the friggin moon with 20 seconds of fuel left, got out of the can, walked around and came home alive ! Why there is not a statue of Neil Armstrong in every town in this country is a mystery to me !

That's how I differ from most of you here !

[Common Sense Party]

106. Oh, you are right. I will vomit if I have to see those lazy, unwashed,

doped up Woodstockers being raised up on a pedestal.

[omega minimo]

81. That's just the Redding talking

:hi:


AAMOF considering all the wonky, policy, law and ledge work that it requires, a lot of environmentalists are super smart.

[ghostsofgiants]

9. I would never vote Democratic if I were American.

I am very far to the left of most around these parts and actually find your entire political system, both electoral and governmental to be very anti-democratic..

[Vidar]

150. Sums it up pretty well.

[LeftyMom]

10. okay

-I view religion as being, at best, a harmless eccentricity, like that crazy aunt who can't seem to tell her soap operas aren't real and talks about them like she knows the people.
-I support actions to end the exploitation of animals. Not lessen the horror of. End.
-I demand equal rights for my gay, lesbian, bi and trans brothers and sisters. Right fucking now.
-I think capitalism is a cancer eating away at humanity.
-I think nationalism is destructive and dangerous.

[UrbScotty]

64. That third one is definitely part of DU orthodoxy

[LeftyMom]

74. Unfortunately, it's not.

Take a look at any thread about repealing DOMA or DADT, and you'll see a whole lot of complaining about the timing, and reassurances that Obama can get around to bestowing equal rights on people when it's politically convenient. Also, any time an election goes badly somebody blames The Gays for scaring off whatever demographics they supposedly scare off by existing.

A lot of people here are only comfortable with equal rights in a very abstract sense, provided supporting them isn't in any way uncomfortable or politically costly, or doesn't require them to make common cause with actual GLBT people with the nerve to be themselves in public. Which is to say they're not really comfortable with equal rights at all.

[Strong Atheist]

95. Timing ...

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Strong%20Atheist/13

[Juche]

11. I like Nader

Al Gore lost in 2000 for a dozen reasons, Nader was only one. The butterfly ballots, poor campaigning by Gore, Buchanun, Gore losing NH, 200k democrats in Florida voting for Bush, etc. Besides, nader has done tons to improve quality of life in this country.

We need runoff voting so people feel comfortable voting for 3rd parties.

[Brigid]

12. I'm uncomfortable with the "prolonged detention" idea.

I think that the trustworthy Obama is not the problem. The next Bush -- and there will be another one day after Obama's presidency ends -- coming into office with a public having gotten accustomed to that idea is the problem.

[cloudbase]

13. People who are considered (or consider themselves)

victims are often responsible for their perceived status.

[KamaAina]

14. There's nothing progressive about physician-assisted suicide

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3889432&mesg_id=3890277

[Odin2005]

15. I don't think social conservatives are necessarily evil monsters.

Nuclear energy is good.

Pacifism sounds nice but doesn't work.

Marxism is crap.

I have no problem with GMOs, I just have a problem with how the seed companies are abusing the technology.

Technology is the only thing that will get us out of our environmental mess, ludditism is counterproductive and "lifestyle changes" are only band-aids that serve mainly as a salve to people's consciences.

Cap-and-Trade methods of limiting CO2 emissions are a scam, a kind of secular offering of indulgences. What is needed is a carbon tax and lots of $$$ into a carbon-free energy infrastructure.

I am a Wilsonian Interventionist and dislike isolationist sentiment I often see on DU.

I am for the most part Pro-Choice but I have a very gut-level dislike for abortion, partly out of fears about Eugenics and partly because I was born 2 months premature and have issues with the notion that when I was born I had more rights then an 8-month-old fetus.

I'm no fan of Israel's occupation of Palestine, but think a lot of the Israel-bashing has anti-Semitic undertones.

I am not against the death penalty.

I don't like urban politicians bashing gun owners and have no problem with the concealed carrying of handguns outside of major urban centers.

Affirmative Action is way past it's sell-by date and I think it's become counter-productive by creating resentment over "reverse discrimination".

[LostInAnomie]

16. I can think of a few.

1. Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink are huge wastes of time and mostly just annoying.

2. Schools should take a MUCH harder line with problem students (including students with emotional disabilities).

3. Women do occasionally fabricate rape charges.

4. John Kerry was a poor choice as a Presidential candidate.

5. 99.9% of police officers are good people looking to protect the public, not "pigs" on a power trip.

6. The next Supreme Court Justice doesn't HAVE to be a woman, a minority, or a minority woman.

7. A lot of the moral outrages that some groups have on here are just people looking to be offended.

8. Adam Lambert did not lose American Idol because of some "anti gay" conspiracy, and he really isn't that talented.

[cwydro]

26. Wow,

I must have missed the anti-gay conspiracy angle with American Idol...

[realisticphish]

28. hmm

add 1, 5, 7, and 8 to my list

[mojowork_n]

75. I agree with you on your #7

In your case, your moral outrage must be located in your amply padded posterior (that big white thing that follows you around everywhere, the cellular repository of your excess lipid intake.) But it's as good a target as anything -- like you said, anyone deliberately trying to rock the boat or make people think or question conventional received wisdom -- is asking for it.

[omega minimo]

83. All of those priorities rely on sexism

[LostInAnomie]

85. What?

You're going to have to explain that one.

[omega minimo]

93. I'm sorry not all

only 7 of them

[LostInAnomie]

96. Right...

I guess if you go looking for sexism, you'll find it.

Why don't you give me the numbers that are sexist and a very brief explanation of why?

I'll be interested in finding out which is the most sexist between:
2. Schools should take a MUCH harder line with problem students (including students with emotional disabilities).
4. John Kerry was a poor choice as a Presidential candidate.
5. 99.9% of police officers are good people looking to protect the public, not "pigs" on a power trip.
8. Adam Lambert did not lose American Idol because of some "anti gay" conspiracy, and he really isn't that talented.

[DS1]

126. I find SWARMHOLE to be sexist, sexist.

[nomorenomore08]

109. #4, #6, and #7 I can get down with...

#1: I don't consider Sheehan and CP embarrassments, just easy targets for the right wing. Not really their fault. But I agree that their actual accomplishments are debatable.

#2: With this, I think you really have to judge on a case-by-case basis.

#3: True enough, although I'm not sure that the proportion of false accusations is dramatically higher than with any other crime.

#5: I'm not very trusting of authority figures as a general rule, and cops are no exception. Power corrupts, and all that jazz.

#8: Normally I couldn't give two shits about "AI," but it is a shame the way the fundies went after the guy. And I'm not saying it was a conspiracy or anything, but he was the overwhelming favorite to win right up until the end.

[DS1]

124. Add Gay to number 6

[leeroysphitz]

17. I vote straight ticket Republican unless Nader is running.

Makes me a bit of a "maverick" around here.

[Bucky]

23. You win

Of course a real maverick also kicks puppies (but just the ones that need kickin')

[distantearlywarning]

19. I think gun control means using both hands

I also don't think "intolerant" is a dirty word when it comes to stuff like female genital mutilation and public stonings.

There is a point in a pregnancy when abortion is killing a baby, and that's not a good thing (it's not during the first trimester, however, I'm pretty sure about that).

I think most of so-called "alternative medicine" is new age woo woo horseshit.

Sometimes violence IS the answer. It depends on what the question is.

I also agree with the poster up-thread who said they weren't philosophically opposed to the death penalty, just unsure that we have a good enough legal system to apply it in a just manner.

And I also agree with the poster who thought that some of the anti-Israel stuff has anti-Semitic undertones.

There is no time like the present to institute equal civil rights for everyone. I've never understood the whole "just wait in the back of the bus a little longer while we keep the powder dry" bullshit. Some things are just too important to compromise about. Gay marriage is one of those things, IMO.

[WildEyedLiberal]

131. Agreed 100%

Every point.

[Orsino]

24. Well, I disagree with nearly all characterization of prominent right-wingers as "crazy."

Never attribute to mental illness what can be explained by mere pandering.

When spouting crazy wingnuttery stops paying so well, then we'll see who's really insane.

[rcrush]

34. Yes sir!

Most of these ring wing pundits who spouts the crazy on the tv are just acting! Its too damn rediculous to be real!

[mitchum]

25. Profound change only comes through violence

[realisticphish]

27. Why do I feel like this thread will be used as evidence in DU Court sometime?

-Palestine has as much right to exist as Israel, and criticism of Israel is not automatically anti-Semitism. Such charges are an attempt to crush debate.
-There is no "BFEE." Just a standard rich family with connections
-The Bush Administration had nothing whatsoever to do with causing or allowing 9/11 to happen, except through their incompetence and stubbornness.
-Capitalism is not close to perfect, but communism is a hundred times worse. Socialism is cool, though
-Nuclear energy is the future
-"Alternative medicine" is hogwash. There is either medicine that works, or medicine. Not "alternative."
-Religion is bunk. However, at the same time religious people do not deserve ad hominem ridicule. Referring to God, or Allah, or whoever as a "magical fairy cloud daddy" makes you sound like an idiotic middle-schooler. Let's grow up, atheists.
-Oh, while we're on nicknames, just call Bush, "Bush." We know who he is. "Commander Cokey McBunnypants Baby-Killer" is obnoxious.
-All ideas are not equal. There are stupid ones.
-Republicans are not inherently evil. They just don't understand the complexity of the real world (By this I mean rank and file).
-No political candidate has ever deserved blind adoration during an election. I truly do not understand a fanatical devotion to HC or Obama.
-Animals do not deserve cruelty. However, they are NOT people.
-Gay people are all going to hell
-Just kidding ;)

[jeff30997]

32. I won't post because it would be a dupe of your reply.

Just one thing however:

"Nuclear energy is the future".Do you mean Nuclear fusion ?

[realisticphish]

33. hopefully

I think it's a long way off, and it will never be room temperature, but I have some hope

[jeff30997]

37. Yep.Totally agree.

Are you sure that you've never been cloned ? :rofl:

[realisticphish]

67. haha

not by a filthy CANADIAN :grr:

[Rabrrrrrr]

29. Is what respect, Bucky?

Geez, I can't believe anyone said that yet.

:rofl:

[jeff30997]

36. Lol.

Well in fact most of us thought about it but were waiting for

someone courageous enough to say it out loud. :rofl:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

121. Dammit, I didn't even see that you beat me to the punch.

Oh well. Kudos to you....

[Deep13]

30. I was dismayed to find that a lot of folks around here...

...would kill me (or let me die--same difference) to save a pet.

[jeff30997]

39. Yeah me too. My jaw is still dropping.

But you seem more traumatized by the experience than I am.:)

[Deep13]

53. I have to say it has made me question the basic decency of liberal proponents.

Something I have just assumed in the past. I thought I had friends on this website. I thought liberalism and progressive thinking was about advancing the human condition, sticking up for each other, watching out for each other, honesty, justice and democracy. Apparently it is only about feeding ones own solipsism, personal wants and imagined sense of moral superiority.

[mitchum]

61. "...would kill me (or let me die--same difference)"...

"Apparently it is only about feeding ones own solipsism, personal wants..."

Apparently it is, isn't it?
Sometimes this is just too easy.

[Deep13]

65. What is?

Getting in little zingers? Grow up.

And the law may recognize a distinction between harm through action versus failure to act, but it is entirely artifical. Failing to save someone for whatever subjective reason when one has the chance to do so makes that person a murderer morally.

[mitchum]

69. You need to get over the fact that many care more about the hypothetical death of a beloved pet...

than the hypothetical death of you.
You have been whining about this for fucking days.
Seems as if you are the one who needs to grow up.

[Deep13]

76. Apparently, I need to explain the obvious to you.

Try to read it slowly.

The "me" in that was to put a specific face on the "stranger" in the hypothetical. A person maybe a stranger to you, but obviously he or she is not a stranger to everyone.

I made maybe half a dozen posts on the subject all in response to other threads. That is hardly "whining" for two days. I check in here intermittently while working because I was raised by a TV set and my attention span for tedious detail is only about 12 minutes long, the length of time between TV commercials in the 1970s. Frankly, me thinks thou doest protest to much. That whole topic is an admission of hypocrisy for anyone claiming to be a liberal, which is the cause of my dismay.

I am genuinely disappointed and feeling like I've been betrayed to some degree. (Read it again. I say I FEEL like that, not that anyone actually has betrayed me.) Like I said before, I have always assumed the basic decency of the liberal cause and the people to support it. The idea that one would commit what amounts to murder in order to satisfy ones own subjective sense of emotional need is shocking to me. Now maybe when push came to shove, they wouldn't act like that, but they say they would and I am taking them at their word. Frankly, I think the whole animals-are-as-good-as-people thing is a kind of fundamentalist thinking being spread by PETA. Irrational thinking leads to bad results. I really feel like my trust has been violated.

And then people like you come along to say that I am being egocentric or am lacking in compassion because I think it is wrong to allow someone to die to save a fucking pet.

You all need to get over the fact that animals are property, not people. If you think I'm wrong about that, then how did you get yours? Someone either gave them to you or you bought them. (Yes, we use the term "Adopt" sometimes, but that obviously is a fiction.) We use and have always used animals for our own purposes. We would not have survived without doing so. And if we have developed an emotional attachment to them it is because there is a survival advantage to doing so. In the past that has never stopped us from eating them, making stuff out of them, making laborers out of them and more recently experimenting on them. Indeed, many domestic species only exist because we find them useful.

Apparently, now the uses of animals include making us feel good by being objects of affection. Well, that just fine, but it should not allow it to compromise our judgment when it comes to clear matters of right and wrong. If the only thing that matters is protecting myself and my own emotional needs, why be liberals at all? What I find interesting is that conservative people (I don't mean media types) are almost always very concerned about cruelty to pets (not livestock, not wild animals, just pets.) I think for them it is a way to pretend they are good and ethical people without actually taking a controversial stand on anything.

I know the OP said not to discuss the matter itself, but your dismissive, condescending and just plain wrong post demanded a response.

[Mythsaje]

142. If you take responsibility for a creature that is completely dependent on you for

its health and welfare, and you betray that trust, you're a fuckhead no matter what kind of spin you put on it.

I dislike the PETA shit too, but if you go after my animals, I'm going to whack you with a stick until you stop moving. I don't give a fuck WHO you think you are.

[Bucky]

42. Were they talking about saving a pet over a stranger, or...

... just letting you in particular die, should the opportunity arise? :hide:

[Deep13]

52. What difference does it make? nt

[coyotespaw]

112. Dammit...

you just blew the lid off of "Operation: Kill Deep13 So We Can Have More Pets"

[Jamastiene]

135. .

:spray:

[Kali]

59. I figured there were a few that would say that, but a bit surprised by how many.

[jeff30997]

71. The number of people who said that was surprising.

In a real life situation this could be different.Well that's just a supposition.OTOH there are

a lot of people who risk their own life to save total strangers.And not only professionals

like firefighters,cops or coastguards just to name a few.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

102. My pets are nicer than you

[rcrush]

31. Hmmmm well I've gotten flamed for...

Liking Nader
Not being too happy with Obama lately.
Not thinking that anything done in the name of National Security or DHS or any of that shit is done to help us.
I dont believe the 'terrerwists' or a threat to us at all.
Most of what we see on the news and what we are told by the 'government' is all bullshit
Nancy Pelosi AND the CIA are lying.
A lot of times I do think most democratic politicians are indistinguishable from Republican politicians. They are all owned by the same corporate masters.

Those are the ones that seem to get the most hate.

:shrug: just my opinions man!

Also when someone MENTIONS a republican I dont feel the need to grab the hood and pitchforks and go lynch them. :shrug: i just disagree with random republicans I dont boil over with rage when I see one. Just the big ones like W and Poppy.

[CJCRANE]

38. I like Wolf Blitzer

:hide:

[jeff30997]

40. OMG !

You are sooo dead ! :rofl:

[mitchum]

54. You motherfokker!

[madinmaryland]

57. And I like Candy Crowley for her "unbiased" reporting!

[Jamastiene]

136. BLASPHEMY!

:puke: Ooooo, you like him? Really?

[SPKrazy]

43. Dick is evil

I agree with the other points.

While marriage equality is important, bringing our kids home, the economy, and jobs are ahead of that in my opinion.

It seems to be a states issue anyway, so as far as federal views, the above stand.

[Bucky]

46. Are you talking about the former Vice President turned torture apologist or my penis?

A good argument could be made in either case.

[SPKrazy]

72. take your pick?

might be talking about my penis :P

[Bucky]

44. I don't think Family Guy is particularly funny.

Most of their jokes seem like they're trying too hard. Celebrity-bashing celebrity impressions and a constant iteration of sex jokes isn't wit. Shark jump or not, the Simpsons is a zillion times funnier and Family Guy is a point-for-point rip off of the Simpsons, only with juvenile Hollywood-style "zany" ideas tacked onto it.

[Orrex]

105. That is the wisest and most correct post in the history of DU

I salute you!

[Mythsaje]

143. It's occasionally funny, but too non-linear for my tastes.

The Simpsons beat it hands down every time.

[Dogtown]

156. I thought we were simpatico

and you're going to diss FG? You probably prefer 'Buffy' to 'True Blood', too, you revisionist dog.

You just got deleted from my 'buddy list'...

[rcrush]

47. I hate MSNBC!

I hate all the cable news networks. CNN is just as bad. Fox is... well its Fox! But MSNBC! Oh my God those people are airheads! The morning bimbo anchors are so stupid! They make my head hurt when they blather on about nonsense! They act too much like a Fox news for democrats. Its really annoying. The evening guys arent any better in my opinion.

[old mark]

48. I own and ejoy owning guns, don't know the percentage of gun owners here, but I

think it is high enough to make many of the others uncomfortable.:)

I am not especially in favor of "bipartisanship", except that I see where the GOP is so damn stupid they keep harming themselves, so I could be wrong.

I have no real problem with President Obama being less "leftist" than people seemed to think he was - I think he is a hell of an accomplished politician and will get more done in his first term than many modern Presidents did in 2 full terms. I think he should be stronger on gay equality/rights/freedom, and single payer insurance. Other than that, he is OK with me. (I am sure he will sleep better now.)

I am not really a political junky - I am an artist accidently got onto the wrong website, and having too good a time to leave after a year.

I don't agree that we boomers should all suicide in shame, and I don't think whatever the young people are styled as now are the saviors of humanity, either - they just haven't been around long enough to realized how fucked up their peers are. We boomers already know this, but some of us are OK.

I am frequently wrong and I know it. Alot of people here don't ever realize they are wrong. Not ever, ever. NEVER!!!

I can get angry at someone here and laugh at one of their jokes in the next few minutes.
I used to be a grownup, but I didn't like it much.

mark

[Bucky]

51. Boomers

Long before it was trendy, DU was a website with a surprisingly large number of people in or past middle age. I think the average age of active DUers is north of 40.

[old mark]

70. How about north of 60? nt

[Bucky]

86. I plan to be that some day, myself

If it weren't for Ava, our average age probably would be north of 60, but those whipper snappers keep slipping in through the screening process.

[Jamastiene]

137. Shit, I'm glad many of you have guns on here.

We'll need protection in case the FReepers come try to take us over. :P

[rcrush]

49. If someone has a 'crazy conspiracy theory' about something

I dont feel the need to call them an idiot and piss all over everything they say.

[Jamastiene]

140. Today's "crazy conspiracy theories"

are tomorrows truths.

[Throd]

50. I like cars with big V-8 engines and more horsepower than a sensible person needs

And yes, I am quite content with the size of my penis.

[flvegan]

56. Seconded, thirded, fourthed! But lets not limit ourselves

to just V-8s. There are a LOT of nice V10s and V12s out there.

[kentauros]

91. Ah, but there's nothing like a 14-cylinder inline

:P



http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/emma-maersk-engine/the-worlds-largest-marine-diesel/
http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/

[jakefrep]

148. I think that it is a departure fron DU orthodoxy...

...to want to stuff that thing in a Geo Metro.

[mitchum]

55. Children are stupid

[ldf]

114. nowadays, almost all children are spoiled brats

i curse the person who came up with the "time out" thing.

talk about a total waste of 3 seconds of contemplative thought...

children need to learn PAIN. and don't saddle the rest of us with your total failure of parenting...

especially that monster (about three years old) that was on the very crowded 1 train two weekends ago that decided that she must scream, as in FORCED high pitched, nerve shattering screams, non stop, for about 15 minutes (slow going due to track work) until totally controlled momma picked her up out of her nice, comfortable SUV carriage, and held her. people were, literally, trying to get as far away from previously mentioned monster spawn as possible. i sat there with my fingers in my ears. about a hundred people experienced hell due to a spoiled brat with a helpless mother.

do something wrong, you will experience pain.

do the same thing again, the pain will be more intense. children aren't idiots, and life is not pain free. they will learn quite quickly.

and the parent CAN still say, yes, this hurts me more than it does you....

sorry, no sarcasm smiley this time.

i am SOOOO not in tune with DU on this one, and don't give a flying fuck. they may be precious little darlings that can do no wrong in your eyes, but to the rest of us around you, they are nothing but spoiled monsters, thanks to YOUR lack of parenting skills.

[Jamastiene]

138. Nice post, Joan Crawford

:P

:rofl:

[MikeH]

147. You have some VERY SERIOUS issues if you feel the way you do

You sound like the kind of person who is OK with torture. Are you?

If not, how do you feel that your wanting to cause children pain is different from torturing prisoners?

You seem to get some sadistic pleasure at the idea of inflicting pain on children.

And you definitely seem to have a lot of unresolved anger, which it is easy to take it out on defenseless children. It seems like it is still socially acceptable to inflict pain on children, and to call it “childrearing” or “discipline”.

I would guess that you yourself were very severely mistreated when you were a child, and you don’t want to admit that your parents, or anybody else involved in your upbringing, might have been abusive or wrong in doing what they did to you, and that it really hurt you, and that you really suffered humiliation. You don’t want to admit that you are angry with your parents, or that they might have abused you. So to avoid your own pain and anger, you think that the pain you yourself suffered as a child should continue to be inflicted on children.

The Swiss writer and psychologist http://www.alice-miller.com/">Alice http://www.naturalchild.com/alice_miller/">Miller documents in her book http://www.nospank.net/fyog.htm">For Your Own Good that those who became perpetrators of the Nazi holocaust all had very “strict” upbringings, as far as she was able to find. She has http://www.nospank.net/fyog13.htm">an entire chapter on Hitler, documenting that he was constantly beaten and tormented by his father.

Alice Miller, in a section of her book titled http://www.nospank.net/fyog10.htm#needs">Pedagogy Fills the Needs of Parents, Not of Children, documents what she considers to be the true motives of people, such as yourself for example, who advocate or practice inflicting pain on children:

I am convinced of the harmful effects of training for the following reason: all advice that pertains to raising children betrays more or less clearly the numerous, variously clothed needs of the adult . Fulfillment of these needs not only discourages the child's development but actually prevents it. This also hold true when the adult is honestly convinced of acting in the child's best interests.

Among the adult's true motives we find:

1. The unconscious need to pass on to others the humiliation one has undergone oneself

2. The need to find an outlet for repressed affect

3. The need to possess and have at one's disposal a vital object to manipulate

4. Self-defense: i.e., the need to idealize one's childhood and one's parents by dogmatically applying the parents' pedagogical principles to one's own children

5. Fear of freedom

6. Fear of the reappearance of what one has repressed, which one reencounters in one's child and must try to stamp out, having killed it in oneself earlier

7. Revenge for the pain one has suffered

Does any of this ring true for you?

and the parent CAN still say, yes, this hurts me more than it does you.…

:wtf:

That is absolute BS! That is an absolute LIE. It is very typical of lies from people in positions of power, whether from abusive parents or from presidents who send people to die in unnecessary wars.

And "I am doing it http://www.nospank.net/fyog.htm">for your own good" is another such lie told by parents.

i am SOOOO not in tune with DU on this one, and don't give a flying fuck. they may be precious little darlings that can do no wrong in your eyes, but to the rest of us around you, they are nothing but spoiled monsters, thanks to YOUR lack of parenting skills.

:wow:
Again, I think YOU are the one who has a problem. BIG TIME. You have a lot of anger and hostility, and hatred, really.

It is no longer socially acceptable to openly express hatred and intolerance toward African Americans, or toward gay people, but you seem to think that it is acceptable to express hatred and intolerance for children. And I think the fact that their behavior might be annoying at times is an EXCUSE for you to express anger and hatred in a manner that you think is socially acceptable.

Again, I think that your anger and hatred, which you feel free to express toward children, is YOUR problem, which you need to deal with.

[MikeH]

146. Does it serve any good purpose for you to say what you said?

Don’t you think that there are some things that are better left unsaid?

Your post is a broad-brushed, bigoted statement directed toward CHILDREN (and as such should be against the http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html">DU rules.) Do you think it is acceptable, or should be acceptable, for you to make the kind of statement you made if it is about children, but not about African Americans or gays?

Do you feel that children are responsible or are to blame for being “stupid”, as you deem them to be?

Were you ever a child? And if you were, do you feel that you were stupid when you were a child?

When you were a child, how would you have felt about an adult making a statement that “children are stupid” (which would include you)?

[mitchum]

58. Bill Hicks had terrible technique

some great lines, but piss poor structure and delivery

[Forkboy]

78. Whaaaaaaat????

Just kidding, you're totally right. But I suspect he just didn't give a shit about joke structure. I don't even think he was even doing standup in the traditional sense at time. More like spoken word stuff at times that just happened to be really fucking funny, especially later in his career. There were nights where he didn't even do an "act".

[Bucky]

88. Thank you.

His early stuff was better. But the more political he got, the less original he got.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

125. What the fuck is a Bill Hicks?

Am I so out of it that I never heard of the guy until today?

[Richardo]

152. This.

What few clips of him I've seen are very not-funny.

[Tikki]

60. I think most women look better with big hair and makeup...

I do not believe that look automatically makes one a Republican...

I like Jerry Brown as a person and a legislator and will vote for him every time.

I think despite your view on Christianity...Evolution will continue, unabated.

I would love to travel to Cuba and Venezuela.


Tikki

[SoxFan]

62. OK

* I don't buy into the logic of the pro-choice position
* I think that the NEA is a huge barrier to improving public education
* I don't find Bill Hicks particularly funny
* I like Oasis

[Rabrrrrrr]

133. NEA - The National Endownment for the Arts? A barrier to improving public education?

I'm lost on that one.

[Zomby Woof]

139. He's referring to the teachers' union

The National Education Association.

I am curious as to why the anti-choicer is also anti-teachers' union, but maybe I'd rather not know.

[Rabrrrrrr]

141. Okay- thanks. That makes WAY more sense than accusing the arts endownment.

And yeah, you probably don't want to know the answers.

Can I only imagine the science-fictiony feel they must offer.

[UrbScotty]

63. "Christianity has by far been a greater benefit..."

I agree with you on this point. I also believe the Catholic Church is still a wonderful institution. I don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch.

[billyoc]

66. I still don't trust the executive branch.

[LeftishBrit]

68. I don't know that there is a 'DU orthodoxy'; everyone has different views...

But the sort of views I'm more likely to get into arguments about:

Modern medicine - though not perfect - is one of the greatest things in the world, and access to it is a basic human right.

Big Pharma is bad mainly because it denies many people access to medicines, rather than because it promotes unnecessary medicines.

Vaccines are not the cause of autism.

Both sides are to blame in the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Israel does not control the USA; it's much more (though not totally) the other way round.

The Queen of England has no political power, and certainly does not control the USA in general, or the Federal Reserve in particular.

Though Britain's last few governments have been very bad on civil liberties, we are still pretty far away from being a 'police state' in the proper sense.

The Government did not 'take away our (Britain's) guns'; we have never had a gun culture in the American sense.

Rather than there being a 'global conspiracy' by an 'elite', there are lots of rival groups competing for power, and lots of bystanders ending up as literal or metaphorical collateral damage.

All right-wing agendas are bad and dangerous, and this includes paleoconservativism as much as neoconservativism.

Ron Paul is an insane monster!

[WildEyedLiberal]

94. Have people seriously alleged that the Queen of England controls the US?

Wow. Even by DU standards that's batshit. :crazy:

[LeftishBrit]

108. Very rarely, but it happened once or twice. I think it's based onf Larouche's theories

[LeftishBrit]

151. A few more...

Most of the British press, especially the tabloid press, is AWFUL, and should not be relied on for information. Their opposition to Blair and New Labour comes from the Right, not the Left.

In connection with the above: Britain is not being overrun by immigrants. Europe is not about to become 'Eurabia'. Also, the EU is not an evil sinister organization (and I was a moderate Eurosceptic until 2004, and can see both sides of the issue, but the RW paranoia about it is completely over the top.)

Also in connection with the above, the British are not in thrall to evil suppression of free speech in order to appease immigrants, liberal social workers, and 'PC run mad'. That is the sort of RW myth concocted by our equivalents of Rush Limbaugh.

I suppose my own most 'un-PC view': while there are always exceptions, on average, most non-Western societies are *more* RW than most Western ones, rather than the reverse. This definitely doesn't mean that they should be attacked or exploited or colonized, but they also should not be sentimentalized or, on most issues, emulated.

China's use of the DP for corrupt politicians and executives (as well as lots of other people) is NOT something that should be emulated elsewhere. It's morally wrong, and what's more, it doesn't work, as shown by the frequency of corruption in China. (I don't think this is actually related to DU orthodoxy in any way at all, but it's an argument I've had.)

[Genevieve]

73. You can have alot of money and still be a good person.

[nomorenomore08]

110. And likewise, you can be poor as shit and still be an asshole...

:shrug:

[MorningGlow]

79. I think "Garfield without Garfield" is stupid

Flame away.

:hide:

[amitten]

155. It's Garfield MINUS Garfield, and you are now on my shit list.

How DARE you!

[AngryAmish]

82. I have been to and enjoyed cock fights

[omega minimo]

84. Topics and discussions that are challenging or controversial need not be marginalized

[Divine Discontent]

87. that there's such a thing as progressive liberals, because Jesus behaved like we'd all want our best

friend to behave. I am just as disgusted at the religious (that's not Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc - it's RELIGIOUS, they live out a religion of basing their life on rules and judge based on them) who intervene in people's rights.

pretty much accepting of whatever people choose to do with their time if it doesn't harm others by putting themselves at risk which in response would hurt someone unintentionally - otherwise it's your life - lead it!

[mvd]

89. My opinions differ more in the Lounge

I love pop music, have enjoyed American Idol, am not a music snob, like Coast To Coast AM, don't like Bjork, think Twilight has a good plot, etc.

I guess I might be out of the DU political mainstream on a couple liberal positions, like a 75% tax rate on income over $1 million, and maybe on my gun control support.

[seaglass]

90. I don't like cats.

Hmmm, that's a huge generalization and I actually do like cats except for the ones that kill wildlife just because they can.

Maybe it's the owners, since cats don't know any better. I don't like cat owners who let their cats out to kill wildlife. Though I may like you as a person, I just don't like your excuses for letting your cats out to kill. Or to be killed.

[DainBramaged]

92. Sea glass

One of the joys of my beautiful Daughter's youth and beloved ex's pre-handicapped past was walking slowly along the beaches of NJ all year round collecting sea glass. Mason jars full. And taking the smoothest pieces and drilling them with a diamond bit to make necklaces. Your moniker brought back sweet memories. Thank you. :hug:

[Strong Atheist]

97. ...

...

[Boojatta]

98. My political opinions are DU orthodoxy.

Therefore, there is no respect in which my political opinions differ from DU orthodoxy.

[Orrex]

100. Wait--is it too late for me to change my answer?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

101. I support equal civil rights

I'm always go to side with the Irish over the Brits.

I support the death penalty.

I think there's too much gun control in many places (i.e. where I live in NJ).

[OmahaBlueDog]

104. Don't answer -- it's a trap leading straight to a tombstone

Bucky has a book -- it's called "To Serve DU" - IT'S A COOKBOOK!!

[nomorenomore08]

111. Well, I've only had 2 or 3 posts deleted so far, no serious flamewars,

so I must not be rocking the boat *too* hard. :)

[lightningandsnow]

113. Here are a few:

- I support decriminalizing prostitution(not the legalize, heavily tax, heavily regulate thing.)
- A lot of environmental activism, in my opinion, comes from a really privileged place, and thus, annoys me.
- I think Bush is a pretty colossal asshole, but not Hitler.
- I don't support hate speech laws.
- I don't know enough about the Fairness Doctrine to really comment on it, but, from what I know, it seems like an unecessary intrusion - I mean, don't like an opinion expressed? Don't listen to it.

[MikeH]

117. Something you say seems to be missing the point

- I don't know enough about the Fairness Doctrine to really comment on it, but, from what I know, it seems like an unecessary intrusion - I mean, don't like an opinion expressed? Don't listen to it.

I myself don't know that much about the Fairness Doctrine either, or not enough to have a strong opinion about it, but I think the point would be not about stopping certain opinions from being expressed, but allowing a greater variety of opinions to be expressed -- as opposed to having people like Rush Limbaugh monopolize the airwaves because those who want him to speak have lots of money to spend, while those who oppose his views who do not have the big bucks to pay for airtime are shut out of the chance to respond to him or to express their views.

[azmouse]

115. The main one for me would be:

I don't give a rat's ass if pot or any drugs are ever legalized.
I've never smoked that shit and never will. Just not interested.

[tigereye]

116. I'm probably more moderate left than a lot of folks here - I suspect it's

partially a function of age. I don't have as many "hot button" issues as I used to, other than abortion rights. Threats to women's rights seem to get me going more than a lot of other issues.


All in all though, I think there's plenty of room under the tent - that's how we managed to elect Obama. And a damn good thing, too.

[WinkyDink]

118. I like dogs more than I do cats. Mo, excepted.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

119. "In what respect, Bucky?"

Sorry, I had to throw that one in there.

(Takes a deep breath....)

I have always been, and always will be, a social moderate. Not a social conservative using "social moderate" as a code word, but an actual moderate on many of the "hot button" social issues du jour.

For example, while I do think that marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes, and I think there's even room for decriminalization for non-medical purposes so that offenses are treated more along the line of civil fines (similar to traffic infractions), I don't think that it should necessarily be actually legalized. Moreover, I think anyone who gives the issue of legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes any type of high priority (pardon the pun) in their political goals seriously needs to re-examine their priorities in life. Moreover, while there may seem to be a double standard as it relates to alcohol and marijuana, alcohol has been long accepted by the cultural mainstream, while marijuana has typically been appealed to the underground, and that's just how it is, and probably how it will stay. Sorry.

I think the use of embryonic stem cells that have been developed by fertility clinics for medical research is perfectly acceptable and a worthy goal that should be pursued. Those embryos would otherwise be discarded anyways, so why not make lemonade out of lemons? However, I think the idea of "therapeutic cloning", i.e. the creation of embryos solely for the purposes of research raises some extremely serious moral and ethical issues and should be avoided at all costs.

Also, I don't think that the goal of either opponents of embryonic stem cell research or people in the pharmaceutical industry is for people to suffer unnecessarily for their own selfish goals. It's been insinuated otherwise by many on DU, but seriously folks.....

I think there's a major difference between atheists and assholes who call themselves atheists. Regular atheists simply don't believe in any God or a creating entity and publicly state as such, and then leave it at that. Assholes who like to call themselves atheists don't believe in God or a creating entity will publicly state as such, but then continue to go on and insinuate that anyone who does believe in God or belongs to a certain religion is somehow intellectually less than and a believer in fairy tales (a term they love to use). Hence, I like to call such people assholes rather than atheists, because frankly, that's who they are first and foremost. And in the end they come off no better than the bible beating fundamentalists they proclaim to oppose. And by the way, Richard Dawkins is a tool whose only concern in life is that you buy his books and enrich him. So is Christopher Hitchens, but thankfully most people already know that.

I'm a Catholic, not a lapsed one but one who actually does still practice regularly, and despite some of my disagreements with the church's hierarchal leadership, remain pretty proud of my faith. And I resent that any DU thread that involves the Catholic Church either directly or tangentially, even those that involve something that we can all agree on (such as opposition to the Iraq War), will inevitably end up with some mention of "pedophile priests." Yes, it is a serious issue that I'm certainly not proud of, but most priests are not pedophiles, and not everything that is Catholic needs to associated with that one issue.

I don't think that politicians or people who may not necessarily be inclined to support gay marriage outright but are willing to go as far as to support civil unions are to be demonized as homophobes who are no better than Fred Phelps. And frankly, because I think such people can be persuaded to take the next step and support full marriage rights, calling them homophobes isn't going to do the gay community any favors on that issue, but rather just serve to turn people off.

I don't think Howard Dean is an infallible, God-incarnate figure, and frankly I think his handling (or lack thereof) of the Florida primary situation (where I was not sure whether or not my legally cast vote would actually count for anything) was atrocious.

I guess the biggest diversion from the DU orthodoxy is on the abortion issue, because I've just become so frustrated on that issue from both sides of the debate. I think the "pro-life" and the "pro-choice" sides have become more interested in developing lame, meaningless bumper sticker slogans and demonizing and caricaturizing the other side than to actually take on a conversation and actual debate about the substantive issues of the thorny subject. That boils down even to how the respective sides label themselves. I eschew the "pro life" and "pro choice" monikers because the only reason they exist is so each side can call each other "anti life" or "anti choice". And they don't realize that there are other lives than the life of an unborn fetus, and there are other choices than the choice to have an abortion. And for someone to actually be "anti-life" they would be someone who wouldn't be opposed to shooting people over trivial disputes, and for someone to be "anti choice" they would have to be opposed to someone having the decision to choose lo mien over fried rice at their local Panda Express. And face it, that's just ridiculous. But that's what the abortion debate has become. It's become the bible-thumping misogynists who hate women versus the godless baby killers, and that's just unfortunate. Now, as far as abortion rights supporters go, I do think they've managed to try to reduce the issue way too much to the point where some really have made it seem like the procedure is no different or morally/ethically complex than having a pimple removed. On the other hand, abortion opponents have overemphasized their religious objections to the issue, which is a turn off more than anything else. Many have also married the Republican party and their wackadoodle Ayn Rand economic theories, which is a contradiction of the highest degree. But enough about that.

Of course, I think I happily fall into other areas of DU Orthodoxy. I'm opposed to unjust warfare, especially the Iraq War. I think the death penalty is barbaric and provides absolutely no actual justice but rather feeds medieval and superficial feelings of bloodlust and vengeance. I support the idea of progressive taxation and the understanding that those at the highest income brackets may have to pay at a somewhat higher rate so that we all (including them) can get ahead in the end. I think a well run and efficient government can be a force for good of society and is not the enemy (as Ronald Reagan tried to claim it was). I think Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are great benefits that should be protected, and I would love to see the day where we all have universal health care provided to us. While guns may not need to be outlawed, they do need to be significantly restricted as to their legal use and the types of guns that can be legally made available. And I think we need to do all we can to protect the environment, and that such interests should be placed ahead of the concerns of certain corporate interests. I like to call myself a liberal and would proudly accept such a label.

Well, that's about it. Sorry for the long winded response. Now, let the tomato throwing commence!

[TZ]

120. Political pragmatist.

Politicians are politicians no matter what their party, therefore I have little expectations of any of them and therefore don't get terribly disappointed when they do what I dislike (alot)
I work for a large corporation and I, for the most part, respect them because they (mostly) seem responsible and honest and treat the employees decently.

[LanternWaste]

122. I think most people are a lot more intelligent...

I think most people are a lot more intelligent than any one of us may give them credit for. We call them 'sheep' out of our own intellectual laziness.

I-pods and Game Console Systems have replaced television and religion as the opiate of the masses. No joke.

I believe that greed and fear have caused far more war and death than everything else combined.

Environmentalism and our stewardship of this planet should trump every other issue in terms of both priority and funding.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

123. Provate businesses and the stock market are, overall, good things.

They only need some (currently lacking) policing to prevent abuses. Just like people.

[Iggo]

127. I'm not tellin'.

B-)

[Maccagirl]

128. I am not enthralled by Hugo Chavez and I think the people

of West Virginia would be better served by someone other than Robert Byrd (progressive). His age and health are way to fragile.

[CreekDog]

129. I like Obama

:hide:

[charlie and algernon]

130. coming from a conservative christian household

I can say that not all conservatives and not all christians are evil and that most are genuinely good people who happen to have a different view on government and religion than I do. Neither of which automatically makes you a bad person.

[WildEyedLiberal]

132. I think there is unfortunately a lot of truth to the "elitist latte liberal" stereotype

I thought it was just BS until I spent a lot of time on DU, but there are unfortunately a decent number of people here who seem invested in bringing to life every noxious right-wing stereotype of the left.

- The relentless south/rural USA bashing is elitist, intellectually lazy, arrogant, and uncalled for. (Especially since California just proved that it is about as progressive as Alabama.)


- Much modern "environmentalism" is just an excuse for cheap posturing and snobbery from the urbanites who are well-to-do enough to afford to buy "green" vehicles and shop at Whole Foods, or who live in a metro area that allows them to use public transportation.

- I think a person's chosen religion is symptomatic of their deeper mindset. Kind, liberal religious people will practice their faith in a kind, liberal way; angry, hateful conservative people will practice their faith in a hellfire-and-brimstone judgmental way. Those people would be liberal or conservative even if religion disappeared tomorrow. It is naive and simplistic to believe that religion is a cause, and not a symptom.

- On that note, I think a lot of virulently anti-religious atheists are as fundamentalist and simple-minded in their thinking as the most stridently conservative Bible-bangers.

- The relentless misanthropes who constantly preach how "the human race" is ruining planet Earth, how there is absolutely nothing unique or special about humans, and how everyone needs to stop 'breeding' because children are snot-nosed wretches who will only consume resources and waste oxygen are nihilists, not progressives. There is absolutely nothing liberal or progressive about such a mindset.

- I think most gun control is a cheap, facile band-aid that enables people to avoid dealing with the real problems of urban blight and violence.

- I think overanalyzing popular entertainment to find "evidence" of "sexism" (or, really, insert -ism of your choice) is an exercise in self-indulgence and faux righteousness and has nothing to do with - indeed, distracts us from - combating REAL sexism and bigotry. I care far more about whether I as a woman will be paid as much as my male colleagues than I do about whether Uhura wore a skirt in Star Trek.

- I think all the pretentious wankage about how popular culture, American Idol, video games, etc are "distracting us from Bushco's crimes" etc is just the 21st century version of "rock and roll is the devil's music!" Believe it or not, people who care to pay attention can do so while also indulging in entertainment and hobbies. People who don't care to pay attention wouldn't care even if all electronic distraction disappeared from the face of the Earth tomorrow.

[Mythsaje]

144. I find I agree with most of those.

Never thought a lot of as being part of any "liberal elite" though. Most folks aren't at all "elite." They're just different.

[charlie and algernon]

145. wow, i agree with 100% of what you just said

I thought I was a big liberal till I came to DU, then I realized I'm way more blue collar than I thought.

[amitten]

158. You're a smart one. n/t

[EndersDame]

134. Texas is a good place to live and isnt overrun by KKK members

I think that some one who uses the word bitch isnt automatically a sexist

I think that being overly politically correct detracts from real racism/sexism/homophobia et al and is retarded

I believe in the Death Penalty for those who commit heinous crimes

Guns can be used as tools for self defense

I love the Environment but annoying environmentalists who take a holier than thou approach will turn people off

I understand that even though Obama makes compromises and isnt totally liberal on his actions he is sooo much better than Bush or John McCain

I know some people might see that as being conservative but am more of a Libertarian/Progressive. I totally pro choice pro gay marriage, legalization of pot and prostitution and think that European style democracies are cool but go a little too far in regulation and America Kicks Fucking ass

Just as a side note why the hate for Texas?Austin is a kick ass place to live. It is a cultural mecca for music and film. Hell even the parking lot of the Bellmead, TX (just outside of Waco,TX) grocery store is filled with cars that have Obama stickers. Texas is the home to a rare animal the Hippie Redneck a very down to earth person who doesn't bullshit

[Zavulon]

149. Starting with "heavily pro-gun" and moving on to. the following - I am..

* against Affirmative Action or any sort of remedial actions which create "diversity" by force

* not a wild fan of social programs at the federal level (it should be noted that I am a Democrat because of social issues like religion and abortion, but I am not a "good Democrat" when it comes to fiscal issues)

* not for single-payer health care - in fact, it scares the shit out of me

* one of those who considers the United Nations a joke

* not willing to write off every anti-Democrat word on talk radio as "hate radio"

* of the opinion that calling someone "self-loathing" just because you don't agree with that person is one of the stupidest, intellectually bankrup things one can say (this isn't necessarily only a Democrat thing, I just hear it more often from our side than from theirs)

* of the opinion that way too much is being spent at the federal level

* not a fan of Social Security

* still upset that Arlen Specter jumped to our side (I'd rather have a real Democrat next time than that politcal whore asshole)

* of the opinion that even for the very richest people in America, any tax rate above 50% is an absolute outrage

* NOT a fan of Hillary

* not a fan of Title IX

* not one of those who refuses to watch a movie/ TV show that has Tom Selleck, Charlton Heston or Patricia Heaton in it

* not willing to give a single cent in charity to any organization which focuses only on one racial or ethnic demographic - if it doesn't include everyone, it can get its donations from others


Edited to add the following:

* one of those who DOES think crack cocaine should get heavier sentences than "regular" cocaine

* not in favor of doing anything to make lives easier for illegals (for that matter, I refuse to call them "undocumented workers")

* against the death penalty only in the way it's practiced, not in theory

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

154. My issues...

1. Legalizing pot is not a major issue of the day. I don't think that ingesting a substance that makes you act like an idiot or a half-asleep moron is necessary in order to cope.

2. I think that someone's life circumstances (race, poverty, etc.) are not an excuse to break the law, not read, not learn how to speak, not become educated, not clean up, kill someone else, deal drugs, become a prostitute, etc.

3. I think there should be a license given before one is allowed to have children. Simply because it's biologically easy to have a baby (except for me, it seems), it should not be an automatic.

4. I think that visa programs such as the H-1B serve a purpose and they do, in my 11 years plus experience, enrich the U.S. with bright people from all over the world. In my experience, those who abuse the H-1B programs are very few and far between.

5. I think that there should be consequences for people who enter the U.S. illegally, as well as consequences for those who knowingly employ people who entered illegally.

6. I think that Obama is doing incredibly well in just a short five months in office.

7. I think that people who criticize those who shop at Wal-Mart can't understand that some people just don't have the means to shop elsewhere.

8. Not everything is a conspiracy by the dark forces and/or Darth Cheney (9/11 comes to mind).

9. Both Israel and Palestinians are at fault.

10. Not all religious people are freaks and mentally deficient.

11. I don't like the DU-approved artists (Zappa, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, etc.) but I do like Nickelback.

12. I am not a fan of Dennis Kucinich. While he has some good ideas at times, other ideas are, in my opinion, unrealistic (Dept. of Peace comes to mind).

13. Americans are not the most evil people on this earth nor is the USA the worst place on earth (I am Italian, btw). You can find both good and bad in any place you go.

14. You can't forcefeed liberal principles to all people in a nation that's politically diverse. Change takes time.

15. There's nothing wrong with serving in the armed forces.

16. I believe that war is part of the natural process of societies; it has been so throughout the ages and will be so in the future. War, as despicable as it is, serves a purpose and, while it should be avoided as much as possible, it cannot be eradicated.

17. I find nothing wrong with enjoying meat.

18. A college degree is not an automatic pass for being an asshole elitist snob.

19. Not everyone in the South is a redneck racist bigot. Conversely, not everyone in the West or Northeast is a do-gooder liberal who can read.

20. If an adult woman consents to being a sex worker, more power to her.

21. Women do enjoy sex and should have the fundamental right to enjoy it as much as men.

22. I don't think Hugo Chavez will be good for Venezuela in the long run. I am concerned about the on-going nationalization of several industries.

23. Socialism ain't all that's cracked up to be; capitalism ain't all evil.

[WildEyedLiberal]

159. Yes - I forgot to add that pacifism is feel-good claptrap

It is every bit as much a foolish fairy tale fantasy as the fundies atheists believe religion to be. I am not "anti-war" or "anti-violence" any more than I am "anti-death." Death is not pleasant, it is not something I look forward to for either myself or my loved ones, but it is inevitable, and to deny it is to deny the natural order.

To that end, I have always supported the casus belli for the war in Afghanistan (while admitting that the execution of the war, thanks to Bush, was horribly mismanaged and neglected). Iraq, however, being an unjust war of aggression, is a war crime for which its instigators should be brought in front of the Hague.

[Dogtown]

157. I think the Sex Offender Registry

is a really bad thing.