SGG's What's Your Issue Poll

[12thMan]

I tried to keep it simple. I just don't think any of the candidates will be able to adequately address all of these issues during one term.

With that being said, I went with two, education and immigration. I certainly feel rising tuition costs needs to be addressed, but I'm a bigger proponent of addressing and correcting the ills of our public school systems in the inner-cities; Particularly those in here in the Nations Capitol.

Immigration is a bit more trickier to overhaul than most think. Not only do the laws that currently govern illegal immigrants need to be addressed, but the system needs to be overhauled.

[MTK]

All of the above issues are very important. I just hope for once the candidates can stay focused on what's important and not get sidetracked on the personal BS and mudslinging.

And inevitably, someone will try to sidetrack things with hot button issues such as gay marriage that in the end only helps to distract people from the real issues that we should be concerned about.

[12thMan]

Man, we've been feeling very patriotic around here lately.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Man, we've been feeling very patriotic around here lately.

Is that a bad thing?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Is that a bad thing?

No, it's a damn good thing.

[Schneed10]

Something interesting on abortion, at least for me. Abortion is not an issue I care enough about to cast my vote on it (other issues are just more important, IMO). But after my wife had our first young'n back in October, my stance on abortion has changed drastically.

I used to be staunchly pro-choice, feeling that the government shouldn't be involved in telling a woman how to handle her body. But now that I've witnessed the birth of a human being, I can't get past the fact that abortion basically denies that child the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It just feels different now that I'm a parent, it's difficult to explain. I wonder if anybody else's opinions have changed on the subject because they've become a parent?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Something interesting on abortion, at least for me. Abortion is not an issue I care enough about to cast my vote on it (other issues are just more important, IMO). But after my wife had our first young'n back in October, my stance on abortion has changed drastically.

I used to be staunchly pro-choice, feeling that the government shouldn't be involved in telling a woman how to handle her body. But now that I've witnessed the birth of a human being, I can't get past the fact that abortion basically denies that child the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It just feels different now that I'm a parent, it's difficult to explain. I wonder if anybody else's opinions have changed on the subject because they've become a parent?

I'm a parent as well, but my views have changed in the other direction. I lean more pro-choice now.

I guess my position is this; If the government wants to legislate abortion then they should also legislate sex before marriage. I know that's a pretty extreme stance, but that's how I see it. You can't outlaw one immoral decision yet allow another. How many pre-marital abortions are performed? I don't know. But I would venture to say that the vast majority of them are done out of wedlock.

Why is this an issue with me? Because I tend to find that much of the protesting and demonstrating in front of abortion clinics attempt to invoke the Ten Commandments when making their case against abortion. Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting that sex before marriage should be outlawed. To that end, I think those who stand on "scripture" are duty bound to invoke all of the Commandments, not just the one(s) that appease their particular base.

But if people are in engaging in pre-marital sex then that's their business. And if they want to have an abortion then, well, that's their business too.

[saden1]

The right always says "..they hate our freedoms, that's why they want to kill us" yet when it comes to issues like abortion or issues they don't agree with freedom is metaphiscal nonsense.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by saden1

The right always says "..they hate our freedoms, that's why they want to kill us" yet when it comes to issues like abortion or issues they don't agree with freedom is metaphiscal nonsense.

Agreed. But, I do actually think that Bin Laden-types, as opposed to your run-of-the-mill Iraqi insurgents, hate America for its "freedoms." Bin Laden and others of his ilk do despise our promiscuity, indulgence in drink and drugs, freedom of religion, separation of church and state, etc.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by saden1

The right always says "..they hate our freedoms, that's why they want to kill us" yet when it comes to issues like abortion or issues they don't agree with freedom is metaphiscal nonsense.

Yeah but the main reason the right is so appalled by abortion is because it's giving people the freedom to choose to deny someone a life.

It's a little different than freedom of speech, freedom to practice religion, etc.

It's not the fact that abortion is a freedom that bothers the right, it's the fact that they feel it's killing someone. And I tend to agree. Wouldn't it be some bullshit if your mom decided she would rather just not have you, and you were never here?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yeah but the main reason the right is so appalled by abortion is because it's giving people the freedom to choose to deny someone a life.

It's a little different than freedom of speech, freedom to practice religion, etc.

It's not the fact that abortion is a freedom that bothers the right, it's the fact that they feel it's killing someone. And I tend to agree. Wouldn't it be some bullshit if your mom decided she would rather just not have you, and you were never here?

The right also defines a fertilized egg as a child (the moment of conception). The real issue here is that the right is interjecting their religious beliefs to limit my freedom.

As for my mother not aborting me, well, she had a miscarriage prior to having. I could have easily been that embryo but I wasn't. What matters is that I am here, and those that aren't here aren't. I mean, who left the right in change of making sure every embryo makes it through 9 months of gestation?

p.s. I'm actually pretty conservative when it comes to abortion. Liberty and freedom, however, come before my own personal views on the issue.

[JWsleep]

I voted economy and foreign affairs.

In general I am against protectionism and isolationism--I believe that history shows they do not work. Protectionism only raises local consumer costs and lets inefficient companies flourish. Isolationism sounds nice, but in reality we are part of a fully integrated world system. The failure in Iraq shouldn't makes us withdraw from the world; instead, it should teach us to be better at interacting in world affairs. We need a pragmatic, engaged foreign policy, one that both protects and promotes our national interests, and promotes the the things that make the world a safer and better place for everyone. Self-determination, democracy, and free markets are better for people, wherever they live. That certainly does not mean we should bring these things to folks at the point of a gun, but that does not mean we should give up on these things. WE are safer when other countries have these things, and hiding behind the oceans is not going to keep us safe. Yes, inept, badly-run, wars prosecuted by idiots are a mistake. But the solution is not isolation. It's intelligent foreign policy.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

I voted economy and foreign affairs.

In general I am against protectionism and isolationism--I believe that history shows they do not work. Protectionism only raises local consumer costs and lets inefficient companies flourish. Isolationism sounds nice, but in reality we are part of a fully integrated world system. The failure in Iraq shouldn't makes us withdraw from the world; instead, it should teach us to be better at interacting in world affairs. We need a pragmatic, engaged foreign policy, one that both protects and promotes our national interests, and promotes the the things that make the world a safer and better place for everyone. Self-determination, democracy, and free markets are better for people, wherever they live. That certainly does not mean we should bring these things to folks at the point of a gun, but that does not mean we should give up on these things. WE are safer when other countries have these things, and hiding behind the oceans is not going to keep us safe. Yes, inept, badly-run, wars prosecuted by idiots are a mistake. But the solution is not isolation. It's intelligent foreign policy.

Yeah, what he said.

[saden1]

Personally I'm not for isolating ourselves to within our own borders and pretend the world outside doesn't exist. We should certainly participate in the world economically and be the champion of peace and prosperity for all. You do that by leading by example. Right now, we don't even speak softly, we just wield a big stick.

[Schneed10]

And if you don't want to have a baby, or don't feel you are ready for the responsibility, there are tons of American families out there who can't biologically have children and would love to adopt your child. Why can't you just suck it up, give birth to the baby, and give it up for adoption?