Reply #27: my beliefs... [View All]

[dawn]

Hi, well I consider myself very liberal. I think it's good that there are similarities as well as differences in our opionions. This is my first post, too, so I hope I don't violate any rules here. :)


Abortion: I think women should be allowed to make the choice about whether or not they should have an abortion, plain and simple. It is a very hard decision to make, but the government should not make the decision for the women of this country. I don't think it should be used as a means of contraception, so education about contraception to teenagers and young women is crucial. But sometimes, contraception fails, and a woman has to make a choice. Do I think abortion is wrong? I'm not sure. I do think it ends a potential life, but it's a choice that needs to still be available. But women need to be able to make this decision for themselves. The government shouldn't be able to tell someone what they can and cannot do with her own body.

AIDS: We must do more to help stop AIDS deaths all over the world, and especially the huge tools happening in Africa and Asia. More money should go into this.

Crime/death penalty: I'm opposed to the death penalty, in all but the most extreme cases, like a Jeffrey Dalmer or Adolf Hitler. I think rehabilitation is better than prison for non-violent crimes. And we need to look at the drug laws. Drug possession should not be a criminal offense. Something is seriously wrong when someone can get 11 years for possession of LSD and only 6 years for rape.

Defense: Defense is important, but, honestly, we certainly can spend less money on it and still have a good defense force. I think we need to practice what we preach as far as nuclear disarmament. I am totally against the research of nuclear "bunker busters" and new nuclear devices. I believe that total nuclear disarmament of all world powers is something humanity should strive for.

Drugs: Legalize marijuana and make it available for public sale, and decriminalize other drugs. Don't make them available, but don't make it a crime to possess them. Drug users should NOT be in jail, but in rehab centers. Tax marijuana like cigarrettes. Allow people to grow a few plants of their own, too. You can't stop that, anyway.

Education: I think public education needs to be improved, starting with salary raises and more respect for public school teachers.

Energy: We need to research alterntaive energies so we can lessen our dependence on oil. I don't know enough about this, though.


Environment: Protect it at all costs. It's all we've got.

Foreign policy: We need to mend our relations with the UN and our allies like France and Germany as soon as possible.

Free trade/globalization: Fair trade. Nothing wrong with eliminating tariffs and political boundaries in trading, but make it fair and labour-friendly.

Gun control: Advocate non-lethal self-defense weapons in place of pistols. Keep hunting guns in check, so DC sniper wannabes can't use a hunting rifle as a sniper rifle. Keep the ban on assault weapons.

Healthcare: Work towards an efficient and free healthcare. Doesn't have to be immediate (pretty unrealistic), but make sure we take strides towards it.

Immigration: Well, I wish all borders could be free, but I know it's unrealistic. See, I'd want to live here for a while, in France for a bit, then Thailand, then back home. I see myself as more of a citizen of the world than of just one country. But that's not gonna happen in my lifetime. So I agree with another poster that said that the borders between the US/Canada/Australia/NZ be free. That's good enough for me!

Also, we need to face the fact that illegal immigration is a reality, and that they contribute a hell of a lot to our economy. We should help the ones working here become naturalized citizens.

LGBT rights: Treat LGBT as you would want to be treated.

Marriage equality: Anyone should be allowed to marry the person they love, regardless of sexual orientation. Any move to amend the Constitution to define marriage should be condemned. I don't care if I piss off people who believe otherwise. No, your church doesn't have to recognize same-sex unions, but stay out of civil unions, please.

Religious freedom: All religions should be respected. More education about other religions in our schools. All religions must respect one another...it's the only way we are gonna survive on this planet together.

Social Security: Sorry, don't know enough about this one.

Taxes: Yes, I'll go along with the old European quote, taxes are the price you pay to live in a civilized society. People who make more money should pay more taxes.

Wages/unions/price controls: Pro-union and pro-workers, but I don't know enough about this.

Welfare: People out of work should be funded and housed, as they are in the UK, for example. Of course, this must be monitored to stop abuse. And a main part of this effort should be to get people back to work, so they don't rely on welfare to get by. That is, if they are physically able to work.