# Idiosyncratic Political Views **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242 "2010-03-04T04:00:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/21 "2010-03-06T03:35:05Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > 1. The U.S should cut it’s military funding in half. We’re 5 percent of the world’s population and we’re spending 50 percent of the world’s military dollars. There’s simply no need for it and the [opportunity cost](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_cost) we lose shocks the conscience. > > President Eisenhower put it best when he said: > > “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” > > 1. Ever citizen should be provided with a guaranteed [minimum income](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_income) sufficient to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. This money will be provided with no strings attached whatsoever. > > 2. Marijuana should be legalized. > > 3. Income taxes should be steep on high income earners (70%+) and taxes on estates over 1 million should be 100%. > > 4. Critical thinking should be taught in schools. > > 5. Home schooling should be banned or at least heavily curtailed. Children should be exposed to other points of view and not insulated from the outside world by their parents. > > 6. In God We Trust should be taken off our currency, and Under God should be taken out of the pledge of allegiance. > > 7. The [Fairness Doctrine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine) should be reinstated. > > 8. End government subsidies for corn, which mostly goes to Big Agro and making High Fructose Corn Syrup. > > 9. Tax junk food at sufficient levels to pay for the damage it does to public health. Sounds consistently far left to me unless there’s something I’m not seeing here. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/22 "2010-03-06T03:43:11Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > That depends. When you say you have a “savory Bonapartist ripple” does this mean you support the Metric system or that you’re planning on overthrowing the government and crowning yourself Emperor? First one, then the oth—I mean, “Emperor” is such a silly label to put on things these days. It has _far_ too many syllables. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > So I was off-track in thinking “Savory Bonapartist Ripple” was a new Ben and Jerry’s flavor? I’m sure it can be arranged…I’m actually thinking grape. A whiff of it, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/23 "2010-03-06T03:53:05Z")
I’m pretty much a lib but I’m a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment and favor very strict border control and immigration restrictions. I’m pro life but don’t want RvsW overturned and favor making abortion obsolete via improved birth control technology/education/distribution coupled with de-incentivising procreation. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/24 "2010-03-06T04:18:41Z")
In principle I’m a (small-l) libertarian, but I’m also a realist. We do not live in a libertarian society, so I’m forced to support a lot of governmental activities that I normally wouldn’t approve of. I support UHC, including paying for low-income abortions, though I’d rather the government get out of healthcare altogether. I support greater funding for medical research, though I’d rather the government get out of medicine altogether. I support SSM, though I’d rather the government get out of the marriage business altogether. I support “free” public education, including college, though I’d rather the government get out of education altogether. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/25 "2010-03-06T04:41:22Z")
I’m the only person I know who thinks paper recycling programs are insane and immoral. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/26 "2010-03-06T04:54:58Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m the only person I know who thinks paper recycling programs are insane and immoral. Why? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/27 "2010-03-06T15:42:08Z")
Republican/Libertarian Support Same Sex Marriage, because I don’t want the government in the marriage business and I think its a family’s job to protect the family, not the government’s job. Withdraw troops from all foreign countries, especially from South Korea. Legalization of drugs and beer for the under-21s. I don’t care for religion in any way shape or form and am against policies that pander to the faithful. Don’t support constitutional amendments to ban flag burning and implement term limits. Support Gas Taxes, public transit, more energy efficiency research: Probably the one area where my friend’s disaree with me the most. I think that public transit can be a great investment as long as it isn’t run by the idiots at SEPTA. I think people should drive less, and use smaller cars. And I think we should investigate ways to being advanced energy technology into middle-class homes. I am looking at these policies less from a global warming thing and more as a terrorism tax. Ending the use of foreign oil would be the best security policy we could enact. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/28 "2010-03-06T17:44:36Z")
Liberal. But I reckon it’s not uncommon for liberals in my country to despise the nanny-state and the underwhelming punishment of criminals as I do. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/29 "2010-03-06T21:37:27Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Why? Just curious. (In reference to paper recycling) Because it’s horrible for the environment. I know it makes people feel better to do it because they feel they’re “doing something,” but paper recycling is a terrible source of pollution. It would be much better to throw the paper into landfills. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/30 "2010-03-07T01:18:42Z")
1. All this outcry against estate taxes is stupid. If I give you 1MM, you pay taxes on it; why should that change just because I die? Don’t bring up the sob story of the farmer family or the trust fund that the parent is giving for the care of a disabled child – I don’t support estate taxes in these cases. 2. Fark religious types. Give everyone condoms and a banana to practice it on. 3. Not sure if this is a liberal or conservative thing, but you shouldn’t get to pay less or more taxes because you take on debt, or you married/didn’t marry, or you popped out a few. That’s social engineering. All people making the same income should pay the same taxes. 4. Education quality in the US is directly tied to parents’ wealth by the means of property taxes. That is NOT equality of opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/31 "2010-03-07T08:13:59Z")
> [@dre2xl](#): > > 1. All this outcry against estate taxes is stupid. If I give you 1MM, you pay taxes on it; _No, you don’t._ Even in the US, such a gift to _anyone_ would be tax-free if it’s a one-off. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/32 "2010-03-07T23:10:45Z")
I’m pretty liberal, but I’m in favor of the death penalty and don’t think it is used often enough. I also believe that governments like Iran’s may need an ass-kicking if they don’t quit trying to build nuclear weapons. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/33 "2010-03-08T03:20:53Z")
Political conservative. Very much so. But I support a program that would allow illeagal immigrants who have shown themselves to be hard workers and here to make a better life for themselves and their families, some sort of path toward legal status. I also think the drinking age should be lowered to 18. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/34 "2010-03-08T03:39:38Z")
> [@dre2xl](#): > > 1. All this outcry against estate taxes is stupid. If I give you 1MM, you pay taxes on it; why should that change just because I die? Don’t bring up the sob story of the farmer family or the trust fund that the parent is giving for the care of a disabled child – I don’t support estate taxes in these cases. The money in the estate was already taxed as the estate was built. To me, it doesn’t seem right to hit it for a tax liability again when its owner dies. I’m not sure what makes that view of the issue stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/35 "2010-03-08T21:28:21Z")
The Death Penalty. I’m all for killing more criminals for more crimes. Rape should be a death penalty crime. Heck I’d be willing to have it on a three strikes and you’re out kind of system for felonies. When I was younger I used to be far more conservative so I used to have more of these. As I’ve drifted further and further left during the Bush years most of these have dried up. Maybe eight years under a Democrat will make me drift back. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/36 "2010-03-09T07:20:22Z")
Strongly left-leaning liberal here. I have… moral issues… with abortion. I don’t believe a fetus is a full-fledged person, but I think it is some kind of sentient being, and my spiritual beliefs (Buddhist) generally preclude me from supporting the killing of anything. It makes 100% sense for Christians to want to legislate against abortion, because in the most literal sense, if you believe what the Bible says pretty explicitly about God knitting us all in our mothers wombs or whatever, then abortion is murder, no two ways about it. I don’t believe that Christian stuff, but the idea that a fetus isn’t sentient in some way seems pretty nonsensical to me. I vote pro-choice, but by a hair. Also, I’ve been rethinking my position on gay marriage as a graduate student having been exposed to the voices of people who go unheard. It’s not that I don’t want gay relationships to be recognized as legitimate, it’s that I’m beginning to question whether this is the right goal to go after, at a time when so many gays and lesbians are homeless and beaten and living in poverty. A lot of these people feel that the movement has been co-opted by a middle-class, white majority who are completely out of touch with the reality for a lot of gays and lesbians who don’t have the luxury of worrying about marriage because they are too busy trying to stay alive. Not to mention the inherent unfairness of marriage as it sort of arbitrarily affords certain rights and privileges to some people and not others (not just gays, but single adults too). It’s sort of weird to want to fight to participate in an unjust institution. I wouldn’t go so far as to not support the legalization of gay marriage, I have just become more cautious about conveying blind support for it without questioning the underlying motivations and values and wondering who is being left out and marginalized in that equation. Finally, my opinions about the illegal immigrant question are probably much more radical than your average leftie. I pretty much attribute the problem to foreign trade policy and view it as an issue of corporate exploitation. Of course, my opinion is based on a lot of research on the topic, including a 50 page study published by the United Nations detailing the way in which the neoliberalization of trade dramatically transformed the economy of Mexico into something unsustainable. Not to mention all the proof we have that punitive measures against immigrants only make the problem of labor exploitation worse and increase the likelihood of more egregious human rights violations. And also that border control would not solve the problem even if it were 100% effective, since most illegal immigrants enter the country legally and allow their legal documentation to expire. Yeah, I could go on. Believe it or not, if I were a single issue voter on immigration, I would have voted for Bush Jr. both times. He was spot-on as far as that goes and I’m not ashamed to say it. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/37 "2010-03-09T14:42:42Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > Withdraw troops from all foreign countries, especially from South Korea. Holy crap, with the exception of this one thing, which I really don’t care about at all, I’m with you almost 100%. Especially about alcohol and some drugs, it’s stupid to have laws saying people can’t drink, we’ve been drinking for thousands of years, my kids can’t even stand the taste of it, but I know when they grow up they probably will so giving it to them slowly is better then not letting them have it at all then one day they just can. ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/38 "2010-03-09T14:45:33Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > _No, you don’t._ Even in the US, such a gift to _anyone_ would be tax-free if it’s a one-off. What about [http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108139,00.html](http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108139,00.html) ? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/39 "2010-03-09T14:55:42Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > The money in the estate was already taxed as the estate was built. To me, it doesn’t seem right to hit it for a tax liability again when its owner dies. I’m not sure what makes that view of the issue stupid. Because when the recipient gets it, it’s new income to him and should be taxed. And often the money was never taxed in the first place. You buy 1000 shares of Acme at $10, when you die it’s worth $1000. You never sold it, so you never paid tax on the capital gain. When the recipient gets it, it should be taxed at his marginal rate. Take another example, Person A works hard and earns a million and pays taxes on it. Person B gets a million dollar inheritance. Why should person B get a million dollar tax free windfall? ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242/40 "2010-03-09T15:09:34Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Because when the recipient gets it, it’s new income to him and should be taxed. And often the money was never taxed in the first place. You buy 1000 shares of Acme at $10, when you die it’s worth $1000. You never sold it, so you never paid tax on the capital gain. When the recipient gets it, it should be taxed at his marginal rate. Take another example, Person A works hard and earns a million and pays taxes on it. Person B gets a million dollar inheritance. Why should person B get a million dollar tax free windfall? Pretty much this. You’d think bootstrappy people would support estate taxes. Also, taxes have to come from somewhere and different taxes affect the economy differently, and while there is a lot of debate over negative repercussions from capital gains or the lack of motivation that higher income taxes cause, I’ve yet to hear of the economic malaise caused by someone not getting a windfall. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncratic-political-views/531242.md?page=3)