Politics poll (mostly U.S)

In My Humble Opinion
1

I wonder how many other people are aligned with my views of the world. I’m not looking to debate them, but I’m wondering how closely I fit in with others, particularly those in the US. I don’t mean to exclude other people, and I’d love to hear other input. I just don’t seem to fit into any party that I know of. Maybe someone can help me identify leaders which represent MY views:

Bush is an idiot, but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done.

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.

I’m for abortion and the death penalty.

Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document.

Ted Rall is right on (mostly) and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong).

There should be less government, but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD.

There should be less welfare and fewer government programs. I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes.

There should be gun control laws.

Drugs should be legalized.

The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).

I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told. If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11.

We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period.

Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care.

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.

There is more, but you get the idea. As I said, no debates, please, as this is neither the pit nor GD. I simply wish to know where others stand in relation to these issues. “agree, don’t agree, mostly agree, you are crazy, right there with you” are what I’m expecting, either in whole or in part.

2

Disagree

Disagree

Disagree

3

P. S. This does not mean I agree with all other statements. Not enough time right now.

4

…but I’ll bite anyway. Here’s how my opinions compare to yours. I’ll try to keep things neutral by simply stating whether I agree, disagree, or somewhere in between - unless my position is a bit unconventional and needs clarifying or hedging.

Disagree.

Agree.

Agree.

I disapprove of abortion but do not favor a ban on the grounds that a ban would not work in the current political climate.

Agree.

Disagree - usually.

I don’t pay much attention to either one.

Agree.

Depends on what you mean by that, but I believe that encouraging business growth is the best way to keep unemployment down.

Agree.

Well, I can’t think of any other way to fund a government that doesn’t involve compulsory taxation, and I can’t see a workable way of having the people directly vote on government spending. So I agree.

While I’m in favor of requiring anyone who wants a concealed weapons permit to have to apply for it and go through appropriate tests, and some weapons should definitely be off limits to civilians, that’s all the gun control laws I favor.

While I feel marijuanna laws should be reformed, I don’t want to see them abolished. If I could rewrite them, posession would only get you fines or community service - no jail time - and I’d have it moved off Schedule I so that the claims about its health benefits can be subject to valid scientific tests. If it medical marijuanna the same standards other drugs have to meet, then it could be permitted by perscription. The hard drugs should stay banned or restricted to perscription only, as they currently are.

I don’t agree 100% with American foreign policy at any point, but an apology to the Arab world seems a bit much.

Disagree - I think he’s guilty.

Too vauge for me to state clearly whether I agree with what you mean by this or not.

Agree - except that I’d rather see the money come from cutting programs that the government has no business running. Good teachers are horribly underpaid, but there are also too many teachers who are worth every penny they’re paid and not a cent more.

While I agree that using deadly force to stop a burglar is reasonable (since you’ve got every reason to fear he might do the same) I do not think that torture is appropriate.

5

Violet: Teachers who can’t teach shouldn’t be fired??? :confused:

I think my views are more in line with those of MadScientistMatt:

Disagree. Not saying he’s the sharpest knife in the drawer, just not an idiot.

Most likely.

Agree.

I’m against abortion in most cases, but I’m for abortion rights.

I think the death penalty should be an option for certain crimes.

Disagree. I’m no Ashcroft fan, but I see no basis for trying him in court.

Don’t know from Ted Rall, don’t read much Ann Coulter, but I figure she must be doing something right, the way she gets under peoples’ skins…

Strongly agree.

Please define “trickle down economics”

Strongly agree.

I think you are putting the cart before the horse here. First, the elected officials determine that money needs to be spent somewhere. Then, they authorize the expenditures. Not the other way 'round.

I personally feel that the taxing part shouldn’t come until after the determination that money needs to be spent, but that is obviously not how the system works right now…

I’m more or less with MadScientistMatt on this one.

Strongly agree.

Perhaps, although I’m not sure if we have ever had a coherent, intelligent, and competantly carried out foreign policy. I agree that there are a lot of things that can be done better, but we may disagree on the specifics.

For what?

Didn’t he pretty much claim responsibility in that tape? I don’t know myself, I haven’t been following that specific issue all that closely.

I don’t agree with that. That is not to say, however, that there is no concievable situation in which I would say nuke them to glass. But we aren’t there yet.

Not sure what to make of that.

I don’t know about that “biggest raise in history” part, and I would be against that extra $10 thing if it weren’t done at the local level, but I am strongly in favor of merit pay for teachers, and firing the incompetant ones.

I think that’s a bit hyperbolic.

Again, I’m pretty much with MadScientistMatt on this. Deadly force, yes, torture, no.

6

  1. Bush is an idiot. Disagree. Although I wouldn’t feel intimidated by him (as I might by Powell, Allbright or our previous two presidents), I don’t think he’s an idiot.

  2. Better post 9/11 than Gore. Kinda agree, but not too strongly. Don’t really know how he’d do, but even being a Democrat, I was too impressed with Gore’s capabilities.

  3. Fair election. Disagree, but don’t think a ‘fair’ decision was really possible. The difference was so close to the margin of uncertainty that any result would be arbitrary to some degree.

  4. Abortion/Death Penalty. In favor of both, but DP only for very serious crimes (murder, basically) when guilt is 100% known (repeated, public admission of guilt, with no remorse and a desire to do it again. Timothy McVeigh - yes, O.J. (if found guilty) - no)

  5. Ashcroft. Disagree. He should be removed from office, but unless there are specific laws stipulating punishment for violating the constitution, what is there to try him for?

  6. Rall/Coulter. Disagree. Both are attention whores. Rall lets his need for attention by being shocking outweigh logic, common sense and the facts. Coulter has been covered accurately in The Pit.

  7. Trickle down/welfare/gun control, etc. Tentatively agree with MSM, in principle. I believe in little government, but believe there are cases where intervention may be better.

  8. Foreign policy. Sorta. Is hasn’t been too coherent, and I disagree with the “Axis of Evil” announcement and the planned attacks on Iraq.

  9. Apology to all Arabs. Disagree. I feel we lump them together as ‘The Arabs’ in a way we don’t do with Europeans or people of other western nations. A mass apology would be the same thing, but in the opposite direction. No real improvement.

  10. Teaching. Sorta. Teachers should be paid more, but there should be a weeding out process so that all the teachers are earning that higher salary. The problem is that I can’t imagine a test that would accurately select good teachers, instead of people who meet some arbitrary criterion or political standard. Define “can’t teach.” Teaches evolution? Fails 70% of students? Passes everyone? Uses the the whole-language rather than grammar-translation method? Supports socialism/anarchism/capitalism? Doesn’t have certification form H294-D signed, stamped and in triplicate? I’ve seen teachers called unworthy and incompetent for every single one of these reasons.

  11. Killing/torture of intruders. Disagree. Deadly force may be ok as a necessary act of defense, but torture moves beyond an act of necessity and self-defense, turning it into revenge for personal pleasure, which I do not believe people do or should have a right to.

7

Agree.

I don’t know.

Agree. If a person can’t figure out how to use a simple ballot (and I saw them, and did not find them “confusing” at all), then the caliber of the voter needs to be raised. (In other words, if you really care about voting – and I do – learn how to cast a ballot.)

Agree. In fact, I think the government should pay for them if the woman cannot afford it.

Disagree.

I don’t know. But I think that the government should pay more attention to the spirit and the letter of the Bill of Rights.

I don’t know.

Agree.

Sort of agree. I think that people who are capable of working should work. On the other hand, there should be a strong “safety net” for those who cannot.

Strongly disagree. There are plenty of laws already, and any more would only be “feel good legislation” that will only hurt people who do not misuse guns.

Agree; although I do not partake, myself. Nor would I if they were legal.

Agree.

Disagree. Bin Laden admitted in a video that he is responsible. As to the other part, I do not thing we should penalize the innocent people of a country for the misdeeds of terrorists. To me, it sounds akin to the Germans in WWII killing townspeaople in retribution for attacks on their soldiers. And I certainly do not agree with using nuclear weapons.

Agree. I think the Israelis had the right idea when people who attacked them suddenly fell over dead.

I think the problem is deeper than can be solved by just throwing money at it, although teachers should certainly be paid more. I think that the government should have standards that students must meet before they graduate, and leave stop trying to sneak Creationism into the cirriculum.

That sort of goes against your support of gun control. But I agree with the sentiment, if not the specifics you mention. If a person is committing a crime, it is that person’s responsibility as to what happens to him during the commission of the crime. However: Torture is not allowed. Neither is killing, attemting to kill, inflicting bodily harm, or intending to inflict bodily harm upon the perpetrator. If he’s not attacking you, you have no right to shoot him. That said, if you do shoot a person who is attacking you, then you should not be prosecuted unless malicious intent on your part can be proved.

8

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by cmosdes *
**I wonder how many other people are aligned with my views of the world. I’m not looking to debate them, but I’m wondering how closely I fit in with others, particularly those in the US. I don’t mean to exclude other people, and I’d love to hear other input. I just don’t seem to fit into any party that I know of. Maybe someone can help me identify leaders which represent MY views:

Bush is an idiot.
– disagree

but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done.
– Bush was fine, but any President would have done well.

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.
– ok, fine

I’m for abortion and the death penalty.
– I’m for a woman’s right to choose, against the death penalty.

There should be less welfare and fewer government programs.
– agree.

I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes.
– agree, somewhat

There should be gun control laws.
– what kind of control? I’ve never fired a gun, but if there comes a time when I think I need one, I believe it’s my right as a US citizen to own one.

Drugs should be legalized.
– they are. you just need a prescription from a doctor.

The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American.
– I have never been embarrassed to be an American.

I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).
– I don’t.

We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period.
– yeah, OK.

Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care.
– disagree strongly.

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.

– you’re kidding, right?!

9

**Bush is an idiot, but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done. **

Disagree on all counts. In the beginning, either would have done well, Gore just would have continued doing well with it, and be a bit more classy.

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.

Under our system, yes he was fairly elected. That doesn’t mean I like our system.

**I’m for abortion and the death penalty. **

For abortion, against the death penalty.

**Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document. **

While I loathe him, I think we’d need a more specific charge. I’d love to get him though.

**Ted Rall is right on (mostly) and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong). **

Apathetic.

**There should be less government, but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD. **

Less in some areas, more in others. And I agree. Subsidies = bad.

**There should be less welfare and fewer government programs. I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes. **

Completely disagree, I think we need more welfare and government programs, especially for people getting out of prison.

There should be gun control laws.

Some, but not too all-encompassing. I’d be just fine with tweaking the ones we have for better enforcement.

**Drugs should be legalized. **

I think we need a threshold of how dangerous of substance should be legal for recreational use. Whether we set it low, banning alcohol and cigarettes, or high, legalizing some more drugs, it’s too inconsistent as-is. See marijuanna.

The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).

Parts of it, yes. Parts of it, no. Depends on our leader a lot. I think that I could like Bush far more if he was more freaking open about things, and less hush-hush.

**I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told. If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11. **

Eh, I think we pretty much have a smoking gun right now. And I think we did what was appropriate, now need to continue their nation building.

**We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period. **

Mind elaborating?

**Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care. **

Disagree. Should be at least a $25 income tax surcharge, if not more. And we need to pay on merit, not time taught. And completely eradicate or redo our standardized testing.

**If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble. **

Forget it. They keep their rights, and you get arrested if you’re caught torturing them for whatever reason. Period.

10

Bush is an idiot,

Disagree, although I think he is underqualified to be President.

** but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done. **

Agree.

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.

Disagree.

I’m for abortion

I’m pro-choice, but not pro-abortion

** and the death penalty.**

Disagree.

**Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document. **

I think Ashcroft is very close to actions which should result in impeachment.

Ted Rall is right on (mostly)

Couldn’t disagreee more.

** and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong). **

Agree. Strongly.

**There should be less government, **

Mostly agree.

but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD.

Disagree.

There should be less welfare and fewer government programs.

Mostly disagree.

** I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes. **

Disagree.

**There should be gun control laws. **

Too vague, so disagree.

Drugs should be legalized.

Agree.

The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).

Disagree very, very strongly.

I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told.

Disagree completely.

** If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11. **

Disagree completely.

We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period.

Somewhat agree.

Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year,

Disagree.

** and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach.**

Disagree.

** I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care. **

Disagree.

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.

Disagree with the entire thrust of this paragraph.

11

I’m intrigued by your views and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

12

**Bush is an idiot, but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done. **

Agree and disgree. Bush’s “lack of curiosity” means he has missed out on many opportunities to exercise his intelligence, and thus it has fallen into disrepair (although “idiot” is a bit of a strong assessment). And I can’t criticize Gore for what he didn’t have a chance to prove or disprove, but I see no reason why his wooden character wouldn’t have been able to generate some pep.

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.

Disagree. Florida was a nightmare, and the SCOTUS made a terrible call.

I’m for abortion and the death penalty.

Agree in that I am against a ban on abortion, and that the death penalty is called for in certain circumstances.

**Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document. **

Agree, I guess. Not that it would happen…

**Ted Rall is right on (mostly) and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong). **

Both are nutjobs, but Rall at least tries to keep his feet on the ground more often than Coulter.

There should be less government, but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD.

No opinion and agree.

**There should be less welfare and fewer government programs. I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes. **

Agree (especially if you throw in corporate welfare) and agree.

**There should be gun control laws. **

Agree.

Drugs should be legalized.

Disagree.

The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).

Agree that current FP sucks, but I ain’t apologizing to Saudi Arabia.

**I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told. If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11. **

Disagree and disagree.

**We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period. **

Agree and agree, I guess.

**Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care. **

??? I agree that teaching should be one of the most inviting professions, but I don’t know what $10 would do, or if it would even get to you “good” teachers.

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.

Um… no.

13

It should be noted firsthand that I’m young and subject to change.

  1. Bush is an idiot, but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done.

Completely agree

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.

Agree

I’m for abortion and the death penalty.

Strongly disagree

Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document.

What document?

Ted Rall is right on (mostly) and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong).

Who are they again?

There should be less government, but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD.

Agree

There should be less welfare and fewer government programs. I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes.

Agree - except about public health care… that’s one gov’t program we need

There should be gun control laws.

100% agreement

Drugs should be legalized.

Amen, sing it bratha

The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).

Agree… and join in apology

I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told. If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11.

Agree

We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period.

Yes, a citizen, not the ruler.

Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care.

I agree teachers should get raises and bad teachers should be fired… but if we get rid of the unnecessary gov’t programs, there’s no need for th e tax hike IMHO

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.

I agree some rights should be lost - but no one should be sentenced to death for any reason (especially as in this case, without trial).
I follow you for the most part, I guess. I’ve never met ANYONE who agrees completely with me though.

14

I wonder if any one of us has enough information to even have an opinion on the whole thing.

15

**
Bush is an idiot, **
Agree, but I try to be polite. :stuck_out_tongue:

**but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done. **
Disagree. I believe Gore’s early actions would have been nigh identical to Bush’s.

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.
Agree, somewhat reluctantly.

I’m for abortion and the death penalty.
I’m against abortion in almost all circumstances, but it must remain legal for certain moral and practical reasons. the death penalty should nt be applied unless the person’s continued exitance is a threat to the nation, which is almost never.

**Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document. **
I’m willing to accept his resignation and drop it there.

Ted Rall is right on (mostly) and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong).
Don’t know, don’t care.

**There should be less government, **
Where? How? Willing to talk on specific issues but disagree as a general axiom.

but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD.
Economics bores me, to be honest. I do favor a “progressive” taxation system, however.

There should be less welfare and fewer government programs.
Disagree. If a society can meet the basic needs (food, shelter, medicine) of its population, I think it should. How this should be done is debateable.

**I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes. **
Well, duh.

**There should be gun control laws. **
Um, sure? Certain weapons should be kept away from the populace, certain individuals shouldn’t be armed, and those that use their firearms unsafely should be punished harshly, but beyond that, what’s gun control?

Drugs should be legalized.
Marijuana and some other drugs in that class should be. The drinking age should be lowered to 18. Users of harder drugs should be treated as diseased individuals needing help, not criminals.

**The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. **
Agree strongly.

I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).
I don’t. I think we only owe an apology to the Iranians (who aren’t Arabs), at least in the Middle East.

I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told.
I don’t.

** If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11. **
Strongly disagree. That would have been murder.

**We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period. **
See my above staements on capital punisment, and apply it to the larger world.

**Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care. **
Your ideas may have some merit, but as they are, they’re too vague and hyperbolic for me to support.

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.
Strongly disagree. Killing in defense of your or another’s life only, torture never.

16

**Bush is an idiot, but I think he did far better (in the beginning) post 9/11 than Gore could have done. **
Disagree, I don’t think he is particularly articulate, but I’ve known many sharp people who were far less so than he is. I don’t think he is a genius either, but he is far from an idiot. I do agree that I feel he handled the situation better than Gore would have, though I have been very disappointed in several of his later decisions ( Farm bill, Patriot Act, Homeland security creation (Last thing we need are more government employees.) and a few others ).

Bush was fairly elected, even if the margin was only 300 votes.
Agree.

I’m for abortion and the death penalty.
As kevja said, I’m pro-choice, but not pro abortion, and I definitely don’t think the government should pay for them. I’m against the death penalty in most cases, but when it is used, it should be very definite, and quickly carried out.

**Ashcroft should be tried (by the constitutional method, not his own tribunal method) for destroying the sanctity of said document. **
Disagree, Ashcroft should be removed for failure to put the constitution and the law of the land above his own personal beliefs, but that is all.

Ted Rall is right on (mostly) and Ann Coulter is annoying (and wrong).
Don’t pay attention to either of them, more a Boortz person.

There should be less government, but trickle down economics is BAD, BAD, BAD.
Less government = Good! Define what you mean by trickle down economics before I answer that.

**There should be less welfare and fewer government programs. I think people should be forced to pay taxes, and elect officials to decide where the money goes. **
Agree that there should be less welfare of any sort from the government (subsidies or other.) Costs should be figured out, put in writing, and then the taxes collected for them. If a general fund is needed, it should be less than 1% of the total budget. And funds collected for anything should only be used for those things they were collected from. No more of this borrowing from next years taxes to make it look like Social Security is still there BS.

**There should be gun control laws. **
Disagree, the laws in place should be enforced.

Drugs should be legalized.
Depends on the drug.

**The US forgeign policy is atrocious, and, quite frankly, embarrassing to me as an American. I want to apologize to the Arab people of the world for what we’ve done (pre 9/11).
**
The policy is not our best thing, I’ll admit, but I place a large portion of the blame on a society that wants instant results, and is encouraged in that attitude. A real foreign policy takes years to have results, and it takes resolve. As for appologizing to the Arabs, what for? For the fact their own leaders have sucked them dry for their own use?

**I have my doubts Osama Bin Laden was as responsible as we are being told. If it can be definitively shown, however, I think we should have turned Afghanistan into glass for what happened 9/11. **
Osama was very much involved.

**We also need to wake up and realize we are a citizen of the world and need to act like one. But don’t you dare try and bomb us again. We will kill you. Period. **
**Everyone in the US needs to pay an extra $10 in taxes next year, and teachers given the biggest raises in history. But only those teachers who are qualified to teach. I don’t care if you’ve been teaching 20 years. If you can’t teach, you’re fired. Our school system is crumbling and no one seems to care. **
Disagree on the extra taxes. As for the teachers, they should be paid more, but there should be a lot more competition in the educational system.

If you are caught committing a crime which violates another person’s personal safety, you lose your right to yours. i.e., if you break into my house, I can torture you until I get bored. Note: the state cannot do this, but I can. This includes killing you. The police can come and stop me, but they cannot arrest me for donig it. Another note: I better be able to prove you were breaking in. If not, I’m in trouble.
Sorry, will never condone torture.