I would like to subscribe to your political party, or fund your own run for congress based on this platform. To whom do I write the check? (on recycled paper, natch.)
I am absolutely sure the God of the Western monotheisms does not exist. I am as sure of that as I am about my own name or where I am right now. I am as sure of that as I am about the non-existence of Santa Claus or the Loch Ness Monster.
I won’t rule out some vast transcendant intelligence having some role in the creation of the universe, but it seems pretty unlikely at this point.
I believe that if all the world’s religions held an olympiad of extremist lunacy, Islam would bring home the gold. Christians and Jews and Hindus might give them a run for their money, might force them to bring their “A game” or to “give 110%” or [insert motivational cliche here], but Islam would win.
I believe capitalism is the least bad economic system possible, but society benefits from government oversight and regulation to compensate for market failure. Not everything government does is destined to be a failure. It put a man on the moon, built the interstates, electrified the countryside, and did many other things. Strong libertarians and anarcho-capitalists are as silly and deluded as communists.
The progressive income tax is the fairest method of raising government revenue, coupled with sales and property taxes.
I believe certain aspects of consciousness, such as qualia will never be adequately described by science. I believe an A.I. that is conscious and aware as we are is impossible. I don’t think it will ever be possible to build an A.I. as self aware as a cat or a bird.
I think guns should be subject to the same amount of regulation as cars.
I’d like to see NATO intervention in Darfur, though I realize it would be difficult and might lead to unintended consequences.
I think the U.S. will cease to be a world power before the middle of this century. We’ll still be influential, but not hegemonic, Kind of like Britain is now. I don’t think this will be a good thing. Either there’ll be a bunch of feuding great powers, with the possible return of large-scale conventional warfare, or China will be the hegemon, an aggressive and dictatorial hegemon that will make the most virulent anti-American long for the days of American hegemony.
I think the environment is the most pressing issue of our time. Environmental issues could make everything I wrote above moot. I think humanity is like a fat chain-smoker going “hey, I’m not dead yet!”
Well, not only you do not need to look like a freak to dress modestly, but I find that women who dress like the one I linked to really do look good. And I would like to see more people (Muslim and non-Muslim alike) dress like that. But I would never force anyone to dress like that. And even less beat anyone who doesn’t dress “modestly”, as you suggested. I think this would be completely at odds with a free society.
This said, I think that many women who dress like in my link do this because they personally want to, and Bippy the Beardless concurs. I think it would be very arrogant of someone to tell women that they may not dress like that, even if they want to, because in that person’s mind, dressing like that implies being forced to by a violent husband or relative. I’m sure it happens (and I’m against it), but I don’t lose my perspective.
I believe the estate tax, or what its opponents call the death tax, is necessary to break up huge over concentrations of wealth. Relaxation of the estate tax has led to the scourge upon the land known as Paris Hilton.
I do not believe in either gay marriage or civil unions.
I believe in universal health care.
I do not believe in public funding for sports stadiums which are used by privately owned sports teams. Let them build their own damn stadiums and leave my tax money alone.
I believe that Bill Clinton violated his oath of office in the Lewinsky affair because his conduct violated sexual harrassment laws. We would not accept such conduct from a county prosecutor vis a vis an intern, and we should not accept it between a president and an intern. If Clinton had received a blowjob from a beauty queen or a Hollywood movie star, then it would be a private sexual matter of no import to the republic, however, because his sexual affair was with a government subordinate it was an impeachable offense. Removal from office is too severe a penalty, but it did deserve a penalty of some sort.
I believe that President George W. Bush, VP Cheney, Sec Defense Rumsfeld and Sec of State Rice violated their oaths of office in their conduct vis a vis the war in Iraq and the lot of them should be impeached and removed from office.
I am against term limits for elected officials.
I believe that Wyoming is an incredibly beautiful state. Even the flat empty parts.
I believe that the best rock music was recorded between 1964 and 1973.
I believe that my cat, inside or outside, has the spirituality of a baked potato.
I believe that school sports should be elective.
I believe that this is the scariest thread I’ve posted to on the Dope.
I believe the current Congress should be dissolved, and a new legislature voted in to office tomorrow–with the caveat that if you’ve held office before, you ain’t doing it here and now.
I support term limits for those in elected office.
I believe the Internets really are run through tubes, and The Google really runs the whole shebang.
I feel every sane, criminal-record free man and woman ought to own a firearm, simply because they have the right to. And I feel that if you don’t exercise that right, unfortunately, it will fall by the wayside. I also support open carry where practical.
I believe the Iraq war has been a wasted effort. It’s intent is obviously questionable, but that notwithstanding, we’ve dropped the ball and fumbled it time and time again. . . and we’re on skates trying to play hockey with a football.
I believe the campaign in Afghanistan actually did a lot of good, however.
I believe we ought to lower the drinking age to 18 again. Why? Because we’ve sent the majority of the military overseas at least once, and a lot of those kids–and I mean kids–can’t have a single celebratory beer when they get back. Besides, Canada does it, and we all know Canadians are smart folk.
Unfortunately, I think 9/11 wasn’t enough. Americans have a very short-term memory, and I personally feel we’d need another Pearl Harbor and WWII to remind us of just how damn good we have it in the Western world (and all democratic nations as well). I personally think we need a World War III to wake all of us up.
Tripler
Lastly, I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.
May I ask why? I’m honestly curious.
Don’t you like hair?
Or different hair-colors/styles?
I think everyone should work until they’re 50, get 20 years of rest, with a good pension - and then get softly euthanised.
I think history [school] books should be carefully examined by all political directions before being published.
I think all human beings should speak ONE language.
Preferably Dutch.
[nah, kidding. I don’t mind what language, just as long as we understand each-other better]
I have yet to state any of my controversial views, so here goes…
The 1865 Civil War and the 2003 Iraq Invasion are historical parallels in that they represent cases of the US federal government taking control of resources by force while insincerely using more honorable motives as cover. In fact the Civil War established the precedent for US foreign policy from that point forward.
Flame away! This one never goes very well for me…
Me, too - but careful where you share that information . . . people really do think that’s a crazy opinion to have.
You mean people eat them?
Ewwwwwwwwwwwww.
I thought it was just a shakedown, you know? Keep the box so you can show it the next little terrorists who shows up.
Tris
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I’m a teacher, and I have no problem with football players’ salaries. They’re bringing in a lot of profits, and they deserve a fair share of those profits. I’m not bringing in a lot of profit, and I’m content with a reasonable middle-class salary.
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I believe that God exists, knows who I am, and has at least some effect on the events of my life.
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I believe that I will live to see complete marriage equality for straight and gay people.
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I believe that abortion is wrong, and that it should be legal.
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I believe that most of people’s serious life problems can be solved with a specific goal and the judicious use of a day planner.
There’s nothing wrong with watching sports or being a casual fan, but getting deeply emotionally involved with a team is just ridiculous. If it wins, you gloat and whoop and trash talk about an accomplishment you contributed nothing to. If it loses, you get crushed (and trash talked, and whooped at) over something that was completely out of your hands. Like, what’s the bloody point??
The moronic '94 baseball strike that accomplished dinky-doo squat was completely the fault of…the fans. Look, there are alternatives. Little League. High school and college. Intramurals. Church leagues. Three LEVELS of minor leagues. Overseas. And then Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa get a bunch of dingers, and suddenly all is forgiven. When a league can get away with murder, it’ll commit murder.
Cartoons can be designed, written, and marketed for children…just as comedy, news, drama, sci-fi, fantasy, or historical documentary can be desinged, written, and marketed for children. Absolutely nothing about animation makes it inherently suitable for children’s programs.
The Columbine tragedy was completely inevitable, and the fact that there has not been one major initiative to combat the sickening injustice and utterly lawlessness inherent in our high school system says volumes about how monumentally fucked up said system is.
Video games were, in fact, strictly for kids. Emphasis on were. Like until about, oh, 1981. Today, not only is it wrong to pigeonhole videogaming as a kid activity, the vast majority of current titles are far too difficult/complicated/technical/deep for your average 10-year-old. And yes, this includes Katamarai Damacy (hint: kids’ games do not have extremely tight time limits).
Abortion should be freely available, at taxpayer expense, unconditionally, for at least the first two trimesters. Because there’s no other sane choice. Forcing someone who doesn’t want a child and is completley unequipped to raise one to raise one is utter madness and has no place in any society claiming to be civilized. And the foster system can be even worse. The purpose of our laws is to benefit society, not enforce some cockamamie horseshit jackoff concept of “morality”. Abortion is a necessity, and it’ll happen no matter what, so let’s make it as safe as possible. (And yes, I support birth control education as well and even manatory sterilization in extreme cases, but first things first.)
I believe that our country has become a litigation oriented society fueled by the promise of free money by some ambulance chasing lawyers. (Notice I said SOME. Most are fine upstanding folk, especially the ones on this board)
I believe kids today for the most part are spoiled rotten, undisciplined, uneducated twits.
I believe Rap music is a scourge on society. Simply a platform for a bunch of undereducated twits to spout obscenities.
I believe that the current welfare system has created a class of fatass lazies that sit on their asses all week looking for that handout every week because they think it is owed to them.
Haven’t seen some of these yet so I thought I would throw 'em in.
Can I ask you what you think about rock music from the 60s, 70s, and even 80s and 90s?
Ya know, rock music in general.
I’m not all that controversial but I’ve had 8 freakin’ pages to think of some controversial beliefs that I have. This thread is interesting reading by the way…anyhow, my controversial beliefs:
-private schools are harmful to society.
-post secondary education should be free of charge and available for anyhow who truly desires it (and is, of course, willing to work for it).
-being against euthanasia is barbaric.
-there is no such thing as gun control that is too strict.
Oooooh! This oughta be fun!
Okay, I’ll just second some things that’ve already been posted that come to mind, then I’ll offer my own. But first, I’d just like to say this about rooster circle:
WTMuthaF? Actually, this deserves to be spelled out: What the MuthaFuck?!
And, thanks, DianaG–you took the words right out of my mouth. Rooster circle will indeed be thought a troll not because it’s his/her first time posting here (and though I’m not quite sure why, I’m guessing that it’s “he” and not “she”, so I’ll just go with that), but because of his beliefs. For me, it’s numbers 2, 4-5, and 7-11.
Anyway, moving right along:
Abortion: Oughta be safe, legal, and affordable/free where necessary. Trust me, folks, you *really * don’t want women who don’t want children to have children. Or am I living in a parallel universe, and everyone else is living somewhere where no unwanted child grows up to be a sociopath? Hell, it’s bad enough that so many wanted children grow up to be that way. Now, does that mean that I believe that women should be able to abort throughout the entire pregnancy? Well, I don’t know. I guess we can talk about that when there’s universal agreement about fetal viability. But, yeah, women’s bodies, women’s decisions, and it should be this way for anyone, IMHO. Oh, and that goes for teenaged girls, too. Parental *notification * I think I get, but parental *permission * for an abortion, not so much.
Drugs: Absolutely should be legalized, especially pot and other non-freaky drugs (shrooms, etc.). I also think this should apply to the Class-F(reaky) drugs like heroine and crack. Especially when you take into considering the irrefutable connection between the illegality of drugs and criminality/violence in this country. Don’t get me wrong–I think that crack, meth, and heroine, given what we know about the effects that they have on people, are really bad drugs of choice, but honestly, I’d rather have my tax dollars diverted from this bullshit and ineffective and never-will-be-effective (in terms of the *stated * purposes) war on drugs and towards helping people who really want help and building a society where not so many people feel the need to take such drugs in order to escape reality. I mean, come on, those of us who live in the States and know the shit for what it really is know that this is one fucked up and scary place. Hell, who wouldn’t want to escape *that * reality?
Prostitution: Absolutely ought to be legalized, and everyone else who doesn’t approve of it should mind their own goddamned business. If your S.O. is stepping out on you with a prostitute (or with anyone else, for that matter), then that’s a conversation for you and your S.O.–not you and the prostitute. Don’t want to engage the services of a prostitute? Then don’t. See how simple that is? And no, I don’t believe that female prostitutes diminish women–it’s men (and women) with fucked up attitudes who diminish women.
Smoking: Look, I know it’s a dirty habit (and yes, I smoke), but the fact is, it’s legal, and it will probably always be that way, so you folks who believe that it should be illegal and that it should be illegal to smoke even in the open air ( :eek: ) really need to get a superglue grip. And, really, the world is making accommodations for you with a variety of anti-smoking legislation. The number of bars in which I can smoke is dwindling? Okay, I can handle that. I don’t like that the owners aren’t allowed to make that decision for themselves, but I can deal with it. And you should be able to deal with the reality that you don’t own the open air. Sheesh. And no, I don’t hate non-smokers.
Death Penalty: Needs to be abolished wholesale. Immediately. Should never have happened to begin with. And why is this even up for debate?! And please don’t tell me how I’d feel if someone murdered my mother, child, whoever. Trust me, I know how I’d feel, but my feelings wouldn’t/shouldn’t trump my belief that, apart from imminent danger to my life or to someone else’s life, I don’t have the right kill anyone. And neither, for that matter, should the state.
Religion: Sigh. I am a kippah-wearing Jew. I am also an atheist. Yep, really, I am. The thing is, though, I don’t have much patience for organized religion, at least not the way that I’ve seen it promulgated and practiced currently and throughout world history. There are, indeed, religious individuals of, in my opinion, impeccable (within the constraints of human fallibility) spirit and intention (e.g., John Shelby Spong, to name just one), but those people, it seems to me, are either outnumbered or cowed into effete or non-existent protest by the more arrogant and definitely dangerous extremists who think they share a “faith.” Oh, yeah, and trust me—I really and truly am an atheist, and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t try to convince me otherwise.
Der Trihs: Yeah, he sometimes (or often, or always, in other people’s mileage) comes (or, rather, seems to come) from out of left field, but you know what? I really don’t have a problem with him, and I appreciate his presence here. And though I might not always agree all the way with his ultimate conclusions, I think I get where he’s coming from. For instance, I don’t agree that U.S. soldiers should be slaughtered by the Iraqi insurgents (I don’t believe that anyone should be slaughtered by anyone else), but if the basis for his reasoning is that we shouldn’t be the fuck over there to begin with, then, yeah, I totally get what he’s saying, b/c we shouldn’t be the fuck over there. I’m also with him on that whole human-beings-being-replaced thing, too. (And Ensign Edison is correct—Der Trihs most certainly did not advocate for the extinction of humankind.) I mean, really, we’ve had awhile to get our shit together, and we simply. Refuse. To. Do. It. I don’t want to sound overly simplistic, but there’s famine, poverty, homelessness, racism, religious hatred, sexism, heterosexism/homophobia, and a bunch of other shit, and we’ve proved ourselves utterly incapable of—oops, woefully uninterested in seriously doing anything about—these things. How much fucking time do we need, folks?
The black President Thing: I am so totally with Stuffy on this one. Really, folks, who the fuck are we trying to kid here? A BLACK President? Elected by the folks in THESE United States? Sheeeeee-it, please. ‘Nuff said.
And now, to my own. I believe…
That any black person who uses the word “nigger” (or any of its permutations) in mixed company (i.e., company where not everyone is black) is a shameless minstrel and deserves, at the very least, the worst beat-down of their fucking lives. There is such a thing as taking this whole reappropriating-the-symbols-of-our-oppressors stuff too far. Furthermore, I believe that rappers/hip-hop “artists”/whatever the fuck they’re calling themselves these days need to be shot for incorporating that word into their lyrics so that other people can discover yet another way in which some black people are dip-shits. The same goes for the record company executives who distribute this shit, thereby ensuring that people the world over can bear witness to this insanity.
That any black person who uses that word as a term of endearment, especially if they’re referring to me, needs to be shot. I may not care that much what words we use among ourselves, but I sure as hell will not cotton to being called anyone’s “nigger,” “niggah,” or any variation thereof. No. Not. Ever. (And be careful when you use that word around other black people, too, 'cause we don’t all feel the same way about it.)
That any white person who asks, “Well, if black people can use that word, why can’t I?” deserves just as serious a beat-down. Why would you even want to use that word in the first place? And fuck how “down” you think you are, and fuck what your “keepin’ it real” homies say in your presence; you just need to stay away from that word.
(This does not apply to scholarly or satirical uses of the word. For instance, Chris Rock has used that word in one of his routines for a specific purpose, and I certainly wouldn’t expect anyone to refer to either Dick Gregory or Randall Kennedy’s books—both bearing the same title, for those who don’t know—as “The N-Word Book.” Really, how stupid would that sound?)
That anyone who stays in an abusive relationship (especially one of those drag-down-knock-out-gettin’-your-ass-kicked ones) is, on some level, an idiot. And if you allow your children to be exposed to this shit (especially if they’re getting their asses kicked, too), and you don’t move the entire goddamned universe to get them away from it, then you are, on some level, not much better than the abuser. And yeah, I really and truly get that low self-esteem and whatever other psychological shit that people have going on keeps them in such relationships, but…damn! (And before someone decides to put their foot up my ass, I assure you that my POV here is not merely academic.)
That many white Americans who adopt children from foreign white countries do so because, bottom line, they don’t want to raise black children. And those who don’t actively hate black people take this route because they’re too weak/scared shitless to stand up to their families, their friends, their co-workers, and their society, because they know what the real deal is WRT to blacks for many white people in America. And they’re afraid to stand up to idiot blacks who’ll treat them as if they’re Aryans in sheep’s clothing (see the next paragraph). And that’s a goddamned shame, because there are so many black children here who need good homes and who need to know that they’re loved and valued. And that shit about how adopting an Asian or a Latino baby from outside of the States is the same as adopting a black baby? Bullshit. Not without it’s own difficulty, mind you (I’m no fool), but still, on some level, bullshit. And please stop throwing out this line about how American adoption laws are so rigid, odd, uncertain, or whatever. Just admit what the deal really is, ‘cause I believe that if you could get a healthy white baby in the States, you wouldn’t be adopting outside of the country. (NOTE: I am perfectly aware that another Doper and her husband, as has been mentioned in another thread, are currently experiencing adoption difficulties here in the States, so my “I believe” here is in no way meant to trivialize the emotional trauma that a fucked-up, lying-ass adoption agency and, yes, fucked-up laws, are needlessly and cruelly subjecting them to. My heart truly goes out to them.)
That black people who bitch and moan that adoption of black children by white people is tantamount to cultural genocide are stone-cold idiots. Oh, and bigots, to boot. Got proof? No? Then either shut the fuck up, or adopt all of the unwanted black children yourselves. See how simple that is? (Friends of mine from my shul—a white lesbian couple—raised a black daughter who is now in college, and this kid turned out pretty damned great. Better than most teenagers I see, as a matter of fact.)
That the Democrats are pussies, and they’ve been pussies for quite some time now. Grow a fucking backbone, take a fucking position, and let the chips fall where they may. You might not always win, but at least I’d be able to have some respect for you. (This does not mean that I am a friend of the current crop of Republicans. Not by a long-shot.)
That anyone who says that they support civil unions for gays, and not gay marriage, are not friends of the gay community. Well, not, that is, unless they also say that they support civil unions for all and marriage for none. Here’s me, not holding my breath.
That gays who haggle over the word “marriage” need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and look at the larger picture. If the state/court gives us the right to ALL of the benefits of marriage, even though it’s not called “marriage,” then that’s a lot. And yeah, I understand that words have emotional power and that the word “marriage” means a lot to some people. But you know what? For now, take those rights wherever you can get them and run with them. We can deal with that other shit later on. And hey, what’s to stop you from calling your partner “wife,” “husband,” or “spouse?” Years ago, I referred to my then-partner as my husband, and hell, we didn’t even have a civil union, a domestic partnership, or anything like that (he was not a U.S. citizen). And today, I refer to him as my ex-husband, and I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks about it.
That anyone who’s old enough to vote, be charged as an adult in a criminal case, and be sent to fight in a war is certainly old enough to drink legally.
Let’s see…that’s all I got for now, but I’ll come back with more as they occur to me.
The Honda Element is a CAR?
I was wondering what the wheels were for.
I take it you feel the same way about praising or criticising a democratically elected government, then?
Professional sports teams are a democracy. You vote with your money- either you’re happy with the direction your team is going, and you buy tickets, caps, jerseys, and so on- or you are unhappy and stop buying stuff.
When enough people vote “nay”, and the team is having trouble maintaining its stadium, the management will be out and new management comes in.
Li’l Pluck, If I’m reading your posts corrrectly, you’re gay, Jewish, and black. Wow. That’s gotta be interesting.
I believe that beggars who actually 1) are together enough, mentally and physically, to have a job, 2) are aware of and have access to the resources they need to get a job, and 3) are not currently looking for a job, are a vanishingly small minority - certainly far too small to account for the blanket dismissal of everyone asking for change.
What about (4) are not addicted to drugs or alcohol? That’s a major reason why I don’t give out to panhandlers.