# What are your most extreme, honestly held views? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649 "2012-01-16T01:43:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/21 "2012-01-16T02:50:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Legalize all drugs or legalize polygamy. I don’t know which would be more shocking, but probably the former. That reminded me of another on I honestly hold. I want to ban marriage as a state concept. Homosexuals are fighting the wrong fight. They shouldn’t be allowed to marry but neither should anyone else in the eyes of the state. Anyone could still get married to anyone or anything in religious ceremonies but it wouldn’t have any legal standing. Anyone could still combine those with binding legal contracts as they choose as well to emulate or approximate today’s idea of marriage but anything else is open as well. The idea is to separate the spiritual aspects from the legal ones and allow an infinite menu of choices for everyone. It should take at least as much lawyering, paperwork, and forethought to get married in the first place as it does for a current divorce rather than simply showing up at a 24 hour chapel with $20 in hand. It is a business contract first and foremost. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/22 "2012-01-16T02:56:26Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What does “less worthy” mean?? I think it’s best not to debate or try to justify these statements in this thread. I think it’s more just for stating your most extreme views. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/23 "2012-01-16T03:07:11Z")
I agree with legalizing all drugs. Frankly, people who are inclined to spend their lives fucked up will do it whether it’s legal or not, and people who aren’t won’t. I’d want minor access restricted of course, but I think that legalization would make that much easier. I know that when I was a kid, getting someone to buy you a bottle was a huge pain-in-the-ass production, but all I had to do for weed, acid, or any number of other drugs was walk to the park. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/24 "2012-01-16T03:23:03Z")
I think pretty much all drugs should be legalized, except antibiotics. Drug laws aren’t keeping anyone from using them - if someone wants to shoot up or snort their way into the grave, fuck 'em, they’re gonna do it anyway and no amount of tax dollars, drug awareness programs, etc. is going to stop them. I think polygamy is a pretty fucked up lifestyle, and while I wouldn’t go so far as to say it should be legalized, I don’t think consenting adults who practice it belong in jail. I think the US should cut off foreign aid to most (not all, mind you) countries, and also kick out the UN while we’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/25 "2012-01-16T03:29:36Z")
Citizenship and age should not be the only factors for determining whether or not someone can vote. What I’d propose is a sort of “election school”. Set up a few dates leading up to an election where potential voters gather at their closest polling station where they will either hear detailed summaries of each party’s platform and candidates or watch two carefully monitored and controlled debates involving the party leaders and the local candidates for the potential voters’ riding, respectively. The voter information cards will be handed out at the end of the meeting. Feel free to point out any flaws or holes you see in the system. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/26 "2012-01-16T03:29:58Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > How do you define “child”? Yes, I meant pre-pubescent. (:eek:). And no, I’m not going on a NAMBLA-style apology for pedophilia. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/27 "2012-01-16T03:36:29Z")
People that pass a background check should be able to buy any reasonably sized firearm, including fully automatic rifles and short barrelled shotguns. You should have the right to use deadly force to defend your property. Abortion should be illegal in virtually all circumatances. All sales taxes should be eliminated and replaced with income taxes. Government should stop telling us what light bulbs we can buy or what MPG our cars need to get. We should sustantially increase the amount of lane-miles of freeways in urban/suburban areas. We should have a singlle set age of adulthood where you can sign contracts, go to adult prison, drink, smoke, drive, have a job, vote… maybe 17 or 18. The death penalty should be expanded to other voilent crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/28 "2012-01-16T03:38:41Z")
All children should be confiscated from their parents at birth and raised in group homes as wards of the state until 16. No child should ever be permitted to know who their biological relatives are. The inheritance tax should be set at 100%. All churches and religious organizations should be made illegal and shut down. (Since the state homes for children will not teach religion, this should be accomplished easily.) Elected officials shall be sworn at the beginning of their term to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and should be charged with perjury if they are dishonest. The penalties for perjury, bribery, or malfeasance of office shall be death. Executions shall be bloody and held in public and on live TV. Private ownership of land or buildings should be illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/29 "2012-01-16T03:41:24Z")
::backs slowly out of thread, then runs:: ---
**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:** [January 16, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/30 "2012-01-16T03:46:42Z")
Probably between that marijuana should be legalized completely, abortion should be banned by constitutional amendment for all reasons except for the life of the mother and arguably rape/incest, and that no fault divorce should not be allowed. ---
**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:** [January 16, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/31 "2012-01-16T03:47:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > All children should be confiscated from their parents at birth and raised in group homes as wards of the state until 16. No child should ever be permitted to know who their biological relatives are. > > The inheritance tax should be set at 100%. > > All churches and religious organizations should be made illegal and shut down. (Since the state homes for children will not teach religion, this should be accomplished easily.) > > Elected officials shall be sworn at the beginning of their term to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and should be charged with perjury if they are dishonest. The penalties for perjury, bribery, or malfeasance of office shall be death. Executions shall be bloody and held in public and on live TV. > > Private ownership of land or buildings should be illegal. Bonjour Monsieur Jean Mesier, ca va bien? ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/32 "2012-01-16T03:52:27Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I believe, with notorious anarchist kook [Bob Black](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Black), that “the workplace is the last bastion of authoritarian coercion.” > > I deeply question most people’s assumptions about the work ethic, especially those who take any attack on it as an attack on them personally. This. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/33 "2012-01-16T04:14:51Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I think it’s best not to debate or try to justify these statements in this thread. I think it’s more just for stating your most extreme views. But defining “less worthy” also defines the extremity of that view. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/34 "2012-01-16T04:17:16Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Probably between that marijuana should be legalized completely, abortion should be banned by constitutional amendment for all reasons except for the life of the mother and arguably rape/incest, and that no fault divorce should not be allowed. I honestly was not aware that those were extreme beliefs. I guess you can add legalization of marijuana and the abortion ban you suggest to my list. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/35 "2012-01-16T04:19:51Z")
I think political assassinations are _vastly_ preferable to the current model of “war” which equals sending in thousands of troops to be killed, and bombing thousands of civilians who have no involvement in the conflict. If you’re going to wage war on a country, do it via assassination. I think it’s crazy that, half a century after the sexual revolution, Americans are still so hung up on “infidelity” (what are we, ayatollahs?), “unfaithfulness” (sex is not a religion) and “cheating” (sex is not a test.) Monogamy is not natural. If _you_ want to practice it, fine, but don’t expect others to do so, and don’t judge them for not doing so. This especially goes for political leaders. Political leaders should be _expected_ to have harems. Take your religious BS and stuff it. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/36 "2012-01-16T04:21:17Z")
I believe that people who stand on the left side of escalators should be rounded up and used for target practice. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/37 "2012-01-16T04:22:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Elected officials shall be sworn at the beginning of their term to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and should be charged with perjury if they are dishonest. The penalties for perjury, bribery, or malfeasance of office shall be death. Executions shall be bloody and held in public and on live TV. wow, I like this one. reminds me of the Gowachian legal system from Frank Herbert’s Dosadi Experiment. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/38 "2012-01-16T04:30:18Z")
- I agree with legalizing all drugs; I also think the government should be involved in quality control on all drugs so that if you buy some weed or ecstasy or whatever, you get a safe high. - Marriage contracts should have expiration dates (say, five or ten years). The default would be for your marriage to end the end of the contract, but you can sign up again for another term if both partners are willing. The marriage contracts would be re-written when you have kids, to account for both parents remaining involved after the contract ends. - Overpopulation is a serious problem in world, and everyone needs to get on board with fixing it, including North Americans. Having as many children as you want is NOT a God-given right any longer; we’ve bred ourselves past that. - The people involved in running a democratic country should not be elected - they should be selected based on talent, experience, education, personality, and interest, as well as any other factors that would select the best people to govern, rather than the ones who look best on camera and have the most money (and most powerful backers). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/39 "2012-01-16T04:33:55Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > **What are your most extreme, honestly held views**? How about, “If it would actually work and there was no other way, it would be ethical for women seeking an abortion to machinegun anti-abortion activists out of the way.” Morally, no different than shooting a pack of charging rapists. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649/40 "2012-01-16T04:34:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > - > - The people involved in running a democratic country should not be elected - they should be selected based on talent, experience, education, personality, and interest, as well as any other factors that would select the best people to govern, rather than the ones who look best on camera and have the most money (and most powerful backers). Who’s doing the selecting?? And how are they selected? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-most-extreme-honestly-held-views/609649.md?page=3)