Where do you stand on other controversial issues?

Abortion - Pro-choice, but anti-abortion.
Death Penalty - Against.
No fault divorce - I see no issues with this.
Stem Cell Research - Fence sitter.
Pornography - Should totally be legal. (Unless it involves children or animals, obviously)
Affirmative Action - Again, fence sitter.
Medical Marijuana - For.
Marijuana legalization - For.
Gun Control - Should be legal but with tight regulations.
Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge) - Against. My religion and beliefs don't belong in the government.
Obamacare - I really have no opinions. Not American, so I hardly know anything about it.

 

How could I forget this... This is the single best argument against the death penalty. There's always a risk of executing someone who's innocent, and it's a risk you can't take in my opinion.

Glad we don't have the death penalty in NL

 

Abortion? Pro-choice.
Death Penalty? Absolutely for.
No fault divorce? For.
Stem Cell Research? Absolutely for.
Pornography? Between consenting adults? For.
Affirmative Action? I don't know enough to have an opinion.
Medical Marijuana? For.
Marijuana legalization? For.
Gun Control? Against.
Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)? Against.
Obamacare? For.

 

Abortion

I am pro-choice. Women have the right to decide what they want to do with their body.

Death Penalty

I am totally against it. It violates the right to life and I don't think that death is a good punishment. I prefer to see a criminal spending the rest of their life in jail than seeing them dying peacefully...

No fault divorce

Is this really a controversial issue?

Stem Cell Research

I totally support it

Pornography

As long as there are no children involved and no one is harmed, it's ok.

Medical Marijuana

Yes

Marijuana legalization

Yes. It will probably solve some problems of drug dealing...

Gun Control

no one besides the armed forces should have guns.

Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)

Absolutely not. At least in my country the state and the church, or religion, are separate entities, and that's how it should be

 

Abortion?- yes I think it is terrible but under certain circumstances it is necessary and it needs to be available for all women.
Death Penalty? yes if the criminal cannot be rehabilitated as a last resort.
No fault divorce?- I personally believe government should not be involved in marriage at all.
Stem Cell Research?- beneficial science should be funded
Pornography?- really is this even an issue?
Affirmative Action?- people should be given equal opportunity regardless of race background exc.
Medical Marijuana?- hells yeah
Marijuana legalization?-hells yeah
Gun Control?- stricter laws won't help keep guns from maniacs
Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)?- meh i don't care
Obamacare? - im not sure where I stand on this one, it is a very complicated issue.

 

Abortion? Yep, pro-choice.
Death Penalty? Nope. Life is suffering, why kill someone when living is already punishment? Besides, you may execute an innocent person and there is no reimbursement for a loss of life.
No fault divorce? Yep.
Stem Cell Research? Yep.
Pornography? Yep.
Affirmative Action? Not sure. I feel like if someone's talented, they are going to rise to the top but a diverse environment is nice.
Medical Marijuana? Yep.
Marijuana legalization? Yep. People are gonna smoke weed regardless and legalizing it may strip it of some of its taboo.
Gun Control? Not sure. People are always going to obtain guns somehow.
Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)? This is so minor that I don't really care. I'm not offended by this.
Obamacare? Not sure, this isn't an easy issue because it deals with money and can affect many things.

 

Abortion? I am pro-choice especially in complicated medical scenarios or in rape cases, but I do not agree with women getting gender based abortions.
Death Penalty? I'm in favor of the death penalty for pedophiles/people who seriously injure children, and only then if the crime can be proven beyond all reasonable doubt.
No fault divorce? There's no point staying together if neither person is happy.
Stem Cell Research? Undecided, but I'm leaning against it at the moment.
Pornography? S'long as no crimes are being commited, teenagers/children aren't involved, and it's consensual.
Affirmative Action? I don't know what that is.
Medical Marijuana? Yes, I do support this.
Marijuana legalization? Yup, marijuana should be legalized: It does the same thing to people as alcohol and is (in my opinion) the least dangerous drug out there so why is it so taboo?
Gun Control? Yes, gun control is a good thing.
Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)? Sure.
Obamacare? I live in Canada so this doesn't apply to me.

 

So tell me, are you in favor of increasing funding for the foster care system? Or increased amount/quality of resources available to the child (education, assisted living for poor mothers, perhaps enforcement and collection of child support? Or does the child only matter if it's a fetus?

Or what if the condom breaks? Do we still punish the woman for not controlling the physics of her condom? The same for when the pill fails?

To follow up on your last point, regarding a parent's decision for their child, how do you feel about circumcision? I never chosed to be circumsized; my parent's made that decision for me.

 

Abortion?

I feel it should be their choice. I understand both sides of the argument, but honestly, some people don't have the money to go through with a pregnancy. You can say "just give the baby up." It's not just that, there's a LOT of money that has to go into just bringing the baby to be born. However, I will say I don't agree with the later term abortions.

Death Penalty?

Depends on the crime. Like, was it pre-meditated, were multiple people involved, etc.

No fault divorce?

I personally don't think I'd ever marry someone I can't see myself being with forever, so going with a no on this one.


Stem Cell Research?

I honestly am 50/50 on this.


Pornography?

I see nothing wrong with it. If people want to participate in it or watch it, it's their choice.

Affirmative Action?

As with a lot of others, I don't know enough to have an opinion.

Medical Marijuana?
Marijuana legalization?

Lumping both together. I just don't agree with Marijuana in general. However, I will say legalizing it would at least cut down on the crimes from people being killed over it, etc. so even if I don't agree with it, there is that.

Gun Control?

Personally, I wish guns didn't even exist. >_> But as others have said, no matter how strict the laws, if crazy people wanted a gun, they'd get it.

Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)?

Unless it's something like people slinging the bible at me going against same-sex marriage, I'm okay with it.

Obamacare?

For it. I've noticed the only people deadset against it are the people who can afford healthcare but choose not to have it. As someone in the very lower class, this will give me health care through Medicaid (unless the obama care site lies >_>) until I reach income above the poverty line, and even then, I'd still rather pay for coverage than find myself without coverage in a car crash, etc.

 

I absolutely am. Though, I would argue that the parents play a huge role in their kid's education as well.

Secondly, the two people that engage in sexual activities should know that even with a condom or birth control, there is still risk of getting pregnant. The same applies for STD's. If they aren't mature to grasp those facts, then they shouldn't be having sex in the first place. So I would say that birth control failing is still no excuse to get an abortion because they made the choice to have sex. Nobody forced them to jump into bed and go at it. Choices have consequences.

And it's obviously far different circumstances when parents make the choice to get their kid circumcised and making the choice to abort him/her before they even get a shot at life. So, I'm not even going to bother elaborating further on that.

 

I think some of the issues you raise really highlight the differences between the "average" American view and the "average: European view - on some things we are just worlds apart:

I am:
Pro-choice, but don't think it should be a front-line method of contraception. Carelessness is not an excuse.

Anti-death penalty and very much so. I believe a life sentence should mean life, with no parole and it should be reserved for the severest circumstances - life should not mean 10 years after good behaviour.

Pro-no fault divorce - shit happens

Pro-stem cell research - for me this is a no-brainer. I just don't understand what the moral objections can be to researching the possibility of making someone's life better.

Pro-pornography - I don't agree with censorship in any form. Once I reached the age of 18, I became a responsible adult, good enough to vote, fight for my country etc. I don't need someone else to decide what I may or may not look at or find exciting. The restrictions imposed by the State are what makes the criminality associated with pornography so strong. I don't include child-pornography, bestiality or things like snuff-vidoes in this - it has to be produced with consenting ADULTS.

Pro-affirmative action

Pro-marijuana - I don't use it myself, but I don't drink either. I see far more damage done through alcohol abuse than through use of weed. It should certainly be available for medical pain relief. My sister is a paliative nurse so I know how much pain some people suffer and I wouldn't hesitate to give it to them if it would help.

Pro-gun control - major America/Europe divide here - I think most of us Europeans just don't understand the fascination with guns. Big fan of Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. I have no need for a gun in my life and don't really see why anyone else needs one either. Batman and Denver - so sorry this has happened. My thoughts are with you.
Pro-secular currency - I think religion is a private affair and has no place in civil life. I don't believe laws should be passed which come from a relgious belief - gay marriage, for instance - my rights as a non-religious person are bbeing encroached upon by the religious views of others. I should be allowed to live my life with the same respect as they live theirs. Everything to do with the State, including schools and money, should be non-partisan.

Obamacare isn't applicable to me, but I'm pro-socialized healthcare. Another major divide. I believe we have a duty to care for each other, but especially we owe a duty of care to those who cannot care for themselves. In the Netherlands, I am legally required to insure myslef and the system works well. If I were poor, the insurance would be paid on my behalf by the state. For me it is just the right way for social beings to behave.

 

At least around here, Ranchers need them to protect livelihood and families from Rattlesnakes, Coyote, Mountain Lion, Etc. I guess they could chase after said creature with a stick, but that seems like a pretty unsafe option next to guns.

 

Hi Vyvance - I was speaking in general terms. Of course there are occasions when a gun might be needed but I don't think you need a Kalashnikov to scare off a fox or a hand-pistol to keep next to my bed.

I know certain people need access to guns, but there shouldn't be blanket access. Just my opinion.

 

what's the difference between the sperm expelled when you masturbate and a zygote? What's the real, objective difference that makes one more worthy of value than the other?

 

The sperm is a zygote with 23 chromosomes - not a complete tally.

The unfertilized egg is a zygote, also with 23 chromosomes, also incomplete.

Masturbating and shedding sperm is not a loss of human life, just as a woman shedding unfertilized eggs every month and menstruating.

When the egg is fertilized by the sperm, then there is the complete tally of 46, the beginnings of a person.

I'm not anti-abortion, but I don't think we should be blasé about it - it isn't the same as wiping your nose. Abortion should be one of a RANGE of options for a woman to make - she shouldn't be FORCED or PREVENTED from making the choice for herself - but it isn't an easy decision.

 

Abortion - Legal and should be a protected right... plus, I don't own a vagina, I shouldn't have a say.

Death Penalty - Against because it's more costly than prision and too many innocent people have been put to death by the state to make it worthwhile. Also, it's just petty revenge.

No fault divorce - go for it.

Stem Cell Research - Why not? Stem Cells do not come from aborted babies, they come from human cells grown in a laboratory setting from donated sperm and eggs for that specific purpose. If Stem Cell Research can improve the quality of life for people who have had their lives taken away through accident and chance... then I'm all for it.

Pornography - awesome.

Affirmative Action - Yeah, once again, why not? I mean, it's been, what, 60 years since segregation was declared illegal? Sure, minorities and black people have made great strides in advancing in society since the boot of the majority had been on their collective necks for 300 years. Still, representation in education and business isn't proportional so I'm all for Affirmative Action. Look at it this way... it's like if we were running a race and white people got a 200 year head start. Affirmative Action is just one way to try and close that gap.

Medical Marijuana - Yep

Marijuana legalization - Double yep.

Gun Control - There is no reason to own an AK-47 or a handgun that can hold 31 rounds. I'm for resonable gun control.

Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge) - Against more than anything. I'm am against all religion in general.

Obamacare - All you need to know about "Obamacare" is that a). the name "Obamacare is a Tea Party word used to slander the program, b). it leaves the Health Insurance Companies in charge, and c). it's a cost control measure for a broken system. Nothing has changed in terms of how health care is administered to a large majority of the country and for those that it has changed for, all that happened is that they're brought into the fold. All that said, it's going to save billions over a decade but the program itself doesn't go nearly far enough. Healthcare Insurance Companies should not even exist. They should be made illegal or diminished and we should have a single payer system, like every other civilized country in the world.

That's the bite sized version of my position on healthcare.

 

so what? A sperm, an egg, a zygote, they are all "the beginnings of a person". None of them is any more a person than the other. I find the distinction you're trying to make completely arbitrary

And sperms and eggs are not zygotes, they are gametes. A zygote is what's formed by two gametes.

 

That is silly, especially when we are facing a problem no other civilization has faced in the history of human kind... massive over population. Our resources are dwindling, we cannot feed everybody, we cannot educate everybody, we cannot care for everybody, we cannot shelter everybody, and we cannot survive if we don't realize this is a problem now. Abortion, birth control, and education are our weapons against extinction. Not everybody needs a baby and not everybody can be a parent. Trust me, I deal with people everyday that have no business being parents. They just have kids because that is the normal thing to do. I think it’s time to realize that having kids comes with a great cost financially and environmentally to the point that it’s unsustainable at the current birth rates worldwide.

Not everyone needs a child.

 

A zygote turns into an embryo and then a fetus at nine weeks, so there is a difference whether you want to believe that or not.

Comparing masturbating to having sex and getting a female pregnant? Not sure I even have words for that disconnect.

There's a simple solution to that -- don't do things that could get you pregnant unless you're mature enough to handle possible consequences. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I think that people should be held accountable for their actions rather than running away from them.

And, you're right; not everyone needs a kid. But there's other options than abortion.

 

I'm pretty damn liberal, so...

Abortion? Pro-choice
Death Penalty? For
No fault divorce? For
Stem Cell Research? For
Pornography? Definitely For
Affirmative Action? I don't really know enough about it
Medical Marijuana? For
Marijuana legalization? For
Gun Control? I hate guns so much
Religious language used for nation purpose (on currency, in the pledge)? Totally Against
Obamacare? For