The "Controversial" Meme
Sep. 24th, 2008 04:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
femkes_folliesAll aboard the Opinion Express.
Note: I am not susceptible nor desirous of "correction" of my opinions. As the old wag goes - opinions are like certain anatomical orfices - everybody's got them. These are mine. I am entitled to them - put yours on your own blog.
This is not saying commentary is verboten. Just don't pick a fight about anything here with me or anybody else.
Offensive commentary will be deleted.
[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
Clearly. There is a time and a place for tact. And a time when tact is totally misplaced. I've been a Very Good Girl lately with respect to that. So I'm now going to lay it all on the line. You've been warned. I anticipate everyone on my friend's list is cool-headed enough not to fall into the "anyone who disagrees with me is a Moron" trap.
[02] Would you do meth if it was legalized?
Dude. Caffeine is as strong a drug as I get. Codeine makes me puke. Fentanyl makes me see Purple Marmosets. Hell, no.
[03] Abortion: for or against it?
Why does everybody see this as black and white? How are we equiped to judge the relative moral value of aborting a fetus vs. abusing a child? etc, etc. That said, I do thing that a lot of very cavalier women are going to have a painful revelation one day when they DO have kids - and suddenly realize what was lost. I'm not sure that anybody who hasn't had a child understands the grief involved in the loss of a pregnancy - whether by miscarriage or abortion. Even those who miscarry an intended pregnancy don't seem to get the full effect.
What I don't get is why anybody chooses whom to vote for based on this issue. The occupant of the oval office has a snowball's chance in hell of affecting policy here. And there are so many things that a politician can have a much greater impact on. Either it's got to be herd mentality, or it's the Party Propaganda on both sides revving people up into a mob that doesn't think but simply reacts.
[04] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
The office of president just isn't that important. Honest. Nor do I think it matters whether it's occupant is male or female. The only constant is that anybody who is willing to do what it takes to GET the job these days probably shouldn't have it. No, I don't have any way out of that particular paradox. I only note it's existence.
[05] Do you believe in the death penalty?
Yes, for those monsters who are a true danger to society. Not everybody can be rehabilitated. Not all of them want it. Even the appeals process could be reformed considerably. I won't take it as far as Dad, who still thinks Hanoi Jane should face a firing squad.
I'm going to side with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
attack_laurel on this one "...I am what P.J.O'Rourke calls a "callous pragmatist";" You got it, sister. P.J. is my spokesman.
[06] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I have to admit complete indifference on the topic. Smoke your weed, provided penalties for putting anybody at risk by doing so are at least as stiff as those for alcohol. And do it somewhere that I don't need to be exposed to the smoke. Or otherwise outlaw eucalyptus, too, since I'm screamingly allergic and my sinuses fill everytime I walk down the floral aisle at the craft store.
[07] Are you for or against premarital sex?
Why is this something open for social debate? Keep it in the bedroom, between consenting adults, if you please. I suspect those who are more profilgate generally come to regret it, but that's their problem.
[08] Do you believe in God?
Yes. Though I don't think the human mind is capable of comprehending Him in all his aspects. For that matter, I'm beginning to think the human mind probably can't even trascend itself to fully understand the human brain. Which is a topic for a novel or too.
[09] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
Define marriage. Church union? Leave it up to the Church. Legal union? Honestly, the monetary advantages developed as a way to encourage and subsidize the raising of children. I'm not sure how much of that applies anymore. If we're going to rework the health care system and benefits in general, maybe the legal framework needs a shake-up. That said, I'm content in my marriage, and can't imagine getting divorced.
[10] Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?
I think that illegal immigration in general needs a crack-down. And that once they're here, it shouldn't be such a bloody gravy-train. I'm fairly offended that there are services available to illegal immigrants (or undocumented residents, is that the new term?) that aren't available to my family. What the F--- is up with that? Nor do I think that I ought to have to learn anybody ele's language in order to do my job or seek services in my community. I'm not even keen on financing the provision of such services with my tax dollars. Bloody well learn to speak English like the immigrants who came before you.
[11] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Does she want it? Does she have the resources and support structure to do so? Does she have the emotional and mental capacity to even wrap her mind around the enormity of the decision? Who thinks these things are an either/or sort of question?
[12] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
Probably. I'm not hypocritical enough to stand on my soap box and decry something I did on a regular basis. The problem isn't alcohol. It's protecting children from the consequences of their actions for as long as possible. Then they don't learn anything. And keep making bigger and bigger mistakes until somebody gets hurt. Experience is only a good teacher if the lesson gets graded.
[13] Should the war in Iraq be called off?
What is this, a tea party? How on earth do you call of a violent confrontation across that much real estate? But if you're going to get involved in a conflict, bloody well finish the job this time. A lot of the problem has been that total changes in administration have hindered our ability to develop any kind of considered, cogent Foreign Policy.
[14] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
No. It ought to be an option for those with terminal conditions. Hospice on steroids, if you will.
[15] Do you believe in spanking your children?
I'm not sure you ought to pretend an opinion on this one if you don't have kids. You cannot reason with a 2 year old, they lack the capacity. And, for their own safety, some things must be burned across their little psyches. Anneliese can, in general, not be reasoned with. As much as it pains me, providing a profoundly negative stimulus in the only means of influencing her behavior. If I were against spanking her, she would absolutely wander out the door of the house, and likely into the street.
[16] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Um, yep. I even asked the hubby, a 10-year vet of the Marines, and he said the same thing. It's a piece of fabric. Yes, it has some powerful symbolism. But on the other hand, could it be any more American than to do the capitalist thing and take the monet?
[17] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
I'm torn between "neither" and "does it matter?" I used to have libertarian leanings - but, really, who's going to bell the cat? Now I seem to be sinking even further, toward full-blown social Darwinism. The Government does NOT exist to protect you from your own stupidity. And really, the less it interfered, the better off most of us would be.
[18] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
Will they? Yes. Am I afraid? No. I normally keep from ranting and raving out of respect for other people's point of view. If they think less of me for reading this, well, that's more their problem than mine. But I really suspect most folks on the ol' friends' list don't fall into that trap. Non-friends' comments will be screened, as I'm not in the mood for flame wars.
Note: I am not susceptible nor desirous of "correction" of my opinions. As the old wag goes - opinions are like certain anatomical orfices - everybody's got them. These are mine. I am entitled to them - put yours on your own blog.
This is not saying commentary is verboten. Just don't pick a fight about anything here with me or anybody else.
Offensive commentary will be deleted.
[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
Clearly. There is a time and a place for tact. And a time when tact is totally misplaced. I've been a Very Good Girl lately with respect to that. So I'm now going to lay it all on the line. You've been warned. I anticipate everyone on my friend's list is cool-headed enough not to fall into the "anyone who disagrees with me is a Moron" trap.
[02] Would you do meth if it was legalized?
Dude. Caffeine is as strong a drug as I get. Codeine makes me puke. Fentanyl makes me see Purple Marmosets. Hell, no.
[03] Abortion: for or against it?
Why does everybody see this as black and white? How are we equiped to judge the relative moral value of aborting a fetus vs. abusing a child? etc, etc. That said, I do thing that a lot of very cavalier women are going to have a painful revelation one day when they DO have kids - and suddenly realize what was lost. I'm not sure that anybody who hasn't had a child understands the grief involved in the loss of a pregnancy - whether by miscarriage or abortion. Even those who miscarry an intended pregnancy don't seem to get the full effect.
What I don't get is why anybody chooses whom to vote for based on this issue. The occupant of the oval office has a snowball's chance in hell of affecting policy here. And there are so many things that a politician can have a much greater impact on. Either it's got to be herd mentality, or it's the Party Propaganda on both sides revving people up into a mob that doesn't think but simply reacts.
[04] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
The office of president just isn't that important. Honest. Nor do I think it matters whether it's occupant is male or female. The only constant is that anybody who is willing to do what it takes to GET the job these days probably shouldn't have it. No, I don't have any way out of that particular paradox. I only note it's existence.
[05] Do you believe in the death penalty?
Yes, for those monsters who are a true danger to society. Not everybody can be rehabilitated. Not all of them want it. Even the appeals process could be reformed considerably. I won't take it as far as Dad, who still thinks Hanoi Jane should face a firing squad.
I'm going to side with
attack_laurel on this one "...I am what P.J.O'Rourke calls a "callous pragmatist";" You got it, sister. P.J. is my spokesman.[06] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I have to admit complete indifference on the topic. Smoke your weed, provided penalties for putting anybody at risk by doing so are at least as stiff as those for alcohol. And do it somewhere that I don't need to be exposed to the smoke. Or otherwise outlaw eucalyptus, too, since I'm screamingly allergic and my sinuses fill everytime I walk down the floral aisle at the craft store.
[07] Are you for or against premarital sex?
Why is this something open for social debate? Keep it in the bedroom, between consenting adults, if you please. I suspect those who are more profilgate generally come to regret it, but that's their problem.
[08] Do you believe in God?
Yes. Though I don't think the human mind is capable of comprehending Him in all his aspects. For that matter, I'm beginning to think the human mind probably can't even trascend itself to fully understand the human brain. Which is a topic for a novel or too.
[09] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
Define marriage. Church union? Leave it up to the Church. Legal union? Honestly, the monetary advantages developed as a way to encourage and subsidize the raising of children. I'm not sure how much of that applies anymore. If we're going to rework the health care system and benefits in general, maybe the legal framework needs a shake-up. That said, I'm content in my marriage, and can't imagine getting divorced.
[10] Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?
I think that illegal immigration in general needs a crack-down. And that once they're here, it shouldn't be such a bloody gravy-train. I'm fairly offended that there are services available to illegal immigrants (or undocumented residents, is that the new term?) that aren't available to my family. What the F--- is up with that? Nor do I think that I ought to have to learn anybody ele's language in order to do my job or seek services in my community. I'm not even keen on financing the provision of such services with my tax dollars. Bloody well learn to speak English like the immigrants who came before you.
[11] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Does she want it? Does she have the resources and support structure to do so? Does she have the emotional and mental capacity to even wrap her mind around the enormity of the decision? Who thinks these things are an either/or sort of question?
[12] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
Probably. I'm not hypocritical enough to stand on my soap box and decry something I did on a regular basis. The problem isn't alcohol. It's protecting children from the consequences of their actions for as long as possible. Then they don't learn anything. And keep making bigger and bigger mistakes until somebody gets hurt. Experience is only a good teacher if the lesson gets graded.
[13] Should the war in Iraq be called off?
What is this, a tea party? How on earth do you call of a violent confrontation across that much real estate? But if you're going to get involved in a conflict, bloody well finish the job this time. A lot of the problem has been that total changes in administration have hindered our ability to develop any kind of considered, cogent Foreign Policy.
[14] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
No. It ought to be an option for those with terminal conditions. Hospice on steroids, if you will.
[15] Do you believe in spanking your children?
I'm not sure you ought to pretend an opinion on this one if you don't have kids. You cannot reason with a 2 year old, they lack the capacity. And, for their own safety, some things must be burned across their little psyches. Anneliese can, in general, not be reasoned with. As much as it pains me, providing a profoundly negative stimulus in the only means of influencing her behavior. If I were against spanking her, she would absolutely wander out the door of the house, and likely into the street.
[16] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Um, yep. I even asked the hubby, a 10-year vet of the Marines, and he said the same thing. It's a piece of fabric. Yes, it has some powerful symbolism. But on the other hand, could it be any more American than to do the capitalist thing and take the monet?
[17] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
I'm torn between "neither" and "does it matter?" I used to have libertarian leanings - but, really, who's going to bell the cat? Now I seem to be sinking even further, toward full-blown social Darwinism. The Government does NOT exist to protect you from your own stupidity. And really, the less it interfered, the better off most of us would be.
[18] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
Will they? Yes. Am I afraid? No. I normally keep from ranting and raving out of respect for other people's point of view. If they think less of me for reading this, well, that's more their problem than mine. But I really suspect most folks on the ol' friends' list don't fall into that trap. Non-friends' comments will be screened, as I'm not in the mood for flame wars.
