A Liberal Choice
Considering I write a liberal blog, I thought I'd go into a little detail about why I'm a liberal.
I'm a huge supporter of social programs that assist less advantaged citizens. Particularly citizens who have children. Whatever the adult's reasons for not supporting their children properly, I do not believe that children should have to suffer for the plight of their parents and/or guradians. I believe that in one of the richest countries of the world, society should help provide for those children whose parents can't or won't. A) Because they're kids, and B) Because it benefits society when they become contributing adults. The child born of welfare dependent adults could and should be able to grow to be the doctor that saves your life one day.
I believe in a woman's right to choose. And so long as a woman's body is the vehicle that delivers humans into this world, I don't see my stance changing anytime soon. It's not that I want women to have abortions or even think that they should. I would strongly advise any woman I know to consider other options. The right falsly labels "pro-choice" as "pro-abortion", and that simply isn't the case. I'm not pro-abortion nor do I know anybody who is. I don't, however, believe that it is my right to insist on making it my duty to make that choice for them. I think that forcing a woman, who desperately doesn't want to be pregnant, to carry a pregnancy to term is a recipe for disaster. Society erroneously believes that a mother's love for her unborn child will conquer whatever reasons they have for not wanting a child. That is not always the case. Carrying a pregnancy to term is an enormous responsibility and one that, if there were no abortion option, would be asked of a woman not willing to be responsible for it.
I'm against capital punishment for any reason. I do not believe that I or society should have the right to determine someone beyond redemption and better off dead. The pro-capital punishment argument regarding the financial cost to society for keeping dangerous criminals alive in their jail cell is, in my opinion, a despicable arguement. I do not think someone's life worth should be decided by the amount of money it costs to keep them alive. Just because the almighty dollar makes the world go 'round, doesn't mean that it should. The eye for an eye mentality never sat well with me. The whole, "you committed a heinous crime by killing someone so we are going to...um...kill you too" is saying two wrongs make it right. What it is, is revenge, and what it doesn't do is make the victim's families mourn their loss less. It just creates more victims (i.e. the criminal's family).
I believe in separation of church and state. Keep religion out of law. And that's really the long and short of that. And politicians who pander to the religious right lose my respect faster than you can say "supercalifragilisticexpealidocious"...okay, faster than that even. Both John McCain and Hillary Clinton now fall into that category. 'Nuff said about that.
I'm anti-war and believe that it should only happen as an absolute last resort. Even with today's technology and the almighty "smart bomb", too many innocent lives are lost. You may be more familiar with it's callous term, "collateral damage". Ugh!
For what it's worth, I do not choose my friends based on their political views (Jack at the West Ranch Beacon Blog). Although, my own mother is a republican, but ya don't choose your parents now do ya...kidding. In fact, the majority of my friends don't give a rat's fig about politics, period. At the moment, only 2 come to mind and they live out of state. That was one of the main reasons I stared my blog, because I was sure my friends didn't care much about what I was saying, politically.
This concludes today's glimpse into my mind. There is so much more...Perhaps I'll write a "part deux" in the future.
Enjoy your weekend!
I'm a huge supporter of social programs that assist less advantaged citizens. Particularly citizens who have children. Whatever the adult's reasons for not supporting their children properly, I do not believe that children should have to suffer for the plight of their parents and/or guradians. I believe that in one of the richest countries of the world, society should help provide for those children whose parents can't or won't. A) Because they're kids, and B) Because it benefits society when they become contributing adults. The child born of welfare dependent adults could and should be able to grow to be the doctor that saves your life one day.
I believe in a woman's right to choose. And so long as a woman's body is the vehicle that delivers humans into this world, I don't see my stance changing anytime soon. It's not that I want women to have abortions or even think that they should. I would strongly advise any woman I know to consider other options. The right falsly labels "pro-choice" as "pro-abortion", and that simply isn't the case. I'm not pro-abortion nor do I know anybody who is. I don't, however, believe that it is my right to insist on making it my duty to make that choice for them. I think that forcing a woman, who desperately doesn't want to be pregnant, to carry a pregnancy to term is a recipe for disaster. Society erroneously believes that a mother's love for her unborn child will conquer whatever reasons they have for not wanting a child. That is not always the case. Carrying a pregnancy to term is an enormous responsibility and one that, if there were no abortion option, would be asked of a woman not willing to be responsible for it.
I'm against capital punishment for any reason. I do not believe that I or society should have the right to determine someone beyond redemption and better off dead. The pro-capital punishment argument regarding the financial cost to society for keeping dangerous criminals alive in their jail cell is, in my opinion, a despicable arguement. I do not think someone's life worth should be decided by the amount of money it costs to keep them alive. Just because the almighty dollar makes the world go 'round, doesn't mean that it should. The eye for an eye mentality never sat well with me. The whole, "you committed a heinous crime by killing someone so we are going to...um...kill you too" is saying two wrongs make it right. What it is, is revenge, and what it doesn't do is make the victim's families mourn their loss less. It just creates more victims (i.e. the criminal's family).
I believe in separation of church and state. Keep religion out of law. And that's really the long and short of that. And politicians who pander to the religious right lose my respect faster than you can say "supercalifragilisticexpealidocious"...okay, faster than that even. Both John McCain and Hillary Clinton now fall into that category. 'Nuff said about that.
I'm anti-war and believe that it should only happen as an absolute last resort. Even with today's technology and the almighty "smart bomb", too many innocent lives are lost. You may be more familiar with it's callous term, "collateral damage". Ugh!
For what it's worth, I do not choose my friends based on their political views (Jack at the West Ranch Beacon Blog). Although, my own mother is a republican, but ya don't choose your parents now do ya...kidding. In fact, the majority of my friends don't give a rat's fig about politics, period. At the moment, only 2 come to mind and they live out of state. That was one of the main reasons I stared my blog, because I was sure my friends didn't care much about what I was saying, politically.
This concludes today's glimpse into my mind. There is so much more...Perhaps I'll write a "part deux" in the future.
Enjoy your weekend!
posted by Tootsie Farklepants at 11:55 AM
23 Comments:
That was very nice to read. It is always good to see where the writerstands on the bigissues of the day. Good job and I have to say, you write very well TF. I ahave 2 kids with one on the way and cant even think of big words anymore. Everything round here is potty and kids words.
Murph
Thanks Jack...that is very kind of you to say. I know what you mean about the mind going to mush when kids are in the picture. I try to keep alert by reading and writing...a lot. Can I be considered a writer even if I don't get paid for it? I guess it's just a hobby then. :-)
My kids were jumping all over me when I was writing that this morning and my son is doing it NOW as I write this. I think they are liberals! Can you be a liberal at 2 and 5? I do think most liberals are 2 and 5 so I guess I just answered my own question... : )
A writer is still a writer. I wouldnt worry about getting paid TF, I would worry about being right. Please read the Op Ed section of the signal on Thursday and see the West Ranch on Friday.
I have to say, I dont agree with you at all on most things currently, but im sure as times change that too will change. But I really enjoy reading your work and respect your opinion greatly. I think its important that many many others start to read you. Your work is too good to not have a massive following. You think and take your time to organise your thoughts. Again, your always wrong, but thats ok. Its better then most of the Right sites not only round here but nationally. I would rather read you than KOS or even So Cal Pundant so far. hahahaha
See those two things on those two days and let me know what ya think...
Murph
Thanks for the compliment on my writing abilities. I've written several things...3 children's stories, a completed screenplay, one incomplete, and of course my musings on this blog. I haven't actively done anything with my work, although I did just enter my screenplay in the Austin Film Festival and a competition with the American Screenwriter's Association...so...finger's crossed!
As to your slam to liberals mixed in with your compliment, I have to ask...if you proclaim yourself to be a "moderate", why don't I see your criticism of the far right? See, I don't see them as 2 or 5 year olds. I see them as short sighted with an inability to see outside the box. They look at the world in terms of black and white without consideration of the long term effects of our actions to aquire what is needed in the immediate.
Thoughts? I do appreciate your perspective. Any advice on how to generate more traffic towards my blog besides cluttering it up with Google ads?
Fair enough complaint. I dont like to fight the national issues. You wont change and I wont change. But, I do go after the right, mostly locally as that efects us/me the most. I go after them pretty hard too. Keep in mind when I ran for election out here my own party, the Republicans would not even recognise me as a GOP candidate.
In so far as a Critique of the current administration I feel the way most locaical people feel. That they tend to think they are right and everyone else is wrong and just stick to their plans too long. Good or bad. I would like to have seen more internal struggle in the past few years in the WH. I think more struggle over the difficult issues is good for the country. I think the administration tries to hard to keep a happy face on. I commend them for it as well President Clinton when he was able to do in the last term as well.
The job of president and for that matter an leadership role is thankless and always open to critiques. You can never please everyone so you have to please your base.
Jack
Well, you got your chance to leave Iraq. The Reed/Levin amendment lost 60-39 and the Kerry thing didnt do to well did it.
There ya go. We are a Democracy and we do as the majority say. THey have spoken. Now cant we all just support this war and see that it ends with US winning and the troops home wiht in a year.
My thoughts...
I am anonymous. Sorry, I forgot my name.
Did I miss something? Or are you in the wrong post with this?
Just because the majority has spoken doesn't mean that they are right. The majority used to believe that the earth was flat, that women were chattle, black people were a commodity and a lesser people, the nazi party had majority rule in Germany and look how well that turned out for the world.
It remains to be seen about this current war in Iraq. But so far bombing an ideology isn't working so well.
That is true. But we are a represenative democracy are we not?
Me
Representative in the sense that we elect officials to represent us in the political arena, that doesn't mean that they necessarily act in our best interests.
Well, thats the point. They act in the best interest of the majority. There is always going to be a large percentage that doesnt agree because, even though they may be a large group, are still not the majority. Thats how it works. Majority rule type of deal.
But, that said. It doesnt mean you should have to change your opinion or your mind on the particular subject. Just that there is respect for the Program we got here. Im not even sure what the heck I am trying to say. Screw it.
Forget it. Be your self so we can argue more. Im sure you did better in Governement then I did anyway. You could probably teach me more about the branches of Gov.
I have to go now and blow up the TV. If I see the Backyardagains one more time my head is going to implode. What the hell are these things anyway? Rats with elephant ears?
I think we can all agree, we should protest the programming at Nick!
Me
Not to toot my own horn, but I do/did have a 4.0 GPA out of the 36 units of community college I managed to complete (as an adult not right out of HS) until the Governator raised the tuition from $11 to $33 per unit. Since I was going to college for really no other reason than that I enjoyed taking classes and learning, it got a little to pricey for my blood. I did take a couple of history and political sciences classes that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Anyway...enough about me. The representatives do NOT always act in the best interest of the majority. They are pretty much free to act as they wish. Although they ususally appeal to those constituents that will put them into office for another term. Those constituents are not always the majority. But ask yourself this: When was the last time you had any say about any of the legislation congress writes, passes, or doesn't pass? For instance, new polls show that the majority no longer support the war in Iraq and do not believe that it has made us safer. I don't see congress acting in the majority's interest on that issue.
As with same sex marriage, the majority believe it should be banned but the majority believe that it should NOT be a constitutional amendment. And the ban on gay marriage is nearly a 50/50 split.
Congressmen spend more time pandering rather than serving our best interests. That goes for both sides of the aisle.
And I don't know what those Backyardagain things are. There does seem to be a slew of odd shows on Nick Jr.
Just read your entry on the WRB. Thanks for the mention and the nice things you had to say! I missed the op ed yesterday in the Signal. Is there a link you could provide? Or do I have to try and find an old paper?
Thanks!
As an aside: is there anyway you could convince Mr. Bossert to add a comments section to the blog?
He i8s having the site redesigned and will have a special section for certain people to comment in. You and Matt are already in cluded. He was was to prove that his hits are high enough that he is going to be able to advertisers on it as well.
Gay marrage...Hummmm. Here is my take. If they say that marrage is between ONLY 2 consenting adults then I dont care. Man man or man and woman or woman and woman. As long as the definition is " Between Only two consenting adults". My take is poligamy and idiots wanting to marry sheep. All its gonna take is one idiot guy who wants to marry a 12 year old boy and the definition is so general that they cant stand in the way of his civil rights to blow it up.
The definition has to be done right and the ACLU will NEVER let them say that.
At last we agree on something. Consenting adults, yes. I actually don't have a problem with poligamy either but I can only imagine what a nightmare it would be to divvy up property and child custody during divorce. And the animal thing...that's just ridiculous and kind of belittles the arguement. That wouldn't be the ACLU's concern, but PETA would lose it's everlovin' mind.
If you support a woman's right to abort the fetus in her womb are you not a pro-abortion advocate? You can minse words all you want but it changes nothing blondie.
What you fail to mention in your piece is that abortion, if used properly is a splendid way to reduce the birthrate thus ensuring that social engineering programs are able to meet the needs of everybody that is too lazy to care for their own.
And Jack: It's great to hear that you are starting your children out early as baby killers. Have you taken a moment to explain to them that they were a scalple away from becoming abortions themselves?
Diggin you man!
It may not change anything in your small little twisted mind (evidenced by your completely uncalled for statment you made towards Jack), but I'm not pro-abortion. YOU can spin it anyway you want. No skin off my nose what you think of me.
I can only imagine the horror stories you fill your childrens heads with.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Blondie? Wow. That really brings back memories. My first job out of HS and I worked for this real male chauvanist pig. He called me Blondie. Good times...gooood times. NOT.
Ya know, Kev...I've always managed to remain civil with you when posting comments on your site. Is it too much to ask that you extend my site and my guests the same courtesy?
""What you fail to mention in your piece is that abortion, if used properly is a splendid way to reduce the birthrate thus ensuring that social engineering programs are able to meet the needs of everybody that is too lazy to care for their own.~Kevin K. ""
Why would I mention that in my piece? Has that been suggested by anyone other than someone contained in a straight jacket? And, "too lazy to care for their own"? Careful Kev, your compassion is showing.
T.F. and Kevin. I think Kevin's post is awesome ( kinda mean spirited, but thats ok). T.F, now you can see the difference between a moderate and far right Republican.
Just like you T.F. Kevin means well and is thinking about the best interest of the country and the people in it. You both are passionate and I LOVE IT!!!
I would rather you both slam me then each other.
I love debate and can take the hits! Your both great!
Jack
Nobody is willing to come out and admit that abortion is being used as population control in America. It is one of those dirty little secrets like how Planned Parenthood isnt supposed to supply abortions to minors but does anyway. Do you remember when they released those recorded phone calls of P.P. staff trying to talk 13-16 year old girls into having an abortion?
Each abortion ruins 2 lives. It completely ends one of them but the other life must live on long after it has come to the realization of what she did. She murdered an innocent life because bringing that life into the world would have been inconvenient or emotionally painful for her. And behind every abortion done to a young woman is an older person that should know better that talked them into it.
The death of innocent life does not bother you at all Tootsie yet in another post you lament the death of allegedly innocent Iraqis at the hands of coalition forces. None of those Iraqis, even those that never took part in terrorism is as innocent as the child that is brutally cut up and sucked out of a woman's womb in the course of a "DNC".
And Jack: It's great to hear that you are starting your children out early as baby killers. Have you taken a moment to explain to them that they were a scalple away from becoming abortions themselves?
Diggin you man!
Unfortunitly abortions happen to the wrong people dont they Kevin?
Of course abortion bothers me, where would you get that it wouldn't? As I've already claimed that I'm not pro-abortion and would strongly advise anyone I know who might be contemplating one, against it. I also think that it is a personal choice for a woman. Period.
I hope you'll forgive me Kevin, but your opinion of Planned Parenthood and what constitues "trying to talk them into abortion" is biased considering your hardlined stance. I imagine that even suggesting it as an option, to you, would seem like trying to convince someone that is what they should do.
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