U.s. Presidential Election

[mshinoda]

let's have some fun. i'm going to start by laying down some rules for participating in this thread:

1.) voting-age US citizens only (age 18+)
2.) be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m

[Anstice]

Ooh, nice. I really like the idea of this. I tried to do this and people just bashed me. They'll probably pay more attention to yours.

I feel like voting mainly because my brother is in Iraq right now. HOWEVER, I'm not sure who the best candidate is. So, that makes it hard. Sometimes I feel like my vote won't count. Coming from Indiana, I live in a place full of Republicans. I'm Democrat, so, it's kind of pointless for a Democrat to vote when surrounded by Republicans.

[lproxn]

sigh i am not from the us.(india) but my brother is in flroida..and i think he supports Barack Obama...hmmmmm

oh and btw please come to india:( millions of fans here

[Kimberlys]

not from the U.S either (norway) but my bro is living in San F.
so i guess he is gonna vote for Obama. Dunno why though, he wants the war in iraq to
stop or something o.O

[Anstice]

I must also point out that I'm going to vote. No matter who I vote for, I will do it. It's my right.

If you have any respect for the men and women that are fighting to keep that right safe (my brother amongst them), vote.

[lproxn]

not from the U.S either (norway) but my bro is living in San F.
so i guess he is gonna vote for Obama.

your family and mine have so much in common :eek: :D

[Moonmike]

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m

you should not say for who are you voting but you guys all wrote the names of the candidates here =P =/

[lproxn]

haha i realised that!!!!

but i think both of them have good points to their credit and both of them are going to set records which ever person wins.in the end all it matters is ..are they going to restore world peace or are they going to be like bush?

[babiiboo]

well i voted for clinton back in like february.. and it looks like shes done for in this election.. the things important to me is the war in iraq and the cost of living these days.. i think the troops should be pulled out right away and that we never should have been there in the first place.. its kind of sad to not know exactly why we are in a war.. and then the cost of living is just crazy here.. prices of gas, apartments, milk, bread, everything is just so high!.. its really hurting alot of people.. healthcare is also so expensive.. you have a heart attack, they save you, then you get a bill for $5000..

i feel no matter who wins though not much will change anyway

[Anstice]

well i voted for clinton back in like february.. and it looks like shes done for in this election.. the things important to me is the war in iraq and the cost of living these days.. i think the troops should be pulled out right away and that we never should have been there in the first place.. its kind of sad to not know exactly why we are in a war.. and then the cost of living is just crazy here.. prices of gas, apartments, milk, bread, everything is just so high!.. its really hurting alot of people.. healthcare is also so expensive.. you have a heart attack, they save you, then you get a bill for $5000..

i feel no matter who wins though not much will change anyway

...He did say not to post who you were voting for :/

[WookieBastard]

it's interesting the fact that i did a thread just like this months ago and no one of the people who posted here cared about it, lol.

use the search function noob!

?? j/k

[NoFace]

Actually, there's already a thread like this. But will you tell us who you will vote for, Mister Shinoda? Or a little hint?

[Anstice]

it's interesting the fact that i did a thread just like this months ago and no one of the people who posted here cared about it, lol.

I KNOW.

The same thing happened to me. *grumble*

[Anstice]

Actually, there's already a thread like this. But will you tell us who you will vote for, Mister Shinoda? Or a little hint?

Not that I'm bashing you. But.

1.) He said that we we're posting who we were voting vote.
2.) It's VERY rude to ask someone who they are voting for. I won't even ask my own mother that question.

[NoFace]

it's interesting the fact that i did a thread just like this months ago and no one of the people who posted here cared about it, lol.

use the search function noob!

?? j/k

noob, lulz. You're no Mr. Shinoda, you have no fangirl. Give up, Wookie

[NoFace]

Not that I'm bashing you. But.

1.) He said that we we're posting who we were voting vote.
2.) It's VERY rude to ask someone who they are voting for. I won't even ask my own mother that question.

are you trying to impress him?Thank you, Miss.

[babiiboo]

it's interesting the fact that i did a thread just like this months ago and no one of the people who posted here cared about it, lol.

use the search function noob!

?? j/k

lol i answered you..

i have wanted clinton to run for a while and when i found it she was i was relaly happy.. truthfully i think shes the only one with balls running and i really hope she wins even though i dont think she will

[ambulldoglover]

I am 26 and I decided to register this year, I'm not sure why but it just seemed right. I have no idea who to vote for, I just hope that when the time comes, it will be for the best of this country and it's people. My most important issue is the illegal immigrants. I could spend an entire day "ranting" about my opinions but in truth, we need to think about the "Americans" in this country and how this is USA land of the free and we speak ENGLISH and we have a CONSTITITION and we pledge alligance to the FLAG.
Thank you.

[lproxn]

are you trying to impress him?Thank you, Miss.

i think we all are :p

[Anstice]

are you trying to impress him?Thank you, Miss.

No, I'm not trying to impress him, thanks. I'm just politically correct. And it is not nice to 1.) ask someone who they are voting for 2.) ask a woman her age. :)

[lproxn]

ask a woman her age. :)

amen!!!!!!!

many ppeople actually do thatrude thing here in lpmb:mad:

[Jay_of_Diamonds]

yes i will be voting in this upcoming election. i will be voting becuz this is the first year i can excercize that right as a US citizen and i want the war in iraq to end.

[NoFace]

No, I'm not trying to impress him, thanks. I'm just politically correct. And it is not nice to 1.) ask someone who they are voting for 2.) ask a woman her age. :)

oh, I don't know that it's impolite. Plus, Chester spilled out who he voted for, his political view etc, why can't Mike. I just wonder. If Mike choose to keep silent, it's his choice

[lproxn]

and i want the war in iraq to end.

th whole world wants it

and whichever candidate actually does it ...i am gonna aa send a bottle of beerover to him/her

:p

[Anstice]

To be honest, with the way things are going right now, I don't think anyone could screw us up more than our current president has already done.

You know what's funny though?

This country is set on morals, and tradition. There are three candidates. The IDEAL candidate for a president would be a white, Christian male.

That said, [rhetorically, don't answer this], who do YOU think will win? :rolleyes:

[iMoan]

(excuse me for not being a US citizen.)
I watch the news and know what's going on with the candidates for the US election. But down here we get the same thing that they talk about over there "Oh i'll fix this, i'll help these people, i'll put money into this research, i'll make sure people are employed...etc", personally I think voting is hard and tedious. Not only do I get pressures from my family and who they vote for, but my friends... a lot are very political, and sometimes that can make me sway in the other direction. You're also trying to find the right candidate to suit not only your needs, but everybodies. Who is going to be the most beneficial for your country?

Personally, I vote because (not only do I have to) but because I feel that my vote will count. I think that if people keep informed with what's going on in the world, what's going on with each candidate, you get a sense of pro's and cons with each candidate and you know their good sides and bad. For instance, you need someone who will help with the enviroment, but also the economy. You want someone to boost the education system, get more hospital beds, more doctors, more work safety, plant those trees, build a dam, have wind turbines, be prepared for terrorists or whatever... but what i've realized, is that each politician can only do the best they can. In todays society, everyone is so afraid of everything and nothing is ever good enough.

Its compulsory for us to vote down here, but if I were in the USA i'd vote anyway, i know it would make me feel more secure.

[Rob1]

I'm voting. This is my first time being able to vote in a Presidential Election, so I'm pretty excited.

What matters to me is a sensible resolution to the Iraq War. Just "ending it" isn't going to be good enough if it's left to stay a breeding ground for terror and sectarian violence. Then we have Darfur 2.

[yeahyeahyeah]

I am voting this comming election. I'm voting because it's my right and I would like to choose the person that will run my country for the next four years. I can't just sit here and go with the flow, not now.

The issues that are important to me are:

1. Of course the war in Iraq. I believe the troops should come home and have no valid reason to be occupying Iraq. And family friends of mine that are/were fighting in Iraq are done themselves.

2. The cost of living. It's unreasonable. I was at the gas station the other day and $10 couldn't even get me 3 gallons. And I can't even fucking pay for my Nursing State Exam because that three hundred and something dollars needs to go to bills, grocery shopping and helping my mother pay the mortgage to a house we'll probably lose because it keeps foreclosing. I'm sorry if I'm going off on this but it's fucking hard trying foward your career but keep getting held back.

3. The environment. I don't care if you believe in global warming or not. Something funky is going on and I know you notice it in small ways. We as a nation need to really implement ways of going green becasue even a little bit goes a long way.

4. Gay righs. As a person in this "minority" we deserve the same civil rights as any other human regardless of their race, religion, orientation, ect.. Discrimination is soooo 1700s.

[ChesterzMuse]

Yeah, I'm totally going to vote.
The issues that matter to me are getting the hell out of this mess we've created with the war. We need to stop trying to be intimidating and be humble - perhaps the world wouldn't hate us? We need to stop hating certain groups and focus on the individuals who have actually wronged us.
I'm really concerned about the environment and global warming. I think we've done enough messing with our Earth and that we've been so wasteful for far too long. If we don't start taking action, there isn't going to be an Earth. I want my future grandchildren to be able to enjoy the world and see some of the beautiful things I have. It's a shame that we're destroying ourselves.
I also can not wait to get a gasoline man out of office. I mean, what the hell? I'm broke as it is, and when it costs money to actually get to work, what is the point? My generation has no future, and this is all made possible by certain groups of greedy bastards who don't care what happens to us as long as they get their fat checks at the end of the day.
And while we're at it, let's talk college. It's pretty much a given that no one in my generation is going to get anywhere in life without some sort of college because most of us weren't born with silver spoons in our mouths. But how in the hell are we supposed to pay for college with tuition rates going up steadily every year, and the quality of education going down? We're in debt long before we ever get the chance to make anything out of ourselves, and what does that lead to, but resentment towards the educational system? It's all fucked.
I'm getting pretty riled up, here. Might have to reply later 'cause if not this is going to turn into a nasty rant, and I would like you people to think of me as a generally nice person :)

[ChesterzMuse]

oh, I don't know that it's impolite. Plus, Chester spilled out who he voted for, his political view etc, why can't Mike. I just wonder. If Mike choose to keep silent, it's his choice

He did????

[Anstice]

He did????

Mm - not so much.

In that magazine interview they had with him a few months ago, he made it clear that he probably wouldn't vote Republican, because Bush gave them a bad name. And that he wasn't going to vote for HER. So, I guess he sort of said Obama.

[Rocksquirrel]

This country is set on morals, and tradition. There are three candidates. The IDEAL candidate for a president would be a white, Christian male.

That said, [rhetorically, don't answer this], who do YOU think will win? :rolleyes:

a Jewish, black man! *one day*

sorry for my rant :p

[Anstice]

a Jewish, black man! *one day*

sorry for my rant :p

lmfao. Agreed.

I'm a Democrat and very liberal. I don't care WHAT kind of person runs our country as long as they know how to fucking DO it.

[Angiepantalones]

Mike should post more often so everyone else will. I can't remember the last time a thread had more than 10 replies within two hours. Jeez.

Anyway. I registered to vote about a month ago because I'll be 18 before November. I'm pissed that Wisconsin doesn't have legislation enacted to allow citizens who will be of age for the general election to vote in the primaries. Ah well. I'm very excited to be voting for the first time (that is, if I do vote. Obama or bust, baby). More importantly, I'm glad I'll be able to vote in local elections because that's where shit really happens.

The issues concerning me most are the economy and lack of jobs, because I have no idea how a fresh-out-of-high-school teenager with no previous job experience and no chance of going to college is going to surivive in this country right now. Also, the energy crisis. Gas is $3.55 a gallon here and the public transportation system is in shambles. I need a car and I need to be able to pay for gas to get to work and stuff, but what's the point of working when it's eating up most of your paycheck just paying to get to and from work each day?

And then there's the war and civil rights and net neutrality and health care and our international standing and immigration and blah blah blah. This post is already way too long.

[Anstice]

Mike should post more often so everyone else will. I can't remember the last time a thread had more than 10 replies within two hours. Jeez.

Anyway. I registered to vote about a month ago because I'll be 18 before November. I'm pissed that Wisconsin doesn't have legislation enacted to allow citizens who will be of age for the general election to vote in the primaries. Ah well. I'm very excited to be voting for the first time (that is, if I do vote. Obama or bust, baby). More importantly, I'm glad I'll be able to vote in local elections because that's where shit really happens.

The issues concerning me most are the economy and lack jobs, because I have no idea how a fresh-out-of-high-school teenager with no previous job experience and no chance of going to college is going to surivive in this country right now. Also, the energy crisis. Gas is $3.55 a gallon here and the public transportation system is in shambles. I need a car and I need to be able to pay for gas to get to work and stuff, but what's the point of working when it's eating up most of your paycheck just paying to get to and from work each day?

And then there's the war and civil rights and net neutrality and health care and our international standing and immigration and blah blah blah. This post is already way too long.

I know the feeling. It makes it a hassle to go anywhere. I live 5 1/2 hours from home, away at University, and I had to miss my family's Easter due to high gas prices. They were skyrocketed. That's how life goes.

[Angiepantalones]

I am 26 and I decided to register this year, I'm not sure why but it just seemed right. I have no idea who to vote for, I just hope that when the time comes, it will be for the best of this country and it's people. My most important issue is the illegal immigrants. I could spend an entire day "ranting" about my opinions but in truth, we need to think about the "Americans" in this country and how this is USA land of the free and we speak ENGLISH and we have a CONSTITITION and we pledge alligance to the FLAG.
Thank you.

Languages spoken in America:
English - 215 million speakers
Spanish - 28 million
Chinese languages - 2.0 million +
French - 1.6 million
German - 1.4 million
Tagalog - 1.2 million +
Vietnamese - 1.01 million
Italian - 1.01 million
Korean - 890,000
Russian - 710,000
Polish - 670,000
Arabic - 610,000
Portuguese - 560,000
Japanese - 480,000
French Creole - 450,000
Greek - 370,000
Hindi - 320,000
Persian - 310,000
Urdu - 260,000
Gujarati - 240,000
Armenian - 200,000
Navajo - 178,000
Dakota - 18,000
Central Alaskan Yup'ik - 16,000
Cherokee - 16,000
Western Apache - 12,500
Piman - 12,000 +
Choctaw - 11,000
Keres - 11,000
Zuni - 10,000
Hawaiian - 8,000 +
Ojibwe - 7,000


The more you know.

[Angiepantalones]

Also:

Generally, U.S. Hispanics (13.4% of the 2002 population) are bilingual to a degree. A Simmons Market Research survey recorded that 19 per cent of the U.S.'s Hispanic population speak only Spanish, 9.0 per cent speak only English, 55 per cent have limited English proficiency, and 17 per cent are fully English-Spanish bilingual.

Intergenerational transmission of Spanish is a more accurate indicator of Spanish's future in the U.S. than raw statistical numbers of Hispanophone immigrants. Although Latin American immigrants hold varying English proficiency levels, almost all second-generation Hispanic Americans speak English, yet about 50 per cent speak Spanish at home. Two-thirds of third-generation Mexican Americans speak only English at home.

Calvin Veltman undertook, for the National Center for Education Statistics and for the Hispanic Policy Development Project, the most complete study of English language adoption by Hispanophone immigrants. Mr Veltman's language shift studies document high bilingualism rates and subsequent adoption of English as the preferred language of Hispanics, particularly by the young and the native-born. The complete set of these studies' demographic projections postulates the near-complete assimilation of a given Hispanophone immigrant cohort within two generations. Although his study based itself upon a large 1976 sample from the Bureau of the Census (which has not been repeated), data from the 1990 Census tend to confirm the great Anglicization of the U.S. Hispanic population.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_in_the_United_States

[Anstice]

Languages spoken in America:
English - 215 million speakers
Spanish - 28 million
Chinese languages - 2.0 million +
French - 1.6 million
German - 1.4 million
Tagalog - 1.2 million +
Vietnamese - 1.01 million
Italian - 1.01 million
Korean - 890,000
Russian - 710,000
Polish - 670,000
Arabic - 610,000
Portuguese - 560,000
Japanese - 480,000
French Creole - 450,000
Greek - 370,000
Hindi - 320,000
Persian - 310,000
Urdu - 260,000
Gujarati - 240,000
Armenian - 200,000
Navajo - 178,000
Dakota - 18,000
Central Alaskan Yup'ik - 16,000
Cherokee - 16,000
Western Apache - 12,500
Piman - 12,000 +
Choctaw - 11,000
Keres - 11,000
Zuni - 10,000
Hawaiian - 8,000 +
Ojibwe - 7,000


The more you know.

Also:

Generally, U.S. Hispanics (13.4% of the 2002 population) are bilingual to a degree. A Simmons Market Research survey recorded that 19 per cent of the U.S.'s Hispanic population speak only Spanish, 9.0 per cent speak only English, 55 per cent have limited English proficiency, and 17 per cent are fully English-Spanish bilingual.

Intergenerational transmission of Spanish is a more accurate indicator of Spanish's future in the U.S. than raw statistical numbers of Hispanophone immigrants. Although Latin American immigrants hold varying English proficiency levels, almost all second-generation Hispanic Americans speak English, yet about 50 per cent speak Spanish at home. Two-thirds of third-generation Mexican Americans speak only English at home.

Calvin Veltman undertook, for the National Center for Education Statistics and for the Hispanic Policy Development Project, the most complete study of English language adoption by Hispanophone immigrants. Mr Veltman's language shift studies document high bilingualism rates and subsequent adoption of English as the preferred language of Hispanics, particularly by the young and the native-born. The complete set of these studies' demographic projections postulates the near-complete assimilation of a given Hispanophone immigrant cohort within two generations. Although his study based itself upon a large 1976 sample from the Bureau of the Census (which has not been repeated), data from the 1990 Census tend to confirm the great Anglicization of the U.S. Hispanic population.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_in_the_United_States

Word.

:rolleyes:

[babiiboo]

hes kinda got a point.. i have no problem with other languages.. i speak greek fluently and some spanish.. but it does kind of bother me when im walking down the street shopping and there is a store where everything is written in spanish or chinese and i dont feel right going in there and when i do i am lost.. also illegal immigrants go to our schools, doctors, drive on our roads but we are the ones paying taxes.. thats not fair at all

[Angiepantalones]

hes kinda got a point.. i have no problem with other languages.. i speak greek fluently and some spanish.. but it does kind of bother me when im walking down the street shopping and there is a store where everything is written in spanish or chinese and i dont feel right going in there and when i do i am lost.. also illegal immigrants go to our schools, doctors, drive on our roads but we are the ones paying taxes.. thats not fair at all
That's a problem with you and your comfort levels, not the language. I've never encountered a store that was devoid of any English signage. Also, not everyone who speaks Spanish is illegal, just like not everyone who is illegal is Hispanic.

[Angiepantalones]

Also, if illegal immigration is such a dire threat to the US, why aren't we putting pressure on the Mexican government to treat their citizens right? Or are the majority of Americans oblivious to the reasons WHY there's so much illegal immigration?

[babiiboo]

That's a problem with you and your comfort levels, not the language. I've never encountered a store that was devoid of any English signage. Also, not everyone who speaks Spanish is illegal, just like not everyone who is illegal is Hispanic.

i know that.. im not naive i have plenty of spanish friends and like i said even i speak greek and a little spanish.. and yes here in new york theres lots of stores that do that.. there is no english on anything and you feel lost.. if you come to new york city ask some one how to get to main street and when you get there tell me how lost you are.. i dont even care if they want to write in spanish or chinese on there signs but i think there should be english under in small letters or something

[babiiboo]

Also, if illegal immigration is such a dire threat to the US, why aren't we putting pressure on the Mexican government to treat their citizens right? Or are the majority of Americans oblivious to the reasons WHY there's so much illegal immigration?

and i have no problem with people migrating here.. i have a problem with them not paying taxes.. my parents came here at 6 months old and 18 years old.. but they became citizens and pay taxes

[WookieBastard]

why aren't we putting pressure on the Mexican government to treat their citizens right? Or are the majority of Americans oblivious to the reasons WHY there's so much illegal immigration?

and how does the mexican government treats their citizens?

[Angiepantalones]

and i have no problem with people migrating here.. i have a problem with them not paying taxes.. my parents came here at 6 months old and 18 years old.. but they became citizens and pay taxes
The process of becoming a legal citizen is incredibly difficult. My grandmother came here from Norway in 1924 and didn't become a full citizen until 1999. It's ridiculous and the government isn't making it any easier. The obvious solution is to make a second line for illegals who have been here for a set amount of time without breaking any other laws. It's not like illegals enjoy having to live under the gun.

[YourConscience]

be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...



Guidelines, kids - There's a reason Mike laid them out for us...

Yes, I'm voting. Although politics tend to bring about a major headache for me, I find it important to help decide who might be the one making major decisions that'll effect our country. There are so many issues that matter to me, that I won't even begin to get into them here... All I have to say, is that I hope no one will vote for the wrong reasons... (it's ridiculous to me how many people have said "it's about time we had a woman for president" - I'm sorry, but if that's your justification, then vote for me...)

The comments on this thread are already burning me out... If anyone has anything to say to me, send me a message - I don't imagine I'll be lurking here much. Just, please... Everyone do your country a favor, and if you can't make an INFORMED decision, then don't vote at all...

[bluesonicspeed]

This is a great subject to get people's real views on.

Well, this will be my first chance to vote, problem is that I still don't know who to vote for. To me, it doesn't matter what party you belong to but what everyone wants for our Nation. A lot of people seem to be putting down Bush left and right, but it was ALL OF US who wanted him in the first place. If anyone else was in his position during 9/11, I'm sure they would have went to war with Iraq too. Yes, it is taking time but when you want to help others and do it right, it is going to be time consuming. All I know it that I want to vote for someone who is serious about our country. Someone who really cares what America thinks and build this place back on what our founding fathers built it on: GOD.http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd290/littlestrmy/?action=view&current=flag.jpg

[Angiepantalones]

and how does the mexican government treats their citizens?

They keep a large chunk of the population in relative poverty while bringing in billions of revenue from their oil. It's been like that for decades. If they'd take any percentage of Pemex's revenue and put it into improving conditions in the south, things would improve.

Of course, the majority of illegals aren't even coming from Mexico anymore, they're coming from the rural areas of Guatemala and El Salvador and Honduras because things are even worse down there.

[dragonlp20]

let's have some fun. i'm going to start by laying down some rules for participating in this thread:

1.) voting-age US citizens only (age 18+)
2.) be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m
Great idea Mike :)

are you voting? YES why? Because, if I don't, and I don't like the outcome, I have no right to bitch :D plus, it's my duty as an American and former Army National Guardsman

what issues matter to you? The Economy # 1.. followed in a close second with this dumb ass bull s*** war in Iraq. And capturing Osama bin Laden. And in at #3.. Gay Marriage. I have as much a right to marry the man I love as any heterosexual. Marriage is about LOVE, not gender (or a bunch of other things)

[KATHYxx]

let's have some fun. i'm going to start by laying down some rules for participating in this thread:

1.) voting-age US citizens only (age 18+)
2.) be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m


OK, yes I am voting. I am basically somewhere between liberal and libertarian. I don't have a party, and i couldn't request the ballot I wanted so I could not choose a candidate for this first election. I will be able to in the end.

The issue that affects me most is secularism and religious based laws. I am an agnostic who is rapidly sliding towards atheism. The very basis of "free-country" means that people of every race or religion can coexist peacefully without one kind dominating them all, but Christians are increasingly forcing their unfounded, unprovable, and IGNORANT beliefs into every atheist, Muslim, Jew, Bhuddist and everyone else's face. This is what make me sympathize towards democrats verses republicans most of the time. Creationism should not be taught, Prayer should be kept out of schools, secularism should remain in place, let the homosexuals have equal rights, abortion should be used in emergencies or in the first trimester if the mother does not believe in life at that stage.

I also don't like the Church of Scientology.. Note, that I am against the church and their practices, not the beliefs of the people in it.


Also, I do not believable immigration should be a deportable offense, just as most other crimes are not deportable offenses. I find that a bit draconian, unless the defendant happens to be a drug dealer.
I also think that any idea of a "wall" is absolutely USELESS in keeping immigrants out. Anyone determined enough to sneak into this country will not be stopped by a simple wall. Illegals can go through, under or over without too much effort. So why bother; it's wasting our money that can go to something better.

The War in Iraq: I don't want to be there 100 years, and i don't want it to turn into Darfur. Nobody's offered a solution I like.


Let flag burning stay. The freedom it represents is the freedom to allow it to be burned. If the flag could think, i think it would be happy to be burned in demonstration.

[YourConscience]

What matters to me is a sensible resolution to the Iraq War. Just "ending it" isn't going to be good enough if it's left to stay a breeding ground for terror and sectarian violence. Then we have Darfur 2.

Major props for this post.

Let flag burning stay. The freedom it represents is the freedom to allow it to be burned. If the flag could think, i think it would be happy to be burned in demonstration.

Hahaha... This is a HUGE no-no. By this logic, our soldiers are happy to die for the freedom of speech of all those people who say that those soldiers deserve to die because what they're doing is wrong. HUGE no-no. It's a major disply of disrespect.

[Angiepantalones]

Hahaha... This is a HUGE no-no. By this logic, our soldiers are happy to die for the freedom of speech of all those people who say that those soldiers deserve to die because what they're doing is wrong. HUGE no-no. It's a major disply of disrespect.

Since when has disrespect been illegal?

[lp_fm_fan]

I'm not 18 now I will be by the time voting comes though. I'm not gonna vote cuz none of the candidates appeal to me. SO pfft.

[Cyco_green_monkey]

The upcoming Presidential election is going to be one of the most historic ever. The education level of the potential voters is fairly high; but that does not make us impervious to being sucked into all of the political hype. When it comes right down to it people have to choose sides, and it's important to realize a few things:
First, politicians are going to say things that they do not mean, just to get your vote.
Second, the candidates will not seriously talk about heavy issues unless they have to. They want you to see their face and feel calm, not scared because their image reminds you of difficult or upsetting issues.
Third, they do have constituents that they have to deal with.

This is not to say that politicians are bad people, they are just trying to get into a position to do something they think is right.

That being said, I think this is an exciting time to have a voice; so use it! What is the point of having freedom if you don't exercise it? The best way to do that is to really think about what you believe and have a well though out opinion; be informed of the candidate's positions on the issues; and be open minded about other people's beliefs. Vote for whomever you want, but respect the fact that other do not have to agree with you.

The bottom line is that if you feel strongly about something, you have to fight for it. Be vocal about what you want, and make your own decision!

PS: For those of you who are not familiar with George Carlin, youtube him because he's very political.

[YourConscience]

Since when has disrespect been illegal?

Oh, it's so obviously (and painfully) clear that disrespect isn't illegal. Its legal status isn't even close to the point I was trying to make. But, ummm, thanks for playing anyhow.

[Angiepantalones]

Oh, it's so obviously (and painfully) clear that disrespect isn't illegal. Its legal status isn't even close to the point I was trying to make. But, ummm, thanks for playing anyhow.
Right, sorry, read your post wrong. It still doesn't make much sense, though. Burning a piece of fabric is in absolutely no way similar to a solider dying. Also, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that the soldiers deserve to die.

[Jome]

I'm not a US citizen so if you don't care of my opinion you are welcome to skip it, although I follow the american election almost as much as I follow the danish.

I feel that it wouldn't be proper of me to have a strong attitude on internal US affairs like healt care or so on, I have an opinion but it's up to you to decide whatever you think is the best option. One of the things I do care about however is the war in Iraq.

It has been suggested by the democratic candidates that the US should withdraw their troops very quickly (within 100 days, or am I wrong?). I think this is a very bad solution to the war. I wasn't a big fan of going into Iraq at first, but leaving when the country is in the stake it is, seems to me to be a decision that would just leave the country in a much worse situation than before USA and it's allies entered. What is important is to help the Iraqi government build up a millitary, police and infrastructure so they will be able to control the country when the foreign troops leave. And before that task is complete I don't think anyone should withdraw from Iraq. Otherwise it will leave the country open for religious fanatist and violence between Shi'its and Sunnis.

Just my two cents.

[Cyco_green_monkey]

The sad thing is that I have heard people say that "the soldiers deserve to die."

[YourConscience]

Right, sorry, read your post wrong. It still doesn't make much sense, though. Burning a piece of fabric is in absolutely no way similar to a solider dying. Also, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that the soldiers deserve to die.

Meow... There's an actual group of people who go around to the funerals of soldiers, yelling at the families that they deserved to die, because what they're doing with the war and everything is wrong... *bites tongue* I could say so much more on this, but I really don't want to get into it right now... (P.S. there's now a group of bikers who follow these people around and rev their motorcycles to drown out their ignorant voices)

Point is, those people have no respect for the men and women who died to earn their right to be able to say such things. Burning fabric is by no means the same as a lost human being's life, but it's the idea of disrepecting something that stands for your right to act in such a way.

[Rob1]

Meow... There's an actual group of people who go around to the funerals of soldiers, yelling at the families that they deserved to die, because what they're doing is wrong... *bites tongue* I could sat so much more on this, but I really don't want to get into it right now...


Fred Phelps? He's an evil son of a bitch, and laughs at everyones funeral.

[Angiepantalones]

Meow... There's an actual group of people who go around to the funerals of soldiers, yelling at the families that they deserved to die, because what they're doing is wrong... *bites tongue* I could say so much more on this, but I really don't want to get into it right now...

Point is, those people have no respect for the men and women who died to earn their right to be able to say such things. Burning fabric is by no means the same as a lost human being's life, but it's the idea of disrepecting something that stands for your right to act in such a way.
Oh, that's just Fred Phelps. He's irrelevant.

Anyways, I don't nessecarily agree with flag burning but I think it's absolutely a free speech issue and it should be protected by the first amendment.

[YourConscience]

Oh, that's just Fred Phelps. He's irrelevant.

Anyways, I don't nessecarily agree with flag burning but I think it's absolutely a free speech issue and it should be protected by the first amendment.

Okay, that comment about Fred Phelps cracked me up. "He's irrelevant." Hahaha...

Anyhow, as far as flag-burning goes, I think most people would catagorize it with free speech, but if you think about it, it's not words, it's an action... The first ammendment would protect you saying that it's okay to burn the flag, but not the actual process of doing so...

[animelover]

i dont know what this is but it seems like shit and i cant be botherd to read it and understand what it is so i am not going to and dont tell me becuse i will forget



lol

[Anstice]

Meow... There's an actual group of people who go around to the funerals of soldiers, yelling at the families that they deserved to die, because what they're doing with the war and everything is wrong... *bites tongue* I could say so much more on this, but I really don't want to get into it right now... (P.S. there's now a group of bikers who follow these people around and rev their motorcycles to drown out their ignorant voices)

Point is, those people have no respect for the men and women who died to earn their right to be able to say such things. Burning fabric is by no means the same as a lost human being's life, but it's the idea of disrepecting something that stands for your right to act in such a way.

There's also a group of men that accompany the military funerals called the Patriot Guard that protect the onlookers from the protesters. We had a service man die from our city. When they brought his body back and have him a funeral, the Patriot Guard followed him all through town.

Watching a white hearse carrying a service man drive by you with a funeral precession is a very solemn and sobering moment.

[YourConscience]

There's also a group of men that accompany the military funerals called the Patriot Guard that protect the onlookers from the protesters. We had a service man die from our city. When they brought his body back and have him a funeral, the Patriot Guard followed him all through town.

Watching a white hearse carrying a service man drive by you with a funeral precession is a very solemn and sobering moment.

Oh, I bet it's extremely sobering... I feel so out of touch that I haven't heard of the Patriot Guard (or maybe I have, and it just hasn't clicked yet...), but it's awesome to know that they're out there doing what they do. Thanks for bringing this group to my attention.

Wait... Aren't they the bikers I mentioned? I just couldn't think of what they were called... *thinks*

[oOTenshiOo]

Im not from the USA (Germany) but I think if I would live in the States I would vote for the democrates..
Its a shame we cant notice everything and the plans from the candidates.. my favorite is Obama.. and I hope you take the right decision.. the world trusts in you xDD

[Anstice]

Oh, I bet it's extremely sobering... I feel so out of touch that I haven't heard of the Patriot Guard (or maybe I have, and it just hasn't clicked yet...), but it's awesome to know that they're out there doing what they do. Thanks for bringing this group to my attention.

Wait... Aren't they the bikers I mentioned? I just couldn't think of what they were called... *thinks*

lmfao - yes. I guess I didn't your post thoroughly ^_^

[Chukkaque]

I don't plan on voting. I guess I just don't really see a point. I don't think it matters very much if the american people actually vote or not. Im pretty sure that there is just some secret voting that really decides whos gonna be president or not, I just don't see a point.

[YourConscience]

I don't plan on voting. I guess I just don't really see a point. I don't think it matters very much if the american people actually vote or not. Im pretty sure that there is just some secret voting that really decides whos gonna be president or not, I just don't see a point.

Conspiracy Theory much? o.0

I like to believe that the smallest action can make a difference, so we all should try to do our part to benefit the world that we, and our future generations, will live in. But that's just me. Like I said, I just hope that anyone who does decide to vote, will make an INFORMED choice. Otherwise, it may be better off to sit out on voting all together...

[nikkiann0100]

Sorry guys but I really dont have any interest in voting. The reason is mainly because I dont care for any of the candidates. As much as I would like a woman to be president I dont really think she will better the country. I hear alot of people tell me what they think but if I dont care for any of their views. I think it would be hard to make a decision.

[YourConscience]

I know and love entirely too many people who are enlisted in the military, to not vote. Yeah, politics give me a headache easy, but I feel the need to do my best to protect the people who risk their lives protecting us. So, what? I have to do a bit of research and lose my sanity during elections, but aren't our loved ones worth it?

[ChesterzMuse]

All right ... doing some hardcore multi-quoting here as not to eat up too much space here (I know it's gonna get crowded shortly)
Mm - not so much.

In that magazine interview they had with him a few months ago, he made it clear that he probably wouldn't vote Republican, because Bush gave them a bad name. And that he wasn't going to vote for HER. So, I guess he sort of said Obama.
Well that seems like a logical conclusion. Chester's like 10 points cooler than he was this morning (the Chester meter never stops growing:) )

The issues concerning me most are the economy and lack of jobs, because I have no idea how a fresh-out-of-high-school teenager with no previous job experience and no chance of going to college is going to surivive in this country right now. Also, the energy crisis. Gas is $3.55 a gallon here and the public transportation system is in shambles. I need a car and I need to be able to pay for gas to get to work and stuff, but what's the point of working when it's eating up most of your paycheck just paying to get to and from work each day?

And then there's the war and civil rights and net neutrality and health care and our international standing and immigration and blah blah blah. This post is already way too long.

I totally agree with you. And I felt the same way when I was posting lol.

and if you can't make an INFORMED decision, then don't vote at all...

Truuuuuue that!! Who was that one guy who was like "I don't even know what you guys are talking about" -- uh-uh. No voting for you, son.

A lot of people seem to be putting down Bush left and right, but it was ALL OF US who wanted him in the first place. [...] Someone who really cares what America thinks and build this place back on what our founding fathers built it on: GOD.http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd290/littlestrmy/?action=view&current=flag.jpg

1.) NO, it most certainly wasn't. And even if we had, who could have predicted he would fuck up as bad as he did? A lot of people were making stupid decisions based on ideas that Gore was tainted after being associated with Clinton -- but you had better believe we did not ALL vote for Bush. You're off by a *couple* of million or so there, give or take.
2.) I thought we had, like, freedom of religion here & stuff. Our country was founded on freedom.

And in at #3.. Gay Marriage. I have as much a right to marry the man I love as any heterosexual. Marriage is about LOVE, not gender (or a bunch of other things)

You can't help who you love. Who's business is it, anyway, if you want to be legally binded to that person? Intolerance is so ugly.

[Noj]

not the biggest fan of what Bush has done at all during his terms...
so I definately plan on voting this year!

I'm hoping something will be done about all the outsourcing in the US, such as tax-reliefs for hiring within US, etc
Don't get me wrong I definately support other countries growth and their economies, but if the company is based in the US why send support/employees overseas?

middle class, social security, budget deficit... are some of the other concerns I have :)


How bout you Mike? what are your concerns or what policies are most important to you?

[AshleyDawn]

I am a 19 year old voting US citizen. I became interested in politics durning the 2000 election, I was finally old enough to somewhat understand what was happening. That's the first time I realized the US is not the perfect, secure, honest country I grew up believeing. After that I was dead set that when I turned 18 I was going to make my vote worth everything I could.

The main issues I'm concerned with are: health care, Iraq/Iran, and the economy. I know I will probably get slack for saying it, but I think the US has bigger issues to deal with right now (the fact we are in 2 wars, threatening Iran, and have a free falling economy), than same-sex marriage, abortion, and global warming. I don't want it to sound like these are trivial issues, because they arn't, and I have a firm side for them all, but we need to deal with the mess we are in right now, and after it's cleaned up we can work to correct the other things.

[YourConscience]

Major props to ChesterzMuse, comment #72... Although, the one thing I have to say about all of that, is that I don't find it fair to rule out McCain simply because of Bush... "Judge the individual, not the mass." >.<

[ChesterzMuse]

^^ I think global warming is a big fucking deal mostly cause we're fucking with the EARTH, not just the US. Pretty selfish of us bastards to cause as much damage as we are. I get where you're coming from -- different people, different priorities. If I were a country trying everything I could to keep the Earth beautiful and making efforts with other countries, I'd want to bomb the shit out of us. Could very well happen in the future.

[YourConscience]

I know I will probably get slack for saying it, but I think the US has bigger issues to deal with right now (the fact we are in 2 wars, threatening Iran, and have a free falling economy), than same-sex marriage, abortion, and global warming. I don't want it to sound like these are trivial issues, because they arn't, and I have a firm side for them all, but we need to deal with the mess we are in right now, and after it's cleaned up we can work to correct the other things.



Must... Resist... Ranting... About... Priorities...

[ChesterzMuse]

Major props to ChesterzMuse, comment #72... Although, the one thing I have to say about all of that, is that I don't find it fair to rule out McCain simply because of Bush... "Judge the individual, not the mass." >.<

I couldn't agree with you more there. I'm voting Obama simply because the things that are important to me seem to be getting adressed by him (and I hope he's worth his talk) and if McCain or an oddball candidate were supporting what I support, I'd be just as adamant about getting them into office, too. Generally, I tend to be more Democratic. Generally, I want to slap Bush with a trout.

[AshleyDawn]

Must... Resist... Ranting... About... Priorities...

Rant away, I think if global warming comes before the soldiers being shot up right now in Iraq and Afghanistan to you, so be it. You may think my priorities are messed up, but maybe you don't have a family living on $383 a week because their jobs got sent away. Maybe you don't have family and friends in the service? Your mom didn't have brain surgery and hasn't been able to go back to the doctor since because she doesn't have the money to pay the bills?

It's all perspective, hun. All perspectve.

[YourConscience]

Once again, props to ChesterzMuse. ^_^

^^ I think global warming is a big fucking deal mostly cause we're fucking with the EARTH, not just the US. Pretty selfish of us bastards to cause as much damage as we are.

Recent studies show that enough people believe in global warming and think that it's an issue we need to deal with, but very few have admitted that they're actually taking action to help reduce global warming. There seems to be a major lack of urgency.

[YourConscience]

Rant away, I think if global warming comes before the soldiers being shot up right now in Iraq and Afghanistan to you, so be it. You may think my priorities are messed up, but maybe you don't have a family living on $383 a week because their jobs got sent away. Maybe you don't have family and friends in the service? Your mom didn't have brain surgery and hasn't been able to go back to the doctor since because she doesn't have the money to pay the bills?

It's all perspective, hun. All perspectve.

Okay, see... You've got me all fired up now, because I never said that your priorites are out of order - I just didn't want to get started on my own. Anyone who knows me -no, anyone who took the time to read more posts on this thread- knows that I have more family and friends in the military than I do civilians. So YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND if you think that I care more about "going green" than I care about all of my family and friends that are OVERESEAS RIGHT NOW, IN THE FUCKING LINE OF FIRE.

Don't even get me started on perspective, as if I don't know a fucking thing about priorities. I've experienced some things throughout my life thus far...

[AshleyDawn]

Okay, see... You've got me all fired up now, because I never said that your priorites are out of order - I just didn't want to get started on my own. Anyone who knows me -no, anyone who took the time to read more posts on this thread- knows that I have more family and friends in the military than I do civilians. So YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND if you think that I care more about "going green" than I care about all of my family and friends that are OVERESEAS RIGHT NOW, IN THE FUCKING LINE OF FIRE.

I am not arguing with you, and I didn't read any of your posts except the ones reguarding mine because I had no intentions to comment on anyone's views. To each their own. I said that in my other post that got you "fired up."

I'm out.

-Ashley

[Liquorice]

I want to slap Bush with a trout.

lol. Yep we all do here too, And we not even American.

I think its disguting how he treated ppl. Threatening us to side with him and send our ppl to his war. I mean we got NO enemies and are a peaceful country in the South Pacific for Gods sake. Be so fucking glad when he's GONE.

[YourConscience]

I am not arguing with you, and I didn't read any of your posts except the ones reguarding mine because I had no intentions to comment on anyone's views. To each their own. I said that in my other post that got you "fired up."

I'm out.

-Ashley

No... What you said in your other post that got me "fired up" is

if global warming comes before the soldiers being shot up right now in Iraq and Afghanistan to you, so be it.

To each his or her own. But don't judge me based on your interpretation of the ONE comment that you happened to read. A comment, no less, that simply stated that I didn't want to get into ranting about priorites.

[ttjean]

let's have some fun. i'm going to start by laying down some rules for participating in this thread:

1.) voting-age US citizens only (age 18+)
2.) be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m

I am voting, because I have student loans to pay and I don't want the economy to be shot to the point where I can't make money. Also, I hope to have a family someday and I'd like to be able to afford a house. I'd like my future kids to have all the rights they deserve. I'd also like to be able to retire and collect social security when I'm old.

The national debt has skyrocketed over the past eight years. I'd like to see that change soon, which means (gasp!) we need to raise taxes and allocate the funds in a more effective way. So, of course, I'm in favor of ending the war ASAP.

I'm passionate about reforming health care and public education. Not enough, not near enough, has been done to make hospitals and schools as accessible and effective as they should be. Our public schools should be palaces.

And I'd like my best friend to be able to get married. He's an amazing guy and he shouldn't be classified as a second class citizen.

And when I do leave the planet, I'd like to feel like I left it looking better than it did when I got here. I want clean air and water. There's a lot we can do, and it's so easy.

Anyway, I think a lot has to change, and the young people have to vote to make that happen. It's the young people who are about change. It's our future, and it's our responsibility to make the world we want to live in.

[ttjean]

Major props to ChesterzMuse, comment #72... Although, the one thing I have to say about all of that, is that I don't find it fair to rule out McCain simply because of Bush... "Judge the individual, not the mass." >.<
May I give you a few reasons to rule him out, then?

I can? Good.

I used to respect McCain. He was a maverick, he was moderate, and he seemed to have common sense. I mean, look at what he was doing ten years ago. He was a straight-talker and a guy you could trust.

Look at him now. Over the past few years, as he's set himself up to run for president, he's slowly aligned himself more and more with Bush and his ilk. Now he's basically in bed with the Bush administration.

If he's elected, he will continue the war, and probably start invading other countries on top of Iraq and Afghanistan.

That is unacceptable.

[LPROCKS]

I am not sure who I will vote for. I am not into politics too much so I still have a lot to read and research before I make a final decision. But I wish our future president will pay more attention to our own country. We have thousands of soldiers trying to fix another country while really no one is fixing ours.
You see the local news and kids are killing kids in school, at the mall, on the streets, not even being a toddler saves you these days, it is a nightmare. There is so much poverty in the US, so much frustration. People take the law on their own hands because sometimes laws are not tough enough or are just not fair. You see kids that are left to grow up on their own and be disciplined by anyone instead of their own parents who are probably caught up on their own lives. I think that no matter who ends up winning these elections, we all need to do our part on trying to make this country a better place for ourselves. I understand the President and Co. have their own agendas, but there is a lot that can be done day by day by each one of us. Anger is not cool, hate is not cool, being mean is not cool, take responsibility for what you do. Most people just don't care, I have live that, is like more people give up everyday and decide it's easier to just don't care about anything.

I just hope our next president really makes a difference in this country.

[Anstice]

Okay, see... You've got me all fired up now, because I never said that your priorites are out of order - I just didn't want to get started on my own. Anyone who knows me -no, anyone who took the time to read more posts on this thread- knows that I have more family and friends in the military than I do civilians. So YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND if you think that I care more about "going green" than I care about all of my family and friends that are OVERESEAS RIGHT NOW, IN THE FUCKING LINE OF FIRE.

Don't even get me started on perspective, as if I don't know a fucking thing about priorities. I've experienced some things throughout my life thus far...

HEY! :mad:

Cool it!

This was supposed to be a debate about the presidential candidates! Not about the hardships that we've gone through in life!

We all know or are close to someone in Iraq right now. That is not grounds for you to start cussing someone out who is trying to give their own opinion of things.

'Kay?

Thanks.

[Foreword09]

As McKinnis would say "You bet your sweet bippy" I am voting! I will not say who/what party I am voting for...I will just say that when a particular party is in the White House, my faminly and I actually have money in our pockets and we aren't just living paycheck to paycheck or "surviving." We can actually go to the doctor/dentist on a "normal" basis and we can actually do things together "family" things. I also want a candidate who is going to do more for education purposes, as far as helping students get better grants/loans to actually continue their education.....I know several people who have dropped out or been kicked out because they couldn't get enough/couldn't find the right funding, etc. and it sucks because they WANT to continue they're schooling but can't....i want a candidate whos gonna stand up for the little guy!!! I also want a candidate who is going to bring our troops home, get our country out of debt (hey we did it once, we can hopefully do it again) and on it's feet again......and I want a candidate whos going to do more FOR our country...clean up the place, the environment especially... and definantly do a lot more for the wildlife too before it's all gone. :( When I have kids someday I want them to be able to enjoy all the same things I was able to enjoy as a kid and if there is nothing left what kind of a childhood can they have?!?!? *sniffles* Anywho....there's a lot more too....but I tend to ramble forever so if you want to talk more about it send me a msg on yahoo (JHAT4ever) or Myspace or something....ciao!

[Maressa]

definitely voting. if you want change you can't just sit on your ass and expect it to happen.

[YourConscience]

HEY! :mad:

Cool it!

This was supposed to be a debate about the presidential candidates! Not about the hardships that we've gone through in life!

We all know or are close to someone in Iraq right now. That is not grounds for you to start cussing someone out who is trying to give their own opinion of things.

'Kay?

Thanks.

I wasn't cussing anyone out for voicing their opinions. Everyone has different opinions, and that's fine. I was upset that someone was judging the kind of perosn that I am, going on about her "hardships", and assuming that I didn't care about our soldiers overseas, simply because I posted that I didn't want to rant about priorities! This whole thing has gotten way out of hand, and I'm done with it.

[YourConscience]

Major props to LPROCKS, comment #87...

[Anstice]

I wasn't cussing anyone out for voicing their opinions. Everyone has different opinions, and that's fine. I was upset that someone was judging the kind of perosn that I am, going on about her "hardships", and assuming that I didn't care about our soldiers overseas, simply because I posted that I didn't want to rant about priorities! This whole thing has gotten way out of hand, and I'm done with it.

I was talking to the both of you.

I merely quoted YOU.

My bad, sorry about that.

[RiseUp]

let's have some fun. i'm going to start by laying down some rules for participating in this thread:

1.) voting-age US citizens only (age 18+)
2.) be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m


Of course I'm voting!! It's an honor and a priviledge to be able to chose who you want to govern your country. I think it's a travesty how less than 65% of the American population turned out to vote for the last two elections. Also- if I don't vote, then I can't complain.
There are several issues that are important to me. One of the most important ones is how my tax money is being used. I'm also a firm opponant to tax breaks for the rich. Our environment is going down the crapper quickly and DESPERATELY needs help. That should be at the forefront of the issues for this year's race.
Thanks for posting this, Mike. I'm pretty interested myself in how everyone else will be voting.

[ChesterzMuse]

I am not sure who I will vote for. I am not into politics too much so I still have a lot to read and research before I make a final decision. But I wish our future president will pay more attention to our own country. We have thousands of soldiers trying to fix another country while really no one is fixing ours.


I respect that you're going to research things on your own. It's totally okay to not know everything right off the bat, because typically what we "know" at first is what we were raised in, and as we all know, parent's aren't *always* right lol. A lot of people make me so mad because they stand for something and will argue it to death without ever knowing why.

[KATHYxx]

Major props for this post.



Hahaha... This is a HUGE no-no. By this logic, our soldiers are happy to die for the freedom of speech of all those people who say that those soldiers deserve to die because what they're doing is wrong. HUGE no-no. It's a major disply of disrespect.

Okay, that comment about Fred Phelps cracked me up. "He's irrelevant." Hahaha...

Anyhow, as far as flag-burning goes, I think most people would catagorize it with free speech, but if you think about it, it's not words, it's an action... The first ammendment would protect you saying that it's okay to burn the flag, but not the actual process of doing so...


Not quite. The first Amendment protects many forms of free speech. Symbolic speech is one of them. Demonstrations are also forms of free speech that goes beyond words, and it too is also protected by the first amendment. Point is, flag burning is a form of symbolic speech, which is a form of speech regardless of words, and thus should be protected.

Hey, in one point of the south, saying "free the slaves" wasn't a popular thing to say. We should never, under any circumstance, allow the popular opinion to trample free speech. It's not there to protect the majority opinion, it's there to protect the minorities. And it should not be squished, because while one may be in the majority this year, it may not be the case next year.

The flag represents American freedom. It is supposed to symbolize the protection of our freedoms. Symbolic speech is a form of freedom. Ergo, my first post where I said the flag would be all too happy to be burned. It doesn't feel pain or anything so i don't believe a comparison to animate objects applies here.

[akitagirl]

It is our right as American voice our opinions - but I think if you want to voice your disapproval of what is going on in the US today you should use some of that energy to get out and vote. Voting is your way to make a change. This never ending war, the economy and the blind eye politicians are turning to what's happening to our planet need to be addressed today. I am hopeful that one of the candidates will make a real difference in our country and the world. So if you were planning to sit back come Nov. - GET UP AND VOTE - you cannot complain about who is in office if you did not try to put the one you believe in there!!! Vote or be silent!!!!!

[YourConscience]

The flag represents American freedom. It is supposed to symbolize the protection of our freedoms.

I realize this... I'm just saying that I don't find it okay to destroy something that symbolizes ones freedom to take such action. But that's just me. Obviously, different people have different opinions about certain things, and that's how it'll always be. But, while I'm on this, I'm reminded of something I recently read:

"...there he saw some young people burning Old Glory... His emotions grew raw. He looked at me with huge tears in his eyes, and told me how it hurt his heart to see that beautiful flag being burned..."

[NAXX]

Not many people realize that the proper way to dispose of an American flag that has served it's duty, or become worn out is to burn it.
Oh yeah, and on topic I got to vote on Tuesday. I actually think both [major] democratic candidates are good and will make a good president for different reasons.

[ShadowerLiltani]

let's have some fun. i'm going to start by laying down some rules for participating in this thread:

1.) voting-age US citizens only (age 18+)
2.) be respectful and courteous. disagreements will happen, but keep it smart and respectful.

here's what i want to know:
are you voting? why?
what issues matter to you?

let's not talk about WHO you're voting for. let's talk about whether or not you're going to be participating, and what matters to you...and don't talk to me, talk to one another.

-m

One of the issues that matters to me is health care. I'm not eligible for health insurance, which is strange being as I have a heart murmur and all. (They've prolly labeled heart murmurs "preexisting conditions" just like dwarfism). I had to go through a lot of crap to get the sliding fee scale with Hill Health (branch of local, walk in clinics where I live), and was barely eligible for that. By the way, I have 4,000 dollars worth of medical bills, in case anyone was wondering.

Both candidates that I like, (Hillary and Obama), are for health care. I'm not totally confident in Obama, but, they both have their strengths and their weaknesses and that is what makes them human like the rest of us. So, considering that we will have either the first black person in office, or the first woman in office, I would vote for that reason. Along with them being democrats, which is a big plus in my book. And I'm pretty sure the world won't get blown up by them either. So, yeah, that's why I'm voting. It's a historic election and I want to able to look back fifty years from now and say I was a part of it.

[ttjean]

I realize this... I'm just saying that I don't find it okay to destroy something that symbolizes ones freedom to take such action. But that's just me. Obviously, different people have different opinions about certain things, and that's how it'll always be. But, while I'm on this, I'm reminded of something I recently read:

"...there he saw some young people burning Old Glory... His emotions grew raw. He looked at me with huge tears in his eyes, and told me how it hurt his heart to see that beautiful flag being burned..."

I'll never understand why people even talk about this. Is there some epidemic of flag-burning going on that I'm not aware of?

It happens, at most, a few times a year. It riles everybody up then. But nobody gives it any thought, until someone mentions it. That's what I call a non-issue.

Really, somebody choosing to burn a flag in an act of protest or whatever, does not hinder my ability to be a proud American. However, some of the things this administration has gotten away with over the past eight years has made me waiver a little bit.

Let's talk about that. That's an issue.

[Fox]

I definitely plan to vote. Because, not voting isn't going to do anything positive. And yes, I plan to vote even if the person I want to elect, doesn't make it on the ballet (the "lesser of two evils" theory).

As for, the issues that are important to me, the highest priority issues are health care, because our system just sucks so much. Environmental issues, because the way we're treating this world is just pathetic. Gay marriage, because, well that's a personal thing for me.

I could go further into this, but it'll just turn into one big rant, and nobody wants that.

[YourConscience]

I'll never understand why people even talk about this. Is there some epidemic of flag-burning going on that I'm not aware of?

It happens, at most, a few times a year. It riles everybody up then. But nobody gives it any thought, until someone mentions it. That's what I call a non-issue.

Should we only address problems when they get out of hand then? You know what? Never mind... Like so many other people here, I also feel that there are WAY BIGGER ISSUES that need to be dealt with. Flag-burning just happend to come up, and I wanted to post my feelings on it. I realize that there are more important things to focus on right now, so please, let's not get into priorities again...

P.S. I'm sorry my opinions have seemed to cause such a stir. It's apparent that it'd be better for everyone else if I wasn't here anymore...

[shinoda_me]

not a U.S resident ... not 18+
yes i broke the rules of the thread ...

and yes im talking to YOU!
why don't you post something that's in for everyone? i feel left out :(
(i already posted on your blog :p)

[shinoda_me]

Should we only address problems when they get out of hand then? You know what? Never mind... Like so many other people here, I also feel that there are WAY BIGGER ISSUES that need to be dealt with. Flag-burning just happend to come up, and I wanted to post my feelings on it. I realize that there are more important things to focus on right now, so please, let's not get into priorities again...

P.S. I'm sorry my opinions have seemed to cause such a stir. It's apparent that it'd be better for everyone else if I wasn't here anymore...

Clarey Clare Clare goes Ranty Rant Rant ... haha!
don't worry sweety... its nice reading you're opinions .. i love them ... its all about controversies in my world :)

[YourConscience]

Clarey Clare Clare goes Ranty Rant Rant ... haha! :)

I know, I know... And I even warned Mike against posting controversial subjects, and what does he do? He opens a thread, dedicated to something that's bound to get people going. *hangs head and shakes it* But I'm trying to behave now. Haha.

[ms_rathbone]

whos world is this?? the world is yours!!

[shinoda_me]

I know, I know... And I even warned Mike against posting controversial subjects, and what does he do? He opens a thread, dedicated to something that's bound to get people going. *hangs head and shakes it* But I'm trying to behave now. Haha.

trying to behave... LMAO!!!!
i love his controversial threads!!!
and what does HE do?
creates a thread where i dont really have a right to post
and what to I do?
i try NOT to behave :p

[capitain]

1) I am voting. My reasoning is that citizens of this country are afforded the opportunity to try and influence issues that matter to them through voting. If you're given the opportunity to help effect a change and you fail to take advantage of that opportunity, you have demonstrated that you're incapable of fielding such responsibilities and do not deserve it. Furthermore, if something happens that you disprove of and you failed to prevent it despite having the chance to, you have no right to complain.

2) The issues that matter to me the most would have to be the war in Iraq, education, and the economy (in no particular order).

<start rant>

With regards to the war in Iraq: I'm a Democrat. Or, at least I think I am. But I don't know if I'll vote for a Democratic candidate this year because of their policies on the war. I didn't think going into Iraq was the brightest idea, but it seems that we've taken the country apart so thoroughly that if we pull our military presence out, Iraq would be picked apart by civil war and Islamic extremists. The US put Iraq in the position it is now, and to pull out, leaving the future of Iraq at risk, would show that the US is a selfish nation.

Of course, asking US troops to fix something that was never their fault would also be selfish. But these are American GI Joes, right? They're all supposed to be selfless heroes!

Ugh. I can't believe what the men and women of our armed forces have been condemned to.

Furthermore, I'm looking at a career in the sciences/academia. The continual drain the war has on funds needed in academia and scientific research is a serious issue I have to worry about. But, I'll certainly lose sleep if the president I vote for pulls our military out of Iraq and sentences the Iraqi people to a future even more dismal than what they face currently.

With regards to education: No Child Left Behind fell flat on it's face. No, I stand corrected, it didn't even have a chance to fall. It was doomed to fail from it's inception. I was in high school when Bush was first elected, and I could tell you right then and there that No Child Left Behind wouldn't fix ANYTHING. NCLB simply told schools how high their kids would have to jump and what sort of hoops the kids would have to jump through. Unfortunately, these schools already knew how to teach kids to meet these standards; but knowing how to teach doesn't guarantee that kids will want to learn. I went to the worst high school in my school district (I estimate 80% of my graduating class failed to move on to college, and the number is probably rising), but despite how poorly the overall student populace performed on standardized tests, the tools required for achieving success were THERE. The real problems were those that NCLB ignored:

1. Kids unwilling to learn, buying into a culture of sloth and ignorance, looking only for fun and refusing to put time and effort into bettering themselves mentally.

2. Kids coming from immigrant backgrounds with poor english skills and families struggling to survive.

While #2 would seem like the "obvious" reason most kids fail in the area where I'm from (Southern California), I'd wager #1 would be the actual reason most kids fail. There's a culture of underachievement and laziness that's perpetuated among today's youth, and until we figure out a way to motivate these kids to learn, the average intelligence of high school grads is going to be very, very, very low.

Looking back at #2, I think this reason plays a greater role in limiting how many kids move on to higher education. Familial monetary struggles may also influence motivation of kids to learn as well.

Whatever candidate I vote for would have to address these education issues.

With regards to the economy: This is one subject where I'm at a complete loss as to who or what would be best for America. It certainly is important, and I'm going to have to hit up my business/econ major friends for insight on what would be best for our economy.

In closing, I don't think any of the [remaining] candidates we have this year are any good. One may be somewhat better than the others, but I don't think anyone has a clear advantage over the other two.

</end rant>

[YourConscience]

trying to behave... LMAO!!!!
i love his controversial threads!!!
and what does HE do?
creates a thread where i dont really have a right to post
and what to I do?
i try NOT to behave :p

Meow... It's just so hard sometimes to communicate something online, where it's entirely too easy for emotions to get lost in translation. Besides, I'm trying to behave for the sake of staying relevant to the topic. Will we vote? Why? What matters to us? That's all he's asking... Which, by the way, I thought that when he laid out the ground rules, he asked us to NOT disclose who we'd vote for. Yet so many people are freely stating their choice, as if that was what Mike was inquiring...

[Darkstarraven]

I am a 20 yr old female and when november gets here for the elections I will be 21. I am planing to vote but one of my bigggest concerns is the rising cost of barrels of oil and the rising cost of college tuition in the united states. Im currently a college sophmore majoring in Interior Design and submajoring in Graphic Design. My school runs in quarters instead of semesters. It seems like it took me forever to get in school. I made very good grades and high school but when i graduated I didnt know that college funds were going to be cut back and almost impossible to obtain. My dream school was the Academy of Art University in San Fransisco, CA. I applyed to get in to that school and i got in fine, the problem was paying for housing and school, plus supplys. It was going to end up costing me between $20-35,000 a year for school...I applyed for financial aid but because unfortunatly i made over quota to get the goverment pell grant and for the housing schollarship that the school was going to give me. I think its so crazy to be charging the young generation of america these outragious prices to go to college. As bad enough as the career/job market its almost a nessceity that everyone needs to go to college. Not everyone can afford to pay thousands and thousands of dollars for student loans after school. There needs to be another way to make college tuition more reasonable for everyone rich and the poor. This along with gas will be my descision on who i will vote for this election.

[YourConscience]

*nods and offers knowing smile to Darkstarraven*

I (unfortunately) just recently gave up on my dream for completing culinary school because it was WAY too expensive. I hope that you don't have to quit school for the same reason.

[dOMITUPSYK]

YourConscience, don't feel bad. Things are about to get a LOT more hairy.

Do I plan to vote? No. Why? For one, there's no one worth voting for right now. I was not old enough to elect anyone last election; therefore, I have the right to complain. Also, because with the freedom to vote comes the freedom to NOT vote. I also have the right to free speech which gives me the freedom to say the following:

1) I should be able to exercise the right to not vote without being chastised for it, or being told I don't care about the soldiers if I don't. This is the same principal as my saying the Black people are responsible for the current fall of America: Unfair, untrue, and unfounded.

2) I have the right to complain about whatever the heck I want, regardless of who wants to hear neither it nor what I do. Thank the right to free speech for that. YOU do NOT decided what rights I have in what circumstance, the *constitution* does. I'm going to follow what *it* says, not what *you* say, thank you very muchly so. If I sound angry, I'm not. Just annoyed. In saying those things, you're being exactly like the close-minded people you despise.

3) I think extremely lowly of America and it's citizens right now. Even though I was born here and still officially deemed a citizen, I've revoked my citizenship in my mind. I don't want to hear anything about it being the best country. Not anymore, it's not. Germany has just as much rights, if not MORE, than here. As a matter of fact, I WILL go as far as to say more- America is TOO strict. In Germany, boobs are common in shampoo commercials. They allow 16 year olds to drink. German teens are better behaved than America's.

What is the point of censoring cartoons? Kids hear this stuff anyways. They watch CSI like the rest of us. If you could only hear what SC kids are doing... and it's NOT the hokey-pokey. More like the hanky-panky. A 9, *9!* year old, raped an 11 year old girl. Now try to tell me kids don't know anything about sex. Hell, I had my first make-out session at *5* freakin' years old. I knew what sex was, I knew how it was done as well. You can't shield kids from everything anyhow.

While we're on the subject of children, why is it now socially wrong to whip your child? This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Okay, you don't want to hear someone's screaming child, yet if they whip said child, they're a bad parent and deserve to have their child taken away. Um, no. They did the *right* thing. As a matter of fact, if it leads to *mild* bruising, such as a red mark, or just a small discoloration of the skin, it's NOT abuse. (Now, if the kid can't sit down, there's lacerations, whelps, extreme bruising and the like, THAT is abuse.)

Also, breastfeeding. GTF OVER IT. That's what boobs really ARE for, not for staring at. As long as the breast is not exposed in any way, it's normal. I'm going to feed my freakin' baby in public, and if you don't like it, WALK AWAY.

The basic point of that was that Americans are hypocritical. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I never have and I never will. I'll also never say that I know everything, which I don't. As stupid as this sounds, I DO know what I know, and I know that we have various freedoms that society is trying to take away.

Okay, case in point: If the government suddenly said it was NOT okay to disagree with the President, you wouldn't like it, would you? So why the hell are you telling me I can't breastfeed in public? You don't like your rights taken away, don't put me down or give me dirty looks for exercising mine. You're only proving my previous point that Americans are hypocrites.

Issues? Obviously, breastfeeding in public, censoring, and what's accepted and not accepted in society.

Bigger issues: Economy.

IT SUCKS. I WANT THE 90's BACK. Deficit spending= NOT COOL. We're 9 trillion dollars in debt and climbing. We'll never repay this. Most of it is owed to guess who? China and Japan, with other countries as well. Who was it, again, that gave us lead paint toys? China? Coincidence? Conspiracy theory? Yes, and double yes. FTR, China outnumbers us by odds that are impossible for me to calculate. They could stop us flat- there's enough Americans to pass out 1 to every Chinese person, and still have a butt load of Chinese empty-handed.

The government refuses to do anything about the oil companies that are extorting money out of us. They're making record profits, while we're left staring at dead moths in our wallets. This calls for a price ceiling, set back to $1.40, which was the "complaining" price in SC back in the early 90's. They have more than enough profit to make up for what they'd lose by doing that.

Also, the Euro is worth 1.25 last I checked. Know what the dollar is worth? 69 cents. And this was 5 years ago. I don't WANT to know what it's worth now. They also need to ban companies from going overseas. Any company doing so will be extradited for a term that's currently left my mind, but the definition is "endangering the welfare of the country". They immigrate for cheap labor, and it's wrong.

Now, a lot of you are thinking "hypocrite!!!!" Not yet. Earlier, I was talking about personal freedom, that doesn't physically affect anyone else. Companies outsourcing for cheap labor affects more that the company, it affects the entire country by affecting the economy.

Next issue: Global warming. Not so much. By the time the Earth is "dead", I'll have been for a LONG time.

Next issue: Jails and prisons, more so the prisoners. I'll make this rant short:

In killing someone innocent, such as the lady down the street, or the shop owner, they were treating someone cruelly and unusually for their own selfish needs. Money, drugs, and sex in cases of rape... they weren't interested in the victim. SO why do THEY deserve flat screens and comfortable beds? I deserve those things. I've never been to jail, I've behaved for the most part, and when the train DID jump off the tracks, I got it back on them, and I did it on my own without anyone else's help.

My basic point is who cares if the jails are overcrowded?! Big freakin' deal. They took away someone else's right to be safe and comfortable; their right to be comfortable gets taken away. Cram as many as you can get into a cell. Still feed them and bathe them, that they have the right to that, but I lived in a crowded house due to circumstances better suited for discussion in the Barracks, they'll live too.

Death penalty. Point stated above, they caused someone else pain, more than one person actually, who cares if the death they die is painful? Is being shot and slowly bleeding to death NOT painful? And it frees the cells, so there you go. Solution to overcrowding.

Next issue: Education system.

It's okay to cram 31 kids into a class with 30 desks, which HAS happened DIRECTLY to me, because of my last name I was put in the invisible desk, but it's not okay to overcrowd prisoners?! WTF PEOPLE?! I mean, we are MANDATED, by LAW, to go to school. One can avoid jail/prison by NOT COMMITING A CRIME. And schools need to be improved- teachers SUCK. Most of them are there for the money, and don't care about the students. Most of my teachers were like that. Everybody harps on "education education education!!!oneoneone!!!" Well, MAKE IT BETTER AND AFFORDABLE, STUPID. How am I supposed to be EDUCATED if I don't have the MONEY?!??!!? (Disclaimer: Not talking to anyone in particular anymore, "Stupid" applies to whoever's filling that position in the government.) And we need better teachers, more that are laid back and give out extra credit. Extra credit, when given in the right amount, HELPS students. I can't tell you how many times my dumb ass was saved from failing a test thanks to e.c. But most teachers frown upon it, thinking it makes the class too easy for the students. It simply makes up for any short comings the student has, when not applied too liberally.

NCLB: Trash it. I blame it for the fall of the education system. We didn't have this problem in the 90's, BEFORE the NCLB act.

SC Education Lottery: Trash it. That money's not going to schools. It's going into pockets. That don't belong to schools. (This is more a local problem, but the government needs to rule out education lotteries. ALL proceeds need to go to schools, not just .38 of it. The majority, .58, goes to winners. :/ God I hate the SCEL.)

Next issue: Immigration.

Go back to the 90's. Let a certain number of people in, and then close it. I, frankly, don't care what's happening in other countries, and yes, I am an apathetic and coldhearted bitch no thanks to my home life. I'm not taking it out on anyone by saying that either, so that argument is not valid. True, we DO need to make citizenship easier. That I agree with. But many immigrants come over here for handouts, while Americans suffer. I can't get disability- I'm disabled, BTW, I have a major birth defect of my right hand that affects the entire right side of my body- but if a Chinese man were to walk in, perfectly healthy and, in Chinese, "Oh, I hurt my back doing my construction labor job even though I run my own business and I'm walking upright and don't appear to be in pain at all help me feel sorry for me!!!", he'd get it in a snap. (No, I don't hate Chinese; I just decided to deviate from the norm of "Mexican".)

[mshinoda]

whos world is this?? the world is yours!!

its mine its mine its mine
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mYZ_RD--Lpg

keep it moving on this thread. good stuff.

and if you're not from the US and not 18+, go post comments on my blog instead.

-m

[dOMITUPSYK]

To continue:

Speaking of jobs:
1) Outsourcing, I've explained.
2) Raise the age limit to 18. It's not fair that I can't get a job because I'm already too old. I don't have job experience due to the home life circumstances, I'm 19, and thus, I'm too old. Stop giving jobs to 14 and 15 year olds that should be in school, and give them to people like me who have nothing better to do than post in forums about how much America sucks. I may be disabled, but I'm just as competent and can work just as fast bagging groceries as that 16 year old can, if not more and faster. If you want to keep the youth of the nation off drugs and out of jails, GIVE US THE FRAGGIN' JOBS. "But 14-17 year olds ARE youth!" True, but they have SCHOOL to go to. The teens that are on drugs and committing crimes are more than likely idle and have nothing better to do.

Also, jobs for illegals- it's not that Americans won't do those jobs, it's that they're automatically reserved for illegals because the cheaper pay. Any American that WOULDN'T work out in 104 degree weather digging ditches is lazy. Yes, I would do it if I weren't disabled, but I refuse to be paid less than minimum wage.

And the untapped potential of disabled people. You have a whole slew of people like me who are disabled, but still able to work. As I previously stated, I can bag just as fast if not faster than that 16 year old. If a guy is on disability because of his back, give him a chair so he can sit down while he bags that Michelina frozen dinner. People like me with mild disability can do anything given the chance. My hand may be oddly shaped, but I can still pick up a can of green beans and shove it in a bag, dammit. (Again, not directed at anyone, generally frustrated.) As a matter of fact, I can pick up a good sized bag of cat litter- my mother is disabled because of her knees, and I've proven time and time again my arm is stronger than it looks, almost superhuman in my perspective. (Then again, I dote on it because it's my favorite. I digress.) Also, I can do secretarial work. I've typed this entire post myself, didn't I? I can type just as fast as everyone else, even with only one fully functioning finger on that hand.

I think I'm done now. And blame my ranting on Mike- he asked, so I answered. XD

Edit: It appears I was ninja posted big time, but I leave the post like it was, and it also appears I'm already IN the Barracks. Stupid me, pay attention to what thread you're in. XP And sorry for the double post, but there's a 10000 char. limit.

[YourConscience]

its mine its mine its mine
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mYZ_RD--Lpg

keep it moving on this thread. good stuff.

and if you're not from the US and not 18+, go post comments on my blog instead.

-m

Hahahaha... Once again, what the heck are you doing online so freakin' late? =D P.S. The world could be yours if you'd run... You know we'd all vote for you. ^_^

[dOMITUPSYK]

D'OH! I can't believe I missed who posted that! Argh. It's amazing how stupid being up at 4:00AM can make you. XD

Edit: AND he was the one that ninja posted me! (FTR, a ninja post is when you're typing your post and someone posts while you're doing it. Or, if you have to chop up your post, and still posting the second half, the halves are interceded by someone else.)

OMG MIKE SHINODA NINJA POSTED ME!!! I KNEW he was a ninja. XD I have been ninja posted by MIKE SHINODA. *faints* I'm alright. XD

[YourConscience]

D'OH! I can't believe I missed who posted that! Argh. It's amazing how stupid being up at 4:00AM can make you. XD

Hehehe... He's sneaky, isn't he? =)

[ZARAcutie]

*Brokened Heart* sniff sniff :(

Can't we just talk to you here?? It's like we have to pay money or something :( :（ :(

[dOMITUPSYK]

??? Why did my computer double post?

[YourConscience]

YAY FRIENDLIES *glomp* DX I've either been stupid, or someone's been mean to me because I was stupid the whole time I've been here. DX (Now, ignoring my rant I can see- mother fucker was 4 pages long in word!) But one guy told me my new thread was "Utterly useless" because there was already one. All he had to say was "we have one of those". >_> *chokes him* Don't even remember who it is...

Anyhow, Mike. HE IS A NINJA I TELL YOU. XD

I know! If I wasn't a ninja myself, I might've missed his post... ^_^

Sorry to hear someone was so mean about your post, man... "Utterly useless"... Them's fightin' words... o.0

[dOMITUPSYK]

Lucky me, I kept my head on and deleted it without saying anything.

I don't want to get kicked off, especially if there's a chance of getting ninja posted by Mike Shinoda. *still mildly freaking out*

XD We are SO off topic. XD Thanks for your sympathies. ^_^ They maketh I happiness. *hug*

[YourConscience]

Mike and his ninja posting... ^_^

It'll be okay... *hugs*

[dOMITUPSYK]

*dances* I like hugs. ^_^ Wouldn't it be nice to be hugged by Mike? Huh? HUH? HUH?!?! *being suggestive* *looks away innocently*

NINJA POSTED BY MIKE *explode* Maybe I'm not done freakin' out. XD This is about as much contact as I'll have with anyone of his caliber. XD

[YourConscience]

*dances* I like hugs. ^_^ Wouldn't it be nice to be hugged by Mike? Huh? HUH? HUH?!?! *being suggestive* *looks away innocently*

NINJA POSTED BY MIKE *explode* Maybe I'm not done freakin' out. XD This is about as much contact as I'll have with anyone of his caliber. XD

Hahaha... We are getting off topic, though... o.0 You should come visit me at this other thread... "MIKE SHINODA! i see you there! stop lurking and post! [and then he posted]" Sorry, I'm not computer savy, and I don't know how to post links. =P

[crystalrussianla]

im not going to vote thats all realy
i have my resons not to but mike saed to be respectful
so i am by not saying why:D

[Calamity]

I'm 20 and live in MA, and certainly am going to vote now that I'm old enough. Also, we're a lucky bunch here in the U.S., some countries don't even hold elections so I'm going to use my right to vote as often as I can.

Issues that are important to me are foreign policy, federal spending, alternative/renewable fuels. That's all I can think of at the moment. It's early blahh.

I heard gas is going to be 5 dollars a gallon by the summer.

[shinoda_me]

well... sorry im disobeying the rules again but guys, please vote cuz in this power-hungry world the person elected president seems to affect not just your country but others too

eg: you know what Bush did ...and for two terms? *shakes her head*
sorry again Mike!

[Temperance]

Since I just got to work, I can't really justify the time it would take to type out a full reply to this topic. So I'll make this brief, and elaborate on it later.

Yes, I am going to vote. I have voted in every election (local and national) since I turned 18. I can respect someones decision not to vote, but I do not understand it.
The issues that are important to me are many.
Obviously, the war is a huge issue, but I am not sure what the sensible resolution would be. I don't think just sending eveyone home is the best idea, nor is continuing the war.
Health care is a massive issue for me. I am married, have one daughter, and a son on the way. Luckily my job provides me with health care. I have to pay $200 a month for my daughter, and when my son is born I will have to pay an additional $200 a month for him. Unfortunately, this leaves my husband out of health care. I simply can't afford to add him to my plan. The real kicker is that according to the State of Washington, I make too much money to qualify for any benefits from the state (and I make less than $40,000 per year). This means none of my family qualifies as well. My husband isn't able to work, mostly because of the cost of daycare. He would basically make enough to cover daycare and gas, so there is basically no point. I make enough money to (barely) support our family.
Another issues is the price of oil, and therefore the cost of gas. This also ties into the real estate economy as a huge concern for me. We bought our house 3 years ago. However, since real estate is so ridiculous in Washington, the only house we were able to afford is located an hours commute from my job. I put 90 miles on my car just commuting to and from work each day. That means I put over $40 in gas in my tank at least twice a week. It's a giant catch-22. I would love to own a hybrid car for both the environment, and my gas bills, but I can't afford to buy one.
Lastly, the environment in an issue as well. I won't get into all of my concerns, as I have already spent more time on this post that I should have. I am sure the Earth will still be standing after I die, but I want to ensure a safer future for the future generations of my family.
All of that being said, I still have a lot more research to do before I make any decisions about who I am voting for (and yes, I realize this question wasn't part of the original post, but I still wanted to address the issue).

[pbizkit33]

I feel the main issues to me are getting out of Iraq without leaving the Middle East in disarray. My other concern is the continuing gap between the rich and the poor. The middle class is disappearing and it is starting to be a society of the haves and have nots.

[Princess_MuzikChik]

Im not a US citizen...
But i do not understand why people would not vote!?
Dont you want your voice to be heard?
Anyone who doesnt vote, can you please explain?
i just dont get it.

In Australia its compulsery to vote.. so yeah,
but even if i had a choice i would :D

[babiiboo]

Im not a US citizen...
But i do not understand why people would not vote!?
Dont you want your voice to be heard?
Anyone who doesnt vote, can you please explain?
i just dont get it.

In Australia its compulsery to vote.. so yeah,
but even if i had a choice i would :D

well i am voting but alot of people dont like any candidates and others including me feel that it doesnt matter anyway.. for example right now clinton is ahead in the popular vote by hundred thousands of people.. but is behind in delegates so obama is more likely to advance.. makes you feel powerless

[Angiepantalones]

well i am voting but alot of people dont like any candidates and others including me feel that it doesnt matter anyway.. for example right now clinton is ahead in the popular vote by hundred thousands of people.. but is behind in delegates so obama is more likely to advance.. makes you feel powerless
Clinton is behind in the popular vote and in regular delegates, but has more superdelegates pledged to her. And she's still behind in overall delegates.

[babiiboo]

Clinton is behind in the popular vote and in regular delegates, but has more superdelegates pledged to her. And she's still behind in overall delegates.

if you count florida and michigan which i think everyone should.. she is ahead

[Darkstarraven]

I have no idea who i am voting for...I like obama and clinton both....No affence to anyone whos a republican or democrate cause im neither one, but i think the only way if we are going to get things stright is if we get a democrate in this election. Im just kinda sick of the republican canadates...i just dont see any of them that i like. I just hope that theres gonna be some change. Change needs ti happen.

[Jhuryn]

I will definitely be voting in November. My boyfriend and my cousin are enlisted in the Air Force and Marines respectively. The decisions of the government regarding the war greatly effect their lives so in turn they greatly effect me.

Bring our troops home!

[Kaileena]

Good idea Mike! Let's hope it stays under control!

And now I shall leave... as I am neither 18 nor in the US ;)

[YourConscience]

I would love to own a hybrid car for both the environment, and my gas bills, but I can't afford to buy one.

*nods* I've wanted one for quite a while now, too... Maybe if I stop driving places for a while and save up my gas money, I can afford one... Hehehe.

[LP_1030]

i am voting.. its important to me bcuz the lives of MILLIONS are in the hands of whoever is running this country. since i for one live in this country, my vote matters! i didn't vote at all in the last presidential election and look what's going on around the world, in our country. everything just seems out of control and unorganized. the systems are crazzzyyyyyy!

[LP_Fan101]

As I'm not American (Russian here) and not 18...

*follows Katelyn out of the thread*

But Russia has issues with president voting XD

[dragonlp20]

KATHYxx][/B]
Let flag burning stay. The freedom it represents is the freedom to allow it to be burned. If the flag could think, i think it would be happy to be burned in demonstration.


Hahaha... This is a HUGE no-no. By this logic, our soldiers are happy to die for the freedom of speech of all those people who say that those soldiers deserve to die because what they're doing is wrong. HUGE no-no. It's a major disply of disrespect.

True, but...

a) Burning of the Colors is the PROPER way to discard of it.
b) They are actually happy to die if they must to defend ALL of our rights, including Right to Freedom of Speech and Right to Protest. I personally disagree with it being burned in protest, but again, people have that right [til it become illegal]

On another note... I'm personally sick of all this talk about Obama, Clinton, and McCain... what about Dr. Ron Paul?? He's still in the race you know. McCain hasn't clinched the Republican Nod yet...

[animelover]

ok
i will say something but i hate america
so i just wanted to give my opinion
america is to conttroling over us(the uk)
and needs to sort out there own problems

[dOMITUPSYK]

To Austraila person (Sry, terrible memory):

I choose not to vote because not only do I have the right not to, but also these:

1) I do feel powerless. We elect the delegates, who elect superdelegates, who elect the president. I don't feel my vote counts.

2) There are no people I feel like can tackle the issues important to me.

3) I don't think there's an honest apple in the bunch right now. After all that's happened, it's hard for me to trust any politician.

Hillary: Scares the freak out of me. Um, I don't care how tired you are, you will DEFINATELY remember coming under sniper fire. As bad as MY memory is, I'd remember getting shot at.

Barack: Is too inexperienced for me.

McCain: So far the best choice for me, but I haven't heard much about him, either.

Paul/Roy (correction plz): I didn't even know he was RUNNING. I have heard absoLUTEly nothing about him.

And that are be why I not be with the voting. XD (Sorry, I've had 3 hours of sleep, and sugar and caffiene at that.I tend to be a little crazy under these conditions. I digress.)

And thank you, animelover. We need to start minding our own business. This is why we're in the mess we're in. We need to save ourselves BEFORE we save the world. Otherwise, if we all die before we do, what have we accomplished?

[animelover]

that is the way i see it

[ShadowerLiltani]

I definitely plan to vote. Because, not voting isn't going to do anything positive. And yes, I plan to vote even if the person I want to elect, doesn't make it on the ballet (the "lesser of two evils" theory).

As for, the issues that are important to me, the highest priority issues are health care, because our system just sucks so much. Environmental issues, because the way we're treating this world is just pathetic. Gay marriage, because, well that's a personal thing for me.

I could go further into this, but it'll just turn into one big rant, and nobody wants that.

That's another thing, gay marriage and abortion are also important issues for me. I have this belief that everyone likes different things. If you (not you personally), don't want to be a homosexual, then don't be. Don't force your religious beliefs on another person who just wants to be happy, and don't base laws off of your religious beliefs. You have to understand that everyone in the world is different, but are all equally entitled to the same rights. So, if a woman can marry a man, she should be allowed to marry a woman as well. And if a man can marry a woman, he should be allowed to marry a man, too.

In the areas of abortion, and I know this is a very touchy subject (Why I am not totally confident in Obama), I am for abortion. There are so many different factors that go into unwanted or unexpected pregnancies. Sexual assaults, broken condoms, forgetting to take a birth control pill or the fact that BC pills are only 98% effective. There is only so much you can control, even when using protection. I'm the sort of person where I know I can't have children because of my heart murmur, and MS and diabetes runs in my family, along with heart disease. I also am obsessive compulsive, and I really don't want to give those sorts of things to a child. Am I seeking out the perfect baby? No. But I want my child to live happily. If I new my baby would be born with spinabifida (I know it's not spelled right), or would spend his or her entire life glued to a wheelchair and barely to lift their head or wipe their drool off of their face, I would not want that for my child, and if I was certain it would happen, I'd have an abortion. Death is far better than living a life without any freedom. There is a lot of honor and joy in giving birth, but there are responsibilities, even before you get pregnant. It is a person, a living thing, and that living thing is entitled to the best life it can possibly get. You can pull a religious card all you want, but the fact of the matter is, death without suffering out-ways a life of turmoil.

[Angiepantalones]

On another note... I'm personally sick of all this talk about Obama, Clinton, and McCain... what about Dr. Ron Paul?? He's still in the race you know. McCain hasn't clinched the Republican Nod yet...

Ummm... McCain has 1,331 delegates and the Republican needs 1,191 to win. I think that's the definition of the word "clinched". That and Ron Paul is fucking crazy (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/ron-pauls-record-in-congress.html).

Ignore the commentary preceding each bill and read the actual context. Each H.R. #### link goes directly to the LOC page for the actual proposed bill.

[Angiepantalones]

if you count florida and michigan which i think everyone should.. she is ahead

Florida and Michigan need to take a re-vote or not be counted at all. Obama followed the rules set by the DNC and didn't campaign in either, but Hillary did. That's bullshit and she shouldn't be rewarded for breaking the rules.

[animelover]

man this thread sucks more then a vaccum
maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan
boaring
i dont even read all of it

[bangbangonddoorbaby]

im voting for the all those who are too lazy to take their arses our and vote. I am voting because I feel as though I make some sort of a difference and that at the end of the day, I can say I did something instead of being considered a lazy college student who doesnt care.

my brother is fighting in Iraq right now. I havent heard from him since the 13th of this month. I vote because he is out there doing what he is doing while I am sitting here. Im voting because I want to make some sort of difference in my nephew's future.

[ShadowerLiltani]

im voting for the all those who are too lazy to take their arses our and vote. I am voting because I feel as though I make some sort of a difference and that at the end of the day, I can say I did something instead of being considered a lazy college student who doesnt care.

my brother is fighting in Iraq right now. I havent heard from him since the 13th of this month. I vote because he is out there doing what he is doing while I am sitting here. Im voting because I want to make some sort of difference in my nephew's future.

I like what you just said. Voting seems to me like it is very important to you.

[animelover]

i do not see why people make a big fuss
as i have said a lot of times i hate only a few countrys but
one of the ones i hate most is america

[Angiepantalones]

man this thread sucks more then a vaccum
maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan
boaring
i dont even read all of it
Then fuck off and go make more inane nonsensical posts in SWOYM or something. God forbid there actually be a real topic on these boards once in a while.

i do not see why people make a big fuss
as i have said a lot of times i hate only a few countrys but
one of the ones i hate most is america
No one's made any fuss at all. Man, you're the worst troll ever.

[animelover]

Then fuck off and go make more inane nonsensical posts in SWOYM or something. God forbid there actually be a real topic on these boards once in a while.


No one's made any fuss at all. Man, you're the worst troll ever.

excuse me
do you mind not talking like that to me

[dOMITUPSYK]

One question animelover: I'm not being a smartass, and I don't mean to offend, I'm honestly asking- Why do you keep coming back to it? This is my last post myself. I'm tired of being frowned upon for not voting when it's my right as an American citizen to vote or not to, and I don't have to listen (watch?) to non-voters being called "apathetic" or "lazy" or the like. So I'm not going to.

I've explained my reasons for not voting, and if people can't accept that, then they need to learn tolerance. I tolerate people voting, and I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, especially by calling voters names. That makes me want to vote even less.

Not ranting, just stating my point. Any snide comments after I'm gone are feeding my ego.

[capitain]

To Austraila person (Sry, terrible memory):

I choose not to vote because not only do I have the right not to, but also these:

1) I do feel powerless. We elect the delegates, who elect superdelegates, who elect the president. I don't feel my vote counts.

2) There are no people I feel like can tackle the issues important to me.

3) I don't think there's an honest apple in the bunch right now. After all that's happened, it's hard for me to trust any politician.

*snip*

And thank you, animelover. We need to start minding our own business. This is why we're in the mess we're in. We need to save ourselves BEFORE we save the world. Otherwise, if we all die before we do, what have we accomplished?

You're not completely powerless when it comes to voting, and the voting system you're describing right now is that used for selecting the Democratic presidential candidate. The showdown this fall involves the electoral college, which was meant to give states fair and equal representation in the elections. Granted, this system should probably be overhauled, but to say that you're completely helpless would be incorrect; if you were, NO ONE'S votes would matter.

Furthermore, not voting is a dangerous thing; if you live in a traditionally "blue" state, and you vote Democrat, it might not be big deal, but in tightly contested states you'd be gambling the nation's future. Also, even if there aren't issues important to you, what about issues affecting people you know? Whether or not an issue has immediate importance to you shouldn't matter; if there are issues to be addressed, that means that the issue is likely to affect others. In a sense, you have the ability to make sure others don't get shafted. Shouldn't you make use of this ability then?

I empathize with you with regards to the current crop of candidates, though. But even if none of them are perfect, we should still try and pick the one most capable of performing the duties required of the PotUS.

Now, addressing your statement about the US taking care of it's own business:

Prior to WWII, and I think WWI, the US was extremely isolationist. We minded our own business, and that's how we liked it. Who cares about the rest of the world, right? But who knows how things could have turned out of the US hopped into WWII sooner. Maybe the Holocaust would not have been as severe. Maybe the Soviet Union wouldn't have suffered catastrophic death tolls outnumbering the rest of the allies. If the US joined the Pacific theatre earlier, maybe the Pacific fleet wouldn't have suffered catastrophic losses at Pearl Harbor, allowing it to better fight the Imperial Navy and avoid the ghastly destruction at Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Isolationism has it's price, and to a certain degree I understand isolationist sentiments (we certainly need to take care of our own), but any nation that stands idly by when people around the world needs help is morally bankrupt. We've tried shoving our heads in the sand and pretending the rest of the world didn't exist 50-60 years ago. It didn't work, and the rest of the world managed to remind us that they still existed. I think the key is to pick the right fights to fight; of course, this segueways into the topic of Iraq where I don't think we picked the right fight and are paying for it dearly.


In the areas of abortion, and I know this is a very touchy subject (Why I am not totally confident in Obama), I am for abortion.

...

Am I seeking out the perfect baby? No. But I want my child to live happily. If I new my baby would be born with spinabifida (I know it's not spelled right), or would spend his or her entire life glued to a wheelchair and barely to lift their head or wipe their drool off of their face, I would not want that for my child, and if I was certain it would happen, I'd have an abortion. Death is far better than living a life without any freedom. There is a lot of honor and joy in giving birth, but there are responsibilities, even before you get pregnant. It is a person, a living thing, and that living thing is entitled to the best life it can possibly get. You can pull a religious card all you want, but the fact of the matter is, death without suffering out-ways a life of turmoil.

Mmmf, abortion is such a tough topic. I used to be pro-abortion, no questions asked, but I've seen and heard things that got me thinking.

First of all, I can't shake the feeling that abortion is a cheap way out of parenthood, an attempt to live life without the burden of a child. Second, one of the best anti-abortion arguments I've heard is that you never know what that embryo will be capable of achieving. Regardless of what environment he or she will grow up in, there's always a chance that he or she will make it through life ok, or even better.

My current housemate is a good example of this; his parents were living out of a basement, mother pregnant with him, and in dire financial straights while trying to support two other children. They had NO money. They had driven to the hospital for the abortion on a stormy day and couldn't find parking. His dad, frustrated, said, "F*ck it, we're going home." My friend was THIS -> <- close to never being born! But you know where he is now? He and I are graduating from UC Berkeley. He's a Pre-Med student, and after taking the next year off, he will be applying to medical school. He has mentored, tutored, and taken care of so many children. Both of his older sisters have graduated from UC Berkeley as well; one is currently attending medical school, while the other is working at a biotech company.

If his parents had found parking, had gotten the abortion, this kid would have been sorely missed by the world.

Of course, you never know how your kid will turn out. It's always a gamble. But if you're good parent, I think you could raise a good kid. Then again, if you're thinking about getting an abortion, if you want it THAT badly, if you DO NOT want to be a parent... I don't know. Maybe someone won't be a great parent, because of that person's desires for themself. In that case, maybe it would be better for that person to get an abortion, because a poorly parented child isn't something I want to encounter in the world.

Lastly; I don't know if to never have lived to begin with is better than living a life of suffering. Even if someone is born with a terminal illness, living means that they have a chance to experience, at the very least, some of life's joys. Of course, the degree of severity attributed to the illness would influence the outcome of such a thought experiment.

[Angiepantalones]

excuse me
do you mind not talking like that to me

I do mind, actually. You've contributed absolutely nothing to any thread ever. Your posts are incoherent, non-sequiturial gibberish full of cursing. You come into a thread, say it sucks, and then CONTINUE TO POST IN IT. Get a fucking clue.

[meteorarocker411]

It is so frustrating to see so many people say that they are not going to vote. So many of us have complaints about this country and yet one of the biggest steps that you can take to help change it is right in front of your face! Do you really want others to make the decisions for you? The 18-24 age group consistently votes the least. How are we supposed to be taken seriously when a large portion of our age group isn't willing to go down to a polling station? No one can complain about how this country is run if they won't take the time to research the candidates and see which one has stances that are the most similar to theirs. It really is laziness, especially when you have a computer right in front of you. No one is the perfect candidate for everyone in a country of 300 million.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/

As for the issues that are important to me they are education (such as making it easier and cheaper for citizens to go to college), alternative fuel (especially cellulosic ethanol), the economy and a few social issues. I am a college student struggling to get a job and can't believe that $10 yields only three gallons of gas.

[Princess_MuzikChik]

well i am voting but alot of people dont like any candidates and others including me feel that it doesnt matter anyway.. for example right now clinton is ahead in the popular vote by hundred thousands of people.. but is behind in delegates so obama is more likely to advance.. makes you feel powerless



To Austraila person (Sry, terrible memory):

I choose not to vote because not only do I have the right not to, but also these:

1) I do feel powerless. We elect the delegates, who elect superdelegates, who elect the president. I don't feel my vote counts.

2) There are no people I feel like can tackle the issues important to me.

3) I don't think there's an honest apple in the bunch right now. After all that's happened, it's hard for me to trust any politician.

Hillary: Scares the freak out of me. Um, I don't care how tired you are, you will DEFINATELY remember coming under sniper fire. As bad as MY memory is, I'd remember getting shot at.

Barack: Is too inexperienced for me.

McCain: So far the best choice for me, but I haven't heard much about him, either.

Paul/Roy (correction plz): I didn't even know he was RUNNING. I have heard absoLUTEly nothing about him.

And that are be why I not be with the voting. XD (Sorry, I've had 3 hours of sleep, and sugar and caffiene at that.I tend to be a little crazy under these conditions. I digress.)

And thank you, animelover. We need to start minding our own business. This is why we're in the mess we're in. We need to save ourselves BEFORE we save the world. Otherwise, if we all die before we do, what have we accomplished?

Yeah i totally understand what you guys are saying,
The system sucks,
But your one vote could be the one to make a difference, you never know :)


Mmmf, abortion is such a tough topic. I used to be pro-abortion, no questions asked, but I've seen and heard things that got me thinking.

First of all, I can't shake the feeling that abortion is a cheap way out of parenthood, an attempt to live life without the burden of a child. Second, one of the best anti-abortion arguments I've heard is that you never know what that embryo will be capable of achieving. Regardless of what environment he or she will grow up in, there's always a chance that he or she will make it through life ok, or even better.

My current housemate is a good example of this; his parents were living out of a basement, mother pregnant with him, and in dire financial straights while trying to support two other children. They had NO money. They had driven to the hospital for the abortion on a stormy day and couldn't find parking. His dad, frustrated, said, "F*ck it, we're going home." My friend was THIS -> <- close to never being born! But you know where he is now? He and I are graduating from UC Berkeley. He's a Pre-Med student, and after taking the next year off, he will be applying to medical school. He has mentored, tutored, and taken care of so many children. Both of his older sisters have graduated from UC Berkeley as well; one is currently attending medical school, while the other is working at a biotech company.

If his parents had found parking, had gotten the abortion, this kid would have been sorely missed by the world.

Of course, you never know how your kid will turn out. It's always a gamble. But if you're good parent, I think you could raise a good kid. Then again, if you're thinking about getting an abortion, if you want it THAT badly, if you DO NOT want to be a parent... I don't know. Maybe someone won't be a great parent, because of that person's desires for themself. In that case, maybe it would be better for that person to get an abortion, because a poorly parented child isn't something I want to encounter in the world.

Lastly; I don't know if to never have lived to begin with is better than living a life of suffering. Even if someone is born with a terminal illness, living means that they have a chance to experience, at the very least, some of life's joys. Of course, the degree of severity attributed to the illness would influence the outcome of such a thought experiment.

Abortion is a very tough topic,
and for the most part im against it,
but really it depends on the persons situation.

i do not see why people make a big fuss
as i have said a lot of times i hate only a few countrys but
one of the ones i hate most is america

Dude your comments are totally pointless and insulting,
dont go hating on WHOLE countries just becuse the leaders suck,
half the people probably hate what the leaders are doing themselves.
If you are too imature to handle a political debate, why are you here? :confused:

[LPFreak1286]

This will be the first presidential election that I will be able to participate in, and it just so happens that its the first I'm very interested in. To me this is one of the biggest elections of our time, it has very important issues that need to be addressed and properly. I would like to see some change in the war that were in, and the foreign oil dependency. I would like the deficit to be addressed properly and our HUGE problem with Global Warming and pollution. I just hope that whomever is elected can and will address these issues. I'm looking forward to the future and what it may bring, but I'm also weary.

[paradoxofsyke]

I will be voting this year. I think the only proposed issues for CA so far are the two on eminent domain, which I am in support of. Other issues I would like to see addressed, whether through states initiatives or through the presidency (not Bush obviously):
1. Solutions for Iraq, how to get out, a timeframe (that works), and how we are going to fix the damage we have created.
2. Stabalization of our economy.
3. Universal health care
4. Global Warming and initiatives or incentives for people who do try as best they can to stop it.

[Squishy_Ho]

its mine its mine its mine
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mYZ_RD--Lpg

keep it moving on this thread. good stuff.

and if you're not from the US and not 18+, go post comments on my blog instead.

-m

we can't post properly on your blog cause the character limit is way shorter. and the conversation is more interesting on here.

that said, there's also the part where the US are one of the most, if not the most, influencial country in the world. anything you guys do affects a big part of the world, if not all. whoever will get in the White House knows he's actually ruling with more than just the US. so why not care what people outside the your country knows about it? wouldn't you want to know what an Iraqi civilian thinks of the US, or even a Chinese civilian? think of how they feel towards the States, really.

also, for anyone that don't want to vote, there's a way to vote without voting: just put crosses or Xs or whatever you need to do everywhere. it's called: cancelling your vote. that way, you did vote: you said all the people on your paper were fucking crap, or they're all as good as the other. one way or another, you just made your choice as a citizen, a choice that not that much people in this world has. and that way, no one's going to steal your vote too (there was a journalist here that went and voted about like 5 or 6 times under different names. and i live in fucking canada).

point proven about the character limit of mike's blog posts thing, and props to anyone that indeed posted in here. it's one of the first good threads i've seen on here in a fucking long while.

[Anstice]

excuse me
do you mind not talking like that to me

Dude, seriously, I'm not trying to be mean, and call you out, but I have to.

You are bothering the SHIT out of me. If you think that threads 'suck' and 'are boring,' why in the name of all that is holy are you reading and/or posting in them?? :confused:

It sort of defeats the purpose of thinking that something sucks.

If you think that posting is going to make the thread cooler, sorry. The people who care about the thread are going to ignore your comment (except me of course. I'm a bitch. What can I say? :)) and then it's pointless.

Also, if you think that posting in here is going to make Mike pay any more attention to you, HA.

Sorry about that.


BACK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND.

(By the way, the way I number these doesn't necessarily reflect the place that I put them on my priority list. I'm just shouting them as they come to mind and as it is *looks* 1:04 am...)

Issue #1 = Climate/Global Warming

What the Hell is with this shit? "Global warming doesn't exist." MY ASS. Okay. Let me say this. Yes, global warming exists, but not necessarily the way that Al Gore says we go about it. I think the Earth has natural cooling and heating cycles. But fuck, we sure aren't helping the situation any. You can't tell me that emitting all the shit that we do isn't doing SOMETHING to the environment.

HELLO? There are pharmaceuticals in our fucking WATER. Oh, OKAY. That's not doing anything to us. Your 5 year old is just drinking the anti-depressants of the lady down the street.

That and the carbon dioxide emissions around the world are causing the Earth's temperature to go up FASTER than what it already is. And yes, this is what is causing the fucking weather disasters that we've endured in the last few years.

You know what's weird though? Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Do you know how many major hurricanes have hit that area since Katrina and Rita? You'd think it'd be a few. You know, like 2 to 4. No. 1. ONE. Uhhm? Doesn't that seem a little odd to you?

MEANWHILE -

Feb. 13, 2008

Normally we see about 1000 tornadoes a year. During 2007, 1,300 twisters ripped through the U.S. This barrage of unrelenting windstorms plagued the Midwest and rampaged eastward. Then something new happened: an unheard of twister barreled across Brooklyn, NY.

This year, in a single February night, 68 tornadoes roared through Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. At least 58 people died: 32 in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, 7 in Kentucky and 6 in Alabama. This tornado outbreak was the nation's worst in more than two decades when 76 people were killed in Pennsylvania and Ohio on May 31, 1985. May, not February. The death toll ranks among the top 15 from tornado outbreaks since 1950. Again, this is tornado off-season.

This very out-of-character wild weather has prompted scientists to ask if January is the new March.

January 2008 - when it's supposed to be snowing - an unbelievable 136 tornadoes wrecked terrible damage. January usually sees about 34 twisters.

So far this month, 149 have hit the U.S. which is nearly 500% more than the ENTIRE month of February should see. You've got to admit something very different and very dangerous is going on here. At this vastly accelerated rate, well, who knows how rough this year will be...

Some 285 tornadoes in the first 6 weeks show 2008 is not off to a good start.

...Uhmm? Little scary.

Moving on.

Issue #2 = The war in Iraq.

Okay. On this particular issue, I can't give even slightly well-educated answers. The only real reason I care is because my brother is fighting there. He's lost about 4 friends in the line of fire.

Here's MY thing though. Why the Hell did we go over there in the first place? Like, seriously. Bush claimed it was because of weapons of mass destruction, right (correct me if I'm wrong here. Again, I don't have a lot of info on this)? Did he find them? Erm, no? And he hung the man that was responsible for all the pain and destruction there. So, why then should we stay?

Seriously, though. How much do we REALLY hear about this damn war? Are we even succeeding over there? UGH. Enough on that. I don't want to make an ass out of myself.

Issue #3 = Our Economy

Uhm recession, anyone? Then, sadly, if that fails, more recession, anyone?! And then a depression. And fuck life, we don't have enough anti-depressants to help with that cluster.

But seriously, though. It's true. Joblessness went up. Gas and food prices went up (Gas is $3.69 a gallon here, representin' :mad:). Marketing went WAY down.

Did you know that we are JUST now paying off the damn debt that we were in from the CIVIL WAR. No joke. I'm being serious. Do you know what that means? That means that our CHILDREN'S children will be paying for THIS war.

Oh, and fuck, not to mention SOCIAL SECURITY. Baby boomers much?? This generation better start popping out some kids if we want money when we hit 60+ ^_^.

Issue #4 = Same Sex Marriage (Since everyone has been bringing it up)

I have a lot of friends who are gay. I would never even DREAM of condemning ANY of them. And anyone who does can kiss my ever-loving ass. There's nothing wrong with love. "Love knows no bounds."

What pisses me off is that someone thinks that same sex PDA is wrong and then they make out in the middle of a fucking family restaurant.

I mean, for fuck's sake. Civil unions aren't enough. That's like someone looking at you and saying, "You can play HOUSE, but you aren't good enough to be married. You're a sin and we don't want you to taint us." Well, for God's sake. It's not like looking at a gay couple is going to turn your child gay.

Remember in kindergarten when we all used to hold hands at recess? They never slapped a little boy's wrist then and said, "Stop that, someone might think you're gay." Why? Because shit like that breeds hate. And what does hate breed? VIOLENCE.

To say that a gay couple can't have the same rights as a straight couple is straight-up WRONG. What kind of free country is this?

[/rant]

[lproxn]

Dude, seriously, I'm not trying to be mean, and call you out, but I have to.

You are bothering the SHIT out of me. If you think that threads 'suck' and 'are boring,' why in the name of all that is holy are you reading and/or posting in them?? :confused:

It sort of defeats the purpose of thinking that something sucks.

If you think that posting is going to make the thread cooler, sorry. The people who care about the thread are going to ignore your comment (except me of course. I'm a bitch. What can I say? ) and then it's pointless.

Also, if you think that posting in here is going to make Mike pay any more attention to you, HA.

Sorry about that.


BACK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND.

(By the way, the way I number these doesn't necessarily reflect the place that I put them on my priority list. I'm just shouting them as they come to mind and as it is *looks* 1:04 am...)

Issue #1 = Climate/Global Warming

What the Hell is with this shit? "Global warming doesn't exist." MY ASS. Okay. Let me say this. Yes, global warming exists, but not necessarily the way that Al Gore says we go about it. I think the Earth has natural cooling and heating cycles. But fuck, we sure aren't helping the situation any. You can't tell me that emitting all the shit that we do isn't doing SOMETHING to the environment.

HELLO? There are pharmaceuticals in our fucking WATER. Oh, OKAY. That's not doing anything to us. Your 5 year old is just drinking the anti-depressants of the lady down the street.

That and the carbon dioxide emissions around the world are causing the Earth's temperature to go up FASTER than what it already is. And yes, this is what is causing the fucking weather disasters that we've endured in the last few years.

You know what's weird though? Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Do you know how many major hurricanes have hit that area since Katrina and Rita? You'd think it'd be a few. You know, like 2 to 4. No. 1. ONE. Uhhm? Doesn't that seem a little odd to you?

MEANWHILE -



...Uhmm? Little scary.

Moving on.

Issue #2 = The war in Iraq.

Okay. On this particular issue, I can't give even slightly well-educated answers. The only real reason I care is because my brother is fighting there. He's lost about 4 friends in the line of fire.

Here's MY thing though. Why the Hell did we go over there in the first place? Like, seriously. Bush claimed it was because of weapons of mass destruction, right (correct me if I'm wrong here. Again, I don't have a lot of info on this)? Did he find them? Erm, no? And he hung the man that was responsible for all the pain and destruction there. So, why then should we stay?

Seriously, though. How much do we REALLY hear about this damn war? Are we even succeeding over there? UGH. Enough on that. I don't want to make an ass out of myself.

Issue #3 = Our Economy

Uhm recession, anyone? Then, sadly, if that fails, more recession, anyone?! And then a depression. And fuck life, we don't have enough anti-depressants to help with that cluster.

But seriously, though. It's true. Joblessness went up. Gas and food prices went up (Gas is $3.69 a gallon here, representin' :mad:). Marketing went WAY down.

Did you know that we are JUST now paying off the damn debt that we were in from the CIVIL WAR. No joke. I'm being serious. Do you know what that means? That means that our CHILDREN'S children will be paying for THIS war.

Oh, and fuck, not to mention SOCIAL SECURITY. Baby boomers much?? This generation better start popping out some kids if we want money when we hit 60+ ^_^.

Issue #4 = Same Sex Marriage (Since everyone has been bringing it up)

I have a lot of friends who are gay. I would never even DREAM of condemning ANY of them. And anyone who does can kiss my ever-loving ass. There's nothing wrong with love. "Love knows no bounds."

What pisses me off is that someone thinks that same sex PDA is wrong and then they make out in the middle of a fucking family restaurant.

I mean, for fuck's sake. Civil unions aren't enough. That's like someone looking at you and saying, "You can play HOUSE, but you aren't good enough to be married. You're a sin and we don't want you to taint us." Well, for God's sake. It's not like looking at a gay couple is going to turn your child gay.

Remember in kindergarten when we all used to hold hands at recess? They never slapped a little boy's wrist then and said, "Stop that, someone might think you're gay." Why? Because shit like that breeds hate. And what does hate breed? VIOLENCE.

To say that a gay couple can't have the same rights as a straight couple is straight-up WRONG. What kind of free country is this?

[/rant]

you yourself should be a presidential candidate jade!!!:eek::D

[Anstice]

you yourself should be a presidential candidate jade!!!:eek::D

LMFAO.

That'd be a funny site.
20 year old college student from Evansville, Indiana runs for president

Jade Jewell, a soon-to-be 20 year old college freshman from Evansville, Indiana has just announced that she is going to run for president in the year 2021. In an interview with [insert stupid newspaper name here], Jewell said, "I was given the idea by a friend on a Linkin Park Message Board that goes by the user name 'lproxn' (real name Neera). I thought it was a good idea. I know nothing about anything that's going on, but HELL. I figure if BUSH can get into the white house, WHY CAN'T I?" She smiled after this comment and walked off singingly Linkin Park tunes loudly.

...Man, I have no life.

[lproxn]

LMFAO.

That'd be a funny site.


...Man, I have no life.

lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
*dies laughing insanely*
:D

its Neera btw!

[Anstice]

lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
*dies laughing insanely*
:D

its Neera btw!

LMFAO. Edited XD

[shinoda_me]

we can't post properly on your blog cause the character limit is way shorter. and the conversation is more interesting on here.

that said, there's also the part where the US are one of the most, if not the most, influencial country in the world. anything you guys do affects a big part of the world, if not all. whoever will get in the White House knows he's actually ruling with more than just the US. so why not care what people outside the your country knows about it? wouldn't you want to know what an Iraqi civilian thinks of the US, or even a Chinese civilian? think of how they feel towards the States, really.


point proven about the character limit of mike's blog posts thing, and props to anyone that indeed posted in here. it's one of the first good threads i've seen on here in a fucking long while.

exactly what i meant to convey .. :)
the system running in a developed country can mean much to developing and under-developed too ...
I'm Indian ... 17, female .. but NOT ignorant enough to keep my ass off from atleast 'reading' whats in this thread ..

Mike, if you ever read this, ranting is difficult in your blog .. word limit is WAY too less :(

[Anstice]

Mike, do everyone a favor and make a separate thread for Non-US citizens, under 18.

:rolleyes:

[shinoda_me]

Jade ... keep ranting ... ;)
i love it when people make sense ..
this thread really NEEDS to keep going

...
and boy, whoever that was back there complaining about America ... how in the world can you hate a country? :|
stay out of it if you can't make sense enough ..
i know im not suppposed to be here but im atleast TRYING to be sensible with issues that matter to me

[shinoda_me]

not fair!!!
we want to be in THIS thread! - provided we make sense :D

[Anstice]

Jade ... keep ranting ... ;)
i love it when people make sense ..
this thread really NEEDS to keep going

...
and boy, whoever that was back there complaining about America ... how in the world can you hate a country? :|
stay out of it if you can't make sense enough ..
i know im not suppposed to be here but im atleast TRYING to be sensible with issues that matter to me

Well, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. Personally, after the way we've been portrayed by our...err...less than competent president, I can't blame anyone for hating us.

[YourConscience]

I'm with capitain, comment #156...

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven...

For the most part, I'm against abortion, with the exception of a few circumstances (rape, incest, things like that). But if it's just because a condom broke or something like that... I'm sorry, but there are effective ways of preventing pregnancies. But I suppose it's just hard for someone who wants to have children, who's had problems getting pregnant (or when she finally does get pregnant, has had to deal with the completely and utterly devestating experience of have a miscarriage), to understand how anyone could possibly kill their precious unborn baby... *shakes head and blinks the mist away from her eyes* Abortion's always been a touchy subject for me, and I've obviously gotten more sensitive about it, so I'll cut myself off here, before I lose myself to this shit. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know why I'm even posting - I feel like it's not appropriate to this thread...

So, uh... Voting, huh? Yeah, I still plan to vote. And I think that it'd be awesome for people to do a bit of research to make an informed choice of their own. Yeah.

[Anstice]

I'm with capitain, comment #156...

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven...

For the most part, I'm against abortion, with the exception of a few circumstances (rape, incest, things like that). But if it's just because a condom broke or something like that... I'm sorry, but there are effective ways of preventing pregnancies. But I suppose it's just hard for someone who wants to have children, who's had problems getting pregnant (or when she finally does get pregnant, has had to deal with the completely and utterly devestating experience of have a miscarriage), to understand how anyone could possibly kill their precious unborn baby... *shakes head and blinks the mist away from her eyes* Abortion's always been a touchy subject for me, and I've obviously gotten more sensitive about it, so I'll cut myself off here, before I lose myself to this shit. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know why I'm even posting - I feel like it's not appropriate to this thread...

So, uh... Voting, huh? Yeah, I still plan to vote. And I think that it'd be awesome for people to do a bit of research to make an informed choice of their own. Yeah.

Agreed on all of this.

I was actually going to add a separate issue for abortion onto my rant but 1.) it hasn't been SUCH a big issue lately and 2.) I'd probably go on all night.

Bottom line?

Abortion = Wrong.

[shinoda_me]

I'm with capitain, comment #156...

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven...

For the most part, I'm against abortion, with the exception of a few circumstances (rape, incest, things like that). But if it's just because a condom broke or something like that... I'm sorry, but there are effective ways of preventing pregnancies. But I suppose it's just hard for someone who wants to have children, who's had problems getting pregnant (or when she finally does get pregnant, has had to deal with the completely and utterly devestating experience of have a miscarriage), to understand how anyone could possibly kill their precious unborn baby... *shakes head and blinks the mist away from her eyes* Abortion's always been a touchy subject for me, and I've obviously gotten more sensitive about it, so I'll cut myself off here, before I lose myself to this shit. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know why I'm even posting - I feel like it's not appropriate to this thread...

So, uh... Voting, huh? Yeah, I still plan to vote. And I think that it'd be awesome for people to do a bit of research to make an informed choice of their own. Yeah.

agreed.
but to me 8 kids will always mean FUCKING over-populating!
i mean what are we? humans or machines of reproduction?
drives me crazy when i think about that!
and about abortion? ... *sigh* you can listen to HAppy Birthday - Flipsyde (sorry if i spelt it wront) on that one (there's a video of Mikey :p)

[Anstice]

agreed.
but to me 8 kids will always mean FUCKING over-populating!
i mean what are we? humans or machines of reproduction?
drives me crazy when i think about that!
and about abortion? ... *sigh* you can listen to HAppy Birthday - Flipsyde (sorry if i spelt it wront) on that one (there's a video of Mikey :p)

AH - great fun.

Why should we support gay marriage? They can't reproduce so...no over population XD.

Problem solved.

Pay me $5 million for research. :D

[YourConscience]

Why should we support gay marriage? They can't reproduce so...no over population XD.

Problem solved.

Hehehe... I don't even feel the need to add anything else - enough said, I think... ^_^

[shinoda_me]

*pays*
i dont mind that stuff...
being bi is THEIR problem!
i mean, if they swing that way why shouldn't it be legalised??
there are so many movies about it too ...
no one says its okay though
freaking people are stuck up and fucked up i'd say

oh ... and about hating America... what the shit!
you can hate the president and what he does ...
its not like people can hate the people in America
like YOU people
i mean you hate Bush yourself! :|

[Anstice]

Hehehe... I don't even feel the need to add anything else - enough said, I think... ^_^

lmfao. It's true though. People put so much time and effort (not to mention millions of dollars of tax money that could be used to fix Indiana's shitty roads :mad:) into studying shit when the simple answer is right there in front of them!

Not that gay marriage is the answer to life's problems, but - YOU know that I mean.

It's like fucking Anthropologist studying why one person says "singing" vs "singin"

Uhm. Because one person's lazy and the other isn't?

*pays*
i dont mind that stuff...
being bi is THEIR problem!
i mean, if they swing that way why shouldn't it be legalised??
there are so many movies about it too ...
no one says its okay though
freaking people are stuck up and fucked up i'd say

oh ... and about hating America... what the shit!
you can hate the president and what he does ...
its not like people can hate the people in America
like YOU people
i mean you hate Bush yourself! :|

*snort* That's understatement of the year.

[shinoda_me]

...
and its mindless to say 'i hate America' in a thread thats dedicated to presidential elections in USA X|

[Anstice]

...
and its mindless to say 'i hate America' in a thread thats dedicated to presidential elections in USA X|

LMFAO.

Agreed. Especially on a thread that's meant for US CITIZENS over the age of 18.

AND on such a well spoken board.

Man...poor people.

[Liquorice]

I'm with capitain, comment #156...

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven...

For the most part, I'm against abortion, with the exception of a few circumstances (rape, incest, things like that). But if it's just because a condom broke or something like that... I'm sorry, but there are effective ways of preventing pregnancies. But I suppose it's just hard for someone who wants to have children, who's had problems getting pregnant (or when she finally does get pregnant, has had to deal with the completely and utterly devestating experience of have a miscarriage), to understand how anyone could possibly kill their precious unborn baby... *shakes head and blinks the mist away from her eyes* Abortion's always been a touchy subject for me, and I've obviously gotten more sensitive about it, so I'll cut myself off here, before I lose myself to this shit. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know why I'm even posting - I feel like it's not appropriate to this thread...

So, uh... Voting, huh? Yeah, I still plan to vote. And I think that it'd be awesome for people to do a bit of research to make an informed choice of their own. Yeah.


I not American, BUT I totally agree with this. Ppl who abort Just because..... I dunno, it makes me so fucking sad, cos there's so many couples out there who would be fabulous parents, but cannot have children and would love to adopt.

BUT yeah, rape and incest and medical reasons I agree with abortion.

AND aborting a baby cos of deafness or blindness is totally WRONG. I am half deaf myself and the thought of that just scares me.

[Anstice]

I not American, BUT I totally agree with this. Ppl who abort Just because..... I dunno, it makes me so fucking sad, cos there's so many couples out there who would be fabulous parents, but cannot have children and would love to adopt.

BUT yeah, rape and incest and medical reasons I agree with abortion.

AND aborting a baby cos of deafness or blindness is totally WRONG. I am half deaf myself and the thought of that just scares me.

OH SHIT.

I was going to make a post about this.

First, you gotta know this about me. The reason I'm so against abortion is because I think babies are a gift and miracle of LIFE. They're innocent human beings who have done NOTHING to any of us. I would do anything for any baby on this planet. I cannot WAIT to have my own children. I have two nieces who came at the wrong time in our lives, but they mean everything and STARS to me. If their mothers had decided to abort them...I don't know. I probably would have bitch slapped them both.

Anyway.

Did you hear about the girl at YALE UNIVERSITY that's doing that SICK art project?

If not, it's on PerezHilton.com

It's something along the lines of this:

Over a 9 month period, she is getting artificially inseminated and then taking abortionary drugs to ABORT the babies, and filming the abortions IN HER BATHTUB.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? That isn't ART. It's MURDER.

She's going to DISPLAY the fetus' and blood from the miscarriages. Oh my God. I'm sick just thinking about it.

[Liquorice]

OH SHIT.

I was going to make a post about this.

First, you gotta know this about me. The reason I'm so against abortion is because I think babies are a gift and miracle of LIFE. They're innocent human beings who have done NOTHING to any of us. I would do anything for any baby on this planet. I cannot WAIT to have my own children. I have two nieces who came at the wrong time in our lives, but they mean everything and STARS to me. If their mothers had decided to abort them...I don't know. I probably would have bitch slapped them both.

Anyway.

Did you hear about the girl at YALE UNIVERSITY that's doing that SICK art project?

If not, it's on PerezHilton.com

It's something along the lines of this:

Over a 9 month period, she is getting artificially inseminated and then taking abortionary drugs to ABORT the babies, and filming the abortions IN HER BATHTUB.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? That isn't ART. It's MURDER.

She's going to DISPLAY the fetus' and blood from the miscarriages. Oh my God. I'm sick just thinking about it.


WTF????!!!!!!!!!! AND ppl are letting her do this? How the fucking hell is she getting artificially inseminated? is she doing it herself. My god I've waited for 3 years for my IVF. The fucking BITCH. A baby is so fucking precious. If she did this in my country she would be jailed. No shit.

AND I'll tell ya something,after having 2 miscarriages myself, its not a pretty sight to see your baby like that.

[Anstice]

WTF????!!!!!!!!!! AND ppl are letting her do this? How the fucking hell is she getting artificially inseminated? is she doing it herself. My god I've waited for 3 years for my IVF. The fucking BITCH. A baby is so fucking precious. If she did this in my country she would be jailed. No shit.

Nope. I guess it's being supervised by Yale representatives.

She needs to be fucking locked up. It's people like her that are ruining this country.

[YourConscience]

If I ever met this chick, y'all would never hear from me again, because I'd be in jail for killing the bitch...

[Anstice]

If I ever met this chick, y'all would never hear from me again, because I'd be in jail for killing the bitch...

Word.

Fucking ten characters.

[Liquorice]

If I ever met this chick, y'all would never hear from me again, because I'd be in jail for killing the bitch...

lol. I'd be in the cell next to ya.

[shinoda_me]

OH SHIT.

I was going to make a post about this.

First, you gotta know this about me. The reason I'm so against abortion is because I think babies are a gift and miracle of LIFE. They're innocent human beings who have done NOTHING to any of us. I would do anything for any baby on this planet. I cannot WAIT to have my own children. I have two nieces who came at the wrong time in our lives, but they mean everything and STARS to me. If their mothers had decided to abort them...I don't know. I probably would have bitch slapped them both.

Anyway.

Did you hear about the girl at YALE UNIVERSITY that's doing that SICK art project?

If not, it's on PerezHilton.com

It's something along the lines of this:

Over a 9 month period, she is getting artificially inseminated and then taking abortionary drugs to ABORT the babies, and filming the abortions IN HER BATHTUB.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? That isn't ART. It's MURDER.

She's going to DISPLAY the fetus' and blood from the miscarriages. Oh my God. I'm sick just thinking about it.

holy SHINODA!!! (okay i tried not to swear)
what in this bloody Earth is wrong with people!
HATE IT!!
just HATE it that these kind of people live ...
*curses*
people are out there worrying their life out cuz they don't have progeny and here she is aborting???
ARGH!!!
aren't there some very strict rules on termination of foetus???
oh .. and if she did it for a 9 month baby, she may die (i hope she does!):mad:

[YourConscience]

YourConscience is apparently hostile and violent... Meow!

[Anstice]

holy SHINODA!!! (okay i tried not to swear)
what in this bloody Earth is wrong with people!
HATE IT!!
just HATE it that these kind of people live ...
*curses*
people are out there worrying their life out cuz they don't have progeny and here she is aborting???
ARGH!!!
aren't there some very strict rules on termination of foetus???
oh .. and if she did it for a 9 month baby, she may die (i hope she does!):mad:

Sorry to spam here, but LMFAO. I say that ALL the time.

[shinoda_me]

i wouldn't wanna travel so far to kill her myself ...
i hope she dies with more suffering than the baby would go through
insanity ... *shakes her head*
no bounds to this stuff

YOURCONSCIENCE... get to MSN will ya? :p

[shinoda_me]

YourConscience is apparently hostile and violent... Meow!

sorry ... but thats REALLY violent ..
scares the hell outa me!
(somebody bring up another issue that i can rant about!)

[shinoda_me]

hmmmm...
i guess its all dead now >.<
and it all started with voting ...
...no issues...?
no issues at ALL ???

[Blood_Pearl]

OH SHIT.

I was going to make a post about this.

First, you gotta know this about me. The reason I'm so against abortion is because I think babies are a gift and miracle of LIFE. They're innocent human beings who have done NOTHING to any of us. I would do anything for any baby on this planet. I cannot WAIT to have my own children. I have two nieces who came at the wrong time in our lives, but they mean everything and STARS to me. If their mothers had decided to abort them...I don't know. I probably would have bitch slapped them both.

Anyway.

Did you hear about the girl at YALE UNIVERSITY that's doing that SICK art project?

If not, it's on PerezHilton.com

It's something along the lines of this:

Over a 9 month period, she is getting artificially inseminated and then taking abortionary drugs to ABORT the babies, and filming the abortions IN HER BATHTUB.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? That isn't ART. It's MURDER.

She's going to DISPLAY the fetus' and blood from the miscarriages. Oh my God. I'm sick just thinking about it.

so, do you know how far into the pregnancies she's going to go? because this is illegal...

[Anstice]

so, do you know how far into the pregnancies she's going to go? because this is illegal...

Honestly, I have no idea. I stopped reading after I heard the initial idea of the whole thing. It made me sick.

[Blood_Pearl]

I not American, BUT I totally agree with this. Ppl who abort Just because..... I dunno, it makes me so fucking sad, cos there's so many couples out there who would be fabulous parents, but cannot have children and would love to adopt.

BUT yeah, rape and incest and medical reasons I agree with abortion.

AND aborting a baby cos of deafness or blindness is totally WRONG. I am half deaf myself and the thought of that just scares me.

it's a tricky situation for myself to comment on, as i am a uni student and i'm only 20. i am in no financial situation to raise a baby, but five years down the line, i hope to start making...lots of babies! medical reasons and rape, and incest, absolutely. abortion is justified, but only if you do it right and within a decent time frame.

aborting a baby is a mother's choice. aborting a child with down's for example, might be a better situation than people think. people get all high and mighty about this subject but they're not realistic enough-what if the person pregnant has plenty of problems themselves (alcoholism, depression, drug dependency, downs??). they wouldn't cope!!! and a baby isn;t a baby until it forms into one. it's a ball of cells.

[Liquorice]

it's a tricky situation for myself to comment on, as i am a uni student and i'm only 20. i am in no financial situation to raise a baby, but five years down the line, i hope to start making...lots of babies! medical reasons and rape, and incest, absolutely. abortion is justified, but only if you do it right and within a decent time frame.

aborting a baby is a mother's choice. aborting a child with down's for example, might be a better situation than people think. people get all high and mighty about this subject but they're not realistic enough-what if the person pregnant has plenty of problems themselves (alcoholism, depression, drug dependency, downs??). they wouldn't cope!!! and a baby isn;t a baby until it forms into one. it's a ball of cells.

Yeah well, if you'd been through what I have you'd prob think differently. AND its a baby from the start. As soon as you find out you are pregnant you start bonding. And DON'T tell me otherwise, cos its bullshit to a mother.

All I'm saying is that adoption is an option. There are plenty of couples out there who cannot have their own babies who would love to give one a good home.

[shinoda_me]

it's a tricky situation for myself to comment on, as i am a uni student and i'm only 20. i am in no financial situation to raise a baby, but five years down the line, i hope to start making...lots of babies! medical reasons and rape, and incest, absolutely. abortion is justified, but only if you do it right and within a decent time frame.

aborting a baby is a mother's choice. aborting a child with down's for example, might be a better situation than people think. people get all high and mighty about this subject but they're not realistic enough-what if the person pregnant has plenty of problems themselves (alcoholism, depression, drug dependency, downs??). they wouldn't cope!!! and a baby isn;t a baby until it forms into one. it's a ball of cells.

no#1 .. i think having LOTS of babies is an equivalent of stealing food from the poor
being in a country thats over-populated like SHIT, this is the way my opinion has always been ... have 3 kids at the most but more than that is being selfish i'd say !
(over here, kids below poverty line are seen as extra hands of income by their damn parents - though i know you dont belong to that category)

no#2 .. i thought aborting isn't really legalized if your baby is perfectly normal ... you need valid reasons right? rape and everything is justified ... and having severe disorders due to mutation of genes or something is also justified... otherwise, i see it as homicide :| freaks me out for sure.

[YourConscience]

a baby isn;t a baby until it forms into one. it's a ball of cells.

*tries to resist posting*

(nope, didn't work)

I'm sorry, but it's all about perspective... For someone who wants to have children, that "ball of cells" that's growing inside of them IS their baby, despite the stage of its evolution... And for some people, it's a major heartbreak to lose a "ball of cells" in a miscarriage. But I suppose for some people, as long as it's not far enough along yet to have developed the characteristics of a "real baby", then it's okay...

*bites tongue*

No, no... I said I wouldn't get lost in this topic... Not here... *zips lips*

[Liquorice]

I'm sorry, but it's all about perspective... For someone who wants to have children, that "ball of cells" that's growing inside of them IS their baby, despite the stage of its evolution... And for some people, it's a major heartbreak to lose a "ball of cells" in a miscarriage.


Fucking oath it is. Been there twice, and yep it is two of the most heartbreaking things ever to have happened to me.

[YourConscience]

Fucking oath it is. Been there twice, and yep it is two of the most heartbreaking things ever to have happened to me.

I'm so sorry that you've had to experience that, hun. It's said that the worst kind of pain anyone could experience, is losing their child... In my experience, that holds true... I've no doubt you're a strong woman to have made it through, and be the person that you are today. It's devistating beyond words... *offers hug*

[Liquorice]

I'm so sorry that you've had to experience that, hun. It's said that the worst kind of pain anyone could experience, is losing their child... In my experience, that holds true... I've no doubt you're a strong woman to have made it through, and be the person that you are today. It's devistating beyond words... *offers hug*

Thank you, thats so sweet. As you can see I kinda get heated with this topic. I just not understand why or how anyone can kill their own child for selfish reasons. Like I said earlier, rape, incest and some medical reasons yeah totally understandable, BUT it shouldn't be used for another form of contraception as some ppl seem to use it as such.

I actually know a woman who had 2 abortions when she was 19 and 23, she is now 28, trying to start a family, and can no longer have children due to her 2 abortions. I guess something went wrong.

And thanx for the Hugs. Me likey hugs. *Big hug back* :D

[Anstice]

Sorry, just wanted to throw this in here.

During Week 5 of pregnancy week by week, the cells develop into three layers - Endoderm, Mesoderm, and the Ectoderm. This week is the start of forming of the embryo's head, and the baby's cell. Your baby's heart starts to beat at the beginning of Week 6, and the eyes, liver, gall bladder, stomach and intestines, lungs and pancreas begin to form by mid-week. Week 7 is when there is development of the eye lenses, tongue, legs and arms, and the jaws, and your baby doubles in size. During Week 8, the four chambers of the heart start to develop, along with teeth buds within the gums, the windpipe, bronchi, voice box, and the cerebellum. Week 9 is when your body determines whether you are having a boy or a girl. Week 10 is when the embryo is now a baby, albeit on a small scale.

In the next four weeks of pregnancy week by week, your morning sickness begins to subside, the structure of the brain is completed, baby begins to open and close its mouth and the vocal chords are formed. During Week 14, your areolas may begin to darken and become large, and the baby practices breathing, sucking, and swallowing.


Second Trimester

In the second trimester of monitoring of your pregnancy week by week, your baby's head begins to rest on its neck, instead of shoulders, by Week 15, and it begins to turn its head and feet. The toenails begin to grow the following week, muscles become stronger, and the head and neck grow straighter. Your baby starts blinking, sucking, and swallowing during Week 17, along with development of all existing body structures. By mid-Week 18, the eyes and ears will be in the right position, and the pads of fingertips and toes will develop. Fingerprints start to develop during this week.

If it is a baby girl, egg cells will be developing in her ovaries by Week 19 of pregnancy week by week. The following week, the scalp hair and eyebrows begin to form, and the baby will start to wake and sleep as babies do. By the end of Week 21, your baby's heartbeat can be heard through a stethoscope. The following week, the testes will move from the pelvis to the scrotum, if it is a boy. During Week 23, the body gets into proportion, and the bones in the middle ear begin to harden. By Week 24, your baby's heartbeat can be heard by placing an ear on your stomach. Nostrils start to open, lungs start to develop blood vessels during Week 25, and the following week the nostrils are fully open, and brain wave activity starts.

Third Trimester

Lungs grow rapidly, and you should feel your baby kicking during Week 27 of pregnancy week by week monitoring. The next week, the eyelids open and the lungs can breathe air. A premature baby born now has chances of surviving. During Week 29, the senses of sound, taste and smell are developing, and the baby can move its eyes. During the next two weeks, the baby is still growing, and ensure your intake of proper nutrients, along with folic acid, vitamins, and calcium is still continuing. By Week 32, the baby can sense all the five senses.

In the next three weeks, your baby begins to suck its fingers, starts to develop its own immune system, and in case of boys, the testes would have fully descended. Your baby could turn in a head down position. Due to continuous deposit of fat, during Week 36 elbows and knees will start to form dimples. You should be alert for any signs of labor as you enter Week 37, as your baby could be born two week before or after the due date.

Week 40 is the final week of pregnancy week by week, and you should be ready for your newborn any time!
Abortion

In the first 12 weeks, suction-aspiration or vacuum abortion is the most common method.[11] Manual Vacuum aspiration (MVA) abortion, consists of removing the fetus or embryo by suction using a manual syringe, while electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) abortion uses an electric pump. These techniques are comparable, and differ in the mechanism used to apply suction, how early in pregnancy they can be used, and whether cervical dilation is necessary. MVA, also known as "mini-suction" and "menstrual extraction", can be used in very early pregnancy, and does not require cervical dilation. Surgical techniques are sometimes referred to as 'Suction (or surgical) Termination Of Pregnancy' (STOP). From the 15th week until approximately the 26th, dilation and evacuation (D&E) is used. D&E consists of opening the cervix of the uterus and emptying it using surgical instruments and suction.

Other techniques must be used to induce abortion in the second trimester. Premature delivery can be induced with prostaglandin; this can be coupled with injecting the amniotic fluid with caustic solutions containing saline or urea. After the 16th week of gestation, abortions can be induced by intact dilation and extraction (IDX) (also called intrauterine cranial decompression), which requires surgical decompression of the fetus's head before evacuation. IDX is sometimes called "partial-birth abortion," which has been federally banned in the United States. A hysterotomy abortion is a procedure similar to a caesarean section, and is performed under general anesthesia because it is considered major abdominal surgery. It requires a smaller incision than a caesarean section and is used during later stages of pregnancy.[13]

From the 20th to 23rd week of gestation, an injection to stop the fetal heart can be used as the first phase of the surgical abortion procedure[14] to ensure that the fetus is not born alive.

Now, you look at everything that is developing in the weeks that I highlighted, and then look when and how the babies are aborted.

Now, you fucking TELL me that it is not inhumane to kill a living creature that has no other fucking choice.

[lproxn]

Honestly, I have no idea. I stopped reading after I heard the initial idea of the whole thing. It made me sick.

eeewwwwwwwww
and it is aking me sick right now

so many women cannot get pregnant...sad..and she the fucking bitch is using it for art......somebody kill her for me

[Liquorice]

so many women cannot get pregnant...sad..and she the fucking bitch is using it for art......somebody kill her for me

Gladly....... Anyways why am I in here? *looks around* I not american and have my own elections to worry about later this year. oops. *bows out*

[shinoda_me]

Jade...
thank you for that whole piece
i've studied all of that in biology this year and i was wondering the SAME SHINODA-ING THING that you just said
here's how my text book puts it :
"first trimester abortions are more common and easier... second trimester abortions are more risky"
SHINODA-ING tell me if 'risky' is the right word when you're taking life away from a little creature growing within you! .. grrr...

[YourConscience]

All of this stuff about abortion... And I just heard a song that... Fuck... I'm out... If anyone wants to find me, I'll be on a random, lighthearted Mike thread (http://forums.linkinpark.com/showthread.php?p=338521&posted=1#post338521)

[Anstice]

Jade...
thank you for that whole piece
i've studied all of that in biology this year and i was wondering the SAME SHINODA-ING THING that you just said
here's how my text book puts it :
"first trimester abortions are more common and easier... second trimester abortions are more risky"
SHINODA-ING tell me if 'risky' is the right word when you're taking life away from a little creature growing within you! .. grrr...

UGH.

It just ENRAGES me when people tell me that the babies don't feel a damn thing.

There's a form of abortion that's like...a saline abortion. Which basically means that they shoot an acidic salty liquid into the womb to kill the baby.

They've watched the babies, and they fucking COWER away from the saline solution because it is BURNING OFF their FLESH.

They're suppose to deliver a still-born baby then, but sometimes, the babies LIVE through it. And they just deliver the babies and walk off and leave them there to DIE.

What the fuck kind of treatment is that for an innocent life? It makes me SICK.

[shinoda_me]

UGH.

It just ENRAGES me when people tell me that the babies don't feel a damn thing.

There's a form of abortion that's like...a saline abortion. Which basically means that they shoot an acidic salty liquid into the womb to kill the baby.

They've watched the babies, and they fucking COWER away from the saline solution because it is BURNING OFF their FLESH.

They're suppose to deliver a still-born baby then, but sometimes, the babies LIVE through it. And they just deliver the babies and walk off and leave them there to DIE.

What the fuck kind of treatment is that for an innocent life? It makes me SICK.

FUCKING WHAT????
URGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad:
'enrages' is understatement !
how in the world can someone actually work that kind of a mechanism??
fucking mothers should drink that stuff!
heard about birth control or what???
:mad:
there's no way to kill without hurting all right ... and they just don't wanna agree

[Anstice]

FUCKING WHAT????
URGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad:
'enrages' is understatement !
how in the world can someone actually work that kind of a mechanism??
fucking mothers should drink that stuff!
heard about birth control or what???
:mad:
there's no way to kill without hurting all right ... and they just don't wanna agree

They try to reassure themselves that they aren't doing something bad.

[Blood_Pearl]

They try to reassure themselves that they aren't doing something bad.

ok, i would not have an abortion beyond week 6. ever. i know about the development of babies, my brother is twelve years my junior and i took a lot of interest in my mother's pregnancy and his growth because i found it interesting.

and here's the real deal here. you can fucking be on your moral high throne all the way up there, villifying people because they chose to have a baby when they could give it the best shot at life, the best standard, whatever, or maybe they were being selfish- but they had abortions because they made that choice. no birth control is 100% sure. everytime you have sex you are taking a risk of getting pregnant. and on a personal level...here's a nice little truth for people to consider: if i were in my third week of pregnancy and opted for an abortion based on my epilepsy medications, imminent brain surgery, lack of finances, etc, the big thing i would bear in mind would be-and tell me if you can't handle this truth-there is no way that with this amount of choice and evidence, that i would carry the pregnancy through, to bond with it, to know that i'd be giving it away to someone else because four years down the line when i can take care of a child,i do not want to be stuck in a corner knowing someone out there is bringing up my baby-their baby.

[Blood_Pearl]

no#1 .. i think having LOTS of babies is an equivalent of stealing food from the poor
being in a country thats over-populated like SHIT, this is the way my opinion has always been ... have 3 kids at the most but more than that is being selfish i'd say !




i live in australia. we're encouraged to have 3 kids here. and i would never have more than six. and stealing the food from the poor is...living in the western world on a day to day basis depending on how you view it, surely.

[babiiboo]

Florida and Michigan need to take a re-vote or not be counted at all. Obama followed the rules set by the DNC and didn't campaign in either, but Hillary did. That's bullshit and she shouldn't be rewarded for breaking the rules.

are you serious right now?? its the states fault for holding the primary early.. not clintons.. and obama didnt get his delegates or votes either... and i dont give a shit if they broke the rules every single vote should count.. if i was in florida i would be pretty pissed... even with michigan and florida i still dont think clinton will win.. so really take all your comments and shove them.. why are you attacking every word a say? listen we have different views and you are obviously one of those people that want to shove your veiws down someone elses throat and no one can have a good conversation with you.. so i would appreciate it if you dont comment on what i believe anymore.. and if you need the last word i will even give it to you.. go!

[Princess_MuzikChik]

OH SHIT.

I was going to make a post about this.

First, you gotta know this about me. The reason I'm so against abortion is because I think babies are a gift and miracle of LIFE. They're innocent human beings who have done NOTHING to any of us. I would do anything for any baby on this planet. I cannot WAIT to have my own children. I have two nieces who came at the wrong time in our lives, but they mean everything and STARS to me. If their mothers had decided to abort them...I don't know. I probably would have bitch slapped them both.

Anyway.

Did you hear about the girl at YALE UNIVERSITY that's doing that SICK art project?

If not, it's on PerezHilton.com

It's something along the lines of this:

Over a 9 month period, she is getting artificially inseminated and then taking abortionary drugs to ABORT the babies, and filming the abortions IN HER BATHTUB.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? That isn't ART. It's MURDER.

She's going to DISPLAY the fetus' and blood from the miscarriages. Oh my God. I'm sick just thinking about it.

I literally just threw up....

What a sick and twisted mind to even concieve that idea!

[SandraD06]

well what she did right there she'll end up suffering the consequences because i don't mean to preach, but in the bible
it says thall shall not murder, and her killing that poor innocent
baby is a sin. by the way, I am christian and I was born and raised in a christian family. seeing as to agreeing with Anstice over the abortion thing, I think its important for any girl or woman that is
pregnant should keep their babies because they're the ones who can actually change the world and make a difference in everyone's lives. and like she said, they're a gift and miracle of life from god himself that i don't think any girl out should abort their babies unless if they're dead or something. that's just my opinion.

[Anstice]

ok, i would not have an abortion beyond week 6. ever. i know about the development of babies, my brother is twelve years my junior and i took a lot of interest in my mother's pregnancy and his growth because i found it interesting.

and here's the real deal here. you can fucking be on your moral high throne all the way up there, villifying people because they chose to have a baby when they could give it the best shot at life, the best standard, whatever, or maybe they were being selfish- but they had abortions because they made that choice. no birth control is 100% sure. everytime you have sex you are taking a risk of getting pregnant. and on a personal level...here's a nice little truth for people to consider: if i were in my third week of pregnancy and opted for an abortion based on my epilepsy medications, imminent brain surgery, lack of finances, etc, the big thing i would bear in mind would be-and tell me if you can't handle this truth-there is no way that with this amount of choice and evidence, that i would carry the pregnancy through, to bond with it, to know that i'd be giving it away to someone else because four years down the line when i can take care of a child,i do not want to be stuck in a corner knowing someone out there is bringing up my baby-their baby.

So, you'd rather know that you MURDERED an innocent person than think that they are having a better life and are HAPPY with a couple that can't have children?

[Angiepantalones]

But if it's just because a condom broke or something like that... I'm sorry, but there are effective ways of preventing pregnancies.
I think a condom is an effective way of preventing pregnancies. Doesn't the fact that there was a condom that broke prove that the people were actively trying to not get pregnant?

Yeah well, if you'd been through what I have you'd prob think differently. AND its a baby from the start. As soon as you find out you are pregnant you start bonding. And DON'T tell me otherwise, cos its bullshit to a mother.
All I'm saying is that adoption is an option. There are plenty of couples out there who cannot have their own babies who would love to give one a good home.

The adoption process is long and strenuous and heartbreaking and the fact of the matter is that most adoptions in the US are international. Babies that go into the system when they're born stand a good chance of floundering in the system until they're 18 and then they're out on their ass with absolutely nothing.

are you serious right now?? its the states fault for holding the primary early.. not clintons.. and obama didnt get his delegates or votes either... and i dont give a shit if they broke the rules every single vote should count.. if i was in florida i would be pretty pissed... even with michigan and florida i still dont think clinton will win.. so really take all your comments and shove them.. why are you attacking every word a say? listen we have different views and you are obviously one of those people that want to shove your veiws down someone elses throat and no one can have a good conversation with you.. so i would appreciate it if you dont comment on what i believe anymore.. and if you need the last word i will even give it to you.. go!
Yes, it's the state's fault for breaking the rules and having the primary early, which is why they should either DO IT OVER or not count at all. You break the rules, you pay the consequences. Is it unfair to the voters? Yes. That's why I'm saying they should have a re-vote. And wow, take a fucking breather. Obviously you're so insecure in your views that you take every opposing viewpoint as a personal attack. Toughen up, buddy. The world isn't very nice.

OH SHIT.

I was going to make a post about this.

First, you gotta know this about me. The reason I'm so against abortion is because I think babies are a gift and miracle of LIFE. They're innocent human beings who have done NOTHING to any of us. I would do anything for any baby on this planet. I cannot WAIT to have my own children. I have two nieces who came at the wrong time in our lives, but they mean everything and STARS to me. If their mothers had decided to abort them...I don't know. I probably would have bitch slapped them both.

Anyway.

Did you hear about the girl at YALE UNIVERSITY that's doing that SICK art project?

If not, it's on PerezHilton.com

It's something along the lines of this:

Over a 9 month period, she is getting artificially inseminated and then taking abortionary drugs to ABORT the babies, and filming the abortions IN HER BATHTUB.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? That isn't ART. It's MURDER.

She's going to DISPLAY the fetus' and blood from the miscarriages. Oh my God. I'm sick just thinking about it.
It's been proven to be fake.

[lproxn]

quick somebody KILL HER before she kills the baby:(

[Anstice]

It's been proven to be fake.

ACTUALLY. Yale just banned it, I guess.

They claim that it was false, but she still claims that it was true.

The thought of her even thinking about it, however, is the sick part.

[goldenwonder]

i dont like this thread

[Angiepantalones]

The thought of her even thinking about it, however, is the sick part.
True. However, I don't think one sick fuck with a "message" should cloud the fact that most women who get abortions are not at all happy with the fact that they feel they should get one. It's not an easy decision and I'm sure most women don't take it lightly. It's not like they go in, get a scrape and go on with their lives.

[Angiepantalones]

i dont like this thread

Then don't click on it.

[Angiepantalones]

For the record, I think abortion should be illegal after the point at which the baby would stand a chance of surviving outside the womb. I think that's sometime near the end of the second trimester? Unless there's a serious medical threat to the baby or the mother, that is. After 5+ months you've had ample time to think about it. Change your mind? Tough shit.

[killie32]

I not American, BUT I totally agree with this. Ppl who abort Just because..... I dunno, it makes me so fucking sad, cos there's so many couples out there who would be fabulous parents, but cannot have children and would love to adopt.

BUT yeah, rape and incest and medical reasons I agree with abortion.

AND aborting a baby cos of deafness or blindness is totally WRONG. I am half deaf myself and the thought of that just scares me.


so many women cannot get pregnant...sad..and she the fucking bitch is using it for art......somebody kill her for me

Gladly....... Anyways why am I in here? *looks around* I not american and have my own elections to worry about later this year. oops. *bows out*

That's a bit of a contradiction you got into Liquorice. You say abortion is wrong but then say you would gladly kill someone. Isn't that the same thing overall. Stick to one opinion.

[killie32]

quick somebody KILL HER before she kills the baby:(

Where is the sense in that. It would also kill the baby. That sounds like two murders. What's the difference between killing someone and abortion? Another contradiction.

[Widge]

Abortions should be made legal just based on the fact that they're the most effective way for unprepared couples to go about not having a child to deal with when they aren't fully ready for one.

Well that, and they're awesome. When I get rich, then I'll dole out free abortions for everyone!

[Anstice]

Abortions should be made legal just based on the fact that they're the most effective way for unprepared couples to go about not having a child to deal with when they aren't fully ready for one.

Well that, and they're awesome. When I get rich, then I'll dole out free abortions for everyone!

If I were there right now, I don't think I could stop myself from strangling you.

And Angie, I agree with it being illegal after 5+ months. It's not SO bad before hand, but if the baby is big enough to move away from what is happening to it.

[YourConscience]

That's a bit of a contradiction you got into Liquorice. You say abortion is wrong but then say you would gladly kill someone. Isn't that the same thing overall. Stick to one opinion.

Ending a precious baby's innocent life is by no means the same thing as killing a sick-minded girl who wants to get pregnant for the sake of killing it, puting the dead baby on display, and then calling it art... But, ummm, thanks for playing...

[Widge]

The thought of her even thinking about it, however, is the sick part.
Personally, she should have gotten pregnant, taken the baby to term and then put an axe through it's skull when she got it home so she could get her anti-abortion message across better. "THIS IS WHAT YOURE DOING, YOURE KILLING A BABY, JUST LIKE THIS--ohnoesthecopsarehere" and made a huge sacrifice for her art and the anti-abortion statement she's trying to make.

Since you, yourself, are anti-abortion, have said it's murder and you likely think it should be illegal. What should the sentencing be with those that get illegal abortions?

[killie32]

If I were there right now, I don't think I could stop myself from strangling you.


Why do you people who disagree with abortion because it's murder seem to think it's okay to murder someone who has already been born? It's the third time now lol.

[Widge]

And Angie, I agree with it being illegal after 5+ months. It's not SO bad before hand, but if the baby is big enough to move away from what is happening to it.
See, that's the thing. Most abortions are done within the first three months anyway, from what I've heard, and the only time they're done later in the pregnancy is in the case where the mother's life is at risk.

[Anstice]

Why do you people who disagree with abortion because it's murder seem to think it's okay to murder someone who has already been born? It's the third time now lol.

Meh - never really said that I would MURDER them. Just....choke very hard :)

For the record, I'm against capital punishment as well.

[killie32]

Ending a precious baby's innocent life is by no means the same thing as killing a sick-minded girl who wants to get pregnant for the sake of killing it, puting the dead baby on display, and then calling it art... But, ummm, thanks for playing...

So killing an unborn baby is different from killing a living person. Which law states that? It's still murder.

[killie32]

Meh - never really said that I would MURDER them. Just....choke very hard :)

For the record, I'm against capital punishment as well.

For the record, just because I like to create arguments, I think euthanasia should be legalised.

[YourConscience]

So killing an unborn baby is different from killing a living person. Which law states that? It's still murder.

Do you think the death sentence is wrong then?

[YourConscience]

For the record, just because I like to create arguments, I think euthanasia should be legalised.

Hahaha... YourConscience thinks that killie32 is just flat out trying to get a rise out of people now...

[Anstice]

Well, most of the reason that I'm against capital punishment is that I don't think that it deters crime.

The person in question does not necessarily think about the consequences of their actions before going through with them

It is inhumane to take away human life. Who are we to play God? And yeah, I know those people have done it themselves, but what good is it doing to turn around and do the exact same damn thing to them?

It doesn't do anything except give the family a sliver of closure with the fact that the person who hurt them is gone.

No. The murderer should sit and rot in a jail cell, constantly reminded of what they did. They're getting the easy way out by dying.

But that's my opinion.

[YourConscience]

The murderer should sit and rot in a jail cell, constantly reminded about what they did. They're getting the easy way out by dying.

I agree, but at the same time, greater security measures have to be taken in such cases. We don't want a serial killer to get lose and get right back to it, just because someone found it wrong to "play God".

[killie32]

Do you think the death sentence is wrong then?

I'm all for the death sentence. I wish they would bring it to Britain.

Hahaha... YourConscience thinks that killie32 is just flat out trying to get a rise out of people now...

Caught red handed.

[YourConscience]

Caught red handed.

Hehehe. ^_^

[YourConscience]

*wonders how Mike feels about the direction his thread has taken*

[killie32]

No. The murderer should sit and rot in a jail cell, constantly reminded of what they did. They're getting the easy way out by dying.

But that's my opinion.

And the taxpayer has to pay to keep them in jail for life. Why punish those innocent people?

[babiiboo]

okay giving my views..

death penalty- i think its stupid.. not because i feel bad for the person getting it.. but if you did something bad enough for a judge to even think about giving you the death penalty wouldnt you rather be put to sleep than rot in a jail cell till you die? .. i would rather be murdered than left in jail until i eventually died

abortions- i am pro-choice.. if you cant afford to have a child dont.. i think everyone should practice birth control but mistakes do happen.. also i think it should be done before a baby has a heart beat.. and definitely not after 3 months unless the mom is at risk

[YourConscience]

abortions- i think it should be done before a baby has a heart beat..

Unless someone's trying to have a baby, most people don't find out until the baby already has a heartbeat...

[Widge]

Well, most of the reason that I'm against capital punishment is that I don't think that it deters crime.
You didn't answer my question, really. What should the punishment be to those that get illegal abortions?

And I say: Abortions are legal. Leave them that way. The only time anyone gives a shit about it is when the politicians are playing the abortion / religion thing so that they can stir up the rubes and conjure up some votes.

[killie32]

And I say: Abortions are legal. Leave them that way. The only time anyone gives a shit about it is when the politicians are playing the abortion / religion thing so that they can stir up the rubes and conjure up some votes.

I agree with you on that.

[babiiboo]

Unless someone's trying to have a baby, most people don't find out until the baby already has a heartbeat...

yes i know and thats why i said definitely not after 3 months.. and i dont even know how people do that.. if im 2 days late i get a test right away

[YourConscience]

You didn't answer my question, really. What should the punishment be to those that get illegal abortions?

Anyone who gets an abortion for reasons other than what we've gone over, should get her tubes tied. If you don't want THAT baby, then you don't get to have another...

*waits for it*

[Angiepantalones]

Anyone who gets an abortion for reasons other than what we've gone over, should get her tubes tied. If you don't want THAT baby, then you don't get to have another...

*waits for it*
What, seriously? So a 19 year old girl in college whose condom broke should never get to have kids ever because she wanted to finish college and give her future children the best opportunities she could provide?

[YourConscience]

yes i know and thats why i said definitely not after 3 months.. and i dont even know how people do that.. if im 2 days late i get a test right away

It only takes about six weeks for the baby to have a heartbeat... For some women, a prenancy test won't show up positive during the first missed period...