Progressive Caucus Stuff

[Ebowed]

I have sent Akno a private message detailing my thoughts on the progressive caucus platform.  I may be conservative on abortion and gun control but I'd like to remind everyone that I'm very liberal with the death penalty, drug legalization, and the environment.

[Ebowed]

Here's a more in-depth look, I guess, at my stances on social issues:

Abortion - Oppose federal funding (honestly, the government has better things to give its money to); support second/third trimester ban, and at the least a PBA ban; support parental notification; opposed the legalization of RU 486 pill.

Death Penalty - Oppose in all cases, including the terrorists.  If we make exceptions for terrorists it won't be long until we make exceptions for lesser criminals.  The death penalty punishes some crimes while neglects others, and that's not justice at all.  I also see the death penalty as a violation of human rights.

Gay Marriage - I think the government shouldn't have anything to do with marriage, but as long as it does, gay marriage is fine, though I'd still prefer civil unions (for everyone, not just gays).  I do personally believe that homosexuality is wrong, but defending the "sanctity of marriage" gets a bit absurd when so many heterosexual marriages end in divorce.

Environment - I'd like to end our reliance on oil and coal.  In order to react to the pending global warming crisis I would support (in real life politics) signing the Kyoto treaty, which President Bush has failed to do.  I opposed drilling in Alaskan Wildlife Refuges.  When we have to put our endangered species at risk, you know that the administration's ties to oil companies are causing major problems.

School Prayer and Related Issues - I oppose organized prayer in public schools, but support the "Moment of Silence" that is used in most public schools.  I oppose removing "Under God" from the Pledge officially, however I am completely against the mandatory recitation of it in public schools.  Whether or not it contains a reference to God, being forced to say it is a violation of free speech.  Many liberals seem to overlook this fact, and it makes them look anti-religious.  To me, it's not about the reference to God, it's the whole thing.  Not wanting to recite an allegiance to the country is protected by the first amendment.  On a related note, I also oppose any laws or amendments that would outlaw flag desecration.

Drugs and Related Issues - I support the legalization of marijuana.  I oppose any laws that a city or state enforce that ban smoking in a public area; this should be up to the person who owns the business or land, not governmental officials.

Any other issues you'd like me to go over?

[Ebowed]

Responding to earlier posts: it's not the government's job to "instill" civic pride and patriotism.  As far as I'm concerned, people can think for themselves, and when we have good leaders that make us proud, the majority of people become patriotic.

Also, I don't see why anyone would quit a caucus because of one platform plank.

[Ebowed]

I've gotta say, it'll be pretty ironic if the Progressive Caucus endorses John Dibble, considering he also earned the endorsement of the Atlasian Conservative Alliance, presumably due to his economic stances.

As I say, to me, you are pretty much an unknown commodity. You've shied away from social issues other than abortion.

I wasn't aware of this.  As many may know I am the only anti-death penalty candidate in this race, and in fact my stance on it was so extreme in the left direction that even many members of your caucus seem to oppose it.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

For all of the planks that I didn't already go over in my post, I support all of them to varying degrees.  Your planks on Media Regulation, Education, and Sex Education are perfectly complementary to my beliefs.  On your Taxation plank, I agree, however I would support tax cuts in the case of a surplus.  On your Pornography plank, I would support the age to be 18, not 16, as I think that if the age were 16 other adult rights would have to come with it, possibly even the right to vote.

And of course my stances on Drugs, Gay Marriage, the Death Penalty, Environment, Abortion, and School Prayer / Pledge of Allegiance are well documented in a previous post.

[Ebowed]

It's just a matter of other rights coming with it, that's all.  You brought up a good point about the Age of Consent.  I would support lowering the porn age to 16, but I'd prefer if other rights came with it (like the right to vote, right to buy cigarettes, etc.).

[Ebowed]

I was endorsed by th ACA as well, but I don't think anyone is saying I'm not progressive, ecspecially since we are focusing on social issues.

You're the only candidate in your race, aren't you...?  John Dibble is running against two candidates, so unless the other two candidates are completely clueless joke candidates, something fishy would be going on if he recieved the endorsement of both the token conservative party and the forum's liberal caucus.

[Ebowed]

The suggestion that there's some sort of corruption going on is ridiculous. I don't know how John came to get the ACA endorsement, but I made my recommendation completely independently of other people.

Oh dear.  No, I wasn't accusing anybody of corruption!  I just said that it would be ironic if he got the endorsement, and it would seem fishy.  I didn't mean that there's some sort of corruption!  Sorry if that's what it sounded like.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The former.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

What sort of homosexuality education do you mean, exactly?  If you mean, homosexual behaviour can be biologically influenced, sure, I don't have a problem with that being taught.  On distributing contraception, I think it's a good way to make abortion rarer, but I'd also support abstinence education.  I support the idea expressed in your plank that individual communities should be able to decide if contraception is given to students.  It should definitely be up to the communities, not a federal Department.

[Ebowed]

Yes, I did choose poor wording.  I'm sorry.  I just want to make clear that I didn't mean to imply any sort of corruption.