Your position on the issues part 2.

[Moooooo]

Those of you who oppose the Earned Income Tax Credit... Care to explain why?

It is nothing more than a scheme to redistribute money.

You come from a very wealthy family... Dont you?

[ian]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights - strongly support
Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - flatter tax, but still progressive.
War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist - only invade other countries on the grounds of ethnic cleansing
Free Trade - not pro- fair or free trade; I hate both.  A compromise is the best solution to the trade problem.
War on Drugs - support.  Being from one of the, if not THE, biggest crystal meth producing state(s), I can see that drugs are a huge problem in the states.  Marijuana, not so much, but harder drugs are definitely a problem to be weeded--no pun intended--out.
Patriot Act - strongly oppose.
Health Savings Accounts - neutral

[TheresNoMoney]

You come from a very wealthy family... Dont you?

It is senseless to reason with a libertarian. Remember that.

[Moooooo]

Speaking of the earned income tax credit... One of the major news channels (I think it was ABC) ran a special the other night on the working poor.  The program pointed out that several families work very, very hard, but never really get ahead in life. 

Anyway, there was this one lady one the show who was working three jobs, raising her kids, and her brothers kids.  She explained that the earned income tax credit is the most important thing in her life.  She said, the only time throughout the year when she gets her head above water and feels somewhat normal is when the credit comes in.  Thats the only time she does not struggle to put food on the table and pay the bills.

[© tweed]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights: Oppose

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit: The flat tax is a horrible idea.  I weakly oppose the other two.

War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist: Too general a question.  But I oppose nation building.

Free Trade: Support NAFTA, CAFTA, and what-have-you

War on Drugs: A waste of money; we should go after drug dealers and not users, although the feds probably should stay out of the drug war entirely.

Patriot Act: oppose

Health Savings Accounts: I support universal health care, but if you have the wealth you should be entitled to higher standards of medical care.

[Emsworth]

You come from a very wealthy family... Dont you?

No, I don't. Economic conservatism does not imply that one comes from a wealthy family.

[jokerman]

No, I don't. Economic conservatism does not imply that one comes from a wealthy family.

Economic conservatism is one thing.  Your disconnect from reality is another.

Lazze-Fairre.......

Good thing we finally had Keynes come in or most people would still think like this.

[Moooooo]

No, I don't. Economic conservatism does not imply that one comes from a wealthy family.

Economic conservatism is one thing.  Your disconnect from reality is another.

Leme' guess... Private charities are all that is needed in providing for the poor?

[Emsworth]

Private charities are all that is needed in providing for the poor?

I think that what the poor need does not really enter into the picture. Everyone needs food. Does that give one man the right to steal food from another?

Theft is theft, even when approved by the majority. In my opinion, no government is entitled to take money from one person and simply give it to another. I consider the government a necessary evil that exists to protect the people's rights, not a goody bag to solve everyone's private problems.

[opebo]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights - Favour strongly

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - oppose strongly, oppose strongly, support

War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist - Liberal

Free Trade - Neutral. all for people buying what they like, but it creates enormous social problems which must be mopped up with redistribution.

War on Drugs - Strongly Oppose.

Patriot Act - Strongly Oppose.

Health Savings Accounts - Oppose (instead emulate the French system).

[Jake]

I think that what the poor need does not really enter into the picture. Everyone needs food. Does that give one man the right to steal food from another?

Theft is theft, even when approved by the majority. In my opinion, no government is entitled to take money from one person and simply give it to another. I consider the government a necessary evil that exists to protect the people's rights, not a goody bag to solve everyone's private problems.

Would you oppose government intervention to stop a famine?

[opebo]

Private charities are all that is needed in providing for the poor?

I think that what the poor need does not really enter into the picture. Everyone needs food. Does that give one man the right to steal food from another?

Theft is theft, even when approved by the majority. In my opinion, no government is entitled to take money from one person and simply give it to another. I consider the government a necessary evil that exists to protect the people's rights, not a goody bag to solve everyone's private problems.

Good lord man, you are deluded.  The wealthy were placed in their positions of plenty by the State - its function has always been to oppress some in order to advantage others.  For example a white has been advantaged by the State since the beginning of US history, while a black has been subjugated.  Your idea of 'theft' is hilarously limited, as it fails to note the permanent and State-supported nature of the social heirarchy.  

[Emsworth]

Would you oppose government intervention to stop a famine?

If you mean government giving money to those affected by the famine, then I would certainly oppose it. Money that is given voluntarily, not taken forcibly, should be used for charitable purposes.

[Jake]

You're a horrible piece of work.

[afleitch]

Would you oppose government intervention to stop a famine?

If you mean government giving money to those affected by the famine, then I would certainly oppose it. Money that is given voluntarily, not taken forcibly, should be used for charitable purposes.

Surely your sense of humanity and humility should supercede dogma if such a famine occured. For shame

[Moooooo]

Would you oppose government intervention to stop a famine?

If you mean government giving money to those affected by the famine, then I would certainly oppose it. Money that is given voluntarily, not taken forcibly, should be used for charitable purposes.

Your ideal world would be a pretty ugly place, but hey, at least your consistent.

[Storebought]

Would you oppose government intervention to stop a famine?

If you mean government giving money to those affected by the famine, then I would certainly oppose it. Money that is given voluntarily, not taken forcibly, should be used for charitable purposes.

Surely your sense of humanity and humility should supercede dogma if such a famine occured. For shame

If I'm reading Emsworth's posts correctly, he's saying that the federal government has no responsibility to shuttle tax dollars directly to famine victims. Private charities, corporations, individuals, etc. are free to spend their money any way they, or their shareholders, choose.

In fact, throughout most of American history, presidents of both parties have done exactly that: President Cleveland's veto of federal drought appropriation for TX is one example off the top of my head.

[Dave from Michigan]

Also government intervention like setting prices could cause a famine.

[Emsworth]

President Cleveland's veto of federal drought appropriation for TX is one example off the top of my head.

That's exactly what I was thinking of as well. As Cleveland wrote in his veto message, "The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character."

In case of a severe national disaster, I would certainly be willing to donate my own money to help the victims. Indeed, I think that everyone who can afford to help should do so. However, just because I think that charitable contributions are virtuous, I would never force other people to give up their own money for such purposes. It is to me entirely unacceptable to forcibly take money from one person solely for the purpose of giving it to another.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights -  I don't care.

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - Strongly Favor

War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist - Interventionist when necessary

Free Trade - Strongly favor

War on Drugs -  Oppose - That's a war we're really losing, Libs!

Patriot Act - Favor much of it

Health Savings Accounts -  Strongly favor

[True Democrat]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights - Should be same as heterosexual couples

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - Flat tax should be further explored, favor it on state level

War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist - Intervetionist

Free Trade - Favor in almost all circumstances

War on Drugs - Legalize marijuana, use it to fund War on Drugs and anti-smoking, drinking, and marijuana campaigns

Patriot Act - Repeal some parts, the whole thing doesn't need to be repealed

Health Savings Accounts - Oppose, I guess

[Cubby]

Gay Couple Adoption Rights- Support

Flat Tax- Strongly Oppose
Consumption Tax- Strongly Oppose (hurts lower/middle classes only)
Earned Income Tax Credit: Heard of it but don't know enough

War: What do you mean?  Iraq- Oppose   WWII- Support

Free Trade: Oppose. I don't want the entire world to be free trade. First NAFTA, then EU, the free trade area keeps getting bigger. There should be a limit.

War on Drugs: Its a failure, but I have never tried any illegal drugs so I support keeping them illegal.

PATRIOT Act- Generally Oppose, but Strongly Oppose the Library Part.

Health Savings Accounts-

Health Savings Accounts - Oppose, I guess

[Q]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights - Same as for heterosexual couples.

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - Against; In favor; Ambivalent

War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist - Isolationist

Free Trade - Depends on the industry (probably not fair of me, though)

War on Drugs - misguided

Patriot Act - against

Health Savings Accounts - in favor

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights - Support strongly

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - None. We need to raise taxes.

War:  ie. Liberal, Isolationist, Intervetionist - Isolationist with a militarist streak

Free Trade - For it

War on Drugs - Legalize and regulate marijuana and other soft drugs like shrooms.

Patriot Act - Revise to fit in with the constitution.

Health Savings Accounts - Oppose. We need actual national healthcare.

[AkSaber]

Homosexual Couple Adoption Rights - Support

Flat Tax, Consumption Tax, Earned Income Tax Credit - Support, support, oppose

War: Part Hawk, part Isolationist

Free Trade - Support, I guess

War on Drugs - End it. Legalize and regulate drugs like cigarettes.

Patriot Act - Repeal it

Health Savings Accounts -