long political meme
gakked from nsingman. Thought-provoking questions here.
PART A: A series of third party questions.
1. Do you have a political party affiliation? If so, what?
I'm in the "dirty fukkin hippie" wing of the Democratic Party
2. Would you ever consider voting for a third party (NOT independent) candidate?
not nationally as in for President, but I have voted for third party candidates in local and congressional races. These votes have, unfortunately, been more protest votes than ones that made a difference. Still, if there were a third party candidate running for congress who would agree to caucus with the Dems, I wouldn't discard the idea of voting for them.
3. Would you ever consider joining a third party? If so, which?
no. The only third parties would be truly useful is if we were a parliamentary system of government.
4. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Libertarian Party?
I like some of what they stand for, but the reality is that there are too many "Republi-tarians" for my tastes.
5. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Green Party?
They're idiots. The Green Party are directly responsible for George W. Bush's theft of the 2000 election. Their appeal is pretty much limited to neo-anarchists who just as soon throw rocks through the front window of Starbucks as vote.
6. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Constitution Party?
They're a front for Christian Dominionism.
7. Do you think a third party can ever achieve parity with the Democratic or Republican Parties in the United States?
It would be very difficult, but it's possible. The most likely scenario would be if radical clerics like Dobson formally split from the Republican Party and started their own organization.
PART II: Questions about controversial political opinions- opinions more controversial than the legalization of klembachery.
8. Do you believe, for whatever reason, that the federal income tax is illegal?
No, it's in the Constitution, so it's legal. Is it a good idea? No, but that's now a different debate.
9. Do you believe in a plan to create a North American Union?
No, I don't see that happening. I don't think the Canadians are stupid enough to through in with us.
10. Do you believe that George W. Bush and the federal government created the September 11, 2001 attacks in order to gain power?
no, that's tin-foil-hat territory. I do firmly believe that Cheney and his people started working on ways to increase their power the moment they learned of the attacks, though.
11. Do you believe, regardless of their moral justification, that the states forming the Confederacy had an inalienable legal right to secede in 1861?
I should simply repeat nsingman's answer here. I'm a firm believer in secession. In the late 1970s, I used to support the notion of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma seceding and joining OPEC. There are days when I think the Confederacy should re-estabilsh itself, even though it would mean I'd have to move to California to get away from Dominionists and racists.
12. In your opinion, does global warming or climate change exist? If yes, is it caused by natural effects or man-made conditions?
Global warming exists, but I don't know if there's much anybody can do about it.
PART III: Questions about the five most urgent political issues in Americans' minds.
13. What is your position on the war in Iraq?
We have no business being there, and didn't from day one. The US should immediately withdraw all troops, let the Iraqis sort out their country, and then develop some sort of "Marshall Plan" to try to repair the horrific damage we have caused there.
14. What do you think should be done to reform immigration policy?
Open the borders to anyone who wants to live here. It worked when we were letting Europeans in. It worked when we let the Vietnamese "boat people" in. No reason it won't work again, other than white racists will fret about how the mud people are taking over their country.
15. What do you think needs to change about America's healthcare system?
Guaranteed healthcare for all citizens and legal residents of the country.
16. In what way do you think our tax system should be reformed, cut, or expanded?
Abolish all sales and income taxes. Use property tax to fund local services. "sin" taxes are permissible. Taxes on tourism (hotel/motel, "amusement" taxes on restaurants, bars, public events) allowed, since they can be tailored to a free-market economy.
17. Have the actions of the federal government over the past six years served to protect or destroy freedom?
There has been a trend since FDR's administration towards limiting civil liberties and freedom in the US. The current administration is clearly more arrogant and open about their moves in terms of restricting the rights of Americans.
PART IV: Questions about impeachment.
18. Should George W. Bush be impeached, and why?
No, because impeaching him would lead to a show trial whose outcome (acquittal) is pre-determined. I would prefer to see him and Cheney resign immediately, with the understanding that Pelosi would pardon them both as incentive to get them the hell out now.
19. Should Richard "Dick" Cheney be impeached, and why?
See #18. Since both of them will most likely complete their terms, I would like to see a Democratic President instruct his/her Attorney General to pursue them both for obstruction of justice in the Plame case.
20. Will the Democratic-controlled Congress impeach either Bush or Cheney? Why?
No, they don't have the votes to convict. That means it would just be a sideshow, like Clinton's trial.
PART V: Final Question
21. What one thing annoys you the most about the United States' current political system?
Control of our government has become a binary solution set. Either the Republicans control it or the Democrats. I'd rather see the US function under a parliamentary system with several political parties. There would be times when no one party would have a clear majority and would have to form coalition governments.
PART A: A series of third party questions.
1. Do you have a political party affiliation? If so, what?
I'm in the "dirty fukkin hippie" wing of the Democratic Party
2. Would you ever consider voting for a third party (NOT independent) candidate?
not nationally as in for President, but I have voted for third party candidates in local and congressional races. These votes have, unfortunately, been more protest votes than ones that made a difference. Still, if there were a third party candidate running for congress who would agree to caucus with the Dems, I wouldn't discard the idea of voting for them.
3. Would you ever consider joining a third party? If so, which?
no. The only third parties would be truly useful is if we were a parliamentary system of government.
4. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Libertarian Party?
I like some of what they stand for, but the reality is that there are too many "Republi-tarians" for my tastes.
5. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Green Party?
They're idiots. The Green Party are directly responsible for George W. Bush's theft of the 2000 election. Their appeal is pretty much limited to neo-anarchists who just as soon throw rocks through the front window of Starbucks as vote.
6. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Constitution Party?
They're a front for Christian Dominionism.
7. Do you think a third party can ever achieve parity with the Democratic or Republican Parties in the United States?
It would be very difficult, but it's possible. The most likely scenario would be if radical clerics like Dobson formally split from the Republican Party and started their own organization.
PART II: Questions about controversial political opinions- opinions more controversial than the legalization of klembachery.
8. Do you believe, for whatever reason, that the federal income tax is illegal?
No, it's in the Constitution, so it's legal. Is it a good idea? No, but that's now a different debate.
9. Do you believe in a plan to create a North American Union?
No, I don't see that happening. I don't think the Canadians are stupid enough to through in with us.
10. Do you believe that George W. Bush and the federal government created the September 11, 2001 attacks in order to gain power?
no, that's tin-foil-hat territory. I do firmly believe that Cheney and his people started working on ways to increase their power the moment they learned of the attacks, though.
11. Do you believe, regardless of their moral justification, that the states forming the Confederacy had an inalienable legal right to secede in 1861?
I should simply repeat nsingman's answer here. I'm a firm believer in secession. In the late 1970s, I used to support the notion of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma seceding and joining OPEC. There are days when I think the Confederacy should re-estabilsh itself, even though it would mean I'd have to move to California to get away from Dominionists and racists.
12. In your opinion, does global warming or climate change exist? If yes, is it caused by natural effects or man-made conditions?
Global warming exists, but I don't know if there's much anybody can do about it.
PART III: Questions about the five most urgent political issues in Americans' minds.
13. What is your position on the war in Iraq?
We have no business being there, and didn't from day one. The US should immediately withdraw all troops, let the Iraqis sort out their country, and then develop some sort of "Marshall Plan" to try to repair the horrific damage we have caused there.
14. What do you think should be done to reform immigration policy?
Open the borders to anyone who wants to live here. It worked when we were letting Europeans in. It worked when we let the Vietnamese "boat people" in. No reason it won't work again, other than white racists will fret about how the mud people are taking over their country.
15. What do you think needs to change about America's healthcare system?
Guaranteed healthcare for all citizens and legal residents of the country.
16. In what way do you think our tax system should be reformed, cut, or expanded?
Abolish all sales and income taxes. Use property tax to fund local services. "sin" taxes are permissible. Taxes on tourism (hotel/motel, "amusement" taxes on restaurants, bars, public events) allowed, since they can be tailored to a free-market economy.
17. Have the actions of the federal government over the past six years served to protect or destroy freedom?
There has been a trend since FDR's administration towards limiting civil liberties and freedom in the US. The current administration is clearly more arrogant and open about their moves in terms of restricting the rights of Americans.
PART IV: Questions about impeachment.
18. Should George W. Bush be impeached, and why?
No, because impeaching him would lead to a show trial whose outcome (acquittal) is pre-determined. I would prefer to see him and Cheney resign immediately, with the understanding that Pelosi would pardon them both as incentive to get them the hell out now.
19. Should Richard "Dick" Cheney be impeached, and why?
See #18. Since both of them will most likely complete their terms, I would like to see a Democratic President instruct his/her Attorney General to pursue them both for obstruction of justice in the Plame case.
20. Will the Democratic-controlled Congress impeach either Bush or Cheney? Why?
No, they don't have the votes to convict. That means it would just be a sideshow, like Clinton's trial.
PART V: Final Question
21. What one thing annoys you the most about the United States' current political system?
Control of our government has become a binary solution set. Either the Republicans control it or the Democrats. I'd rather see the US function under a parliamentary system with several political parties. There would be times when no one party would have a clear majority and would have to form coalition governments.