Today's Button Pusher.
Here is the "Firestorm of Controversy Meme". Taken from ashkierasghost for kindly responding to my ether fishing. Unforunately, the questions are somewhat poorly designed and aren't exactly "firestorm" quality (better examples could have been: Do you support Israel or Palestine? Pakistan or India? Mac or PC? Intelligent Design or A Cold Universe? Is the concept of Dhimmi better, worse, or no different than that of the Auto De Fe?), but they are at least worth some discussion.
1. Would you do meth if it was legalized?
This question sort of assumes that I am doing it now while it is illegal. But I'm going to take this in a different direction while answering: yes. Because with legalization of a controlled substance comes regulation (a slight presumption), I have to believe that the quality and usefulness of the substance would have to be taken astronomically above present illicit manufacturing standards. Seriously, alcohol is legal, as well as curing meat at home. Normally speaking, would you go buy either of those things from some guy living in a barn in the middle of nowhere? You might, if you knew and trusted the person, but you really can't complain when you go blind or get salmonella.
Meth could have reasonable uses if handled responsibly and in moderation, although I can't think of any to begin with. However, as I don't particularly trust the motivations of the government or the pharmacutical companies (who would nearly instantly have a stranglehold on the new meth market - they have all the start-up capital available), I figure that at some point, in some component of prescription or OTC medication, I would be taking meth, whether I knew/liked it or not.
2. Are you for or against abortion?
I am pro-choice, but more than that, I am pro-responsible family planning (especially if that is FUCK NO I DON'T WANT KIDS) and sex-education. This coming from a guy who's sister got married after getting knocked up. But guys, well, we sort of have second-class voting rights on this one. CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION.
3. Would our country (United States) fall with a woman president?
We already did. Her name was Nancy Reagan. Jurys out on whether the country fell or not. That really had less to do with ovaries and more with Wall Street Bailout Savings And Loan Failure, Reaganomics, SDI... Boy, this could go on for a while.
4. Do you believe in the death penalty?
I get angry, I get vindictive. I feel injustice and social rage. Do people need to die to satisfy my desires for venegeance? What kind of person would I be if I felt that they did?
I believe in enhancing education, social and economic support, developmental counselling and rehabilitation, and if necessary, life sentences. Note that I am for sentencing people to life, not permanent detention and Damnatio memoriae.
5. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I wish for exoneration and pardons for those convicted of marijuana-related crimes stemming from the War on Black Ppls Some Drugs, rather than legalization. Mostly because all those people should be voters before the legalization vote occurs. Of course, as I contemplate, I think this is an issue for the states to decide individually.
6. Are you for or against premarital sex?
I'd rather be a hypocrite if I suggested I held to the Catholic line on this one. Then again, it probably wouldn't be the only reason to call me a hypocrite.
I'm sort of with Chef on this one, there's a very special time when sex is permissable. And that time is...seventeen.
7. Do you believe in God?
Don't you know there's no God, just the devil when he's drunk and feeling mischievous?
8. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I have to make a comment back to ashkierasghost, on this one. She indicated that the government should not interfere or legislate in either direction because "marriage" is a religious sacrament and ritual, and she invokes the separation of church and state doctrine. This is generally not a bad point, but in specific, I believe that the reality of legal interpretation is that "marriage", or the state of being "married" has transcended simple religious rite and become a state of social and economic standing which has implications and benefits which carry real, legal weight.
Taxable income is modified by marital status, as are probate laws, as are the rights and protocols for privacy practices and medical records, guardianship and adoption eligibility, child care & visitation rights, and property rights. Contemporary jurisprudence and case law wants to make a division between a separate-but-equal "domestic partnership" and a more conventional and powerful (in the sense of having more agency to effect changes and pursue action) "marriage" (which in my experience tends to be a "domestic autocracy", but never you mind me (= ).
All this to say...yes.
9. Do you think its wrong that so many Hispanics are moving to the USA?
This is a flatly fucking racist question. I just spent ten minutes trying to mock it, and there's nothing more that I can say that you're a fucking racist dickwound for asking it. I hope you get a disease from someone of your own race, junkie.
Now, if you're asking me if I have problems with unchecked illegal (which is say more "unregulated" not "criminally felonious and morally reprehensible") immigration, then I have to say...NO.
I've never had a problem with my job, or the job of anyone I know being threatened by iternant workers who are willing to labor for slave-wages in horrible, illegal (in the sense of "criminally felonious and morally reprehensible" AND "unregulated") conditions with no security or and rampant abuse of civil and human rights.
Go read a book, redneck.
10. A twelve year old girl has a baby...should she keep it?
This is another question which tries to ask one question, but is actually asking another. The question they are trying to ask is, "A twelve year old girl gets pregnant...should she keep it/bring it to term?" The above question just addresses whether she should actually rear and raise the child.
To which I would generally say, baring a Zombie Apocalypse or The End of the World As We Know It, hell no. This is not to say that the child (that is the mother, not the newborn child) should not have any involvement in the child's upbringing, if desired (and adoption is a perfectly reasonable option here folks). The mother should be able to continue their education and pursue additional education for life skills and parenting at least until she reaches the age of majority. Yes, there should be social support for this. Yes, it should be on the taxpayers. Yes, the child should be cared for by professionals in the absence of competent guardianship (and competent guardianship should be able to be qualified in a vetting process not dissimilar [or better than] those required in adoptions).
This could go on for a while, but your mileage may vary. Especially if you possess a Y chromosome or not.
11. Should the alcohol age be lowered to 18?
ashkierasghost had a good answer to this one, that being the age for selective service to be raised to 21 instead. I am actually against this, but only in quantity. If it was necessary, I could go down to 20, or 19 at most. I think there are cogent reasons to keep the alcohol limit where it is, and the counterarguments are commonly association fallacies.
Again, an issue for individual states, as it is pretty much throughout the union. Purchase, possession, consumption of alcohol should be legal for any active member of the armed services, period. However, I believe this is really normally regulated by the community standards of wherever the fuck said soldier is stationed, rather than by proxy laws from the continental U.S.
12. Assisted suicide is illegal...do you agree?
I'm with ashkierasghost on this one: it should be legal, but only after significant counselling and informed consent on the part of the patient ("disclaimer: Death is lethal. Use with caution."). Assisted suicide should remain illegal unless the patient is cogent and consenting. Power of Attorney cannot ever authorize AS, without a pre-arranged, notarized DNR order signed and authorized prior to the date of infirmity/disability.
13. Do you believe in spanking your children?
I think my kids have a right to be spanked by the consenting adult of the attractive sex once they have reached the age of consent or majority, whichever comes first.
As for thwappin them damned kids...shit, why not?
14. Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
I have burned American flags before. Most former Boy Scouts have, during a ritual/process known as retirement. It's done with a bit of reverence, which one might expect. I'd certainly take ONE! MILLION! DOLLARS! to it, especially if the above offer was the only conditions placed on remuneration of funds. Hell, I'd share with some of the kids.
As for a vulgar desecration of the American flag, yes; I still would because someone is offering me American currency for doing so, and I think we all know which one of those signifiers has more power and relevancy to contemporary American culture.
Another case of the question not asking what it is intending to ask.
15. A mother is declared innocent after murdering her 5 children in a temporary insanity case, do you agree?
AND AGAIN. No one in American jurisprudence is ever declared "innocent". They are either "Guilty" or "Not Guilty". This is the problem with the axiom "Innocent until proven guilty". Even "murder" is a loaded term, generally suggesting intent to kill - rather than manslaughter, or some other legal term for crimes which involve death.
But the question here is, "Is insanity a valid defense for outrageous crimes which defy logic and understanding?" Yes, of course it is. And mind you, people who are generally found to be "not guilty by reason of insanity" are usually still on the hook for civil crimes (rather than criminal ones) and are likely going to be spending quite a lot of time in the immediate, hands-on, and intensive care of mental health professionals with a fuck load of needles and pills (and very little reason not to use them to their full and poorly-supervised effect). I wouldn't think that you'd really choose to consider those consequences as getting off scot-free. Sure, it's not lethal injection or the daily life-threatening attrition of life in prison - but I wouldn't want to "enjoy" it.
16. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
I don't think enough people read my journal for me to be really worried. Worse comes to worse, I can ban the trolls.
BONUS Question: Answer one of my alternative questions, or a more difficult, controversial question of your own devising in the comments.
-12th.
1. Would you do meth if it was legalized?
This question sort of assumes that I am doing it now while it is illegal. But I'm going to take this in a different direction while answering: yes. Because with legalization of a controlled substance comes regulation (a slight presumption), I have to believe that the quality and usefulness of the substance would have to be taken astronomically above present illicit manufacturing standards. Seriously, alcohol is legal, as well as curing meat at home. Normally speaking, would you go buy either of those things from some guy living in a barn in the middle of nowhere? You might, if you knew and trusted the person, but you really can't complain when you go blind or get salmonella.
Meth could have reasonable uses if handled responsibly and in moderation, although I can't think of any to begin with. However, as I don't particularly trust the motivations of the government or the pharmacutical companies (who would nearly instantly have a stranglehold on the new meth market - they have all the start-up capital available), I figure that at some point, in some component of prescription or OTC medication, I would be taking meth, whether I knew/liked it or not.
2. Are you for or against abortion?
I am pro-choice, but more than that, I am pro-responsible family planning (especially if that is FUCK NO I DON'T WANT KIDS) and sex-education. This coming from a guy who's sister got married after getting knocked up. But guys, well, we sort of have second-class voting rights on this one. CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION.
3. Would our country (United States) fall with a woman president?
We already did. Her name was Nancy Reagan. Jurys out on whether the country fell or not. That really had less to do with ovaries and more with Wall Street Bailout Savings And Loan Failure, Reaganomics, SDI... Boy, this could go on for a while.
4. Do you believe in the death penalty?
I get angry, I get vindictive. I feel injustice and social rage. Do people need to die to satisfy my desires for venegeance? What kind of person would I be if I felt that they did?
I believe in enhancing education, social and economic support, developmental counselling and rehabilitation, and if necessary, life sentences. Note that I am for sentencing people to life, not permanent detention and Damnatio memoriae.
5. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I wish for exoneration and pardons for those convicted of marijuana-related crimes stemming from the War on Black Ppls Some Drugs, rather than legalization. Mostly because all those people should be voters before the legalization vote occurs. Of course, as I contemplate, I think this is an issue for the states to decide individually.
6. Are you for or against premarital sex?
I'd rather be a hypocrite if I suggested I held to the Catholic line on this one. Then again, it probably wouldn't be the only reason to call me a hypocrite.
I'm sort of with Chef on this one, there's a very special time when sex is permissable. And that time is...seventeen.
7. Do you believe in God?
Don't you know there's no God, just the devil when he's drunk and feeling mischievous?
8. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I have to make a comment back to ashkierasghost, on this one. She indicated that the government should not interfere or legislate in either direction because "marriage" is a religious sacrament and ritual, and she invokes the separation of church and state doctrine. This is generally not a bad point, but in specific, I believe that the reality of legal interpretation is that "marriage", or the state of being "married" has transcended simple religious rite and become a state of social and economic standing which has implications and benefits which carry real, legal weight.
Taxable income is modified by marital status, as are probate laws, as are the rights and protocols for privacy practices and medical records, guardianship and adoption eligibility, child care & visitation rights, and property rights. Contemporary jurisprudence and case law wants to make a division between a separate-but-equal "domestic partnership" and a more conventional and powerful (in the sense of having more agency to effect changes and pursue action) "marriage" (which in my experience tends to be a "domestic autocracy", but never you mind me (= ).
All this to say...yes.
9. Do you think its wrong that so many Hispanics are moving to the USA?
This is a flatly fucking racist question. I just spent ten minutes trying to mock it, and there's nothing more that I can say that you're a fucking racist dickwound for asking it. I hope you get a disease from someone of your own race, junkie.
Now, if you're asking me if I have problems with unchecked illegal (which is say more "unregulated" not "criminally felonious and morally reprehensible") immigration, then I have to say...NO.
I've never had a problem with my job, or the job of anyone I know being threatened by iternant workers who are willing to labor for slave-wages in horrible, illegal (in the sense of "criminally felonious and morally reprehensible" AND "unregulated") conditions with no security or and rampant abuse of civil and human rights.
Go read a book, redneck.
10. A twelve year old girl has a baby...should she keep it?
This is another question which tries to ask one question, but is actually asking another. The question they are trying to ask is, "A twelve year old girl gets pregnant...should she keep it/bring it to term?" The above question just addresses whether she should actually rear and raise the child.
To which I would generally say, baring a Zombie Apocalypse or The End of the World As We Know It, hell no. This is not to say that the child (that is the mother, not the newborn child) should not have any involvement in the child's upbringing, if desired (and adoption is a perfectly reasonable option here folks). The mother should be able to continue their education and pursue additional education for life skills and parenting at least until she reaches the age of majority. Yes, there should be social support for this. Yes, it should be on the taxpayers. Yes, the child should be cared for by professionals in the absence of competent guardianship (and competent guardianship should be able to be qualified in a vetting process not dissimilar [or better than] those required in adoptions).
This could go on for a while, but your mileage may vary. Especially if you possess a Y chromosome or not.
11. Should the alcohol age be lowered to 18?
ashkierasghost had a good answer to this one, that being the age for selective service to be raised to 21 instead. I am actually against this, but only in quantity. If it was necessary, I could go down to 20, or 19 at most. I think there are cogent reasons to keep the alcohol limit where it is, and the counterarguments are commonly association fallacies.
Again, an issue for individual states, as it is pretty much throughout the union. Purchase, possession, consumption of alcohol should be legal for any active member of the armed services, period. However, I believe this is really normally regulated by the community standards of wherever the fuck said soldier is stationed, rather than by proxy laws from the continental U.S.
12. Assisted suicide is illegal...do you agree?
I'm with ashkierasghost on this one: it should be legal, but only after significant counselling and informed consent on the part of the patient ("disclaimer: Death is lethal. Use with caution."). Assisted suicide should remain illegal unless the patient is cogent and consenting. Power of Attorney cannot ever authorize AS, without a pre-arranged, notarized DNR order signed and authorized prior to the date of infirmity/disability.
13. Do you believe in spanking your children?
I think my kids have a right to be spanked by the consenting adult of the attractive sex once they have reached the age of consent or majority, whichever comes first.
As for thwappin them damned kids...shit, why not?
14. Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
I have burned American flags before. Most former Boy Scouts have, during a ritual/process known as retirement. It's done with a bit of reverence, which one might expect. I'd certainly take ONE! MILLION! DOLLARS! to it, especially if the above offer was the only conditions placed on remuneration of funds. Hell, I'd share with some of the kids.
As for a vulgar desecration of the American flag, yes; I still would because someone is offering me American currency for doing so, and I think we all know which one of those signifiers has more power and relevancy to contemporary American culture.
Another case of the question not asking what it is intending to ask.
15. A mother is declared innocent after murdering her 5 children in a temporary insanity case, do you agree?
AND AGAIN. No one in American jurisprudence is ever declared "innocent". They are either "Guilty" or "Not Guilty". This is the problem with the axiom "Innocent until proven guilty". Even "murder" is a loaded term, generally suggesting intent to kill - rather than manslaughter, or some other legal term for crimes which involve death.
But the question here is, "Is insanity a valid defense for outrageous crimes which defy logic and understanding?" Yes, of course it is. And mind you, people who are generally found to be "not guilty by reason of insanity" are usually still on the hook for civil crimes (rather than criminal ones) and are likely going to be spending quite a lot of time in the immediate, hands-on, and intensive care of mental health professionals with a fuck load of needles and pills (and very little reason not to use them to their full and poorly-supervised effect). I wouldn't think that you'd really choose to consider those consequences as getting off scot-free. Sure, it's not lethal injection or the daily life-threatening attrition of life in prison - but I wouldn't want to "enjoy" it.
16. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
I don't think enough people read my journal for me to be really worried. Worse comes to worse, I can ban the trolls.
BONUS Question: Answer one of my alternative questions, or a more difficult, controversial question of your own devising in the comments.
-12th.