The controversial meme?

(borrowed from my dear friend ... who borrowed it from their dear friend and so on and so on....)

[1] Would you do meth if it was legalized?

Not in a million years..

[2] Abortion: for or against it?

Agreeing with my friend -- I do believe in a woman's choice to decide. It's interesting hearing folks that say we need the government out of our lives ... yet they can't seem to spin out of the fact that a pregnancy is a personal deal for women.

[3] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?

Hell no ... the country is very ready for a female President -- but just like it is for men: "not every man SHOULD be President...." The same can be true for women, black, hispanics, Asians, whoever ...

[4] Do you believe in the death penalty?

No I do not.

[5] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?

I'm conflicted by this - because I understand the rationale from both sides. Just like any drug ... when mis-used it can have damaging effects to your ability to rationally make decisions. It's no different than Heather Locklear getting picked up on a DUI after taking too many prescription medications. She could've had a really bad accident -- just as the drunk driver does -- or a meth-head -- or the coke-fiend -- or the....

When you consider the amount of money we're spending trying to thwart the marijuana runners, growers, and distributors -- not to mention housing them in our jails and prisons where "real" criminals ought to be -- then I think measures should be looked at to make it legalized.. The money could be better spent..

[6] Are you for or against premarital sex?

It's up to the individual -- and more importantly: that's the way it should be.. I don't want the government telling me yea or nay with what I do in my private time.. That said, for those folks who don't want premarital sex in their relationships -- easy: don't have premarital sex..

[7] Do you believe in God?

Like my dear friend -- I have a hard time believing that there's some omnipotent dude (or dudette) sitting atop a golden throne with a staff ready to take me out of the gene pool. For the longest time I was an astronomy major -- then turned to history -- which means that God never really got a chance in my life...

But ... when we consider the *finite* nature of our universe -- something had to happen to get the ball rolling.. Science may one day be able to go: "this is what happened" and it might be plausible.. But for now, I do believe in the Big Bang Theory of evolution ... but someone had to light the match....

[8] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?

I am entirely FOR civil unions..
But I do not believe churches should be forced to marry same sex couples if it doesn't jive with their faith..

However -- the moment churches all of a sudden cross that fabled line of politics and state ... then I have no problems forcing churches to marry same sex couples.. I have VERY very strong feelings about the church meddling in the politics while enjoying bountiful benefits behind incredible tax breaks and the such.. If they want to cross that line -- no problem -- they can start paying up like all of us do -- and be subject to the same laws and guidelines as the rest of us..

[9] Do you think it's wrong that so many aliens (of race, not ETs) are illegally moving to the USA?

If we really cared about illegal immigration -- then we should be pressuring Mexico to do more things with their economy rather than to leach it from the United States.. That might sound harsh, but when the President of Mexico actually ENCOURAGES Mexicans to cross the border, earn money so that they can bring it back down in to Mexico -- yeah -- I have a problem with that..

And if the President of Mexico doesn't seem to have a problem with that -- then we should take over Mexico and make it part of the United States..

That said -- I can't blame illegals for crossing the border in the first place.. They have no jobs in Mexico.. They have very little government assistance and their education, health care, police -- is riddled with gaping holes and problems.. Who WOULDN'T want to provide a better life for their family?? But from what I accounts I read a year or two ago -- Mexicans don't want to become U.S. citizens.. Some do, but most want to retain their Mexican heritage -- but at least trying to provide some food for their family.. Poverty is a really strong persuading factor for anyone trying to earn enough money for food for the family..

[10] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?

Extending the same sentiment as my dear friend did: "it's sad that this is even an issue to consider." And while I mostly share my friend's view that it's up to the 12-year old to keep the baby ... I do not think a 12-year old can adequately process the ramifications of what is happening to her.. I'd like to see the girl get counseling, get support behind her, and have adults take the situation seriously, respectfully, and supportively -- WHATEVER SHE DECIDES.. She is going to be living with the decision for the remainder of her life -- REGARDLESS of what she chooses.. Why not try to give her the best supportive environment for her to make the choice??

[11] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?

No ... but then I'm working on the premise that every generation of kids are going to defy the laws and rules of society anyway.. But then I don't support the registration of selective service at the age of 18 either, but I imagine that's for another question for another time..

[12] Should the war in Iraq be called off?

We shouldn't have been in there in the first place.. We created the enormous power vacuum which has precipitated the unrest in the region.. But ... that's history ... we now inherit the incredibly FUCKED UP policy by "the-little-man-they-called-Bush.." So ... what do we do??

The only answer to that question is for us to STOP meddling in what the Iraqi people want.. But that's the problem, isn't it George?? See, when he took Saddam out -- oh, the people ROARED ... but while I've maintained from the start that this was the most absolute wrong move to be had -- Saddam kept the balance between the Shia and the Sunnis.. Now that there's no Saddam, now that there's an overwhelming majority of the Shia that wants to control Iraq -- oh -- but wait, the Shia are brothers in arms with .... you guessed it .... Iran.. Remember that whole "axis of evil" gambit this administration pounded into each and every one of us?? Yeah, the failings of this administration have only STARTED become realized...

Especially when we're not greeted as liberators any longer, especially when there was absolutely NO causality between 9/11 and Iraq, especially when Bin Laden and Saddam couldn't even TRUST one another to be on the same side --- the Iraq war was a war of convenience.. The solution has to come from within.. The solution has to be an international one and more importantly a REGIONAL one.. By the way - this isn't "handing Iraq over to the terrorists" or "surrendering" -- it's the only rational way to FIX that incredibly fucked up Bush doctrine that ATTACKED the wrong country in the first place!!!

[13] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?

Nope.. If someone is really wanting to kill themselves, they're going to do it.. Why not make it at least humane??

[14] Do you believe in spanking your children?

Yes I do, even though I don't have children in which to spank.. But spanking alone isn't going to solve anything unless you can have the heart to heart talk with your child to correct the behavior in the first place.. And to echo the sentiment from my friend -- a lot of the structure of discipline in the upbringing of the child in the first place rests squarely on the shoulders of the parent.. If they can't control their children -- then they lost that opportunity somewhere and they need to find it and get it back..

[15] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?

I wouldn't -- because I personally think it's wrong..

[16] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?

Obama..

[17] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

To quote my friend: "I don't know, and I don't really care." Ditto.. :)