Politics & Current Events
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Top 3
Whithout saying who you are voting for or why you dislike the other canidate.
What are the top policies or social issues that are important to you in this election. and if you are for or against them.
1. Health care- For the affordable healthcare law
2. Womens Rights-For women's right to choose
3.gay right- against Don't ask Don't tell
Re: Top 3
1. Healthcare. I am against Obamacare because it did not go far enough but I think it is a start
2. Equal pay for equal work. I am for women getting equal pay.
3. The Supreme Court. I would like for liberal judges to get appointed as we move forward.
1. Equality- both women's issues and lbgt issues.
2. Possible SCOTUS openings. I fear who the other guy would nominate and how it would impact issues close to my heart for many years to come.
3. Education- afforability and access to students who can't borrow the money from their parents.
1. Broadly, foreign relations; more specifically, Israel/Iran- I want the next administration to follow the lead of the past 4 years and gently humor but largely ignore the fear-mongering, and hopefully see a more moderate government elected next year in Israel, and the year after in Iran (and that isn't impossible- the president before Ahmadinejad wasn't nuts, but Bush kind of ruined any potential relationship there with the whole Axis of Evil thing).
2. Gay and women's rights- I am very against the idea of laws being adopted at the federal level defining marriage and prohibiting all abortions, as feature in the platform of one party (can you guess which one? The federal govt- small enough to fit in your bedroom!).
3. Defense spending- we aren't fighting two wars anymore, one will hopefully be mostly over within 2 years, if there were anywhere in the federal budget we could afford to save money, it's here. And it's the one thing that 'the other side' won't consider cutting.
-unfortunate reality of my position here is that it makes it more likely that my husband won't have a job in another 18 months, but that isn't a terrible thing. I'd like to be able to raise our child in a place of our choosing and not the Army's.
1. Gay Rights - For all civil marriages to be inclusive of gay, lesbian, and trans relationships. They should have the same protection and privileges under the law as hetero relationships.
2. Healthcare: For healthcare reform / the extension of the Affordable Care Act, and further, to protect the healthcare rights of women. We should have all options available to us with regards to reproductive health.
3. Education Reform: For education reform, taking into account the effect of poverty on education and moving away from a standardized testing-based education system.
Gay rights
Women's rights
Economic overhaul
1. Our country being less powerful, prosperous, and safe than we ever have been in history.
There are far more important, serious things to worry about right now other than social issues. Not to discredit the question.
1. Healthcare is not a privilege - it's a right. Everyone should have access to affordable healthcare.
2. LGBTQIA rights. Every consenting adult should have the right to marry who they choose and reap the same benefits that hetero couples receive.
3. Military spending should be cut back.
4. No more skittles for seniors.
Less Prosperous- the bad economy. Some people wonder if it's really still that bad or if maybe it's slowly getting better. They try to find statistics and hard facts. I think the answer is a little more obvious. Do you know people who still can't find jobs, that they're qualified for or at all? Is your house worth less than it used to be? Your overall wealth? Have you seen businesses continue to fail and close? How are your gas prices where you live? My answer is the economy is not better.
Less powerful- I equate the extreme national debt as a loss in power and any sort of leverage worldwide. That can't be good for anyone, in America I mean.
Less safe- Lowering the military readiness for war and preparedness of defense in general. Combined with lowering nuclear weapons (availability) drastically in our country while others continually grow theirs, (Iran among others) makes me feel less safe. Especially because a lot of other countries in this world hate America, which has been quite apparent as of late. If something were to happen, I want to know we are still the strongest military in the world. It seems like the desire for peace, which everyone should want of course, is overpowering the need to protect ourselves and that puts us at risk unfortunately. Emotion often trumps logic.
I wonder why?
Did you know that if the United States cut its military budget in HALF, it would still be bigger than China and Russia's militaries combined?
i've heard this before. what does it mean?
In response to I wonder why, assuming that comment wasn't rhetorical.
Making ourselves weak is not going to make them stop hating us. Its going to make us vulnerable. You think those protestors in the middle east are ever going to change their minds about America? People or countries like that? The ones who burned American flags and murdered Americans? Look at all we try to do to help other countries, both the government and individual Americans on their own. We've given other countries millions of dollars in foreign aid. Yes it is good to do good in the world and try to help others, but it is not good to compromise your own safety. The people who view their own country as being the bad guys, that is unfortunate.
Americans cant find work, are getting killed by terrorists, and were 16 trillion in debt. Our country is not in a good place, and I have no faith whatsoever that the person who has been workng on it the last four years will find a solution in the next. We have already been weakening ourselves, looks like they still hate us.
I am curious about the "them hating us topic". I feel like Obama has taken a level headed, stern approach. He has NEVER once apologized for anything, and yet however, they still "hate us". Many republicans have said he is too nice, too fair.
What approach are they wanting? Would being a Billy Bad Azz, and bombing people, cutting off aide entirely have them "hate" us less? They have serious weapons of mass destruction, do we really want to have a war with them?
I feel less safe with someone that wants to go hard and start mess that does not need to be started. I think Obama is being the better Leader by chilling everybody out scolding people who need to be scolded but keeping the whole situation from not blowing up more than it is.
Thoughts?
I can't speak for anyone but myself regarding republicans. I dont think he has done horribly, and he truly believes he's doing whats best and what is right, but I think the other candidate can do a more professional and better job at handling foreign affairs overall. We should be respectful to other countries, but sometimes trying to be "nice" is a wasted effort because terrorists minds will never be changed. Today we are seeming more vulnerable, and that is what I do not like. And their hatred of America is a deep routed thing; it's not all just because of who our president is. And at the same time there are many people in other countries who don't feel like that towards us. No one should go bombing anyone ever without reason. But we should be prepared if something were to ever happen, like a major terrorist attack on the U.S. again. My point is the rest of the world is always going to be progressing their own militaries/weapons, and are always ultimately going to have their own interest as priority. So there is no reason why we shouldn't do the same. There is a difference between being a bully and starting things, and having great defense while trying to play "fair" as long as it doesn't compromise our safety. We cannot lose our defense for a goal of complete utter peace between all, because that's not realistic sadly. We are the only variable we can control. Not any other country.
I don't want to have a war with them. But what if they want one? Then what? I'll be glad we have the resources we do, and I want to keep those strong. What if the only thing ever stopping the middle east from majorly attacking us and/or declaring war is knowing that we will always win?
And foreign aid is good if it is effective. But I know a lot of people in our country could use aid as well, so it's hard to agree with giving loads of money to countries who are attacking us and hating us. But it is more complicated than that, so blanket statements such as those are rather ineffective.
Do you feel like cutting back defense spending means that the government will stop progressing our military and weapons? Not trying to be snarky, but I have not heard of this happening.
edit for my horrible spelling, due to half my keys missing from my laptop.
...is confused as to what countries are 'attacking us' and 'hating us.' Seriously, dumb it down a little more, eh? There is a huge difference between radical fringe groups and a legit threat from a foreign government sanctioning and carrying out an attack on the United States- which would never happen due to assorted concerns, be them financial, pragmatic (Israel and their nukes are awfully close to a lot of these countries you seem to refer to), or geographic (a big ocean on either side does make the US a pretty daunting target for an overseas power... unless Canada is one of the countries trying to do us in...?).
Seriously- the middle east won't even dare touch Israel these days- why? Because Israel a) has nukes (and unlike the rest of the world, is probably not so afraid to use them), b) has consistently kicked the a$$ of anyone who tried before and c) has U.S. backing, and we have more than shown what can happen to a leader who doesn't make us happy (remember Saddam?). In fact, ravaging Iraq is what finally convinced Qaddhafi to knock off his nuclear aspirations- and we still supported his overthrow and the revolution that eventually killed him last year. That was hardly the nice and diplomatic thing to do. Tsk, tsk, Barry.
The US is cutting spending and downsizing the military- because we aren't fighting 2 full on wars anymore. Would having a larger military and more nukes have miraculously stopped the 9/11 attacks from happening 11 years ago? No. That was a colossal intelligence fail primarily. Also, we're still using drones consistently in Pakistan (a nuclear power that somehow hasn't nuked us- oh, there are also big elements within the military and intelligence who supported al Qaeda, but we don't talk about that because we needed them to get into Afghanistan) and killing civilians while we're at it- but no, we're being too 'nice.'
But yes, I'm sure Romney, when he isn't insulting the British, trying to declare war on Russia, and letting Bibi talk him into starting another 'preemptive war,' will have a firm and professional grasp on global nuances as president.
I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. This is exactly what is happening. I have not read any article or seen anything on tv about cutting spending and not maintaining a high level of safety. Why would any leader do that at this time? This is simply not true.
Why would he do that? That's what the hell I want to know! It's disturbing really. Lowering our nuclear weapons from 1500 down to 500. How is that safer for us? Telling Russia he'll have more flexibility in his second term when he thinks the mic is off? I don't know everything; there is just SO much information floating around out there and so many biased opinions. You can only take all the information you're personally exposed to and form your opinion from there. I hope you are right though.
Morita, it comes down to a lack of subtlety.
-nuclear weapons do not feature into our self-defense save as a deterrent. We did not retaliate against al Qaeda and the Tailban by nuking Kabul and Kandahar. We don't sell out innocent civilians quite like we used to (don't get me wrong, we're still willing to get our hands dirty, but not like we were during WWII).
-if we did need nuclear weapons, we have the technology for missile range to strike anywhere in the world. It's not like all of our warheads are in DC or something.
-if we ever found ourselves in a position where we needed and deployed 500 nuclear weapons, let alone some thousands, the world order as we know it would be over. Nobody wins in a nuclear war.
(edit: i.e., it's fear-mongering, plain and simple)
1. Gay Rights - I support gay rights strongly
2. Unemployment - Jobs matter more than short term deficits or giving tax breaks to rich people
3. Foreign Policy - America is not the World's Police. Admittedly I'm frustrated by the situation in Syria, but I prefer working with the UN and other nations rather than acting as a rogue cowboy. Bring American Defense spending to levels similar to other nations as a % of GDP and reduce American bases overseas to Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home.
What in the mother loving F are we gonna do with 1500 nuclear weapons?!?
To the original topic:
1. Healthcare
2. Women's rights
3. Economic repair.
To the nuclear weapons discussion: We don't need 500 nuclear weapons. We don't need 100 nuclear weapons. We probably don't even need 10 nuclear weapons. Once that can of worms is open, we can kiss this planet goodbye.
This country needs to repair itself from the inside. F'uck what other countries think about us. F'uck what our world reputation is. Our place in the international stage will mean nothing if we don't get it together.
This country, with all of it's problems, is blessed right now. Spain is hurting. They have 50% unemployment amongst young people. Spanish citizens find themselves having to dumpster dive to find enough food to eat. Their government programs have long since been exhausted.
If we don't start working on ourselves, that is where we'll end up.
/fear mongering
Word. Compared to others in the world, we have it good. Let's use what we've seen other countries going through as a cautionary tale and not follow the same path.