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J.Locke777 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 02:14 PM

2008 Presidential Candidates: I haven't really decided yet, but I like McCain/Huckabee for the GOP and Obama for the DNC.

Party: Independent

Abortion: It's a state issue. I am against it personally, but I believe it is up to the woman, so in principle, I'm pro-choice.

Affirmative Action: Affirmative Action is descriminatory. We need to get rid of it.

Alternative Fuels: We have to get off oil. Alternative fuels is a must in order for America to remain a World Power in the 21st century.

Capital Punishment: I'm okay with that. There are some crimes in which the criminals don't deserve to live.

Censorship: There's a lot of different types of censorship. The biggest one is censoring critisizm of the government. I would be against that. But another one is the FCC, I'm okay with it at it's current levels. I don't wanna hear a bunch of profanity or see boobies everytime I turn on the TV.

Cuba: Keep the embargo until their communist government collapses. Communism is dying out. If it doesn't end with Fidel, than it ends with Raul. I expect that after Raul dies, Cuba will become a democracy. When it does, we will begin unrestricted trade with Cuba and boost their economy way above current levels. They will forget about the embargo and their standard of living will increase. They will consider America their best friend once that happens. But, for the time being it is important not to slacken the embargo on Cuba because that could actually end up being counter-active to democracy. It would appear like their communist government has succeeded in improving the economy and restarting trade with Cuba, and could extend the current communist government indefinately. However, I estimate that by this time 2018 (10 years from now), Cuba will be a democracy. And by then, the embargo will be lifted and friendly trade relations can begin.

There is a lot of international pressure and domestic pressure on Cuba to become a democracy very soon. I would not be surprised if Fidel died before the end of the decade, and Raul a year or two after. Once this happens, they will be under enormous pressure by the US, the UN, and the Cuban citizens to reform their government into a democracy and hold free elections. Once they do, and America resumes trade with them, we can expose them to all the US has to offer and boost their economy to levels not seen in nearly 60 years. Then they will be "hooked" on American goods and buisnesses and wonder how they ever did without. I'm not kidding about this: there are masses of resorts and other tourist industries lined up to invest in Cuba as soon as the embargo is lifted. The credit crunch has squeezed the life out of Cuba's current tourism industry because nobody (American's not included...it's illegal) can afford to take a vacation to Cubawith the petrol expenses being what they are. America is their last hope for revitalizing their economy, and as soon as communism dies, then I would be surprised if Democracy does not take it's place.

Current Administration (Bush/Cheney): They suck, but they're a lame-duck administration now. They won't do much more damage. I don't really care about this issue seeing as it's about to be over.

Current Congress: This congress blows. Their approval rating is worse than Bush's. I hope the next go-round is better.

Education: One of the most important issues. Repeal NCLB. It's a failure and takes money away from the schools that need funding the most.

Electoral College: There's still a lot of uninformed voters out there. It should be kept for a little while longer. I was on the plane going from Atlanta to Charelston and I met a woman who said she supported John Edwards. When I asked her why she supported him, she said it was because he looked "well-groomed" and seemed to be a nice man. This woman was around 50 years old, perhaps older. It's pretty sad that in the 21st century, people want to elect the next leader of the free world based on how they look and present themselves. That is why I believe that the Electoral College needs to be maintained a bit longer. In this day and age, there is no excuse for people to be ignorent of political figures, yet some still choose to be.

Flag Burning: Freedom of Expression is protected under the 1st ammendment

Foreign Policy: Diplomacy>Sanctions and embargos>war

Free Trade: I'm all for free trade, I just don't want the US to be getting the short end of the stick and getting ripped off by other countries.

Gay Rights: I don't approve of homosexuality, but that doesn't mean I don't think gays should be kept from marrying the person that they love.

Global Warming: I'm not entirely convinced that Humans are the main source of the problems, It is most likely just natural climate change. However, since there is the chance we are behind this, we must do what we can to be good stewards of this planet and leave it no worse, prefferably better than we found it.

Globalization: I like some parts of this and I'm against other parts.

Gun Control: 2nd ammendment was there to protect the citizens from oppressive governments and to keep the government (and invading countries) in check. If we take away our gun rights, than warrantless wiretaps and internet monitoring will be nothing compared to the loss of civil liberties we could experiance.

Healthcare: Needs reform, but don't even think about socializing it. You think it's expensive now, just wait till big bro is in control of it.

Illegal Immigration: secure BOTH borders. What we have now is harmful to our economy and its effects are already beginning to be felt.

Marijuana Legalization: NO WAY

Media Bias: It's bullshit. Sure, some stations like fox have a conservative bias, while others have a liberal bias, there is ample supply of news sources availble to us here in America. Media bias is no excuse to be "uninformed."

School Prayer: I don't want the government making up some watered down prayer for me. I'd rather just have a moment of silence and people can pray if they want to whichever God they worship

Separation of Church and State: This was implemented to protect the church from being used as a puppet for political leaders. Keep the two entities seperate.

Social Security: Why should I pay into something that I'll most likely never reep the benefits of. Either reform this direlect from the New Deal or get rid of it and save/invest your money the old fashioned way.

Stem Cell Research: All for it as long as we're not destroying life.

The Constitution: Most important political document in the West. It is also the supreme law of the land and any laws made that oppose the constitution (parts of the Patriot Act) need to be nullified.

United Nations: It is too important of an asset for America to leave. For many countries, it is the only way for America to deal with them effectively. Now, I'm against a global state, but that's not even on the UN's agenda and is no threat what-so-ever.

War in Iraq: Going into the war, the United States made a promise to our allies and to Iraq. We told them that after getting rid of Saddam, we would stay and rebuild their nation and its economy. America has a responsibility to rebuild Iraq and it's not going to be easy. The current stragety on rebuilding their economy is going to take about 3 more years. The surge was step 2 (step 1 being the invasion and unseating of the Iraqi government), and it is evidant that the surge is working. The next part is the economy building. That is the phase we are in right now. This is the "long haul" that president Bush warned us about. And if we were to pull out before this was accomplished would spell disaster for our troops and for the good citizens of Iraq. Don't get me wrong, I don't enjoy being in a war that distracts us from our ultamate goal of getting Bin Laden, but I believe we have a duty to Iraq to fix the nation we screwed up.

Welfare: A hold-over from FDR that was supposed to be temporary. Too many people take advantage of welfare. If we do away with it, then they will be forced to get jobs and not live off the government through the taxes that you and I pay.

Wiretapping: Not without a warrant.