"The Controversial Survey" meme
[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
I guess?
[02] Would you do meth if it was legalized?
No. I usually say I'll try anything once, but meth and heroin don't qualify.
[03] Abortion: for or against it?
I'm generally against abortions, especially late term, but always very much for a woman's right to choose. I most strongly support comprehensive sex education and the availability of contraceptive measures. I feel that it fights a cause more than a symptom.
[04] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
There have been female leaders in other countries already and the world hasn't "failed." But I guess in reference to the U.S., no. Even with Sarah Palin, whom I think would be disastrous for the U.S., I don't think the world would "fail."
[05] Do you believe in the death penalty?
Not really. I much prefer life without parole. I think that criminals indisputably guilty of murder, especially a multiple murder, serving life sentences should have the option after multiple decades of incarceration to have a painless suicide administered by the state. Especially if court-ordered psychiatrists determine there is nothing more to be learned from the case. I'm starting to wonder if the collective "controversy" of my answers is eventually going to add up to some kind of beating from anyone reading this...
[06] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
Well, it would've made things easier, especially when I was smoking much more of it (A LOT in my freshman year of college.) But I still support legalization today. I do believe in some age and availability limits, just like alcohol and cigarettes. Not specifically for health reasons, but especially because if I had an unrestricted supply, I don't know how I would have graduated from high school.
[07] Are you for or against premarital sex?
I mean, I'm not going to force anyone to have premarital sex if they don't want to...but nobody I've ever had sex with was married and I've never been either, so I guess that in practice I'm for it.
[08] Do you believe in God?
Depends on your definition of God. With regard to most of the "standard" definitions, no.
[09] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
Of course. I did have a fiery argument recently with a friend because I also advocate action on civil unions NOW. I think that the 'all or nothing at all' attitude that some gay marriage advocates take is a bit sanctimonious considering that, for example, hospitals are denying last visits as we speak. Is it fair to tell couples to suffer while we wait for America to be ready for the whole package, even when America is ready to grant some fundamental rights now?
[10] Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?
Yes, because they should be allowed to move legally so that they can work legitimately, pay taxes and enjoy public services just like the rest of us. I don't think that moving illegally under the current system is necessarily appropriate civil disobedience, although I think that the current system should certainly be rectified.
[11] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
This is tough. I'll just say that if I were her, I wouldn't keep the baby, because the only way I would have become pregnant would have been non-consensual. I don't think that twelve year olds should be having full-blown sexual intercourse in the first place. There are so many non-pregnancy-threatening sexual activities that worked fine for me until I was sixteen.
[12] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
Probably, but with restrictions - days/hours at which teens are allowed to buy alcohol, limited quantity of purchases, and I would say that we limit it to beer/wine/etc. until age twenty one. I think a graduated licensing kind of system would be good. Breathalyzer activated ignitions on cars would be nice also. I don't know, I have mixed feelings on the issue. Would I trust myself and most of my friends to drink responsibly at eighteen? Yes. Would I trust some of the kids I knew? No.
[13] Should the war in Iraq be called off?
The war? Yes. The peace-keeping mission we're currently engaged in (and that we created the necessity for), well, not yet. Should we be phasing ourselves out and turning responsibility over to the Iraqi government? Yes.
[14] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
No. Wait, do I agree that it is illegal? Anyway, it shouldn't be illegal, although I think that there should be significant legal restrictions.
[15] Do you believe in spanking your children?
I think I'll have to wait until I have children (if I ever do) to answer that question. My instinct tells me it should be a last resort. I was spanked a few times, and I mostly deserved it.
[16] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Sure. I don't think that pageantry makes you a patriot. Caring for the state of your country, the people who support it and thus receive its support - that makes you a patriot. If the richest 1% were paying, I'd burn several flags for several million dollars and donate the proceeds to support hard-working Americans that the current administration is willfully neglecting. I wouldn't burn down a fire/police station or VA office for any amount of money. I wouldn't burn a living human being for any amount of money either. And there are plenty of people who would tell you that they wouldn't burn an American flag for any amount of money, but have supported policies by which the destruction of thousands if not millions of innocent civilians worldwide has occurred. Many of these people also supposedly believe that "thou shalt not kill." So I'm sorry if seeing a flag burn is offensive or hurtful to anyone, but I suggest that we move beyond sanctifying symbols and actually care for our country. I am sure that this belief would get my ass kicked in some parts, but I stand by it.
[17] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
Obama, and by a considerable margin.
[18] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
You know, I guess not. I only worry that I haven't been clear enough in any answer that somebody will be able to infer something incorrect about my beliefs.