What Political Party are you?

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

I agree with everything MR. 5.0 said.

There will always be arguing between politicians, that's how it works. Our country's politics are based on compromise basically which is why the third parties don't get elected - but still are important.
Also, the candidates who are extreme won't get elected either because they must show that they are moderate yet still retain conservative or liberal qualities.

Bush seems to be a very good President so far, despite all the early ridicule because he wasn't the best at speeches in public.

Later

[Mustangbelle306]

Republican here.

[Crazy Horse GT]

O.K. Mr. 5.0, I guess you got me.

Only about 4 people on this site know this, but here it is:

I have Gulf War Syndrome.
All I get from VA is a bill for $50.00 every time I go there.
They don't want to talk to me about anything, except i smoke. No not that stuff , but,they dont want to talk or help me with anything else. Yes, I'm p.o.'ed at that - especially when I hear; "Oh, let's take care of our vet's, Oh let's remember our vet's!

I have been to 6 funeral's - so far - of my brother's-in-arms in Iraq. YES - I'm a disappointed American.

Sorry for the vent.

I signed the paper's but should I have to pay money 11 year's later? At least the Republicans know we need a stong military, I agree.
Sorry, I served my country but feel now as though I was a freaking lab rat. Geez!

I apologize, but I just don't feel like a big flag waver anymore.

Mr. 5.0 I'm not flaming you - don't take it that way - but the way I feel is...you remember CCR, the song, Fortunate Son? That's me.

[SilverPoet]

I would say independent but that always gets a bad rap. Frankly I think that the system we have now doesn't represent the people the way it should. I vote for who I like. It doesn't matter if they are democrat, republican or otherwise.

Don't take it the wrong way, but I didn't particularly like any of our choices for President. ::shrug:: But I thought that whole election was a sham, and I'd personally like to see something done about things rather than shoving it under a rug in light of current events going on now. The whole thing was too fishy for me, and I think the electoral college is BS being that we have the technology we do now. If it's going to be the majority, then it should be the REAL majority, IMNSHO.

On a different note I was impressed with how Bush handled things after Sept. 11. Mostly the events immediately after. Proved to me that he can handle things even if I don't personally like him.

Well what can we say...at least our country will have a history book that has a Clinton between two Bush's. Fitting no?

[Hammer]

SilverPoet,
I'm no governmental genius, but there is a HUGE reason that we have an electoral college.... it keeps states like New York and California from running the entire decision making process for our country. Why would a Presidential candidate give a crap about any issue in Kansas as long as he had good ties with New York? our founding fathers understood this dilemma and is a reason why the Senate is comprised of equal representation by state and the House is represented by population. Not a perfect solution, but it works...

Also, you'll only see this dilemma in EXTREMELY close elections, I think this was like maybe the second time that the popular vote was different than the electoral college.

Also, if I remember correctly, The numbers came out to like 50.1% for Gore, 49.9% for Bush. (Sounding like a democrat here Considering that the number of lost votes, miscounted votes, and just plain freaked out votes could have easily made up the count in the popular vote total.... I don't think ANYONE will really ever know the true count. It was just too close considering a country of around 285 million folks....

Just one other thing, I remember seeing a map of the US divided on how the states voted.... It looked like a sea of states for Bush and a few populous states for Gore.... sort of makes me thankful for that TERRIBLE electoral college...

[PKRWUD]

Jim-
I'm in agreement with most of what you said. I haven't smoked pot in many years, and I don't really drink anymore, either (maybe 6 beers in the past 12 months). I still get angry with the way the govt. is handling the "war on drugs". Criminalization is not the answer, and that's been proven. As far as seeing polls, keep in mind that several states have put it up for a vote, and the voters said to legalize it. Polls are opinions, votes become laws. Unfortunately, we are no longer free enough to make our own decisions. Even if a state votes for legalization, the federal government slaps the state in the face and firmly tells them to go stand in the corner for suggesting such a thing. What's the point of having state elections if the federal government is going to overrule what the people voted for? The only reason alcohol is still legal and pot isn't is money, IMHO.

Please remember that I am not advocating the use of drugs. What I am is sick of pouring billions of our tax dollars into a war we are losing, and can not win. If it were legalized, we (the govt.) could tax and regulate it. Pot would bring money in, rather than come out of all of our paychecks for the "war". There are other alternatives. I actually support what has worked in other countries, which is decriminalization. It's not quite legalization, but it's close. It's basically saying that if you can get stoned, and still be a responsible person, go for it. But, if you screw up, we'll arrest you. What in the world is wrong with that?

Take care,
-Chris

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

"All research and succesfull drug policy shows that treatment should be increased and law enforcement decreased while abolishing mandatory minumum sentences" System of a Down.

I just thought i would put that in there. I cant remember what song that is though and i cant go check since im at school. doh!

Later

[Meandog-racing]

Republican. why? 'Cause I'm an active duty Marine. 'Nuff said!

[Mr 5 0]

crazy horse gt:

Marty, you have a perfect right to both disagree with me - or anyone else here - and to express your opinion. No need to apologize for anything you've posted.

I sympathize with your medical problems resulting from your military service and I agree that you - and the other Gulf War vets - have been treated poorly. I understand your frustration with the government and especially the VA.
I suggest that you give the Bush Administration a chance to do the right thing for vets. We're coming off of eight years of a military-hating administration that cut defense budgets to the bone and it takes time to increase those budgets - as Bush is doing - and for the money to actually get to the the military, including the vets. Hopefully, this will happen soon and things will improve at the VA hospitals and for Gulf War vets like yourself, suffering with Gulf War Syndrome.

Marty, I know you realize that we live in the best country in the world in terms of freedom and opportunity.
Americas faults - and we have plenty - don't come close to equating to it's positive aspects.
You may not desire to 'wave the flag anymore' - and I can understand that based on your VA experiences - but I still wave that flag for the concept of liberty and the freedom it represents, not for the federal bureaucracy , a political party or a politician.


Chris:

I agree that the War on Drugs is an abject failure and many lives have been ruined due to this misguided attempt to stop drug use, especially among the younger members of our society. The War on Drugs has to end, soon.

Decriminalization is one way to go but the nagging problem is that as drugs (unlike alcohol) can be so addictive, so quickly that just allowing pot to be legal but keeping the hard stuff illegal may not work for some people. Like making beer and wine legal but keeping spirits illegal.
Worth considering though.

As for the states not being allowed to decriminalize some drugs; as I understand it, that stems in part from the DEA and FDA and federal laws that supercede state regulations regarding controlled substances.

I think there is real ambivalence in America when it comes to drug laws. We want our freedom to ingest what we decide pleases us and going to prison for smoking a joint is clearly unfair and wrong. However, when it comes to opening the Pandora's Box of legalizing drugs in any meaningful way, a lot of us pull back, as we've seen the total devastation drug use has caused...sometimes in our own families. No, not mine, thank God, but I've seen some good, smart, decent people turn into bums in a few years directly due to drug use. I know a young lady who has stolen from her (poor) family...everything they had to live on that week, gone...so she could buy crack. She leaves a ten-year-old child alone for days, rescued only but a disabled but caring grandmother.

I could go on but you know these stories as well as I do - we've all heard them, seen them on TV. It's tragic.

This is why, when some folks say "I have a right to get high" some of us say, "Go ahead, knock yourself out" but then, we see that the stereotypical middle-class person smoking a joint after dinner in his or her own home, bothering no one, minding their own business, is mostly a myth. Drug use usually has negative consequences at some point, for some people.

So, politicians avoid the subject, not wanting to appear 'pro-drugs' and a lot of people who don't do drugs are not very interested in addressing drug laws that don't affect them directly.

The fact is that we all know that drug use can be dangerous and while I support the right of people to ingest whatever garbage they choose (I drink a lot of coffee) I'm also at a loss as to how we handle legalizing drugs - but only some drugs? How do we deal with addicts? Etc, etc. Tough questions.

I believe that all the talk about 'treatment' belies the fact that drugs are addictive and make problems for users. If they didn't, why would we need all these 'treatment' centers?

It also seems reasonable to suggest that with all the problems alcohol causes (death, injuries, robberies, etc) why do we need more 'legal' intoxicants around to spur some people to commit criminal, maybe deadly acts that they probably wouldn't commit were they not high on drugs at the time. Granted, people will get the drugs illegally, but why hand it to them? Seems illogical to me.

I have serious reservations about the ability of the government - who can't even give us a correct answer to a tax problem when we call the IRS for help - to keep any real controls on harder drugs once that old favorite, marijuana, is made totally legal and readily available at the local government (taxpayer-subsidized, no doubt) 'drug' store. Miracles can happen but I don't see this working out for the best.

I also believe that the citizen or politician that does come up with a workable answer to the 'drug problem' in America and can find a generally constitutional and reasonable way to decriminalize but still control drug use to reasonable levels will be a national hero.

Good luck.

[SilverPoet]

Hammer: I guess I'm baised, I live in a VERY democatic state. Say I liked Bush (I didn't but for the sake of arguement lol) even if I vote for him, MY vote doesn't get heard. I think that sucks. I think the majority should be the true majority, point blank period. People shouldn't have to pay for living in a populous, one party minded state any more than those who live in a state with more people. It isn't really a STATE that has the say in an election, I was under the impression it was the people. Voting is supposed to have a persons opinion heard...even if only in a little way.

As for that crap of an election we will never know who was the true winner and I don't care any more. lol. I think that the democrats drug it out, I think the republicans worked some magic. It's water under the bridge. I'm more concerned with what Bush is doing now, and it isn't horrible..yet. lol

[Crazy Horse GT]

Mr 5.0 - i sincerely apoligize, I was just in a stressed out mood last night.

I do agree America is the best, but we let so many bleeding heart's get their way. Example: Pro-lifer's will kill people at abortion clinic's. That doesn't make sense, not that I'm pro-abortion, but I'm a man so I have no say so in the matter.

Sorry big guy - don't ban me

BTW: I never wanted to post that I have gulf war syn but I guess it's too late now. It suck's but I fight it every day.



chris just admit it you wanna burn a fatty ,hehe

[Dark_5.0]

Chris: Just admit it - you wanna burn a fatty. hehe

LOL

[Hammer]

Hehe...
Yea Silver, I guess I'm a bit biased also. Between the Carter years (ugh...shiver...) and let's-close-every-miltary-base-we-can Clinton, the democratic party has left a distinct smell of rancid leadership in my nostrils.... good economy or not.

I'd be well on my way to military retirement by now if democrat sponsored "Force Reductions" hadn't hit. I'd spent every waking moment of 4 years of my life training and protecting my country in a job I actually loved. Making things work in the cockpit of a Tomcat was a natural extension of being a gearhead as a kid.
Heck, I learned everything from advanced electronic theory to radar guidance and high frequency encoded communication for years just for the chance to jump in that beast and make her perform for those lucky college boys. It was of course MY aircraft, they just flew her for a few hours each day during Desert Storm....

Then one day after over 4 years of study and work, as I was poised to re-enlist, I came to find out that "force reduction" had made my rate\job description over 150% manned. My Master Chief told me I could re-enlist as ANYTHING else except the rate I was already in.... What a waste. I was extremely disollusioned and opted to get out. What was the point?

While I have a great life now flying Cessnas for fun and driving Yellow Jacket in my off time, I can't help but miss standing on the cat-walk watching a Tomcat go to burner on the cat. I can still feel the rumble go through me as the flames reached the Jet Blast Deflector..... What a rush....

I guess my whole point is that while ol' Dubya may not be too quick on the draw, he seems to have a good heart, no hidden agenda, a GREAT cabinet of highly competant individuals, and most importantly knows the difference between right and wrong. He may not be the best President, but in my opinion he's a much better "man" for the job than ol' slick Willy or Gore could ever be...

Just my opinion...

[Crazy Horse GT]

Right on, Hammer! The F-14 rules, in my book.
As I said before; I had 12 years in, but got out due to Clintonism. Thank God BORE didn't win. We hate him here in TN.

[SilverPoet]

I gotcha Hammer. Like I said, I don't agree with lots of stuff in gov't. And I don't have all the answers. And I totally see your side of the opinion and completely agree about the military standpoint.

I love aviation in general, my dad and grandfather were in the Navy, my uncle in the AF, my stepuncle had a purple heart from Korea. I also had a cousin in 'Storm. So there isn't a lack of patriotism here, that's for sure.

Hey, and if ANYONE in this world thinks that the SR (a plane we've had since Vietnam) is the most advanced plane we got...hum...they fail the intellegence test.