Problems in our country that need to be dealt with?

that was said as a "matter of fact". here's some help.

 

I'm amazed by the wide gap in political and social ideas on this thread.

Truly amazing...

 

Wow. That's about all I can say. Well, I'll say this... there are posts in this thread that I am going to print several copies of. My dog does his business in the backyard, and I need something to pick it up. Gotta keep the yard clean.



Keep D&D Civil!!

 

Delete. I'm not going there.

 

Puhleeezee...

My posts are worth lining birdcages with not picking up doggy poo.

 

My list:

1. Education

Thank you.

Seriously, I believe that if you improve education standards and access accross the board everything else will fall in line. Or, at least, fall in line more rapidly (and "more better"). It would involve scrapping our public school system, though, in order to build something better. That would be hard and political suicide.

And Rod Paige must be jettisoned into space. He can be the first member of the penal/waste disposal colony on the moon.

 

It's interesting that the anti-gay crowd spouts a lot of uninformed opinions and ignores the logical conundrums and rational arguments of the "liberals".

Oh wait, it's not interesting, it's maddening.

Why should something need to be natural to be ok? Is wearing clothes rational? What an incredibly f*cking stupid argument.

 

Here is my list in particular order

1. The deficit

2. Education

3. The environment

4. Bringing integrity and personal accountability back to our government

5. Gay Marriage must be legal. In the past many Christians were against marriage between different races, because it wasn't natural, against the bible, a bad example for children, etc. Most of the people who espoused that view are now embarrassed they did so. As a christian I would like our religion to spare itself the embarrassment and support this freedom now. Abolishing state recognized marriage altogether would make things equal, though it isn't my choice of how to handle it, and it brings up a whole other mess of issues to deal with.

 

If it is a choice that people make. I will ask you as I have asked others. At what point did you choose to like women?

I never made the choice to like women, it happened 100% naturally for me. It never occurred to me that being with other males even existed, until I learned about it later.

Therefore since I know I didn't make a choice, I don't believe that it is a choice. But since you believe that it is a choice between being straight or being gay, at what point did you choose to like the opposite sex?

 

What is the real root of the problems in America?

We were once a government of, by and for the people.

So the buck stops with you and I.

Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I AM THE PROBLEM!

We have the country we deserve. Hope everyone is happy.

The wealthy bankers and industrialists that control the economy and the politicians that obey their commands all have power because we don't know enough or care enough to preserve a Constitutional Republic.

We are sitting on 13 trillion $$$$ of debt. It is growing now at the rate of 1/2 trillion annually. Our industry is gone and jobs are outsourcing at record pace-we consume, consume, consume and individual savings are at historic lows. The real estate bubble is at the point of blowing apart, the moral strength of the nation eroded long ago, and we are fighting wars we can't aford to wage and we are clueless to what will happen in the next 3-5 years.

No matter what political, religious or philisophical view you take of America join me in the world of reality or pessimism which ever view you want to lable this take.

My joy comes from Jesus Christ. My hope is in heaven.
And this is not heaven.

 

There are many sexual deviances. There always have been. The major argument on the pro-homosexuality side has always been consent. No offense, but there was also a time where a consenting 10 yr. old could marry a 40 yr. old.

But I guess now, we have reached the utopia of knowledge and know exactly what is right and what is wrongin terms of sexual behavior.

Poppycock.

There are shades of gray to every argument. Please don't try and paint it like it's black and white.

 

The US government is by the special interests, for the special interests. Pork bills rule!

 

Damn rhester, so much pessimism, not good for your health man

I understand where you're coming from...

 

Agreed. All people who disagree with gay marriages because they are not 'natural', please stop driving cars, watching tv, eating processed foods, GOING ON CLUTCHFANS (a.k.a. the INTERNET) because all those things are not 'natural'....

Just admit you don't like gays instead of trying to rationalize it, it'll save you time.

 

I am not talking about all forms of deviation from the norms or not. I am talking specifically about homosexual marriage equal rights and the arguments put forth against such marriages.

I pointed out specific arguments that were used to try and prevent interracial marriages. I also pointed that now places and churches that made those arguments are embarrased about it. I would like to skip the embarrassment and just endorse equal rights right now.

For the record I am not aware of a time in history when a consenting 10 year old could marry a 40 year old. I am aware that betrothals were at one time arranged by families, and acceptable in those times. But consent of the individuals involved often had little to do with it. I am always willing to learn if you have knowledge where consenting 10 year olds were allowed to marry 40 year olds.

To bring that up is strange. I would think that only helps bolster the case for allowing homosexual marriage. Societies path toward enlightenment has progressed far from the days of arranged marriages between 10 year olds and 40 year olds. I would hope it continues to evolve to a time when we don't have one group of adults telling another group of consenting adults that they have to live by a set of rules that only one group believes in.

As evidence that there isn't any harm in homosexual marriage I present to you the states that recognize such marriage. Heterosexual marriages haven't been damaged, babies are still being born, and the only difference is that freedoms have increased, which is a good thing.

As for the whole making babies argument it is ridiculous. The idea that not having gay marriage might force a gay man to marry a woman and have children seems like a horrible thing that would make the man, woman, and possibly the children incredibly unhappy. In addition hetero couples who are beyond child bearing years, or have no desire to have children are free to marry all the time.

 

A problem with your list is that "education" actually consists of hundreds of problems, rather than one single problem. Problems include:

1- Poorly trained teachers (see #2)
2- Low pay for teachers
3- Uneducated parents and/or bad parents
4- Overworked/busy parents
5- Bad children/troublemakers
6- Television
7- Movies
8- Media
9- School system
10- etc.

Can you really solve all these problems? and the many more that aren't listed?

 

Actually, Jerry Lee Lewis' bride was 13, and that was less than 50 years ago. Surely you can't be serious by not knowing this used to happen in the past.

I brought that up because I'm tired of the self-righteous, pompous arrogance of the pro-homosexual stance. Frankly, I'm tired of a lot of self-righteousness on both sides of the pond.

Who's to say how people will look back on this era? They could just as easily look back at us and say "what in the hell was up with all of the deviant sex?" Who knows?

I've probably been to more gay-friendly clubs than 90% of this board. They don't bother me in the least. But the choice they made still has it's warts.

Look. I like to drink. A lot of people would say that it's not my fault that I drink as much as I do. I was genetically pre-disposed to do it.

You know what? My consequences become my own. I'm still at fault for what occurs. It's my choice to follow that course, or stay on the straight and narrow.

 

Understood, but I reply in this manner:
First, this thread wasn't about problems you want to solve, it was just what we each think are major problems. Education is first on my list. I further admitted that it is a huge issue and is basically impractical on a political level. Your 1, 2, 3, 5, & 9 are all basically related. The others deal mostly with home life. Obviously, the goal would be for that to improve over time with each better educated generation.

In any event, this goes beyond just practical issues of educational administration, but also the culture of education in this country.

If we want to have a real policy discussion that is another matter.

 

Jerry Lee Lewis' bride wasn't 10, and he had to take her across a state line to marry which was a crime in itself. So I wouldn't exactly call that acceptable, and when their marriage and her age became known, it was widely looked down and not accepted.

Sorry if you find thinking that homosexuals should be allowed the same rights as hetero-sexuals to be self righteous, but I just see it as a struggle for equality. Or as Kinky says 'They should be entitled to be as miserable as the rest of us.' I see a direct parallel made between the arguments against couples of different races being allowed to marry and homosexuals being allowed to marry. Already places like Mass. which have had gay marriage have had a change on their attitudes towards it. After having lived with it, many who were opposed to it aren't now. They include politicians on both sides of the aisle. In recent elections every candidate who was opposed to gay marriage there lost.

Like I said equality is the most important thing. I also mentioned that abolishing state recognized marriages altogether was also equal, but opened up another batch of problems, so I didn't think that was the best solution. Giving all people the same rights regarding marriage does seem like a stand for equality, but not really self-righteous.

 

I respectfully disagree. I feel there are consequences for every action; and rightfully so. We're laizze faire enough in our society, as it is.

Homosexuals have every right possible. Wanting to marry is like a monk wanting to marry. You knew what you gave up when you made that choice!

The main reason they want it is that they want us to feel they are just like every other persecuted race. They, whole-heartedly, are not.