(no subject)
Apr. 24th, 2004 02:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stevenehrbarSwiped from Thorkell:
What are your views on....
Abortion?:
Nuanced.
The clearest dividing line I can see on when something becomes a human life is conception, so I'm opposed to active measured to terminate embryos and fetuses. This does not mean I am opposed to ending pregnancies, however; merely that the artificial termination of a pregnancy should be associated with the same measures to save the life of the baby as would be associated with a birth.
And yes, that will be expensive and difficult. But I can see no logical justification for the current situation, where a being 24 weeks after conception can be killed if it's in a womb, but not if it is outside the womb.
Your womb, your choice as to whether it is occupied, sure. Its life, not your choice as to whether it's terminated.
Death Penalty?:
Yes. I have a long theory about the nature of justice. But what it boils down to is, committing murder consitutes a waiver of one's right to not be killed, on the grounds that everyone has equal rights. You believe that your victim didn't have a right to not be killed, so you obviously believe that you don't have a right to not be killed.
Note killing someone who has waived their right to not be killed isn't murder, whether they waive it in a document to their doctor in a request for euthanaesia, or by the method of demonstrating they don't believe in the right by committing murder.
Prostitution?:
Your body, your (bad) choice. If you're being forced, that's slavery like any other, and your pimp should be put to forced labor, of a sexual nature if the state so desires.
Alcohol?:
Your body, your choice. (Moderation is good).
Marijuana?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
Other drugs?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
Gay marriage?:
Do whatever you like in your own churches. If you want government recognition, show me the public purpose your marriage serves (whether you're marrying somebody of the opposite or same sex, same or different species, living or dead, organic or inorganic).
Illegal immigrants?:
I agree that the immigration laws in the US need reforms. But some must exist as a practical matter given the current state of the world, and I don't agree the current ones are bad enough to justify ignoring them.
Smoking?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
Drunk driving?:
Reckless endangerment. Prison (a foerfeiture of a period of your life) for risking those of the people around you. Should only be set to levels that actually cause endangerment; the prohibitionists at MADD are trying to lower levels to .08 and .05 in various places, which is further than shows any statistically significant risk (.08) or even plausible risk (.05) to other drivers.
Cloning?:
Just an oddbal form of in-vitro fertilization . . .when the deformity rate is down, go ahead.
Racism?:
Stupid.
Premarital sex?:
What's the first adjective?
Religion?:
Eh.
The war in Iraq?:
A good idea, executed well enough so far. We won't get a perfect democracy, but if we can get even a Jordanian-type regime, it'll have been worth it. Tens of thousands not killed in the last year may not thank us, but it was still the right thing.
Bush?:
Not ideal. A lot smarter than he gets credit for.
Downloading music?:
Um? Okay, just like buying CDs or listening to radio. Now, copyright violations, not fine, but that's a separate issue from merely downloading as a distribution channel.
The legal drinking age?:
For the U.S., 18. If you can join the Army, vote, get married, and be tried as an adult, all without permission, nobody has any buisness telling you you can't drink. Liddy Dole, burn in hell.
Porn?:
I like it.
Suicide?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
What are your views on....
Abortion?:
Nuanced.
The clearest dividing line I can see on when something becomes a human life is conception, so I'm opposed to active measured to terminate embryos and fetuses. This does not mean I am opposed to ending pregnancies, however; merely that the artificial termination of a pregnancy should be associated with the same measures to save the life of the baby as would be associated with a birth.
And yes, that will be expensive and difficult. But I can see no logical justification for the current situation, where a being 24 weeks after conception can be killed if it's in a womb, but not if it is outside the womb.
Your womb, your choice as to whether it is occupied, sure. Its life, not your choice as to whether it's terminated.
Death Penalty?:
Yes. I have a long theory about the nature of justice. But what it boils down to is, committing murder consitutes a waiver of one's right to not be killed, on the grounds that everyone has equal rights. You believe that your victim didn't have a right to not be killed, so you obviously believe that you don't have a right to not be killed.
Note killing someone who has waived their right to not be killed isn't murder, whether they waive it in a document to their doctor in a request for euthanaesia, or by the method of demonstrating they don't believe in the right by committing murder.
Prostitution?:
Your body, your (bad) choice. If you're being forced, that's slavery like any other, and your pimp should be put to forced labor, of a sexual nature if the state so desires.
Alcohol?:
Your body, your choice. (Moderation is good).
Marijuana?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
Other drugs?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
Gay marriage?:
Do whatever you like in your own churches. If you want government recognition, show me the public purpose your marriage serves (whether you're marrying somebody of the opposite or same sex, same or different species, living or dead, organic or inorganic).
Illegal immigrants?:
I agree that the immigration laws in the US need reforms. But some must exist as a practical matter given the current state of the world, and I don't agree the current ones are bad enough to justify ignoring them.
Smoking?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
Drunk driving?:
Reckless endangerment. Prison (a foerfeiture of a period of your life) for risking those of the people around you. Should only be set to levels that actually cause endangerment; the prohibitionists at MADD are trying to lower levels to .08 and .05 in various places, which is further than shows any statistically significant risk (.08) or even plausible risk (.05) to other drivers.
Cloning?:
Just an oddbal form of in-vitro fertilization . . .when the deformity rate is down, go ahead.
Racism?:
Stupid.
Premarital sex?:
What's the first adjective?
Religion?:
Eh.
The war in Iraq?:
A good idea, executed well enough so far. We won't get a perfect democracy, but if we can get even a Jordanian-type regime, it'll have been worth it. Tens of thousands not killed in the last year may not thank us, but it was still the right thing.
Bush?:
Not ideal. A lot smarter than he gets credit for.
Downloading music?:
Um? Okay, just like buying CDs or listening to radio. Now, copyright violations, not fine, but that's a separate issue from merely downloading as a distribution channel.
The legal drinking age?:
For the U.S., 18. If you can join the Army, vote, get married, and be tried as an adult, all without permission, nobody has any buisness telling you you can't drink. Liddy Dole, burn in hell.
Porn?:
I like it.
Suicide?:
Your body, your (bad) choice.
