The Star Destroyer BBS Political Survey

[General Mung Beans]

A bit Amerocentric I admit.

The Star Destroyer BBS Political Survey

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Pragmatic, internationalist, centre-right neoconservative

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: The Republicans

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: The Conservatives

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: 5

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: Republic of Korea

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: Confucius, John Locke, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, William Gladstone, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, John McCain, William F Buckley, George Will

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: Yes, Iraq is stabilizing now and we can begin to withdraw.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: Yes, until Afghan police and army can handle the Taliban on its own.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: Humanitarian, limited military (ie commando operations).

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: Continued blockade, sanctions, and isolation.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: It is Korean Territory

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: Yes, NATO should be a global alliance pact.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Continued isolation and sanctions but plan in case the government collapses

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Legalise marijuana, make drug dealing a crime punishable by life in prison (in the US), increase security on both sides of the border, and send all help Mexico asks for.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: Yes and a quick strike, no long-term occupation.
What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: Encourage a moderate Palestine state by helping the West Bank while still being stern against Gaza but make sure all of Jerusalem remains Israeli or an alternative would be having Palestine assimilate into Israel including giving all Palestinians Israeli citizenship eventually.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Maybe but the current bill is something I’m opposed to in many ways.

How should taxes be organized?: Roughly like now but reduce taxes on business and shift the burden onto personal incomes

How should the recession be ended?: Continued mix of regulation, strategic stimulus spending, and cutting taxes.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: Not the one passed, it was too large and cumbersome should have been more limited and strategically spent.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: Yes, it seems to have worked.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: For now, due to the recession.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: No and it should be banned for all cases except if the mother’s life is in danger

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Oppose, tolerate, and support respectively.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No except in the sense that “Some religious people do not believe in evolution and believe their creation stories although others have tried to reconcile it.”

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: Mostly warnings.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Available to all above sixteen years of age.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): Only if the students want to, no teacher led ones.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: Yes and for murder, treason, terrorism, and piracy.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: Limited, mostly as is now in the US.


History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Yes

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: Some parts yes.

Was the American Revolution justified?: Yes although a peaceful situation was prefarable

[The Vortex Empire]

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Secular Liberal, in favor of social markets

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: The Democrats, but they're a bunch of spineless wimps, who aren't even liberal.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: I don't know the affiliations of UK parties.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: 6, but that's only because he's good relative to many other Presidents. I wouldn't say we've had a great President since FDR.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: Canada

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: FDR, Winston Churchill

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: No, it's a complete waste of resources and not really a winnable war.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: Limited. I see Afghanistan as justified, but the actual execution of the war is piss-poor. I don't know if victory is possible.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: Humanitarian aid, Some military aid to defend the groups being attacked.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: Continued sanctions, but military action is unwise.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: No real opinion, split it in half.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: NATO is a fine organization, but the Russophobia annoys me. They're not the enemy anymore.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Sanctions

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Legalize and regulate most drugs, the drug traffic will dry right up. Why buy from some dirty street peddler when you can get some 100% pure government regulated stuff?

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: The real cause of this is the lack of a government in Somalia. They can't fish because other countries wiped out the fish stocks, so they turn to piracy. A federal government needs to be established in Somalia.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: This whole situation is a mess. Ideally we never would have moved the Jews into the area in the first place after WWII, but it's too late for that. I think the best way is to divide the country in two, splitting Jerusalem between the two countries.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Hell yes. We desperately need a single payer system, but it's a long way away in the USA's current political climate.

How should taxes be organized?: Progressive taxation. Lower taxes on poor, kick 'em up on the rich.

How should the recession be ended?: Regulate the banks to prevent this recent mess from happening again.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: If it had actually restricted what the companies could spend it on, it would have been alright. However, when the banks can just add it to profits and bonuses, we have a problem.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: Yes, but more restriction

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: Bring it up to $9.00.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: I don't "support abortion." I support a womans right to have control over her own body. Until the fetus has a well developed central nervous system, abortion should be legal, and in fact free.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Gay marriage. Complete legalization.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No. I would like an entire day devoted to explaining why Creationism is bullshit.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: No.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Available to all.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): None sanctioned by school. None of this "moment of silence" nonsense either, complete waste of time.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: Illegal. I don't trust the judicial system not to execute innocent people.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: The current system is fine, but completely ban automatic weapons. No reason to have those.


History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Hell yes.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Yes

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: Not really. I don't have a problem with uplifting primitive societies, but not through military conquest.

Was the American Revolution justified?: No. The British saved our asses in the French and Indian War and wanted a little compensation for it, so we fight them over it. Wasn't it the case that American colonists actually paid LOWER taxes than people in Britain?

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

What do you identify yourself politically as?

Loosely, I categorize myself as a "Goldwater conservative". A sort of socially-liberal libertarian, I guess.

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?

No major party.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?

Unsure.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?

8. Solid job at working within political realities even if that means less-than-ideal solutions, intelligent (good god have we been in dire need of that), with only a few decisions I disapprove of significantly.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?

United Kingdom.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?

Barry Goldwater, Machiavelli (to an extent), Locke, Jefferson, Washington, T Roosevelt, FD Roosevelt, Lincoln, various others.

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?

Not particularly. It was a damned fool's errand from the beginning.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?

Yes.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur?

No opinion either way.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?

No opinion either way.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?

No opinion either way.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should probably stay in the North Atlantic. Its usefulness as a military alliance is rather less than it used to be, and over-extending it may very well render it useless entirely.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?

No opinion.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?

No. The US has done enough meddling.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?

Yes, but curing the symptoms will do little unless the disease is rectified -- lawless anarchy in Somalia. 1993 suggests fixing it probably isn't going to be simple.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?

Fucking Christ on a bloody stick, figure your shit out. You're like two six year olds, except your petulant bullshit gets people killed on a near-daily basis. The US has meddled in this disgusting mire of horseshit long enough and needs to just withdraw from Israel and let the two groups of assholes sort it out themselves.

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?

Fucking Christ on a bloody stick, it's the 21st century. If a "first world" nation cannot provide basic health care to its citizens by some reasonably competent means, it does not deserve to be categorized as such.

How should taxes be organized?

Keep It Simple, Stupid. If one subscribes to the notion that government is inherently inefficient, then shouldn't one take active measures to reduce inefficiency where it is expected? Bracket income tax rates (if you're sitting on 30 billion dollars you can afford to part with a little) and tax whatever else needs taxing, but for the love of god keep it simple.

How should the recession be ended?

Keep on truckin'. Reasonable, conservative measures (i.e., not radical, rapid ones) and things will get back to normal in a few years. Then things will go up for a few years, then come back down, and on and on as these things always have.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?

See above.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?

Tricky. In lieu of a direct answer, I think the disease needs to be fixed before screwing with the symptoms will accomplish much. The United States has no real economy. We are sitting on imaginary money, traded by imaginary means for imaginary purposes using imaginary rules. That's a problem we should fix first instead of worrying about failing industries failing.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?

Yes and no. Yes in that raising it accomplishes nothing in the long run, no in that the state of the US economy means that minimum wage will always be insufficient.

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?:

Yes. The government has no business whatsoever touching this issue beyond the bare minimum in safety/medical regulations.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships

Yes, yes, and yes. The government has no business whatsoever touching this issue beyond the bare minimum in social/legal regulations.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?

Yes... as in "Hey kids! This is how science doesn't work, and here's why." US education, especially science, is in piss poor condition and needs a complete overhaul from the ground-up.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?

No beyond the bare minimum for public safety and technical limitations. Warnings and "time and place" sort of things should be required, but beyond that the government has no business whatsoever telling its citizens what they can and cannot view.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?

Safety/medical concerns, nothing more. Furthermore, it should be distributed and encouraged in many cases.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?)

If it's a private school (and I do mean 100% private; not a penny of government funds) than you can do whatever the hell you want. If even the tiniest portion of the budget is public funding, then there should be no religion one way or the other. If a student wants to pray on his own time, then that's his business, but a government institution should not under any circumstances "respect the establishment of religion".

EDIT: Furthermore, the ridiculous "under God" anti-Communist addition to the silly Pledge recitations should be struck and if it must be recited, then at least do it in its original "godless" form.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?

Tricky. Yes, if there is 100% certainty of guilt for certain severe crimes and the person in question is utterly unable to be rehabilitated. e.g., sociopathic serial killers, mass murderers, fanatical terrorists (domestic or foreign), and so on. Killing someone in the heat of the moment does not constitute complete moral bankruptcy and such a person could still conceivably contribute to society, if rehabilitated.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?

Sane gun control. That means no ridiculous "assault weapons bans" on one side, as well as no rocket launchers and heavy machine guns (a light machine gun is debatable, I think) on the other.

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?

Yes... except we didn't do a good enough job.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?

Unfortunately, yes.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?

"Justified"? In an ethical sense, not really, no. In a more Machiavellian sense? It's what happened, no use getting panties in a twist over it.

Was the American Revolution justified?

Again, ethically? Debatable. Politically, that's the way the winds were blowing. It was more or less inevitable... globe-spanning empires tend to fall apart.

[Illuminatus Primus]

A bit Amerocentric I admit.

The Star Destroyer BBS Political Survey

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Pragmatic, internationalist, centre-right neoconservative

Internationalist, radical, revolutionary (as in a fundamentally changed society, not necessarily violent), democratic, and libertarian, socialist.

In my personal cultural, philosophical, and epistemological opinions I am a very socially libertarian secular humanist and skeptical empiricist, which can tint my politics on specific issues one way or another from the basic line belonging to the above description.

I think the goal of politics ought to be the eventual establishment of a radically and genuinely, participatory democratic, libertarian, and egalitarian society, based on principles of humanism, largely secular, and with respect to the sustainability of both human civilization, human development, and the living world as well.

I'm very skeptical of (but not fundamentally opposed to) Leninism and authoritarian socialism (and especially its pro-Stalin strains; I can maintain some basic political respect for Trotskyists), and while I generally identify morally and philosophically with the libertarian socialist tradition in general, and anarchism more particularly, I'm more of a derivative fellow traveler, and not strictly dogmatic or sectarian on the left. I'm a fundamental anti-reformist, but I don't think most of our societies are ready for anything like revolutionary change, so I'm willing to tolerate it in the limited-term. I like to consider myself skeptical, open-minded, and eclectic. I am also influenced by green politics and ideas, like those of the peakists and theorists of sustainability more generally, including left-derivative stuff like social ecology. However, I am also a techno-progressivist and think humanity needs to escape the shackles of the globe, and think green and sustainability politics is often rife with neo-Luddite and fantastic rural/small town romanticism.

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: The Republicans

Some electorally and politically irrelevant radical socialist sect, probably. Though, no specific group I've ever heard of inspired me to identify with them particular over all others. I don't do well with cults and sects, and I prefer to participate in groups in an opportunistic fashion, as virtually none reflect my politics, as well as an anarchist skepticism for most organizations and parties in general.

I've mostly voted for Democrats, but I could and would vote for Greens, and even some Republicans under extremely constrained circumstances, and it almost certainly be some relatively radical civil or social libertarian pretext.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: The Conservatives

Maybe (but I doubt it) would with some Trotskyist group or faction within the Labour Party, if any still exist (again, probably not, but this is my lame attempt at, at least in the UK context, of coming up with some broadly recognizable answer, rather than repeating the U.S. response), but otherwise hopefully some syndicalist or libertarian socialist sect. Basically I imagine it'd be the same as in the U.S. And of course, my prior-ly noted skepticism toward parties and most organizations still is in effect.

More

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: 5

6.5? Of course, this is really relative to what you think of the U.S. period, and the U.S. political system and history more generally, and therefore "one of the best presidents" is a relative evaluation. I'm responding within that context.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: Republic of Korea

Uh, off the cuff, I guess I could respond with the Scandanavian social democracies. I don't really understand what this question means. What do you mean by "favor"? Think are the most politically ideal? Think they are the most ethically-behaving state? Freest expression? Soundest/most ethical economy? Hottest women? Nicest to visit? What?

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: Confucius, John Locke, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, William Gladstone, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, John McCain, William F Buckley, George Will

Uh...this could be long. Bertrand Russell, John Dewey, Thomas Jefferson, Mikhail Bakunin, Michael Parenti, Karl Marx, Wilhelm von Humboldt, Adam Smith, Richard Dawkins, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Immanuel Kant, Sir Karl Popper, René Descartes, Carole Pateman, George Orwell, Noam Chomsky, Michael Albert. Maybe Lenin and Trotsky, but with great reservations; lets say, derivative influences.

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: Yes, Iraq is stabilizing now and we can begin to withdraw.

Absolutely not. The war was waged for imperial purposes, and the pretext was fraudulent and pushed with the most vulgar of propaganda. Those who support the war have the lives of over a million people who died as a direct result of this fraudulent war on their hands.

The United States and other aligned foreign powers should propose an immediate unilateral withdrawal, and to the best of its ability, consult democratically with the Iraqi people on the means best by which this can be done.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: Yes, until Afghan police and army can handle the Taliban on its own.

Absolutely not. The current government is merely the Mayorship of Kabul, and this is because the government is a foreign imposition alien to the Afghan public and society. Afghan police are often regarded as bad if not worse in corruption and thievery than the domestic warlords (themselves often constructed by American intervention in the 1980s). The U.S. and its allies should unilaterally withdraw in a manner identical with that I described for Iraq, to the best of its ability. U.S. presence increases the likelihood of anti-Western international terrorism, does nearly nothing effective to damage the organic capacity of those forces which wish to carry it out, and persists for the sole purpose of imposing the unpopular and electorally fraudulent regime of a quisling upon the Afghan people and their society. The popular will of the Afghans is against our occupation, and therefore anyone with any commitment to democracy will call for our immediate withdrawal. The Afghans would be better off today if the Great Powers would leave it alone.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: Humanitarian, limited military (ie commando operations).

Only international intervention, and very limited at best. I suspect any intervention would just serve the cynical interests of the Great Powers.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: Continued blockade, sanctions, and isolation.

Political isolation, arguably the sanctions and blockade may only have Cuba-esque (that is, imposed starvation against the population) consequences, but it may be so dire as to not matter. There is no practical alternative to the status quo.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: It is Korean Territory

Insufficient knowledge for a credible response.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: Yes, NATO should be a global alliance pact.

The U.S. lied and spread NATO across the former Eastern Bloc to Russia's doorstep, even admitting former Soviet Socialist Republics. This provocation should cease, and anyone thinking that NATO is broadly considered anything but America writ large is frighteningly naive.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Continued isolation and sanctions but plan in case the government collapses

Ditto as DPRK, but in this case even more so, I question the imposition and ethics of Cuba/90s-Iraq-style responses which historically have only succeeded in attacking the population

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Legalise marijuana, make drug dealing a crime punishable by life in prison (in the US), increase security on both sides of the border, and send all help Mexico asks for.

The U.S. should decriminalize most drugs, legalize marijuana, have an amnesty for certain petty-quantity, non-violent drug crimes, and stop shitting on Mexico and Latin America more generally. The U.S. should re-direct its War on Drugs upon banks that handle drug money, companies that supply chemicals to industrial-scale drug manufacturing in Latin America, and large organized traffickers and violent gangs only. Massive economic and job aid should be provided in American inner cities, and Latin America could use help. Poor farmers need alternative jobs.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: Yes and a quick strike, no long-term occupation.

There is no simple solution to the status quo.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: Encourage a moderate Palestine state by helping the West Bank while still being stern against Gaza but make sure all of Jerusalem remains Israeli or an alternative would be having Palestine assimilate into Israel including giving all Palestinians Israeli citizenship eventually.

Israel should be compelled to accept a fully-sovereign two-state solution with a limited right-of-return for Palestinians on their side of the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem, with internationally guaranteed travel, logistical, and transportation links between the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The Palestinian State must respect international norms of civil rights, democratic process, and human rights. Most settlements aside from those more-or-less contiguous-with-the-1967-border should be evacuated, and their inhabitants resettled with compensation by the Israeli State, or required to abide by the laws and nationality of the State of Palestine. Settlements annexed to Israel must be subject to tit-for-tat concessions in land or resources elsewhere, as arbitrated by an international, bi-partisan tribunal. In other words, fucking impossible.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Maybe but the current bill is something I’m opposed to in many ways.

Universal health care for all, no significant qualifications.

How should taxes be organized?: Roughly like now but reduce taxes on business and shift the burden onto personal incomes

In the interim, France-to-Sweden-type. In the big picture: I don't believe in conventional, Western private property rights.

How should the recession be ended?: Continued mix of regulation, strategic stimulus spending, and cutting taxes.

Greater labor organization and mass movements pushing for public reforms, actually in the public's interest. Probably in the short term one can only hope for new "New Deal" type scenario. Of course, in the long run I favor revolutionary economic reorganization.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: Not the one passed, it was too large and cumbersome should have been more limited and strategically spent.

It was too small, but in isolation these questions are quite meaningless. It was often corporate welfare, and the stimulus question cannot be proposed outside of the "big picture" of systemic economic problems, such as over-financialization, de-regulation, insufficient (small-s) social security, extraordinarily hypertrophic public and private debt due to regressive taxation restructuring, corporate welfare, and financialization of hypertrophic debt.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: Yes, it seems to have worked.

They should be nationalized.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: For now, due to the recession.

It should be increased and supplemented by other things, such as a general guaranteed minimum income (with qualifications). Again, this is largely meaningless outside of systemic economic reform (even in a non-revolutionary, short term social democratic context). One would have to deal with the debt bomb and over-financialization part-and-parcel. This should be part of the new "New Deal" etc.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: No and it should be banned for all cases except if the mother’s life is in danger

Public policy cannot be subject to some citizens' private beliefs in unfalsifiable, unscientific superstitious myths. A board of lawyers, ethicists, moral philosophers, biologists, and medical doctors should draft law on when in what circumstances and by what criteria in the late-term of pregnancy that a fetus is considered to achieve legal personhood. On that basis, purely voluntary abortion should be restricted or permitted, with allowances for the mother's survival in medical risk.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Oppose, tolerate, and support respectively.

Full marriage equality, and the end to state authoritarian social engineering by favoring particular kinds of partnership contracts under law and according to taxation and childrens' issues, etc.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No except in the sense that “Some religious people do not believe in evolution and believe their creation stories although others have tried to reconcile it.”

In World Religions 101.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: Mostly warnings.

No. But I also think the institutions of media should be radically democraticized, and then people will have collective say in what they want, though I think the core issues of social and cultural libertarianism should remain predominant. In the short-term, Europeanize the moralistic censorship, and mainstain U.S. political libertarianism, and create a fully public funded BBC-analogue to fight corporate influence in media, and also open up opportunities for fully competitive democratic and local and alternative media, free from many of the constrains large institutionalized media in general. If Democracy Now! can do the job it does, no reason mass media couldn't incorporate some lessons.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Available to all above sixteen years of age.

Available to all women capable of physically conceiving a child. Targeted investigation and prosecution of child abuse, incest, and statutory rape should be a separate issue from any woman being able to protect herself from unwanted pregnancy and avoid abortions and generally exercise her unalienable right to reproductive self-determination.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): Only if the students want to, no teacher led ones.

The State should offer no support for religious activities whatsoever. It is a private and personally organized matter.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: Yes and for murder, treason, terrorism, and piracy.

The death penalty is generally unethical and should be eliminated. Only in extreme exigencies of the survival of a society and the like is it tolerable to give the State the power of life or death over the person.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: Limited, mostly as is now in the US.

I don't have a thought out political line on this. However, the U.S. gun system is a sop to gun nuts and gun manufacturers without due regard for illegal and unwise proliferation of firearms. However, I do not know if broad prohibition and restriction favored by the anti-gun crowd is advisable on either intrinsic or extrinsic grounds. The legalistic and moral arguments usually offered in favor of inalienable "rights" to firearms are typically absurd on their face. We do not live in a society of public militias to maintain order for the States of the Union.

History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes

Locally, yes, since it resulted in the abolition of slavery. In general I am opposed to state authoritarianism, and philosophically to the state itself.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Yes

No, we should have sued for a negotiated settlement that would have allowed the Emperor to stay since we did that anyway. Although, the atomic attacks are raised to the level of hysterical emotional disproportion thanks to the heritage of the nuclear disarmament crowd, and its really just a drop in the bucket: there were more deadly conventional raids than the atomic attacks, and therefore it must be considered in a greater context.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: Some parts yes.

Almost always not. There's no intrinsic reason why the good things the West had to offer had to be imposed by force, and in the interests of the imperialist.

Was the American Revolution justified?: Yes although a peaceful situation was prefarable

Yes, but with some reservations as to how it ended up. I think its possible the nation could have ended up beginning on a more radically egalitarian, democratic and libertarian basis.

I'm sure I'm going to get flamed and attacked for a lot of this, but whatever. These are my political principles, and I'm comfortable being a radical.

[Knife]

Meh, why not, I'll play.

The Star Destroyer BBS Political Survey

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?:

Fiscal conservative, social liberal.

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?:

Neither, I pick the person I think will do the best job with the current situation.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?:

Haven't a clue.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?:

6.5 He hasn't done much that falls into the category of history changing yet, besides the footnote of being the first black president. He has started a very minor shift to the left, what I voted for him to do, though I'd hoped for a bit more than what is currently been done.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?:

Don't understand the question. Is it 'where would I like to go live if it wasn't the USA'? Probably Canada or the UK.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?:

George Washington and Andrew Jackson. Both made horrible mistakes and bad decisions, but did the best they could with what they had and made good of it. FDR is right up there too.

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?:

No. I supported them 7 years ago, in theory. They've just gone out of their way since then to fuck it up and make it the biggest mess possible. At this point it is unsalvageable and serves nothing but the interests of large military contractors and as a means to kill off young Americans.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?:

No. Like Iraq, I supported it in the beginning but it seems we're more interested in fucking off and killing people than actually hunting down the fuck nuts that attacked us. At this point, I don't see how we can accomplish any sane mission over there and it is better to bring our boys home.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?:

We should look very closely at almost a decade at war with Afghanistan and Iraq before we dive into another hopeless, unsolvable situation in Africa.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?:

Pat South Korea on the back and tell them they've got this, after 60 years. Let em know we will come back and help them if they need it if the North does something stupid. Hell, we'll introduce em to some nice military industrial complex lobbyists for some shiny new toys. Mean while, renegotiate our treaties with Japan to have them able to stabilize the region and while still having mooring and port privileges in Japan for our CVN forces, pull our boys out to our side of the Pacific.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?:

Beats me, have the two come sit down at Camp David and hash it out.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?:

NATO is a 50 year old relic. We, America, should look at our long term interests and renegotiate treaties that better reflect our needs and wants. Who fucking cares about eastern European countries fights with Russia? They aren't the 'enemy' anymore.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?:

Economic aide to boarder regions and help with refugee problems.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?:

Fix the US immigration problem by increasing legal flow of people who want to come either for citizenship or work with a working job program. Let illegal immigrants go into a job program if they wish to stay here, if not deport them. Legalize pot, regulate it like alcohol, tax it and watch a very large chunk of the drug trade dry up. Without illegal drug and human trafficking along the boarder, current violence will evaporate.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?:

Same as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe; military action is meaningless. Who are you going to fight? Either put laws into action for global freight to have security, or have world naval assets saturate the area until new routes can be made around the area.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?:

Carve out a chunk for the Palestinians to have. Not just the desert either. Give foreign aide to both Israel and Palestine that is both equal and under the idea that if one or both of them start shit, we pull the money. Continue to bribe Jordan and Egypt to support both Israel and Palestine.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?:

Abso-fucking-lutely.

How should taxes be organized?:

Consumption tax. Progressive income tax works too.

How should the recession be ended?:

Jobs. The US government should still start a major jobs program by building lots of infrastructure projects across America. Bridges, rail, freeway, water ways, etc...

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?:

Yes and no. It was a cash give away that helped but wasn't large enough nor targeted to what needed to be relieved. Credit is still tight, small business is hurting and jobs are extinct.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?:

*sigh* yes and no. It stank, I didn't like it, but it saved some jobs.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?:

No opinion.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?:

I neither support abortion nor wish to see it ended. It fills a role that needs to be filled; however, I do think it needs to be regulated. Women should be provided the option that abortion represents.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?:

I really don't care what two consenting adults do. Good for them.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?:

Yes, it should be dismantled in a critical thinking class every year so students will see what a bad theory, argument is.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?:

Only for minors.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?:

Yes, for quality.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?):

No. If some kid wants to pray at recess, good for him. But church events should happen at church, not school.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?:

In theory, yes I support the death penalty. Some people are just too dangerous to be kept around society and there just isn't a place to excise them to anymore. In reality, it is uneven and flawed. Much like current US foreign military involvement, I support the idea but they've fucked up the implementation.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?:

I'm ok with banning area weapons and even full automatics. For the rest, I support a list of people who 'shouldn't have guns' as a 'background check' and reasonable rules and laws about safety training.

History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?:

Abso-fucking-lutely. The south pissed all over the US for years before hostilities broke out, then up and up rebelled. They got off easy at the end.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?:

Yes, not the best decision, but best there was at that time with what they had to deal with.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?:

Tricky question; going in and building infrastructure and helping other cultures I'm ok with. Exploiting them, ensurfing them, is wrong.

Was the American Revolution justified?:

Justified denotes right and wrong and I don't see it as either right or wrong except in regards to my feelings of colonization. Britain made a colony that after many years became self sustaining and rather robust and prosperous. Yet it was far enough away, and they were busy enough in other places, they couldn't control it. Neither could any of the other powers of the day. It was only a matter of time before it broke off and became it's own country.

[Einzige]

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Left-libertarian

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: I tend to vote Democratic, but in no way do I consider that part of my political identity.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: Of the main three? The Liberal Democrats.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: Six. Best since Carter, but not 'good' by any means.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: I don't especially 'favour' any countries.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: Max Stirner, Karl Hess, H.L. Mencken, Rudolf Rocker, George McGovern, Robert Taft, Eugene McCarty. Stirner, Mencken, McGovern and Taft are probably my primary influences.

Of our Presidents, I most admire Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge, and Jimmy Carter. Jackson, Wilson, Lyndon Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan have had a negative influence on my political thought.


Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: Absolutely not.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: No.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: No.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: Sanctions.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: It ought to be used as leverage to help ease relations between North and South Korea.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: I agree with The Vortex Empire. Russia is no longer the bear.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Nothing. Let them sort it out.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Legalize with minimal regulation.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: No. Arm any and all ships that are headed that way and keep a U.N. fleet nearby. Other than that, I oppose any more direct intervention.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: Withdraw all American support from Israel, let it straighten itself out otherwise. Could it/would it turn into a humanitarian disaster? Certainly. But it'll happen eventually, and we may as well get it out now.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: If it's organized on a smaller scale - each system administered by the individual states - then certain.

How should taxes be organized?: Minimal taxes on individuals, small business, and worker-owned industries; normal taxes on large corporations.

How should the recession be ended?: Who knows? I'm not an economist.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: No.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: Only if they agreed to heavily curb the power of their unions.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: Yes.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: Not only do I support it, but many laws (such as Oklahoma's new requirement that a mother receive an ultrasound) I find absolutely too restrictive. Abortion is a property rights issue: the mother owns her body and all of the products of that body, of which a fetus is one.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Get the government out of marriage, issue civil unions to all.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: No.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: It shouldn't be. It would be an infringement on the activity of the market.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): No official prayer, no moments of silence, but freedom to pray privately without interrupting class.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: State-sanctioned murder. How could I support small-government and accept that the government has the right to execute its citizenry?

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: End gun control.


History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes, but Reconstruction should have followed Lincoln's original, far more liberal plan.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: No.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: No.

Was the American Revolution justified?: No. I regard it in much the same vein as I do Southern secession.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Was the American Revolution justified?: No. I regard it in much the same vein as I do Southern secession.

I would love to see you justify this. While it is true that some of the economic motives for the Revolution were ... questionable, that is a far cry from an armed insurrection specifically for the right to own slaves. There is plenty of grounds for criticizing the founding fathers, but it is really a stretch to put them on the same level as the fucking Confederate States of America.

EDIT: But from reading the rest of your post I find it difficult to imagine you can justify this. You put Zachary Taylor on the same level as Abraham Lincoln? You must be joking.

[Einzige]

Was the American Revolution justified?: No. I regard it in much the same vein as I do Southern secession.

I would love to see you justify this. While it is true that some of the economic motives for the Revolution were ... questionable, that is a far cry from an armed insurrection specifically for the right to own slaves. There is plenty of grounds for criticizing the founding fathers, but it is really a stretch to put them on the same level as the fucking Confederate States of America.

I'm not questioning their motives; I'm questioning the act itself. England wasn't making life intolerable for the colonists, and the various taxes they complained about did very little to actually harm the average American. While I don't disagree that Southern secession was worse, my argument is that neither are particularly justifiable.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm not questioning their motives; I'm questioning the act itself. England wasn't making life intolerable for the colonists, and the various taxes they complained about did very little to actually harm the average American. While I don't disagree that Southern secession was worse, my argument is that neither are particularly justifiable.

One is completely morally corrupt, the other is vaguely questionable. You yourself said you treat them in the same 'vein.'

[Einzige]

I'm not questioning their motives; I'm questioning the act itself. England wasn't making life intolerable for the colonists, and the various taxes they complained about did very little to actually harm the average American. While I don't disagree that Southern secession was worse, my argument is that neither are particularly justifiable.

One is completely morally corrupt, the other is vaguely questionable. You yourself said you treat them in the same 'vein.'

Not 'vaguely questionable'; the Revolutionaries did something that you yourself would condemn if it were the Tea Partiers doing it, and rightfully so. They deprived loyalist English citizens of their property and their lives. One was certainly morally corrupt, and the other was quite tainted as well. Come down off that high-horse.

[Lord of the Abyss]

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Left wing of no particular philosophy but my own.

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: None. I vote Democrat, but that's just because i utterly loathe the Republicans.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: No idea.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: 5, i guess. I mainly voted for him to keep the Republicans out and didn't expect much else from him.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: I don't favor any country, including my own; I just live here.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: None in particular; I'm not much of a follower.

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: No, I've never supported them in the slightest.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: Not really; I don't think that we are likely to accomplish anything.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: I'm not sure; I just know that America isn't the one to do it. We have an inverse Midas touch. We intervene, we'll make matters worse one way or another.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: About all we can do is what we've been doing for decades, unless we want to see South Korea badly hurt.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: No idea, never thought about it.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: I'm not really sure what the point of it is anymore.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Not much we can do.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Legalize the majority of drugs, under heavy regulation in the case of the worse ones. Research less destructive/addictive variants of the more dangerous drugs, and into curing/preventing addiction. Prohibition doesn't work. Starve them of cash and they'll wither to manageable proportions.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: That does seem to come under the job description of the military.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: They'll have to do it themselves. Basically, they need to collectively decide to stop fighting; the rest is details. Peace tends to break out once both sides look at each other and say "this is stupid"; not before. There really isn't much third parties can do about it, short of conquest and imposing peace at gunpoint; and that only lasts as long as you stay there.

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Yes, we need UHC

How should taxes be organized?: Higher taxes on the wealthy, less regressive taxation.

How should the recession be ended?: I'm not an economist. But rebuilding the infrastructure does sound like a good candidate for a jobs program; it does need to be done, so worst outcome is that even if it fails to end the recession we've rebuilt an infrastructure that needed rebuilding.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: It's better than nothing I suppose.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: In the middle of a recession, yes.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: No.

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: Abortion should be legal, period.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: It should be allowed like any other kind of marriage; CUs are just a variation on "separate but equal" and we all know how that goes.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No, it's stupid and ignorant.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: It should be labeled but not restricted.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Available free of charge to anyone who wants it.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): It's free speech, however stupid it is. But it shouldn't be pushed on anyone.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: I oppose it as a rule. I don't trust the government with that authority. Nor has it used it well.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: Heavily.

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes. They were monstrously evil. In a just world all the former slaveowners would have been hunted down and imprisoned for life or executed/assassinated, even if it took decades to hunt them down; Nazi war criminal style.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Arguably. It was an awful thing to do, but options were limited and the Japanese weren't behaving rationally.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: No, it was barbaric.

Was the American Revolution justified?: Yes.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Max Stirner...H.L. Mencken...Rudolf Rocker

How in the All the Hells could I possibly leave this majesterial trio out? Shit.

And you're a fan of Rocker? Good stuff.

[Einzige]

Max Stirner...H.L. Mencken...Rudolf Rocker

How in the All the Hells could I possibly leave this majesterial trio out? Shit.

And you're a fan of Rocker? Good stuff.

Yessir. I first read Anarchism & Anarcho-Syndicalism when I was probably fourteen, and didn't fully understand it at the time, but it must have made some impact as I've been attracted to it ever since. I'm not so radical as he, but we share a common disposition.

[Metatwaddle]

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Not sure. Left-wing something or other.

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: I normally vote Democratic, but I'm fairly well to the left of them.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: Probably Lib Dems.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: 6ish, I suppose.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: None. If I had to live somewhere else, it would probably be Canada, followed by Australia and/or the UK.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: Politicians include Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln and FDR. Political thinkers and philosophers include John Locke, John Stuart Mill (mostly for the harm principle), John Rawls (why hasn't anyone mentioned him?!), and Peter Singer (for well-formed opinions on politically charged ethical questions). I've also been influenced by a hodgepodge of feminist thinkers, probably starting with Simone de Beauvoir and continuing through the American suffragettes (Elizabeth Cady Stanton etc.) and then various first-, second- and third-wave feminists of the past fifty years. I haven't even read most of them, but I know that their ideas about feminism have gradually trickled down to me.

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: I think it was a mistake to go there in the first place, but it seems to be stabilizing and I think we should withdraw.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: I did when we went in, but it does seem to be a bit of a quagmire now.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitarian, etc,)?: I suspect that some kind of intervention could make the situation better, but I don't know what kind of intervention it should be or who would be best suited to do it.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: No opinion.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: No opinion.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: I'm not sure what its utility is at this point, honestly, but I have no strong opinion and am open to argument.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: I'm not sure if there's anything we can do.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: I like to think legalizing drugs here (yes, even the hard ones that really fuck you up) would go some way toward alleviating things.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: Like Knife said, it does seem to be in the military's job description.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: Much smarter people than me have tried to work out the solution to this and they haven't got it yet. I have no hope of offering something both realistic and satisfactory to most major players, but I am pretty sure a two-state solution is the only thing that can work.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Yes, I think single payer health care would be a good idea.

How should taxes be organized?: I don't begin to think I have the expertise to answer that question.

How should the recession be ended?: See above.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: No opinion

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: No opinion

Is the minimum wage sufficient or not?: It doesn't provide a wage that you can really live on, so... no.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: I don't think it's a good thing, but I think it's ethically permissible and I'd get one if I got pregnant by accident. I think it should be legal at all stages of pregnancy, although I realize this is controversial.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Yes.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No, certainly not in science class. I would like to believe that it could make it into a world religions class safely, but on balance I think that in a lot of the country, having a class about religion would be a recipe for ostracizing nonreligious students who speak up and raise uncomfortable questions, and the class would become a proselytizing session. So it's probably best to avoid it.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: Certainly not publishing. I'm a bit undecided about broadcasting--in my more liberal, idealistic moments I would not like any censorship on broadcasting, but I'm also not a parent. I don't have to deal with my kids seeing violence glorified on TV, or getting ideas about sex that don't include a strong notion of respect for themselves and their partners.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Legally available to everyone who asks for it, regardless of age. I think birth control pills should be covered as part of the single payer health care system I mentioned earlier, and I think condoms should be free (i.e. paid for by the government) in middle and high schools and public universities, at the very least.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): Private prayer is fine; teachers or students leading a class in prayer is not.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: Against, for utilitarian reasons. It hasn't been shown to be a successful deterrent.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: I support any regulation that leads to fewer deaths and injuries, but it's not obvious to me that most gun control regulation does that. (And of course the harm of putting offenders in jail also has to go into the utilitarian calculus.) I'm not much impressed by arguments in favor of gun "rights", but it seems to be something we're stuck with from the 2nd Amendment.


History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Yes, I think.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: I don't know what kind of "parts of it" you mean; I'm sure you could find one colonialist somewhere who wasn't a complete asshole, but for the most part, no, it wasn't justified at all.

Was the American Revolution justified?: I am actually not sure, now that I think about it.

[Vendetta]

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?: Social/Liberal Democrat

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: None

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: Liberal Democrat

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: No strong opinion.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: None in particular, most other European countries have their attractions, Germany's legal system, Sweden/Norway's social systems, etc.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: John Stuart Mill, Karl Popper

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: I opposed the original invasion but believe that we have a responsibility to stabilise the country.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: Yes.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: Humanitarian aid, we can't afford another military adventure.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: Attempt to coax North Korea to negotiation, offer aid for reparations.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: I have not researched the issue and have no opinion.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: NATO is fine as is, but economic power is becoming more significant than military power.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Sanctions on leadership, humanitarian aid for the people.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Decriminalise possession and use of all drugs as in Portugal, legalise marijuana.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: Military attacks on pirates onshore will achieve little.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: A two state solution with two viable states, the removal of settlers from Gaza and the West Bank, and a firm guarantee of equitable water supply and freedom of movement.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Yes, healthcare free at the point of use is a critical public service.

How should taxes be organized?: Progressive taxation with a significant higher band and higher personal allowance than current.

How should the recession be ended?: Encourage smaller business and industry, local supply of goods, as in the Nottingham NHS trust sourcing all food from local farms. Rebuild production industry where possible.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: Largely irrelevant, not American.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: At the expense of their management.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: Here, yes.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: The UK's current law is correct, freely available to 24 weeks with agreement from two doctors, available beyond 24 weeks for cases of medical necessity.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Yes. Both marriage and civil partnership should be available to all couples no matter their gender.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: No. Specific creation stories can be taught in religious education classes as part of comparitive religious study. Intelligent Design is a nonsense which belongs neither in religion or science class.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: Current broadcast watersheds are sufficient, restricting violent/sexual content to later at night allows parents sufficient control.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Available to all.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): No.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: No, miscarriage of justice is too great a risk.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: Extremely limited. A genuine need should be demonstrable.

History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Yes

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: No, the negatives outweigh the positives.

Was the American Revolution justified?: Possibly, though other countries like Canada which gained independence later and more peacefully have demonstrably better social development.

[Rye]

General:

What do you identify yourself politically as?: "Unpredictable Liberal"

What political party in the United States do you identify with the most?: I'd vote democrat, but there's no party that really represents my views.

What political party in the United Kingdom do you identify with the most?: Liberal Democrat

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being "He should be impeached" and 10 being "One of the best Presidents" how would you rate President Barack Obama of the USA so far?: I'd give him a 6, he's not been bad, better than average, I would say, and he's accomplished a few decent things. On the whole though, his willingness to compromise with the right for some long term gain I think is misguided. You can only play the compromise progress game with people who want to play, rather than sabotage you. These problems are mainly down to the GOP though, not Obama as such, though his optimism is naive.

What country other then your home country do you favour the most?: No idea.

What past politicians and political thinkers have influenced you the most?: George Orwell, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Nye Bevan, Friedrich Nietzsche.

Foreign Policy

Do you support the US and Coalition Military Operations in Iraq?: I opposed the original invasion, thinking it was unnecessary and that Bush would fuck it up. I support it in principle, if not application.

Do you support the US/NATO Military Operation in Afghanistan?: Yes.

Do you support any sort of intervention in Darfur (Military, humanitaritan, etc,)?: Humanitarian aid plus a virus that makes people sterile* would make me happy.

What should be done with North Korea on the current nuclear crisis and the Cheonham sinking?: Sterility virus.

What is your opinion of the Dokdo dispute between the Republic of Korea and the Empire of Japan?: I have not researched the issue and have no opinion.

What is your opinion of NATO and should it expand across Europe?: NATO is fine. If more people want in, sure.

What should be done about Zimbabwe?: Sterility virus, humanitarian aid.

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?: Legalise all drugs less risky to their users and bystanders than tobacco and alcohol, grow drugs for domestic consumption, get a new industry, starve the cartels, remove the need of people to go to drug dealers to get their drugs. Provide safe areas for people to use drugs.

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?: Blowing up pirates when they attack is all well and good, but such anarchic areas are breeding grounds for suffering, terror and everything else that threatens society. Blowing up their homes when they have very little to lose in the first place isn't going to do shit. So it's another area for the sterility virus.

What should the solution to Israel/Palestine be?: Two states, greater equality and income distribution. Alternatively, yes, sterility virus.

Economy

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?: Yep.

How should taxes be organized?: Progressive. The people at the top don't need as high a proportion of their wealth to live well as those lower down.

How should the recession be ended?: Legal, taxed drugs industry, international regulation against companies like the banks getting so large they can hold the whole system to ransom. Make all bank bonus culture long term by making all bonuses added to a pension fund tied to long term sustainable success.

Do you support the US Government's Economic Stimulus Plan?: No idea.

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?: I don't know enough to comment, really.

Is the minimum wage sufficent or not?: Here, yes.

Social/Moral

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?: The UK's current law is fine.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?: Yes.

Do you think Creationism or Intelligent Design should or should not be taught in school?: Creationism could be taught in an analytical fashion in either RE or politics classes, to show how religious ideologies affect society, or just to teach what certain people believe.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?: Fine as is, except for the stupid laws against seeing erections and the like.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?: Available to all.

Do you support prayer in schools and if so how much (voluntary or required?): No issues with people praying if they want, so long as there's no coercion or interference with lessons.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?: Capital punishment for the most cruel crimes is acceptable. We do not need people like that.

How much should firearms and other weapons be regulated?: I'm not actually that opposed to people owning them if they can show a need and an ability to use them responsibly.

History

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?: Yes.

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?: Hiroshima - yes, Nagasaki - no.

Was colonialism or at least parts of it justified?: Undecided.

Was the American Revolution justified?: Not really, though I sympathise with their positions, I think things could've been done better.



*Sterility virus points are semi-serious. I think it could make the world a better place, but I think as a whole it's too unthinkable, and constant levels of suffering in impossible situations will remain the norm. Leaving people to suffer makes a lot more sense politically, even if it's a lot more rapacious and causes more suffering.

[Lord of the Abyss]

*Sterility virus points are semi-serious. I think it could make the world a better place, but I think as a whole it's too unthinkable, and constant levels of suffering in impossible situations will remain the norm. Leaving people to suffer makes a lot more sense politically, even if it's a lot more rapacious and causes more suffering.

Um, how about the practical and moral problem that such a thing would not only be a form of genocide; it would be a form that leaves your victims alive and able to retaliate. Your sterilization of North Korea would most likely result in the killing of huge numbers of South Koreans in retaliation, at the very least. You'd have gigantic numbers of terrorists from your other suggested targets, including almost certainly nuclear attacks from the Israelis. Bad, bad idea.

[Rye]

*Sterility virus points are semi-serious. I think it could make the world a better place, but I think as a whole it's too unthinkable, and constant levels of suffering in impossible situations will remain the norm. Leaving people to suffer makes a lot more sense politically, even if it's a lot more rapacious and causes more suffering.

Um, how about the practical and moral problem that such a thing would not only be a form of genocide; it would be a form that leaves your victims alive and able to retaliate. Your sterilization of North Korea would most likely result in the killing of huge numbers of South Koreans in retaliation, at the very least. You'd have gigantic numbers of terrorists from your other suggested targets, including almost certainly nuclear attacks from the Israelis. Bad, bad idea.

How are they going to know?

[Illuminatus Primus]

And its not like pockets of society with horrible distortions in age demographics, and corresponding social and economic collapses, wouldn't cause even more suffering, no, surely not. Its only a clever remark where it is presumed the audience is dumb enough to think it might actually be a net positive.

[Rye]

I don't agree on that. Japan doesn't suffer more than China (whose population control methods already have to be quite draconian).

An area without a sterility issue has multi-generational suffering, a sterile area has one generation of suffering, in which time resources will become less scarce and easier to distribute, with reduced suffering as a result. It's reduced further still if it's not total sterility, just high percentage.

[Lord of the Abyss]

*Sterility virus points are semi-serious. I think it could make the world a better place, but I think as a whole it's too unthinkable, and constant levels of suffering in impossible situations will remain the norm. Leaving people to suffer makes a lot more sense politically, even if it's a lot more rapacious and causes more suffering.

Um, how about the practical and moral problem that such a thing would not only be a form of genocide; it would be a form that leaves your victims alive and able to retaliate. Your sterilization of North Korea would most likely result in the killing of huge numbers of South Koreans in retaliation, at the very least. You'd have gigantic numbers of terrorists from your other suggested targets, including almost certainly nuclear attacks from the Israelis. Bad, bad idea.

How are they going to know?

Someone would talk. You aren't talking about something one guy somewhere could pull off; it would take a lot of scientists, agents, and people overseeing them all; no way would it remain secret. And even if it magically did remain secret, thousands or millions would die anyway as the victims lashed out at whomever they guessed responsible.

Hell, if we had the technology for such a virus, so would they - or could, with enough effort in that direction. The result of your clever sterilization plague could be them retaliating with an unrestricted version; a plague designed to sterilize everyone. That way, they can be sure to get the guilty party, and with their future destroyed it's quite possible they'll just decide to lash out at everyone in general. What do they have to lose?

[Illuminatus Primus]

Got to love the tenured, boorish, absurd quasi-Nazi fantasies that arise out of the minds of privileged, well-educated, pampered Western kids in their 20s. Must be easy to think up things imagining suffering Third Worlders as ants in between masturbating to different opaque sects of sexdeathmurder metal, or whatever.

[Rye]

Got to love the tenured, boorish, absurd quasi-Nazi fantasies that arise out of the minds of privileged, well-educated, pampered Western kids in their 20s. Must be easy to think up things imagining suffering Third Worlders as ants in between masturbating to different opaque sects of sexdeathmurder metal, or whatever.

I am sure Malthus and Darwin loved the "pornogrind" genre and definitely supported the German national socialist regime. It's not like overpopulation is directly tied in with all the most unmanageable problems of a global society or is objectively observable or anything. Hell, it's not like sterility is a more ethical way than warfare to deal with problems that are impossible to live with is it?

But hey, if you think having 8 babies starve to death per family is better than only being able to physically produce 1 baby that you can allocate all your resources to, go ahead, complain about "bourgeois" pampering and other infantile class war phrasebook fallacies, for all the good that will do you. Surely, unrestricted human breeding has been the best thing for all life on the planet, not just human.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Got to love the tenured, boorish, absurd quasi-Nazi fantasies that arise out of the minds of privileged, well-educated, pampered Western kids in their 20s. Must be easy to think up things imagining suffering Third Worlders as ants in between masturbating to different opaque sects of sexdeathmurder metal, or whatever.

I am sure Malthus and Darwin loved the "pornogrind" genre and definitely supported the German national socialist regime. It's not like overpopulation is directly tied in with all the most unmanageable problems of a global society or is objectively observable or anything. Hell, it's not like sterility is a more ethical way than warfare to deal with problems that are impossible to live with is it?

Yeah, they certainly advocated the circulation of an engineered plague to implement eugenics on a mass scale among selected unworthy populations (all of which just-so happen to be poor, desperate Third World people whose current position in life is often wrought in no small part by the extremely privileged and powerful societies we dwell in). You're just grasping for straws when you say something stupid that someone calls out as such.

But hey, if you think having 8 babies starve to death per family is better than only being able to physically produce 1 baby that you can allocate all your resources to, go ahead, complain about "bourgeois" pampering and other infantile class war phrasebook fallacies, for all the good that will do you. Surely, unrestricted human breeding has been the best thing for all life on the planet, not just human.

Hey, I dunno what societies will function without a modern division of labor, and no young people, but I'm sure you've thought of that. The society will break down and the last generation will starve or kill each other in collapse. Maybe you're too uneducated and retarded to understand the meaning of the word "fallacy", but I am not suggesting your argument is stupid preposterous because you're a spoiled bitch and I can't imagine anyone who actually lived in these societies cavalierly suggesting mass eugenics (of course, you're not on the chosen receiving end, and you'd just-so-happen also be among those most likely to have the best of it if you were). I'm saying that its stupid and preposterous, and incidentally, given how you're a lucky bastard, its a douchebag and boorish thing for someone in your lucky position to say. Care to point out the fallacy, navel-gazer?

I think pointing out the class basis is just straight-forward sociology. Its not like people on this board, I dunno, insinuate that religious people are stupid and are that way because they're white trash, or anything. Surely not, no. But why reply when you resort to lame-ass Red-baiting? You're a fucking moron.

EDIT: To be fair its probably not just because you're middle-class, it probably also has to do with the fact you're not settled with real responsibilities like a spouse, children, a life of activism or volunteering or a settled career; I can't imagine hearing Mike or MoO say shit like that, and I don't agree with their politics either.

[Hamstray]

I'm going to keep this brief, partly because I'm relatively new here and probably less relevant, mostly because I'm lazy though.

What do you identify yourself politically as?:

liberal-left, more liberal on some issues, more left on others

What should be done about the Mexican Drug Wars and should the US and other countries intervene?:

From a U.S. point of view: legalize light drugs and tax them, go with more progressive drug policy (stop the "war on drugs")
From a Mexican point of view: legalize everything, if the U.S. aren't willing to do their part

Do you support the military actions against pirates in Somalia and do you think more action should be taken?:

No. Also, be more tolerant towards trading pirated goods. I.e.: Buying oil from a hijacked tanker isn't any worse than buying from companies like BP, Shell, Halliburton, ...

Should there be Universal Health Care or if there is in your nation do you support it ?:

Health care is not universal enough as could be in my country.

How should taxes be organized?:

more taxes on business less onto personal incomes

Should the automobile companies be bailed out by the US government?:

If automobile companies aren't fit to survive then they probably should die.

Do you support abortion and what restrictions should be placed on it?:

Yes, no restrictions.

Do you support gay marriage or civil unions or domestic partnerships?:

I'm for the abolition of marriage altogether. At least in the administrative sense.

Do you think broadcasting, publishing etc. should be regulated for violence, profantity, sexuality etc.?:

No regulation for violence, profanity, sexuality needed, everyone is going to be exposed to it at some point in life eventually. I'm ok with banning nationalist propaganda though.

How do you think birth control should be regulated?:

Medical birth control should be available to everyone, and also I'd second Knife's smart-answer for quality control. Propaganda promoting abstinence on the other hand should be banned.

What is your opinion of capital punishment and which crimes should it be applied to?:

It should be banned, and which crimes should it be applied to? just to be consistent if i were to support it, it would need to be applied to judges and jury members who in their right mind decide to sentence someone to death, especially if it turns out that they convicted an innocent.

Was the United States right in going to war against the secessionist Confederate States in the Civil War?:

Obviously, of all the wars in which the U.S. fought this one is the most justifiable one

Was the United States justified on dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima?:

As much is I hate to admit, this action was not exceptionally cruel compared any other aspect of any war.