Guilty secret

[novella]

I heard this question on the radio the other day and really enjoyed the responses.

Say you are a political liberal or a conservative. Is there an issue or position on which you diverge from the party line, that those who think they know you might be surprised about?

 

[sirmyk]

Say you are a political liberal or a conservative. Is there an issue or position on which you diverge from the party line, that those who think they know you might be surprised about?

I was shocked when I found out one of my closest friends liked the "missionary" position best... and she had just finished reading the Kama Sutra book I gave her for her birthday. I guess she's conservative...

 

[ruby]

I was shocked when I found out one of my closest friends liked the "missionary" position best... and she had just finished reading the Kama Sutra book I gave her for her birthday. I guess she's conservative...

LOL thats class!

 

[novella]

Obviously you are a troublemaker.

I think judges should have more latitude in making a punishment that fits the crime. Also, I think judges should never ever ever be elected.

 

[Ronny]

I don't know if this counts but I'm a bleeding heart liberal some would even say an outright hippy and I married a military man. My friends still haven't recovered from the shock but I love my squeaky clean cut, conservative hubby.

 

[sirmyk]

These types of topics usually get me in trouble.

 

[Kookamoor]

Also, I think judges should never ever ever be elected.

Yes, that practice makes no sense whatsoever to me. Justice may be blind, but those that elect the upholders of justice certainly appear shortsighted to me.

 

[Motokid]

I don't know if this counts but I'm a bleeding heart liberal some would even say an outright hippy and I married a military man. My friends still haven't recovered from the shock but I love my squeaky clean cut, conservative hubby.

opposites attract....I believe I heard that somewhere...magnetic huh?

 

[Ronny]

Very much so, plus I think we help balance each other out, otherwise he may never have any fun and I'd never get anything done.

 

[Robert]

Also, I think judges should never ever ever be elected.

If not elected, then how would you have a judge selected?

 

[Kenny Shovel]

This isn't exactly what you mean but here goes anyway:

I'm pretty much left of centre on most issues, perhaps not as much as I was 15-20 twenty years ago, but people who know me can work out what my general position would be on an issue.
However, in general, I tend to prefer the company of people with differing views or, who like me, like to say things that wind-up the more earnest kind of tree-hugging liberal. As I like to tell people, given a choice between a party thrown by Hitler and Stalin, and one thrown by Gandhi & Mother Teresa, I'm getting the leather boots on; and that's despite my deep love for Indian food.
I guess it's a similar feeling to the one I have on newspapers. I'd rather read one with an editorial line that is at odds with my views, as I like to have my opinions challenged, rather than read a set of opinion pieces that I totally agree with and can use as a crutch to rest my own views on in an argument.

Edit: I remembered one thing that relates to your original question. Despite being a supporter of animal rights I genuinely beleive some pets can be evil:


You know, when Sergo gets back from St Petersburg and returns to our thread in the introduction forum, you're all going to miss me on here...

 

[Robert]

I usually avoid these kinds of discussions because most people are not as open minded as they believe themselves to be. People rarely change their stance on an issue. I know a lot of people that stand on one side or another of the political boundary without really know why they stand there. More often then not, it’s those that stand on the liberal side, but I have seen it both ways.

Too many people pretend to be open minded, but can’t even agree to disagree. They respect opinions of other people only so far as those opinions agree with their own. It’s sad but true.

Why would you want this kind of discussion?

 

[novella]

If not elected, then how would you have a judge selected?

Nominated and approved by a bipartisan committee, such as a town board, city council, or Congress, the way federal judges are supposed to be. However, local judges are usually elected in a general election and must run again in a few years time, and are therefore continually subject to the political tide, even as they sit in judgment.

 

[Robert]

Nominated and approved by a bipartisan committee, such as a town board, city council, or Congress, the way federal judges are supposed to be. However, local judges are usually elected in a general election and must run again in a few years time, and are therefore continually subject to the political tide, even as they sit in judgment.

That works too. That’s why we’re (the US) not a true democracy, we’re a republic. It really wouldn’t change much though. The makeup of Town boards, city councils and even congress reflects the makeup of the general population, so the outcome probably wouldn’t change. Of course, the smaller the body that makes the decision, the more opportunity there is for corruption. The only real advantage would be that one would expect the board, council or congress to be better informed with the facts then the general public.

I don’t recommend using congress as an example if you actually want the job to be complete.

 

[novella]

That works too. That’s why we’re (the US) not a true democracy, we’re a republic. It really wouldn’t change much though. The makeup of Town boards, city councils and even congress reflects the makeup of the general population, so the outcome probably wouldn’t change. Of course, the smaller the body that makes the decision, the more opportunity there is for corruption. The only real advantage would be that one would expect the board, council or congress to be better informed with the facts then the general public.

I don’t recommend using congress as an example if you actually want the job to be complete.

The difference may not be in who actually sits on the judge's bench but in how that judge decides cases. A judge who is himself judged every election day is continually under inappropriate political pressue. That's why the federal judicial branch operates by appointment.

 

[RobertFKennedy]

I usually avoid these kinds of discussions because most people are not as open minded as they believe themselves to be. People rarely change their stance on an issue. I know a lot of people that stand on one side or another of the political boundary without really know why they stand there. More often then not, it’s those that stand on the liberal side, but I have seen it both ways.

Too many people pretend to be open minded, but can’t even agree to disagree. They respect opinions of other people only so far as those opinions agree with their own. It’s sad but true.

Why would you want this kind of discussion?

I know what you mean Robert. I think I do know why I hold the opinions I hold and I can explain myself. I'm sometimes called a liberal lefty handwringer and then at the next moment called a fascist right wing bigot. Often by the same people.

for example I'm a practicing catholic, anti-war, anti-racism, pro palestine and i think our government and the US government are liars and killers. Normally thats when I get the leftie handwringer comments.

I'm also a practicising catholic, anti-abortion and anti gay marriage and adoption. Thats normally when I get called a right wing fascist.

A lot of people out there are so intolerant that they cannot stand the views of others to the extent that they try turn any kind of discussion or debate into a slanging match. that only demonstrates the weakness of their own position and the insecurity they have over it.

I respect the views of those whose opinions are the complete polar opposites of mine and I love to discuss and debate the issues with them. If only more of them could respect my views as well and keep it civil without turning rabid and hostile just because they disagree. I make a point of not sinking to the base level by returning their petty insults and abuse. amazingly that makes them worse.

 

[Robert]

The difference may not be in who actually sits on the judge's bench but in how that judge decides cases. A judge who is himself judged every election day is continually under inappropriate political pressue. That's why the federal judicial branch operates by appointment.

True. That's one of the reasons the Supreme Court is a lifetime appointment.

 

[francesca]

for example I'm a practicing catholic, anti-war, anti-racism, pro palestine and i think our government and the US government are liars and killers. Normally thats when I get the leftie handwringer comments.

I'm also a practicising catholic, anti-abortion and anti gay marriage and adoption. Thats normally when I get called a right wing fascist.

Id call you Mel Gibson

A lot of people out there are so intolerant that they cannot stand the views of others to the extent that they try turn any kind of discussion or debate into a slanging match. that only demonstrates the weakness of their own position and the insecurity they have over it.

I respect the views of those whose opinions are the complete polar opposites of mine and I love to discuss and debate the issues with them. If only more of them could respect my views as well and keep it civil without turning rabid and hostile just because they disagree. I make a point of not sinking to the base level by returning their petty insults and abuse. amazingly that makes them worse.

I totally agree with you on that though

 

[RobertFKennedy]

Id call you Mel Gibson

I look like a young Mel gibson.

 

[francesca]

I look like a young Mel gibson.

You have big bouffe hair?