The Introduce Yourself thread!

[thinkandask]

good grief, i'm old compared with these bios.
going to be 41 in a couple of weeks. i'm single, and i have a french lopped-eared bunny (almost 8 years old.) he rules, and i take him with me to france and california. we also walk around manhattan on nice days. he is a celebrity, and i'm often surrounded by paparrazzi kids when he is out with me. lol!

1.) i'm lost, confused, and question everything.

2.) i don't believe in anything, and yet i believe in everything. lol

but since this is a "political" forum, and the only one i belong to... here are my political views:


i'm extremely conservative politically;
although some would think my views are perhaps -- hmm, not conservative, but anarchistic or even inhumane. i advocate for absolute minimal government. people must be trusted to rule for themselves; however, for anyone who takes advantage of this "public" trust, the price they pay is quite great. in my government, you don't worry about locking your door. crime is nearly non-existent... which itself saves us money and a heavy police force.

under my government there is no longer a need for federal prisons, thus saving us taxpayers $33 billion a year, plus incremental spending on new prison facilities and a huge industry expense to support prisons. for criminals sent to institutions (would be federal); such as sexual predators, (non passion related) murderers, and anyone who causes a crime that affects society in general, let me say "ken lay" of enron -- you get the "life time prison award"....

in northwestern nevada, we have a 20,000 acre plot of land surrounded by electrified fencing and walls. this plot is divided with a wall in 7/8 for men, 1/8 for women (proportionalty to the prison population). no one escapes nor is anyone ever allowed out. the men, prior to incarceration, are surgically sterilized.

electricity, water, and food is supplied inside these walls, along with building materials to sustain the prisoners in custody. the prison has a crematorium to take care of the dead. instruction manuals would be provided.

simple. no prison guards or managment required. and if there ever was a deterrent for commiting crime of such magnitude, i've just laid it out.

secondly, local prisons would continue to deal with petty crime and misdemeanors; however, anyone charged with burglary, robbery, mugging etc., sleeps in the prison by night, and is outside by day. s/he becomes part of a chain gang on day labor jobs, saving our cities millions in labor costs each year for street cleanup, road repair, trash pickup, etc.

every trial is heard by a jury of 5, majority rules. with nevada in working order, there is no longer a need for the death penalty.

there are no illegal drugs. if you want to shoot yourself up with heroine, go right ahead, but you deal with the consequences.... (see the penalties for crime.) the same goes for any activity relating to/of your abuse of substances that cause harm to someone else. in the case of self-injury as a result of (say) driving while intoxicated, you lose your rights to drive. forever.


government is responsible:
for insuring education preschool through bachelor's degree; health care; and auto/life/home insurance. government distributes medication as part of your tax spend. for those who wish to take advantage, "fraud" may qualify for your new home in nevada.

there are no government subsidies, there are no government funds for not-for-profit organizations.

there is no welfare for those physically able to work. if you lose your job, you will get benefits, however you work for government agencies 30 hours each week until you find a new job. the idea being the extra 10 hours a week can be spent looking...

if you have a child (which takes equally a man and a woman to produce) you are equally repsonsible for the care and finances of that child whether you have custody or not. abuse of that child is seen detremental to society as a whole, and therefore would pay the consequences through a jury's decision. should man or woman abandon that child either through divorce or non-payment of support, that too is considered determental to the well being of the child and therefore society.

there is full care for those who mentally and or physically can not care for themselves.

religion is a personal choice, and has nothing to do with government. for any discriminatory crime related to religion, ie, cross burning, etc... the jury has to decide whether nevada is the place for you, or cleaning streets for awhile would suffice.

on international policy:
our military aligns the borders of our country. those who wish to apply to live in the united states may do so. those who try to enter the states illegally are sent home, the first time. the second time they are flown via helicopter over nevada; and told that a third try will land them there.

countries may apply for aid through proper channels, much like applying for a credit card. the usa does not provide money in any form to countries without their willingness to apply and pay back with interest.

on business:
the CEO and the board of directors are personally liable and held responsible for all company actions at home and abroad. the CEO and board members are held accountable for all actions within 5 years of their departure(s). they act together, and if one is found liable for wrong doing, so are they all by default.
it becomes a federal crime to swindle investors, abuse employees, or cook the books, and the jury decides whether or not these folks sweep streets or relocate to nevada as a happy team. the board could be absolved of wrong doing if they turn-in the bad guy of their own free will.

corporate tax dollars, even at half of what they are today, should be enough to cover government expenses annually, releasing citizens themselves from paying income tax. state and city income taxes would be appropriate depending upon city and county budgets, and programs that serve that community.

elections and elected officials:
this includes councilmembers, mayors; state legislature, governors; senate, reps, congress, and white house roles. political contributions are not allowed, period.
first, their pay scale is the average wage earned in their city, state, or (national.)
second, anyone can run for office. you must gain .05 percent of voter signatures, and register with the city, county, or federal office for intent to run. every candidate will receive an equal amount to spend on his or her election; however, no candidate may purchase advertisments for television, radio, print, or any form of broadcast.
voting is handled via us-postal services, or maybe handed (in person) to a voting office.

voting fraud (?) -- well, just look at nevada again.

retirement:
every citizen is granted full retirement benefits at the average of (last five years salary, with maximum of three times the average national income) plus cost of living increases for the remainder of their life beginning at age 67, and this age will increase/decrease with the life expectacy ratio through time.
for those who never worked, they may receive retirement benefits equal to the national average income at age 67 thereforeto.

have i missed anything?

[whitestreet101]

Hello, my name is Kolin, I'm 24, married, and about to be the father of one.

I grew up in very rural Alaska. I got a BA in Journalism from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, and married a medical student from the east coast. I am currently working as a carpenter and volunteering as an EMT. I use my degree as a placemat.

I have always been interested in issues, if not in the political process. Politics frustrate me to no end.

Ideologically I'm a libertarian, but I think we need a major reconstruction of our government and society before we can go in that direction. People are not going to put up with the privatization of education and transportation.

I own many guns and enjoy shooting and eating all sizes of furry animals. Name an Alaskan animal; chances are I've eaten it.

I've read a bit of political theory. Just the basics, mainly: Marx, Plato, Paine, Hitler and a few others. The one that really inspired me was Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. I'm a big fan of her Objectivism theories, but think they need to be moderated.

I try never to do anything selflessly. I volunteer to gain experience as an EMT. Personal improvement is the driving force behind society. Even my marriage is a calculated trade-off of freedom for pleasure.

With this mentality people expect me to be greedy. On the contrary I value well-spent time more than money, so I work only as much as needed to remain comfortable.

My first love is flight. There are few freedoms like flying in Alaska. It's just you, your plane, and thousands of miles of fantastic natural beauty all around.

[Antinazi77]

Hello all I am a black sheep, 26 year old white boy from a midwest suburb.
I was raised christian and republican and turned out to be a liberal, nature class panthiest/ Taoist/ buddhist. I have no real edjucation to speak of but I have taken several coarses in psychology and english and I liked them alot. Since the rise of the administration I have been incapable of finding employment though I had been working for nearly 7 years prior.

To my fellow man I am considered one who betrays his race, gender and baptizing as I am only passionitly predjudice against race suprimacy, religous mysoginy, republican ideoligy and the inner threadings of the three in my life.

I love; music, women, poetry, sun-baithing, a good book, exercise and out door activities. - but it is WINTER IN CORNVILE!

I am trying to quit; smoking, "dating" contrary women, writting poetry, letting the crudasers get to me

george senior once said "read my lips"
george W "this crusade"
how does a demon move his hips
when he is getting laid?

I can't choose a long road in my life until this urgent problem in the white house has been resolved. For if he steels another four, I will leave the country or attack the demographical plegau at the soarce. As a hippy able to forgive the 2 decades of multiple christian premeditated tactics of reaquiring through unethical reconaisance and simulated divine interventions, that is not what I want to do but it is exactly what I have been designed to do.

[TemporarySanity]

Ok I'll try to make this fairly short and sweet. I'm a 27 yr old college student etc. from Kansas. Finally going to graduate in Dec 2004 with bachelors in Biology and Sociology. Spent 4 years in the army which is why its taken me so long to actually get a college degree. I live with four roomates, three fish, two frogs and a snake. I tend to be a bit long winded at times especialy if I post while drunk(which I guess is better than driving while drunk). When I write things I have the habit of getting easily sidetracked and taking off in a completely random direction (and of enclosing things in brackets within sentences [and sometimes even inside of another pair of brackets]) I am mischievious and sarcastic and you shouldn't always take everything I say seriously. I enjoy wasting my time on the internet when I shoud be studying (like right now)

Politically I'm socialist. As others have posted I have read a good bit of and admire Bertrand Russell. I pobably have been influenced by Marx a bit more that the other socialists who posted in this topic. The way everything fits together in my head is weird complex and continually under development. I have been meaning to write it all down at some point. If I ever do I'll be sure to post it here. The details will come out eventually in my posts though so I guess I'll just leave it at that.

[FL270]

I'm new to the board, 26, single, a corporate pilot. Home is Texas but currently living in North Carolina for the job.

Politics are Republican/Conservative, pro-life, pro-death penalty, with a Christian worldview.

Looking forward to jumping in to the debate ...

[justicesurvey]

Hi everyone. I am new to the board and a grad student at the U of Michigan. I love debating politics and look forward to chatting with like and unlike minded-folks!!!!

Barb

[RobroyJ]

Hello all

I am Rob Roy Jeffrey, ET2/SS US Navy.

I am married to the most wonderful wife who is an RN working at a local hospital. We have brought an extrordinary son into the world. I am currently stationed on Bangor Naval Submarine base Washington (approx 30 miles west of Seattle). I have been a submarine sailor since 1996. I do not intend to make this a career and will be matriculating to UW or Olympic in the spring of 05.

I was born to my father and mother at Fort Lewis WA in July of 1977. One year later my father resigned his commission US Army and entered the private sector.I was raised protestant Christian in varying denomonations running the gammot of Arminianism to Calvinism. I consider myself a rationalist and continue to beilieve in the Triune God.

I believe that the US was created as a secular state. I do think that maintaining this secular ideal is extrodinarily difficult but we as Americans are absolutely responsible to ourselves in this endeavor.

I believe that beside George Washington, Ronald Reagan was the best president ever. Hands down.

I have spent 5 years onboard USS OHIO SSBN 726 blue crew. Those 5 years taught me a great deal about human society's potential. I do not however have all the answers (accept One) and never will due to the fluid nature of humanity.

I believe that man was created perfect by God and has since fallen out of sight of the Father. This "fall" is the bane of man. I believe that there is an emperical right and wrong but we as humans may never have the understand/agreement to pinpoint it in every situation.

I believe in the free market economy implicitly.That being said, I am not an uber scholar of economy. I believe communism is an un-attainable goal and has been graphically proben so far to many times.

Oh I do have some collegiate level schooling but it has had its ups and downs. I will conquer though, and hopefully become an Engineer as this has been my bend since I was little.

I am always willing to entertain new points of view. I don't, however, tolerate condesension or intolerance as I try not to conduct myself in such a manner. I believe this type of forum allows people to be think before they speak and that is reasonable to expect thoughtful insight ...though I don't always do so myself...lol....

v/r
Rob

[yello]

Hi I'm 13, my name is Helen and I visited this website because I felt like doing something random. I'm in year 9 in High School, and I live in England.
I'm just looking around, don't have any "views/opinions" as yet but fill my brain with knowledge please.
Cheers
Helen xxxxxxx

[Marc]

A very big welcome to all of the new members here! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to send me a PM or an e-mail. We are very glad to have you here. And I have actually been on that sub for a visit before, the USS Ohio.

[Gizzey]

In case anyone is interested I *will* be back-----when this rugby hangover wears off!!!
God I can't think nor can I speak(good thing says my hubby)
Brace yourselves
Sharon
xxxxxxx

[Aarstad]

Originally Posted by Yello

Hi I'm 13, my name is Helen and I visited this website because I felt like doing something random. I'm in year 9 in High School, and I live in England.
I'm just looking around, don't have any "views/opinions" as yet but fill my brain with knowledge please.
Cheers
Helen xxxxxxx

Welcome ..
Most people here are two times our age, and some are three. Take care, and don't let the old geezers bother you

[yello]

Originally Posted by Fasces

Welcome ..
Most people here are two times our age, and some are three. Take care, and don't let the old geezers bother you

Lol. I'll try...

I find adult (not adult adult lol just grown-up) conversations a lot more interesting. I hope i'm not being a traitor to teenagers all over the world by admitting that lol... It's so funny when adults argue hehe. lol no offence

[Aarstad]

The way you use the word "lol" suggests that you're not going to "betray" any teenager anywhere. I hate that word sometimes ... And here they are all using it all the time

nonetheless, if you want arguing, just try to find the places WFCY and guys like Erico hang out. That'll make your life worth living And join the chat ! Mostly it is deserted, but when people are in there, is is really funny. And I am not an adult just yet. No offence taken here

[EricOKC]

Originally Posted by yello

Lol. I'll try...

I find adult (not adult adult lol just grown-up) conversations a lot more interesting. I hope i'm not being a traitor to teenagers all over the world by admitting that lol... It's so funny when adults argue hehe. lol no offence

I feel i should clarify something Facses mentioned. Your age isnt so much the problem as the maturity level of your conversation.

Intelligent questions and comments delivered in a polite manner are one thing.

Lecturing people on topics you know nothing about, or asking inane rhetorical questions in a manner and tone designed to display your oh-so-superior adolescent intellect, is a pretty good way to rapidly infuriate others and make your age an issue.

That being said - welcome. While watching the argument can be fun, if you keep an open mind you may learn a few things.

[Aarstad]

"You live and learn", is what they say.

By making mistakes, you learn and you become a better and at least wiser person.