What This Is
After this past election (the mid-terms in 2002), I feel I must do something. I know voting is something, but I feel like I'm sitting back idly while crazies are running (and ruining) our country. I came to the conclusion I want to run for office, but I don't know what. If you have any suggestions, email them to me at popstringdrink@yahoo.com.
Who I Am
I am a 27-year-old woman living in Los Angeles, California (West Hollywood to be exact). I'm straight, white, and a complete liberal who believes in all sorts of equality, freedom of speech, protection of privacy, no guns, religion in churches and not in schools OR politics, foreign policy based on compassion and not greed, reproductive freedom, major environmental protection, and most importantly, a quality standard of living for everyone (and I mean everyone).
have visited this page since 12/2/02
Crime
Environment
Guns
Media
Middle East/Foreign Policy
Poverty/Welfare
Privacy
Religion
Sexuality/Reproductive Freedom
Crime
11/30/02:
No 3 Strikes. Violent criminals get one chance, but a fair trial that takes into account the individual's situation. We are all different, why do our laws need to have a "one size fits all" standard?
Non-violent criminals get treatment, community service, or fines. That's it. Jail only turns people into more hardened criminals. Non-violent criminals don't need to clog up our prison system or learn how to be violent.
Environment
11/30/02:
The earth gives us everything we have. Turn things around now so we won't have to spend billions trying to colonize other planets.
Put money into renewable energy, reduce our reliance on gas and oil. Give real tax breaks to companies and individuals who switch to non-polluting alternative fuel sources.
Increase recycling facilities and education programs. We are making progress, but we could be doing more.
Stop destroying natural treasures. No drilling in Alaska, less logging, less fishing to exstinction.
Guns
12/5/02:
Finally some data to back up those of us who believe in gun control:
US States with More Gun Owners Have More Murders
11/30/02:
Guns should be sold through private dealers who have shooting ranges on their property. Guns get used and left there. No one gets a gun in their home, sorry. If johnny law starts to act up and oppress us, private ownership of gun shops ensures that citizens will still have access to weapons (that's for all you conspiracy theorists).
Gun possession should carry a jail sentence, as ownership of a gun would be intent to commit a violent crime.
Media
12/01/02:
Parenting, Parenting, Parenting. Good kids don't steal cars or shoot each other. If they do, it's not the video games they're playing or the movies they're watching -- there's really something wrong.
Middle East/Foreign Policy
12/5/02:
Why is no one questioning the Bush administration's clear mandate for war, whether or not Saddam cooperates with inspections? Here's a great Op/Ed piece about the scariness of the impending war from The Guardian:
This time I'm scared
It amazes me how we let Saudi Arabia get away with everything after we spent the last year talking about how terrible the Taliban was for Afghanistan. Talk about a double standard:
Sleeping with the enemy
11/30/02:
Israel - Share or get off the land.
What the hell are we doing in Iraq? Let's see some proof before we go throw away American soldiers' lives. Bush has created a situation where no matter what happens with inspectors, we're going to war. We should always leave ourselves a way out -- sometimes intuition is wrong and we should really think about what we're doing before we declare war.
Create standards and stick to them. Human rights are important, so no double standard when it comes to countries that supply us with oil. If we're their biggest consumer, let's use our buying power to press for stricter labor practices or civil rights.
Poverty
12/02/02:
Everyone deserves a decent standard of living. If that means some of us have to pay a little more in taxes, so be it. If $200 isn't going to break you, there's someone else who needs it a lot more.
I don't think the welfare system we have right now is the greatest, but doing away with it entirely isn't the solution either. Let's start really building kids' work ethics early on and show them how good it feels to accomplish or achieve something on a daily basis.
Here's a radical thought: Give welfare recipients more money if they work, not less. As they make more, give them more, until they're truly self-sufficient. Give single working mothers free daycare so their kids aren't on the streets.
Every citizen has a right to affordable health care.
Privacy
12/01/02:
Anything that happens in my home, unless it endangers another member of my household, is my business. Who we have sex with, whether or not we choose to use substances, and whether or not we choose to have children -- that is not the government's right to regulate.
Right now we are completely waiving our right to privacy to an administration who clearly doesn't want to have disclosure liability later. They won't even disclose the energy task force documents that would tell us who exactly (Enron?) created our energy policy. Really research the homeland security bill that just passed, it is scary.
Religion
12/02/02:
We live in an extremely complicated and fluid world. Public policy should not be determined by inflexible religious ideals that were created thousands of years ago. I know stealing is wrong, but I didn't need the Ten Commandments to tell me that. Policies should reflect the beliefs we have in common, not try to meet the specific needs of every religion or faith.
Federal funding comes from its citizens, so if religious charities or groups want money from the government, they have to provide all the services and choices that non-secular organizations do. If a Catholic hospital wants federal funding, they have to provide abortions.
School is not the place for prayer. Why not use that extra minute to teach?
Sexuality/Reproductive Freedom
12/02/02:
The human race is in no danger of going extinct. Sexuality is a spectrum and where we fall on it (or choose to fall) isn't necessarily determined by our genetic code or our environment. Does anyone really "win" by winning that debate? Sex makes people happy and happy people are more productive and less destructive. I don't care who you have sex with -- man or woman -- as long as it's consensual.
There are enough unwanted children on this planet already. Bringing more into a world that doesn't take good care of the less-fortunate it already has is a crime. Parenthood is a big responsibility, and if you're not ready for it, you shouldn't be having a child. Anyone who wants an abortion should be able to have one, without parental notification, mandatory counseling, and pushing through protesters outside the clinic.