What are your important issues? (2 Viewers)

[wardorican]

Forget the current headlines. Forget the manufactured talking points. What are the big issues you care about? Or the small ones that don't get enough attention?

I'm just going to rattle off a few. I may dig into these more later. In no special order...

1. Infrastructure investment. The major categories being road transportation, flood protection / drainage, electrical grid resiliency, and better mass transit, especially rail. Our rail systems, outside of a few areas like Chicago, NYC, DC.. are just awful. They don't serve enough of the areas. They aren't tying the Suburbs, and towns nearby to the major city centers and major concentrations of Industry.
   1. A - I'd have much preferred no tax cut for the wealthy, and use that money towards Infrastructure. I don't mind some of the corporate tax cuts (not a fan of profitable companies finding ways to pay $0 in taxes.. that's unfair), but take a little back to go towards infrastructure and mass transit, which will boost productivity and lower congestion in major cities.
2. Wage growth. Not just min wage, all wages. Not sure what the government policy could be to drive this, but it's a huge pet issue for me.
3. Technology. Finding the balance between a company being large enough to have stability/security (think Apple, Microsoft, Samsung) to have things work well, but no so large as to stifle all competition and drive up prices. Also, who controls/owns our data. If my data is so valuable, why can't I be compensated for it?
4. Education funding. It's ridiculous how much the States cut from Colleges and how little they controlled their growth since the 1990's. That's why tuition is out of control. So, it's not just the funding issue, but also the lack of forcing public Universities to cap operating budget increases. In college, tuition increases was probably one of the biggest things I tried to fight against when in Student Government. We usually failed, but I did get one win on that topic, when I realized the committee that year was being somewhat dishonest about the increases, and called them out in public about it.

I care about a lot of other things, but I'm going to stop with these four.

 

[Lazybones]

Have a good night.

U 2

 

[LA - L.A.]

The process isn’t as convenient as a phone app.

1. not making it like fast food convenience to access.

In addition to the clashing statements above, you also keep declaring that most women have abortions out of "convenience" without ever discussing what those varying reasons are and why you see them as just a matter of "convenience."

It's hard to have a logical and reasoned discussion about abortion, because it is naturally an emotionally charged issue. It's also religiously charged which can make it that much more difficult. I think this is why it's difficult for people to hear, understand and have empathy with those who disagree with them on the issue. Too many people are too busy trying to "win" to actually listen to each other.

I hear that you want to see an end to abortions, I share that same goal, as does everyone else participating in this conversation. We all want the same thing, but we disagree on how to best achieve that goal.

I think the primary reason for the disagreement on how to achieve that goal is because some are heavily influenced by their religious morality. I think for some, preventing abortion, is a subset of a greater desire to enact their religious morality about sex as public policy.

For instance, you've stated that you're opposed to sex education and providing contraception. It seems you oppose those two things on the grounds that premarital sex is immoral. It doesn't seem to matter to you that both of those things have been empirically shown to decrease unwanted pregnancies and premarital sex.

You seem to oppose them solely on religious moral grounds as you believe they condone and encourage premarital sex, despite all of the evidence that shows the opposite.

 

[Ayo]

I propose that I live as a good example to our 200+ female students. That our staff is involved with the girls and being here for them whatever they need. I propose that we continue to preach that premarital sex is wrong and dangerous.

I propose that I raise my two girls to know that premarital sex is wrong and abortion is about the worse thing anyone can ever do. I propose keeping my kids in private school to teach them the dame things that I am teaching them at home.

I propose appointing judges who will one day make it illegal to have an abortion out of convenience.

Continue teaching your daughters this - nobody in this thread is telling you how to parent.

63% of teens are sexually active in Texas. That's a lot of teenage girls, and I imagine in many Texas homes, the same messages are conveyed. Daughters in those homes are engaged in premarital sex and don't talk about it with their parents, because they are 'wrong' and 'bad.'

So, kids are engaging in sex and not talking to their parents because they are fearful of the backlash they will get, so they engage in deception, sneaking around typically feeling shameful. I know this for a fact, because I've worked with a lot of kids who have expressed this. To me, to colleagues, to social workers, to the school nurses, and so on. And they go to these people because there is no judgment, no accusations, no shaming. I knew things about my students - when it came to their sexual health and wellbeing - their own parents did not know.

I think I've mentioned before about how - in my first year of teaching high school - a girl wrote a personal essay about getting an abortion. Her parents did not know. But she felt safe writing an essay about it, because it was easier than talking about it. And a few weeks later, I'm in a parent/teacher interview and it felt strange that I knew their daughter was sexually active and had even had an abortion, and they had no idea. And their daughter was in their home, suffering alone, because she didn't feel like she could tell her parents.

Also worth noting - I am *NOT* saying this would be applicable to you or any of your kids, your own or the girls that yall have worked with over the years.

Now, all that said - this does not mean I am going to encourage my kids to have premarital sex and I will be teaching them, explicitly, that sex in teenage years is dangerous for a number of reasons. But I don't feel comfortable living and parenting under the assumption that because I tell my kids something they are going to always do it.

And when they don't, I'd rather they feel comfortable telling me, talking to me and my wife about it - so that we can talk them through such difficult and complicated things. Something that adults often screw up.

Also, you mention that premarital sex can be dangerous. And I agree. Dangers like becoming a teenage parent or contracting an STD or becoming featured on a video that gets passed around at school and so on.

The best way to combat that?

More comprehensive sexual education. Teaching about social media, pornography, birth control, sexual health and so on. Acknowledging that it's dangerous is key - but so is teaching them about all the various 'dangers' and many of those don't happen in abstinence-only sex ed programs or in places that have no sex ed programs.

 

[Ayo]

I guess depending on the circumstances different decisions will he made. Rape and incest is absolutely the worse thing that can happen to a woman (or man for that matter). I can’t imagine the pain one would have to endure. Who am I to tell them what to do?

I think this is actually an important acknowledgment and perspective.

As a guy, you are admitting that there are "circumstances" that - as a guy - that result in pain that "you can't imagine" and that you have no real right "to tell them what to do."

If that is a perspective you are working from, then you're opening the door to pain you can't imagine being a reasonable criterion for having an abortion. But pain you can't imagine isn't restricted to life of the mother or rape or incest; there might well be any number of other scenarios where that "pain is unimaginable" and, thus, you aren't in a position to tell them what to do.

I think this is a good place to start from - something common to work from.

 

[Lazybones]

I think this is actually an important acknowledgment and perspective.

As a guy, you are admitting that there are "circumstances" that - as a guy - that result in pain that "you can't imagine" and that you have no real right "to tell them what to do."

If that is a perspective you are working from, then you're opening the door to pain you can't imagine being a reasonable criterion for having an abortion. But pain you can't imagine isn't restricted to life of the mother or rape or incest; there might well be any number of other scenarios where that "pain is unimaginable" and, thus, you aren't in a position to tell them what to do.

I think this is a good place to start from - something common to work from.

Let’s pretend this is true. My wife darn sure has the perspective. I’m not going through this life alone. I have a great woman that we walk together every day. So maybe ifI was a single guy with no fam, this would be applicable.

 

[Lazybones]

Continue teaching your daughters this - nobody in this thread is telling you how to parent.

63% of teens are sexually active in Texas. That's a lot of teenage girls, and I imagine in many Texas homes, the same messages are conveyed. Daughters in those homes are engaged in premarital sex and don't talk about it with their parents, because they are 'wrong' and 'bad.'

So, kids are engaging in sex and not talking to their parents because they are fearful of the backlash they will get, so they engage in deception, sneaking around typically feeling shameful. I know this for a fact, because I've worked with a lot of kids who have expressed this. To me, to colleagues, to social workers, to the school nurses, and so on. And they go to these people because there is no judgment, no accusations, no shaming. I knew things about my students - when it came to their sexual health and wellbeing - their own parents did not know.

I think I've mentioned before about how - in my first year of teaching high school - a girl wrote a personal essay about getting an abortion. Her parents did not know. But she felt safe writing an essay about it, because it was easier than talking about it. And a few weeks later, I'm in a parent/teacher interview and it felt strange that I knew their daughter was sexually active and had even had an abortion, and they had no idea. And their daughter was in their home, suffering alone, because she didn't feel like she could tell her parents.

Also worth noting - I am *NOT* saying this would be applicable to you or any of your kids, your own or the girls that yall have worked with over the years.

Now, all that said - this does not mean I am going to encourage my kids to have premarital sex and I will be teaching them, explicitly, that sex in teenage years is dangerous for a number of reasons. But I don't feel comfortable living and parenting under the assumption that because I tell my kids something they are going to always do it.

And when they don't, I'd rather they feel comfortable telling me, talking to me and my wife about it - so that we can talk them through such difficult and complicated things. Something that adults often screw up.

Also, you mention that premarital sex can be dangerous. And I agree. Dangers like becoming a teenage parent or contracting an STD or becoming featured on a video that gets passed around at school and so on.

The best way to combat that?

More comprehensive sexual education. Teaching about social media, pornography, birth control, sexual health and so on. Acknowledging that it's dangerous is key - but so is teaching them about all the various 'dangers' and many of those don't happen in abstinence-only sex ed programs or in places that have no sex ed programs.

I’m not a teacher as you know. But I again would say, my wife is a teacher of only girls. She surely knows plenty about those kids that their parents don’t know.

saying that, she would never advocate abortion as means of birth control.

 

[Ayo]

I’m not a teacher as you know. But I again would say, my wife is a teacher of only girls. She surely knows plenty about those kids that their parents don’t know.

saying that, she would never advocate abortion as means of birth control.

nor would I. Nor would pretty much anyone I've worked with or known, professionally. Just to put your mind at ease. Most everyone - about as unanimous as anything gets with adults working with kids in my corners of the world - advocates other forms of birth control (including not having sex) ahead of abortion and see abortion as nothing but an extreme measure.

 

[Lazybones]

In addition to the clashing statements above, you also keep declaring that most women have abortions out of "convenience" without ever discussing what those varying reasons are and why you see them as just a matter of "convenience."

It's hard to have a logical and reasoned discussion about abortion, because it is naturally an emotionally charged issue. It's also religiously charged which can make it that much more difficult. I think this is why it's difficult for people to hear, understand and have empathy with those who disagree with them on the issue. Too many people are too busy trying to "win" to actually listen to each other.

I hear that you want to see an end to abortions, I share that same goal, as does everyone else participating in this conversation. We all want the same thing, but we disagree on how to best achieve that goal.

I think the primary reason for the disagreement on how to achieve that goal is because some are heavily influenced by their religious morality. I think for some, preventing abortion, is a subset of a greater desire to enact their religious morality about sex as public policy.

For instance, you've stated that you're opposed to sex education and providing contraception. It seems you oppose those two things on the grounds that premarital sex is immoral. It doesn't seem to matter to you that both of those things have been empirically shown to decrease unwanted pregnancies and premarital sex.

You seem to oppose them solely on religious moral grounds as you believe they condone and encourage premarital sex, despite all of the evidence that shows the opposite.

I’m opposed to abortion for multiple reasons.

1. Religious, yes! I am a devout catholic. I think abortion is killing a baby.

2. I have 2 girls of my own and 200+ students. Looking then and their parents in the eyes everyday molds my perspective as well

3. knowing the sacrifices that my father went through, so I and my children have an actual life is pretty high up there shaping my opinion and philosophy.

look if you want to support abortion, go right ahead, you have that right. But for you to criticize me for not seeing life the same as you (seems I may actual respect life, the horror) is a little short sighted on your part.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

I’m opposed to abortion for multiple reasons.

1. Religious, yes! I am a devout catholic. I think abortion is killing a baby.

2. I have 2 girls of my own and 200+ students. Looking then and their parents in the eyes everyday molds my perspective as well

3. knowing the sacrifices that my father went through, so I and my children have an actual life is pretty high up there shaping my opinion and philosophy.

look if you want to support abortion, go right ahead, you have that right. But for you to criticize me for not seeing life the same as you (seems I may actual respect life, the horror) is a little short sighted on your part.

As a devout Catholic, what are your views on birth control options that are put into place before sex occurs? By this, I mean condoms, IUDs, birth control pills, etc.

 

[Lazybones]

As a devout Catholic, what are your views on birth control options that are put into place before sex occurs? By this, I mean condoms, IUDs, birth control pills, etc.

It’s a heck of a dilemma honestly. My wife and I used birth control as young adults. I’m under no illusions thinking I won’t have to answer for that. I don’t know what that will entail, but we made the decision and we will be held accountable if God the Father so desires.

 

[wardorican]

I want to spotlight one person, well, one family, who will go unnamed. He is a teacher. He is gay, and married.

Up until this year, they have been foster parents for dozens of kids. They lived in a building with a few other families also fostering kids. Those two were amazing with these young (like 5-12 yr old) kids.

They had to stop, because they were buying their own home (there may be more to it, like getting a bit older), but they have gotten many of their foster kids adopted, and they adopted one of their foster kids last year.

They would have like 6 at a time. No idea how they did this with how busy the teacher is.

What do we do with unwanted kids? Have more people like the teacher and his husband above.

I also have a few college friends who have adopted kids.

 

[Lazybones]

I want to spotlight one person, well, one family, who will go unnamed. He is a teacher. He is gay, and married.

Up until this year, they have been foster parents for dozens of kids. They lived in a building with a few other families also fostering kids. Those two were amazing with these young (like 5-12 yr old) kids.

They had to stop, because they were buying their own home (there may be more to it, like getting a bit older), but they have gotten many of their foster kids adopted, and they adopted one of their foster kids last year.

They would have like 6 at a time. No idea how they did this with how busy the teacher is.

What do we do with unwanted kids? Have more people like the teacher and his husband above.

I also have a few college friends who have adopted kids.

this goes unnoticed all over the country. It’s honestly very humbling. I will share a similar story later when I have time.

 

[SystemShock]

As a devout Catholic, what are your views on birth control options that are put into place before sex occurs? By this, I mean condoms, IUDs, birth control pills, etc.

I'd be more interested about his views on social healthcare and the children stuck at the border.

 

[MT15]

Lazybones, you’re doing a good job of being honest and earnest.

The only thing I’d like you to think about is this: there has never been a woman who had an abortion who didn’t agonize over her decision. Who didn’t come to that decision without struggling with it.

You and your good wife made a decision to use birth control, against church teaching, and you are willing to own up to that. That’s admirable. I’m sure there was a little bit of a struggle to come to that decision and you didn’t make it lightly.

Women are conditioned by society to become mothers from the time we are children. It’s something that we cherish. If a woman chooses to end a pregnancy, it’s generally because of a tragedy, or a dire situation. They have an abusive partner, and the pregnancy might enrage them. They are addicted to drugs, or they were abused by a relative. They have no money and no support system, they may lose their job. You may be shocked to find out how many women live “on the edge” and just cannot deal with a pregnancy and maintain their lives. It is generally the women living in poverty, those women on the edge of society, who seek abortions. We just don’t give them the means to prevent pregnancies, not at this time. And condoms are not the answer, because that isn’t under the woman’s control. Birth control that works, that the woman can control, isn’t cheap or easy to get, not at all.

These women, when faced with an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy, struggle with the decision, and they ultimately make the choice they feel they have to make. I don’t feel it’s our place to judge them, that will come later and not from us. We should try to help them, not punish them. And the current crop of anti-abortion laws is mostly punitive in nature toward women. That much has been made clear.

 

[Beach Friends]

A year or so ago there was a "campaign" to destigmatize abortion. IMO, it went way too far and really appeared to be celebrating abortion.

IMO, that's a disservice to young women, already under stress, who may not fully appreciate that the decision to abort a baby can have lifelong emotional consequences.

I know a couple, now married and in their 40s, who have more financial wealth than they will go through in their lifetimes. Yet they are two of the unhappiest people I know, and their marriage is perpetually under stress. The main stressor appears to be the decision to abort a child decades ago before they were married and more specifically, she resents him for not doing more to persuade her not to have an abortion. He thought he was respecting her right to choose. Apparently, what she really wanted was for him to be a protector, take a stand and reassure her that he wanted her and the child.

 

[brandon]

It’s a heck of a dilemma honestly. My wife and I used birth control as young adults. I’m under no illusions thinking I won’t have to answer for that. I don’t know what that will entail, but we made the decision and we will be held accountable if God the Father so desires.

Here's the issue I have with this statement.

You're admitting you used birth control, counter to your religious teachings.

But you're not suggesting that legislation should be enacted to criminalize what you did. And you haven't suggested that you and your wife are criminals.

You're even suggesting that God may not even hold you accountable for it.

So how come all the "lives" you "ended" with birth control (as per church doctrine) are barely a blip on God's radar, and certainly nothing you should be criminalized for, but abortion is a bridge too far?

But for you to criticize me for not seeing life the same as you (seems I may actual respect life, the horror)

This seems to suggest that you believe you value life more than those who are pro-choice. Yet, you're just as much a murderer as any of the pro-choice advocates.

Let's say you get your way. Abortion is made illegal. What sort of punishment would you advocate? Jail time? The death penalty? I mean, you're killing a 100% innocent child, right? That's death penalty material there.

Make sure you're also willing to apply it to your own conspiracy to commit mass murder with your wife.

 

[Farb]

All I have to ask is one question.

All of the people here so worried about the abortion issue what are you doing today to help children.

How many do you foster?

You must at least foster kids right?

If you want more unwanted children in the world you must be helping the unwanted children we have now.

I'd would say it is pretty much living a lie of you don't.

I donate to planned Parenthood. Proud of it.

In my opinion, this is disingenuous.
Since I personally don't foster orphans, my opinion on abortion isn't valid?
What about kill shelters for stray dogs? Unless you personally foster stray dogs, you have to be for killing the dogs, correct?

I also think that adoptions should be a lot easier and a lot less expensive. I did not have to adopt but 2 of my best friends had to and it was ridiculous the amount of resources and time it took.

You also bring up a great point. You donate to PPhood. That is a good thing for you I am sure. If everyone donated then PPhood could be self supporting and not government funded. The passion for PPhood is there.

I also remember safe, legal and rare.

 

[Lazybones]

Here's the issue I have with this statement.

You're admitting you used birth control, counter to your religious teachings.

But you're not suggesting that legislation should be enacted to criminalize what you did. And you haven't suggested that you and your wife are criminals.

You're even suggesting that God may not even hold you accountable for it.

So how come all the "lives" you "ended" with birth control (as per church doctrine) are barely a blip on God's radar, and certainly nothing you should be criminalized for, but abortion is a bridge too far?


This seems to suggest that you believe you value life more than those who are pro-choice. Yet, you're just as much a murderer as any of the pro-choice advocates.

Let's say you get your way. Abortion is made illegal. What sort of punishment would you advocate? Jail time? The death penalty? I mean, you're killing a 100% innocent child, right? That's death penalty material there.

Make sure you're also willing to apply it to your own conspiracy to commit mass murder with your wife.

shameful that you turn this conversation in this way. I think it is obvious I am willing to honestly discuss issues. Thai type of post is just inflammatory.