Real Politics

In politics today, I am often astonished by the inanity of questions asked by political reporters, both in interviews and in debates. Here is an excellent story about what Rick Warren could have asked Barack Obama and John McCain. I don't care who answers the questions better, I want them to be nuanced, difficult, and sophisticated.

What Rick Warren could have asked

Gun Violence

With all of the recent gun violence hitting close to home, I'm forced to reexamine my feelings on gun control. I lived in Tinley Park, where 6 women were killed in a robbery last week, and I have friends who go to NIU, where a gunman killed 6 people and then himself. The shooter was enrolled at my alma mater, the University of Illinois .

I strongly support the first amendment. I've often said that without freedom of speech, a tyrant like Stalin or Hilter could take over and stay in power, because no one could oppose him. Freedom of press is the same, without reporters able to shed light on what the government is doing, people won't know they need to protest, leading to the next freedom, of assembly. A lone madman can do a lot of damage, but can't overthrow a dictator. Freedom of religion is actually similar. People need to be able to think for themselves, to discuss their ideas with others, and disseminate these opinions to the public, and religious dogma prevents this from happening (look at Saudi Arabia). Essentially, the first amendment is protecting free thought.

Now we come to the second amendment. I've at times been vehemently pro and against gun ownership. Recently I've settled into a, need more control, but still allowing people to own firearms position. If the first amendment does its job, and people realize the government is doing wrong, but don't have any weapons, then nothing could be done. Imagine the Revolutionary War if the Minutemen didn't have any muskets. Furthermore, I know that those who would give up temporary security for temporary liberty deserve neither. And I can't suddenly shift my feelings on gun control when a shooting happens close to home.

There will always be mentally unstable people. If we simply let them wander around with access to guns, bad things will continue to happen. However, we can't start locking up people who have signs of mental instability, since at some level, we all do. And we can't take away all access to firearms either. So we are left with a middle ground. To enjoy the freedom we do, we must be willing to risk losing lives. However, helping teachers notice signs of mental illness, and improving gun control regulation can help, while still allowing us our freedoms.

Mike Huckabee, Crazier than Ron Paul

Pharyngula posted today a story about Huckabee, where Huckabee wants to amend the constitution to be the Bible . The Constitution was specifically written to be independent of religions, and Huckabee wants to change it to be based on his Bible. To be fair, that only excludes Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, the non-religious, northern Baptists, so it won't really effect anything.

Demanding Logic in Politics

There isn't much I can demand from todays politicians. All I ask is that they have a logical position on important issues. For example, fertility clinics create (conceive) an embryo. They freeze it, and eventually dispose of it. According to President Bush, this is all well and good. When a scientist attempts to use one of these already conceived embryos which would otherwise be thrown out, this poses a moral quandary? If we as a society are going to decide that a fertilized embryo constitutes a life, then what the fertility clinics are doing should be outlawed. If it is ok for fertility clinics to create these embryos, then stem cell research should be acceptable.

Another example, along the same lines. If a woman is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, it is better to offer incentives to keep the child. A poor woman will need a lot of money and support to raise a child, and if the government is mandating her actions, logically they should have to contribute. Instead of worrying about banning abortion, we should offer plentiful birth control, and when unwanted pregnancies do occur, offer all the support we can to the mothers and families so that abortion is not the better option.

Benazir Bhutto, a foreboding feeling

Several days have passed since the assassination of Pakistani opposition party leader Benazir Bhutto, and things are still tense, see this Reuters story . I can't remember in my life a feeling of foreboding like I do right now. On September 11, 2001, it all happened so fast, and was over before anyone really realized what had happened. The subsequent attacks by US forces happened in such a manner that it seemed that swift victory was the only option, despite Cheney and Rumsfeld having prior knowledge this wasn't the case. The riots in Paris in 2005 seemed angry and violent, but only on a local scope.

Today, I feel as if there are serious problems that may arise out of this. It feels as if we are on the cusp of a momentous day, only without Hari Seldon to wheel out of the vault to gentle guide us on our way. Vladimir Putin has amassed an enormous amount of power in Russia, Pakistan's dictator's chief rival was assassinated, the President of the bastion of freedom that is America has pushed executive power to all new heights, allowing him to spy on his populace, torture at will, and suspend constitutional rights. Other countries, like China, are still tyrannical, leading the world in executions. Iran is trying to gain nuclear capabilities, and Saudi Arabia is a human rights nightmare of unimaginable proportions. And I haven't even mentioned Africa yet, or global warming.

Never before has the presidential election in America meant so much, in the backdrop of all that is going on. I think this all means a great deal more than gay marriage, or pushing your religious agenda on the country.

Texas teacher firing over Education

Who'd have thought that evolution was so controversial that a woman was FIRED for forwarding an email about a lecture about it. The battle in my current home state is coming, and as a citizen and voter, I'm going to need to start steeling myself for the eventuality that things are going to get bad before they get better.

Presidential Debate on Science

There is a growing movement for a Presidential Debate on Science . There are so many political issues involving science that are important to us all. The spread of diseases, like avian flu (which would require evolution to effect humans), birth control, climate change, space exploration, all of these things require knowledge of science. Bill Clinton was a well educated man, who prided himself on being well read. George Bush scoffs at the "reality based community", who use "facts", to back up their scientific "theories". As we move towards the future, technology will play an increasing role in American life, even more than it does today, and understanding those technologies is an essential attribute in any leader.

Terry Schiavo Redux

After the Bears/Broncos game ended (w00t!), I didn't bother to change the channel until 60 minutes came on. Anderson Cooper started with "Two years ago, Terry Schiavo sparked a nationwide debate...", at which point I turned off the tv. No she didn't! There was no debate. Every agreed, what in God's name is the Congress doing involved in this? This, to me, was one of the major reasons the Democrats took power, everyone was sick of the Big Government Republicans. The problem with news coverage today is not only do they beat on dead horses, but they periodically dig them up to beat again!