TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The General US Politics Thread

Go To

Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines before posting here.

Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.

If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules when posting here.


In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#41776: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:08:52 PM

[up]And, global warming being unprepared for, let alone acted against takes lives as well. <shrugs> As does leaving problems like health care to the private sector...

Taken, neglected, refrained from giving or denied: lives get lost in every issue. tongue

DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#41777: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:10:17 PM

[up][up][up] No (good) reason not to legalize prostitution honestly. It's better if it's regulated, and subjected to health checks, ensuring that the workers aren't mistreated or anything. If people want to sell sex, or buy it, and it's consensual, it's not the government's job to say no. The only real reason I can see for outlawing it is the entrenched "moral hazard" values we have in the US.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:10:46 PM by DrTentacles

#41778: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:14:54 PM

Heh, I knew this would happen when I saw Hilarity's post.

<><
ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#41779: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:20:51 PM

The best reason not to legalize it, I've heard, is that people would be forced into becoming prostitutes by unemployment.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:21:08 PM by ohsointocats

HilarityEnsues Since: Sep, 2009
#41780: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:21:24 PM

@Euo: I could definitely see why liberals support it too; I mean, that's the same reason I'm for it. But generally speaking, some of them think it's a degrading procedure, even when it's voluntary. Maybe I'm just getting liberals and sex-negative feminists mixed up.

As for the life aspect, consider the people (or lack thereof) who've been moved to vote for third parties just because they're anti-war. It just doesn't hold the same level of importance.

@Grizzly: Sometimes I cannot help but be a glutton for punishment. At any rate, this is sort of a meta debate about abortion debates right now, so I don't mind it quite as much.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#41781: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:22:31 PM

sex-negative feminists tend to be liberals.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#41782: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:25:41 PM

BTW Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#41783: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:27:07 PM

Before one makes prostitution legal: do you think that someone should have to be a prostitute if they don't want to be?

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#41784: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:31:29 PM

[up]Is that a serious question?

Obviously not. That doesn't mean life circumstances won't force them to be one to make money but that's another problem separate from whether or not it's legal.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:31:47 PM by Kostya

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#41785: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:32:45 PM

[up][up]Nope. But, then some people flip burgers 'cos the alternative is starvation and lack of a roof, even though they'd much rather be an actor. <shrugs> It's an employment option, and dammit, it should have health and safety attached and be stigma- and jail-time free! It's just common sense.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:33:13 PM by Euodiachloris

ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#41786: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:33:18 PM

So if I can't find a job flipping burgers, I should become a prostitute?

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:33:33 PM by ohsointocats

RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#41787: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:34:02 PM

In fairness, Braeburn, sex-positive feminists also tend to be liberals.

Could states legalize prostitution individually?

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#41788: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:34:26 PM

[up][up]Not if you really don't want to, no. Did you not read that bit? tongue

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:34:43 PM by Euodiachloris

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#41789: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:37:15 PM

[up][up]

You mean like Gay marriage and Marijuana? Probably.

State Rights and all that jazz.

I think Nevada tried a while ago.

EDIT: Just checked. Prostitution is legal and regulated in most counties in Nevada.

In fact a brothel owner was just elected Nevada county commissioner. And he's a Republican.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:45:23 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#41790: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:37:59 PM

You are making it sound like one always has a choice in their employment. If one is on unemployment, one often does not. Many people would be forced into prostitution who don't want to be. While it is okay to most people to say, "hey, you don't like flipping burgers/cleaning hotel rooms/whatever? tough titties", most people would not turn around and say, "hey, you don't like doing sex acts for money? tough titties!"

This is why I find the legalization of prostitution problematic.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:38:35 PM by ohsointocats

#41791: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:41:55 PM

There are legal brothels in Nevada today, yes.

<><
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#41792: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:42:02 PM

Taoist: I'm pretty sure most feminists are liberal regardless of their views on sex. The idea of a conservative feminist just strikes me as counterproductive.

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#41793: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:43:18 PM

Has even Ron Paul pulled for legalizing prostitution?

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#41794: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:45:01 PM

@Cats: And, some are fine with it. Some are not... if you really don't want to work in it, you don't have to. And, that's my point. tongue

Heck, I've avoided working for Tarot Lines before now, even though I can read the Tarot deck, as the whole ethos creeped me out. I wasn't forced to take it up even by the Department of Work and Pensions, as my reasons for rejecting it were understood. Moral grounds. tongue Why immediately go on the whole "indentured slave" thing... when that's already a problem as it is. tongue

Are you seriously going to tell me that the people involved in prostitution already aren't trapped in some fashion? By some "very nice men" in a lot of cases? There's a way of helping them out... and this is it. There is also a way of making sure that those involved get a chance at other options by making it legal and better controlled. Heck... unionising wouldn't hurt. tongue

I could go on and on about this... but, won't. <_<

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:46:26 PM by Euodiachloris

#41795: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:46:03 PM

[up][up] Yuppers. It's one of those "I don't personally approve, but it's none of the federal government's business" issues for him.

[up] If I thought legalizing prostitution would reduce forced prostitution/human trafficking, I'd be for it. But that isn't at all clear to me: it seems like it would just make it so they didn't even have to hide their wage slavery and recruitment operations.

edited 22nd Nov '12 5:48:24 PM by EdwardsGrizzly

<><
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#41796: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:46:54 PM

@Tomu

Yes.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#41797: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:48:06 PM

Wait, if it's against federal law, how does Nevada have areas where it's legal?

ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#41798: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:48:17 PM

I have a feeling Scotland doesn't work the same way the US does.

And yes, a great many people are trapped in prostitution and that's bad. From what I've heard though, the best way to stop it is to not make prostitution itself illegal but make buying from a prostitute illegal. The prostitute faces no consequences but the person who buys has steep ones. Prostitution faces the same pressures as any capitalist venture — being illegal doesn't stop people from doing something, only being unprofitable and inconvenient.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#41799: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:49:58 PM

[up][up]

State Rights?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#41800: Nov 22nd 2012 at 5:51:08 PM

Where federal law can be overriden by state law in terms of making something illegal by the feds legal by the states, there is, in effect, no federal law. Rather, there's merely a default state law.


Total posts: 417,856
Top