Right-wing, left-wing... who gives a shit?

[Richard Creager]

Whats a Nintendo revolution.

[ZeUs!!]

Birds give a shit

[Eric is God]

As I understand it Troll, the biggest concern with raising the age of consent to 16 is that 14 and 15 year olds would no longer be able to receive diagnosis or treatment for sexual diseases or pregnancy without a parent being present (I may be wrong on the specifics). This is why people are worried about kids getting scarred out of sex. Another concern is that a lot of 14 and 15 year olds are just going to see the number 16 and never learn about the various clauses.

[Sarien]

Sure, because I remember when I was fourteen, I really wanted to know what the legal age was to look at boobies before I tried to see any.

[Eric is God]

Regarding the original topic I'll just agree with TK's point that the "us versus them" mentality is tearing the world apart. It has and has been since religion was invented, but now it's become infused into every aspect of society.

[Eric is God]

Sure, because I remember when I was fourteen, I really wanted to know what the legal age was to look at boobies before I tried to see any.

When a 14-15 year old sees it on the front page of the newspaper, as a leading story on TV, and likely has their parents discuss it they don't need to do any research. I'm sure a lot of teenagers are too lazy or ignorant to even consider what the legal age is when thinking about sex, but there have to be some girls who think these things through.

[Richard Creager]

sage

[Kolar]

Using the age consent case was a bad idea on my part. I do not know enough about it but the point I was trying to make was that the main cause for the lack of this meaningful discourse is the result of these polarizing issues and how they're abused by political parties. Rallying your base with extremist rhetoric is more important for most politicians these days then presenting and arguing a respectable and persuasive view, on more important matters then if dudes can marry or if flag burning is a federal offense. The middle-left is no better, just less organized in my opinion.

As for the revolution thing Sarien just compare Canada or the USA to other societies. Sure they'll try to remember to vote but would they actually run for the office? would they stand up and protest? would they go to all lengths to defend their rights and freedoms? The big difference is we have stable lives, we have technology, cheap food and lots of entertainment. It isn't entirely laziness, it's a byproduct of being free to do pretty much anything you want. That's why it's unlikely there will be any revolutions in North America.

[Saturn V]

God gives a shit, that's who!

[Epinephrine]

I agree with the title of this thread. I'm sick and tired of the whole 'left wing, right wing' mentality that pervades North America. It isn't just America that's like this, Canada's the same way although not AS bad.

I have friends on both sides of the divide, and it's pretty stupid. On one hand you have people who think that conservatives are evil and dangerous to this world. They think that George Bush (and in Canada, Stephen Harper) are pure evil that must be fought against. Then you have those who consider themselves conservative who think 'liberals are idiots'.

I consider myself an economic right-winger, but a social left-winger if that's even allowed. I have a variety of views, and I think it's stupid to label anyone in one way. I think gay marriage is good, and global warming is bad, we should honour our Kyoto agreements. But then I think that most unions are bad, that privitization isn't necessarily ruinous, and that too much welfare is stupid even though I like universal healthcare.

The problem is, I believe that a lot of people think like I do. Not necessarily sharing the exact same views, but at least in the way that their views are not so polarized, not so one sided.

It's a huge shame that things are so polarized. That just because Americans vote for George Bush because they think he's tough on terrorists also means that de facto they vote to ruin the environment. Just because you vote Democrat because you like oppose making abortion illegal means suddenly you also agree with everything else they agree with.

Ideally we would have a real complete democracy where citizens vote on every issue, of course people are too ignorant to ever let that happen. Alternately we have a system whereby candidates represent us based on much more complex views of the world. A whole package of things, but 100s of candiates to choose from, and they vote as they will.

Either way, I have no real practical solutions right now to fixing it all, but I agree... the name calling is pointless and counterproductive to our society. It should be stopped.

[Richard Creager]

sage

[HeavenSent]

There is a way, but you'd call it extreme.

Please, do tell. :groovy:

[Kolar]

There is a way, but you'd call it extreme,

Actually funding our education systems?

[Richard Creager]

sage

[Eric is God]

Actually funding our education systems?

Short of wiping the human race out and starting over, that's our best chance. Increased education and personal freedoms tend to have a positive impact on all of society's problems.