UO

SaguaroBlossmom

We only need 9 pages to beat last weeks!
We can do it!!11!

ETA: we actually need 10 pages.. It's all good, we got this.

CNJ4EVA

I think prostitution should be legalized. Regulate that shit and let Uncle Sam take his cut (and maybe give the rest of us a little break?).

SaguaroBlossmom

You know I never thought of that before , but now I'm thinking! . Who should have say what we do with our bodies? If porn is legal why shouldn't prostitution?!

SaguaroBlossmom

Exactly , like porn.. They have to get tested regularly , pay taxes, etc.. Kinda a double standard . You can't sell sex on your own, but you can record it and sell the videos... Okaayy..

emmy236

On the same note I think marijuana should be legalized. I personally do not want to smoke it but it seems like the amount of money we waste on trying to combat it could go to much better use. Plus growing the plants is easy from a farming standpoint and so many other products can be made from hemp. Also, tax the hell out of it like they do with cigarettes and so many financial issues here could be resolved. I actually took an Econ class where the professor did a projection on all of this and it's sadly so logical.

SaguaroBlossmom

I agree with legalization of marijuana also. I don't smoke anymore, but I used to. I stopped when I went into college and can't now bc of random drug screens at my hospital but if it WAS legal I would definitely smoke when I had a night away from the girls. It is soo much better than drinking.

pnutg

I definitely disagree with legalizing prostitution and if I was in charge, porn would be illegal as well. During the last election I did vote for marijuana to be legalized.

PumpkinAndThePeanut

tricia560 said:

I kinda like the way legalized prostitution is implemented in the In Death book series, if you've read those.  You have to be licensed, pay taxes, and get regular testing to guarantee mental and physical health, which seems reasonable.

Sounds like Amsterdam

emmy236

^^^^and France

emmy236

3timemom said:

I don't know if making it legal will make it better or worse. It would make it easier to get but at the same time you would probably be spending more on drug testing because even if it's legal you can't perform most jobs if your high.

Not to mention if you legalize marijuana what's next? cocaine? Heroin? I do agree with taxing the day lights out of it if they do legalize it but I don't want my kids teacher smoking a joint before school then teaching my kids, or the nurse at the hospital smoking before she goes in to assist with a surgery. I just see a lot of more people using it and abusing it if it is legalized.

In that regard how is that any different than those types of people drinking before such activities? Alcohol is legal to buy and consume, doesn't mean Mrs Smith and Dr Jones are doing it before work. Little secret, teachers and doctors go home and drink after their days too. Also, really what's to stop them from smoking now? Most companies already have well established drug testing policies so there wouldn't be an increase. If anything some will stop testing. Many test because they don't want their employees to be involved in illegal activity. If the activity is legal they can save their testing money and just make them sign code of conduct contracts making they eligible for termination if they are high/drunk at work.

Edit: health care professionals also have access to way better drugs than pot. In terms of other street drugs mentioned, most of those are legal in other forms of prescription pain killers (morphine, Valium, etc). Some people will always want to get high just like some people will always want to drink. We banned alcohol and that led to the rise of organized crime, bootlegging and loss of jobs. It's a do the pros out way the cons situation.

bhjones1980

emmy236 said:

I don't know if making it legal will make it better or worse. It would make it easier to get but at the same time you would probably be spending more on drug testing because even if it's legal you can't perform most jobs if your high. Not to mention if you legalize marijuana what's next? cocaine? Heroin? I do agree with taxing the day lights out of it if they do legalize it but I don't want my kids teacher smoking a joint before school then teaching my kids, or the nurse at the hospital smoking before she goes in to assist with a surgery. I just see a lot of more people using it and abusing it if it is legalized.

In that regard how is that any different than those types of people drinking before such activities? Alcohol is legal to buy and consume, doesn't mean Mrs Smith and Dr Jones are doing it before work. Little secret, teachers and doctors go home and drink after their days too. Also, really what's to stop them from smoking now? Most companies already have well established drug testing policies so there wouldn't be an increase. If anything some will stop testing. Many test because they don't want their employees to be involved in illegal activity. If the activity is legal they can save their testing money and just make them sign code of conduct contracts making they eligible for termination if they are high/drunk at work. Edit: health care professionals also have access to way better drugs than pot. In terms of other street drugs mentioned, most of those are legal in other forms of prescription pain killers (morphine, Valium, etc). Some people will always want to get high just like some people will always want to drink. We banned alcohol and that led to the rise of organized crime, bootlegging and loss of jobs. It's a do the pros out way the cons situation.

Emmy - I have never heard this stated so well.... slow clap!!!

SaguaroBlossmom

Couldn't agree more @emmy236‌

JoJo716

I wish tips were included and restaurants paid their employees a living wage. Mainly because math is hard.

emmy236

3timemom said:

bhjones1980 said:

emmy236 said:

3timemom said:

I don't know if making it legal will make it better or worse. It would make it easier to get but at the same time you would probably be spending more on drug testing because even if it's legal you can't perform most jobs if your high.

Not to mention if you legalize marijuana what's next? cocaine? Heroin? I do agree with taxing the day lights out of it if they do legalize it but I don't want my kids teacher smoking a joint before school then teaching my kids, or the nurse at the hospital smoking before she goes in to assist with a surgery. I just see a lot of more people using it and abusing it if it is legalized.

In that regard how is that any different than those types of people drinking before such activities? Alcohol is legal to buy and consume, doesn't mean Mrs Smith and Dr Jones are doing it before work. Little secret, teachers and doctors go home and drink after their days too. Also, really what's to stop them from smoking now? Most companies already have well established drug testing policies so there wouldn't be an increase. If anything some will stop testing. Many test because they don't want their employees to be involved in illegal activity. If the activity is legal they can save their testing money and just make them sign code of conduct contracts making they eligible for termination if they are high/drunk at work.

Edit: health care professionals also have access to way better drugs than pot. In terms of other street drugs mentioned, most of those are legal in other forms of prescription pain killers (morphine, Valium, etc). Some people will always want to get high just like some people will always want to drink. We banned alcohol and that led to the rise of organized crime, bootlegging and loss of jobs. It's a do the pros out way the cons situation.

Emmy - I have never heard this stated so well.... slow clap!!!

That's true. I didn't think of that. I guess I'm thinking more that don't do it now will do it. I also just keep wondering what will be next, and how many people will do more because they want the thrill I guess you can call it of doing something and trying to not get caught.


My friend Darwin referred to that as "Natural Selection". You can't fix stupid

coffeeandbooks

On a related note, what about lowering the legal age to drink?  I have always thought it strange that you could go to war for your country but not order a beer.
It is a long way off but I could see myself introducing beer to LO when he is a teenager.  I'd want to take the mystery out of it and teach him how to drink responsibly. 

DiFazette

@emmy236 - exactly my thoughts. Legalize all of it. Some problems might take care of themselves. We also need a few trillion more dollars in additional government revenue to even think of chipping away at our deficit. Legalizing, taxing and monitoring would be a good way to do that IMO.

JoJo716

@coffeeandbooks‌ Nerdy history fact: the legal voting age used to be 21. However, it was lowered in the 70's because the argument was made that 18 year olds went and died in Vietnam but they could not vote.

watuzzigal

... and Las Vegas. Hasn't anyone watched CSI???

Edit: re: legalized prostitution

DiFazette

Forgot to add my UO and I can't edit previous post. This May or may not be a UO but I think adolescent and teenage children should be checked for psychiatric issues as part of well visits. In light of all the recent school killings/stabbings etc, I think we need to be doing more to catch emotional/psych issues at a young age and treat through counseling first.

I hate our over medicated culture, but I think we as a country do a really shitty job at mental health awareness and solutions across the board, and even less for children.

coffeeandbooks

@DiFazaette, that does seem like a really good idea.  I really can't come up with a good reason why these things are happening so frequently these days.  It is awful.

emmy236

coffeeandbooks said:

On a related note, what about lowering the legal age to drink?  I have always thought it strange that you could go to war for your country but not order a beer.
It is a long way off but I could see myself introducing beer to LO when he is a teenager.  I'd want to take the mystery out of it and teach him how to drink responsibly. 

I completely agree. DH and I come from families/cultures where it's completely acceptable drinking at a younger age. For example my family has a tradition that when you are considered an adult, you're presented with a glass. I guess it goes back mainly for men that you were given your stein and allowed at the ale houses. Now I'm pretty sure my aunt just gets a wine glass engraved at Things Remembered with our names. Those glasses are kept at my oldest aunts house. I got mine at 17. I'm not saying I got a free pass to do jäger bombs but I way allowed a glass of wine at family events. It was a big deal and I didn't want to abuse that privledge and embarrass my family if I went out and made a fool out of myself. I think we will do something similar for R when he's 18.

Schell2013

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography.

Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

telicious2

3timemom said:

Schell2013 said:

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography.

Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

I agree. I also don't think they should be able to sit in jail for years while we feed them. I think if you get the dean penalty as your sentence it should be immediately.

I agree as well. But as for the rapists and pedephiles I think they should get a penectomy (penis removal). It's like one of the Asian countries that will cut off an offender's hand(s) for stealing. Not sure if this is still practiced.

Killers should get the death penalty- you take a life so why should you keep yours?

As for the child porn offenders, maybe they should have their eyes removed, but that may be a little harsh/extreme. DH always say they won't last long in jail.

It would be nice to think that if we had stricter punishments that less people would commit the crimes.

BekW2009

Schell2013 said:

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography. Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

My aunt used to work for the federal prison system. She told me baby killers, pedefiles, etc had a high incident of being killed in jail. Think of it like their own form of justice.

SaguaroBlossmom

LexiLupin said:

3timemom said:

Schell2013 said:

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography.

Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

I agree. I also don't think they should be able to sit in jail for years while we feed them. I think if you get the dean penalty as your sentence it should be immediately.

Well that kinda sucks for the ones who get wrongfully convicted.

I agree, while I hate that money is being spent on them.. There is always that chance they are not guilty.
If it was a witnessesed event and there is no doubt they are guilty, then yes.. Get on with it.
Another qualm I have is that we give prisoners who are in for a life sentence life saving operations. We get them in for heart surgeries at my hospital... For real o_O ?

watuzzigal

@SaguaroBlossmom‌ 20 pages!

... oh. No, wait. 2 pages.

telicious2

SaguaroBlossmom said:

LexiLupin said:

3timemom said:

Schell2013 said:

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography.

Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

I agree. I also don't think they should be able to sit in jail for years while we feed them. I think if you get the dean penalty as your sentence it should be immediately.

Well that kinda sucks for the ones who get wrongfully convicted.

I agree, while I hate that money is being spent on them.. There is always that chance they are not guilty.
If it was a witnessesed event and there is no doubt they are guilty, then yes.. Get on with it.
Another qualm I have is that we give prisoners who are in for a life sentence life saving operations. We get them in for heart surgeries at my hospital... For real o_O ?

Or what about the prisoner in my state that "has the right" to a tax payer funded sex change surgery? Mind you that he is in prison for murdering his wife...

Schell2013

rea1687 said:

SaguaroBlossmom said:

LexiLupin said:

3timemom said:

Schell2013 said:

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography.

Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

I agree. I also don't think they should be able to sit in jail for years while we feed them. I think if you get the dean penalty as your sentence it should be immediately.

Well that kinda sucks for the ones who get wrongfully convicted.

I agree, while I hate that money is being spent on them.. There is always that chance they are not guilty.
If it was a witnessesed event and there is no doubt they are guilty, then yes.. Get on with it.
Another qualm I have is that we give prisoners who are in for a life sentence life saving operations. We get them in for heart surgeries at my hospital... For real o_O ?

Or what about the prisoner in my state that "has the right" to a tax payer funded sex change surgery? Mind you that he is in prison for murdering his wife...

I think all these points are very valid reasons of how tax payers money is wasted on people in prison hence why I fully support death penalties if they are very very very certain they are putting the proper person away. Like PP said witness saw it, DNA evidence etc.

SaguaroBlossmom

rea1687 said:

SaguaroBlossmom said:

LexiLupin said:

3timemom said:

Schell2013 said:

I think the death penalty should exist for rapists, killers, pedefiles (sp?), also those who participate and found guilty of child pornography.

Eta- perhaps this will help get to 10 pages. Puts on flame suit.

I agree. I also don't think they should be able to sit in jail for years while we feed them. I think if you get the dean penalty as your sentence it should be immediately.

Well that kinda sucks for the ones who get wrongfully convicted.

I agree, while I hate that money is being spent on them.. There is always that chance they are not guilty.
If it was a witnessesed event and there is no doubt they are guilty, then yes.. Get on with it.
Another qualm I have is that we give prisoners who are in for a life sentence life saving operations. We get them in for heart surgeries at my hospital... For real o_O ?

Or what about the prisoner in my state that "has the right" to a tax payer funded sex change surgery? Mind you that he is in prison for murdering his wife...

.... I can't even..

SaguaroBlossmom

watuzzigal said:

@SaguaroBlossmom‌ 20 pages!

... oh. No, wait. 2 pages.

We failed miserably...

LaxMOM44

Drinking age in Canada is 19 or even 18 in Quebec and Alberta....we do alright.

Pot is semi legal here (decriminalized possession)....we do alright

No death penalty....we do alright

Maple syrup on everything....we do alright

Boo0512

Way late but I wasn't online much yesterday...I am with @pnutg and it is for religious/moral reasons. However, even though I am very opposed to prostitution I can see the benefits in legalizing it. From what I know there are many women who are forced into prostitution and abused by their pimp and/or customers. Perhaps if it were regulated the women would be safer.

I guess when it comes to porn and prostitution my religious reasons are strongest but as someone who minored in Sociology I see so many adverse affects on the women in these situations that I don't want to support it. Many women involved in the sex industry feel they have no other options and are severely depressed/do drugs to get through it. I know this isn't always the case but it happens a lot.

I used to be very pro-death penalty but I no longer am. I do however, hate paying for the prisoners to live in jail.

Drinking age should be 18.

I don't really care whether or not pot is legalized. I think most people who really want to smoke pot are going to do it regardless. I guess I don't feel strongly about it one way or another.

Now if only I could remember my UO lol.

emmy236

If drugs and hookers can't get us to 3 pages I don't know what can

pnutg

maymomNY said:

^ I don't think anyone will flame you for that. I am stuck on the desire to make porn illegal @pnutg‌ . May I ask why? Is it for religious reasons or do you believe it's degrading to women?

Edit. Ugh autocorrect

Yes, I believe it's degrading. Some people really have a problem with it. Sex sells so it's everywhere I don't see why we should make it even more accessible. I don't want it anywhere near my house.

BekW2009

While Amsterdam has a high crime rate relative to the rest of Europe, it is relatively low in comparison to the Americas where pot and prostitution is not legal in most areas. I'm with the legalization of both. It's going to happen, why not make it legal and safe? It goes hand in hand with another hot button issue, abortion. If you make abortion illegal, in most cases you it won't decrease the rate of it BUT it will increase the unsafe practice of it.

There you go, if prostitution, drugs and abortion can't get a few more pages, I don't know what can.

blush64

I do not agree with legal prostitution. I also do not believe we should legalize marijuana. Right now marijuana is decriminalized where I live and that is good enough for me. Making it legal would mean it is more readily available and I don't like that. Amsterdam still has problems with women being forced into prostitution and it is legal there.

drhibbard

blush64 said:

I do not agree with legal prostitution. I also do not believe we should legalize marijuana. Right now marijuana is decriminalized where I live and that is good enough for me. Making it legal would mean it is more readily available and I don't like that. Amsterdam still has problems with women being forced into prostitution and it is legal there.

I don't think you realize how readily available it is now because you aren't looking for it.  It's pretty easy to find pot.

DiFazette

nola78 said:

I had drafted a reply and I don't know where it went.  I cannot figure out this new format.  Anyway.  I was going to talk about the prison health care issue.  My H worked as a prison physician for a year and saw so many mentally ill patients with self-inflicted injuries.  It was really sad.  It's also more cost effective to treat some conditions vs. let them go.  I get that some people think that those on death row or with life sentences shouldn't have healthcare, but I disagree.  

I can't speak to what incarcerated healthcare does or doesn't do... But I do know that it's shameful we treat prisoners better than our military and elderly. How the hell can an inmate (who is living off my tax dollars) get immediate care but our veterans wait month upon month for an appt with the VA docs and hospitals. It's disgusting.

emmy236

blush64 said:

I also do not believe we should legalize marijuana. Right now marijuana is decriminalized where I live and that is good enough for me. Making it legal would mean it is more readily available and I don't like that

My take on this is that the only people profiting from "decriminalization" are the drug dealers. Using isn't a crime but all the other parts are. This means multiple felonies by organized crime syndicates, who profit exponentially and what do you think they do with all that money? It's not like these people are then giving that money to charity or taxes. Also, dealers have been known to put some very toxic chemicals like embalming fluids which make people sick. If it's legal, it's a safer product and society would see a measurable benefit. Many farmers can grow it to help supplement their income which could help ease and aid the billions in government subsidies paid to them.

Marijuana for smoking purposes is only a tiny part of what can come from growing it. There are literally hundreds of things that hemp can make. From clothing, paper, to even some fuels. Then, these dispensaries will create jobs. It will be taxed and that is revenue at the local, state and federal levels. Same with alcohol and tobacco. We have been bombarded since we were in elementary school with propaganda that this drug is evil and we will turn into a society of addicts and miscreants but it's just not the case. The effects of the drug weren't even the reason why it was first made illegal, it was purely for economic reasons. I do not want to smoke and I wouldn't want my children to smoke, just like I don't want them smoking cigarettes, but I'm a pragmatist and a economist and understand the risk/reward value of this.

blush64

drhibbard said:

blush64 said:

I do not agree with legal prostitution. I also do not believe we should legalize marijuana. Right now marijuana is decriminalized where I live and that is good enough for me. Making it legal would mean it is more readily available and I don't like that.

Amsterdam still has problems with women being forced into prostitution and it is legal there.

I don't think you realize how readily available it is now because you aren't looking for it.  It's pretty easy to find pot.


I do know how available it is. Many people I know find it almost every day. Making it legal still makes it more available. (Legally)

blush64

emmy236 said:

blush64 said:

I actually know many products can be made from hemp and I know it isn't evil. I also think people are wrong to push the idea it is completely safe. I hear people stating how no one gets violent using it and no one gets in car accidents while using and no one can be addicted.

I think the way it is treated is probably different depending on where you live. I don't feel it was ever made out to be evil.

I think there are good points to be made for making it legal but at this time I do not think it is the right thing to do.

Edit I don't want or expect to change anyone's mind about this. I know my opinions can be unpopular. I am not unaware of the benefits and issues, I just don't see legalizing marijuana as the answer right now.