Politics Who's Gonna Win?

I think that he's actually a machine learning algorithm attempting to learn how to create political arguments via a series of conversational "experiments" with actual humans.

 

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Not true. In some situations raising tax rates will increase government revenues - and then if the revenues are spent properly the spending can be a plus to the economy.
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The question goes beyond the Catholic Church/Institutions - no person should be forced to directly pay for something on behalf of others if they have moral objections. I see this as a social role of government, assuming society support and recognition government needs to be involved. We do expect people to pay taxes and there is the recognition that tax dollars may be spent in morally objectionable ways - it is not a perfect solution, but a good one.

The underlying question, the 800 lb gorilla, so to speak, is when does life begin? Tap dancing around this question is getting tiresome. To those who believe some types of contraception and abortion is murder, what are you saying to those people?

 

The Catholic Church and affiliated institutions are not the same. One provides religious services, the others provide social services. Affiliated institutions (charities, hospitals, universities) that voluntarily serve the entire community w/o religious recognition or distinction and chose to hire non-Catholics and receive tax benefits and federal grants (points you conveniently ignored), should be held to the same neutral standards as other institutions that do not provide religious services as a primary function. That is the law, as it should be.

As to those who think life begins at conception and think contraception is murder, the law should not require them to use contraceptives.

We're back to the point again of having government assure that women's reproductive rights are not restricted vs those, particularly the "small government" radical right, wanting government to impose restrictions.

 

http://gawker.com/5889194/jon-stewart-on-fox-news-rooting-for-america-to-fail

The talking points memo is out, and it has Ace written all over it.

Bonus points for "feelings"

 

Everyone is talking about gas prices being a talking point. "Under Bush we were paying $1.78/gal..."

http://www.GasBuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?city1=USA Average&city2=&city3=&crude=n&tme=72&units=us
This chart from gasbuddy.com, shows what i thought I remembered about that time period. It was under $2 per gallon for about two months. Three months before that, it set a record high at $4.12/gal. When did it plummet? Election time.

 

How is this:

I go to work for PETA and ask the government to force them to pay for bullets for my hunting rifle.

Here is another one:

I go to work for a Hindu Temple and ask the government to force them to accommodate my iron deficiency by forcing them to buy me Double Quarter Pounders with cheese at Mcdonald's every day for lunch.
--- merged: Mar 1, 2012 at 2:09 PM ---

Tell me if my understanding of your position is correct. It seems that you are suggesting that Catholic institutions are not really Catholic institutions. And if Catholics choose to serve those in the greater community they must give up their moral convictions.
--- merged: Mar 1, 2012 at 2:21 PM ---

So why doesn't Obama say that he "inherited" low gas prices the way he says he "inherited" everything that was negative?

 

When religious institutions demand other people conform to their dogma, that's religious freedom. When nonreligious institutions demand that people be given the option of not conforming to religious dogma, that's religious persecution. It's all very clear.

 

The amendment voted on by the Senate today was not specific to reproductive health.

An iron deficiency is a medical issue that can be addressed by eating beef and can be in conflict with a person's moral beliefs.

 

The church is not and can not deny anyone the privilege of using the contraception device or service of their choice. They simply do not want to be involved in it, or pay for it.

No person is being forced to work for a Catholic institution, or to employ the services of a Catholic Institution. To me the answer is clear - If the Catholic Church is wrong, don't support the Church, don't use their services, don't work for the Church.

I had this discussion with a person a couple of months ago - it involved a Jewish food-bank. The rule in question was that they would only dispense kosher food items to families in need (they donated non-kosher food items to other food banks) - would you force them to offer non-kosher items, most people receiving the donations were not Jewish as they served the general public?
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I repeat there was a Senate vote today on the Blunt amendment, it had broader implication than contraception. The issue in question has broader implications.

 

Yes.

If I want ground beef for lunch, I don't work for a Hindu institution. In addition, if I did work for a Hindu institution I would not disrespect their beliefs by eating beef for lunch on the job.

If I hunt for sport, I don't work for PETA. If I worked for PETA I would not expect them to directly pay for my hunting activity. I would not disrespect the tenants of the organization.

If I go to work for a Catholic institution, I would not disrespect their moral code. I would buy my own contraception, I would not expect the Church to pay for it. Again, my parents made financial sacrifice for me to go to a Catholic grade school - we were not Catholic, but we understood (even I as a child understood) it was a Catholic institution - and we did not get all offended with the injection of religion in the core curriculum.

None of this is hidden. An applicant to a Catholic institution should know what to expect. If it is unacceptable, go elsewhere.

 

Ace clearly didn't follow the link I posted, as it has nothing to do with the Catholic church or contraception

 

No. It is all connected - there is no legitimate reason for an employer based healthcare insurance system. We either need a true single payer system or a free market based system - where individuals control their coverage. Employers should pay wages and workers should be free to spend their money as they wish.