Summary of political beliefs

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

In short, I believe that government exists to give people a better life. Socialist, civil libertarian, moderate dove.

Economics:

Welfare: Gov't should help the unemployed by both giving them money to get them out of the hole and finding them jobs to keep them out.

Education: Pay teachers based on how they affect student performance. I support good, funded public schools.

Health care: Universal and free.

Trade/Outsourcing: Fair trade. Generally oppose outsourcing.

Wages: No 'working poor'. Wages should be high enough that if you work your 40 hours a week, you should make a good living.

Social:

Gay rights: I'm gay. Figure it out.

Abortion/contraception: Fully legal. Oppose forcing religiously-affiliated institutions to provide abortions (not contraception).

Crime, Drugs, Prostitution and such: Sex offenders get LWOP if over 16, rehab if under. Death penalty only for murder. Oppose 'war on drugs', support legalization, taxation. Legalize, heavily regulate prostitution

Guns: Support right to keep, but not bear in public. Only small arms. No hunting.

Immigration: Fully support legalized immigration. Oppose illegal immigration, but think we should just force everyone through legally.

Euthanasia: Support.

Foreign Policy:

Support war only to directly defend America or to support freedom from tyranny (e.g. Syria). Friendly with free countries. Support Palestinian state.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

My God, Harry, are we the same person?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Social: Complete Feingoldian civil libertarian.  Pro-gay marriage (obviously for me ), pro-choice in the vast majority of cases.  Pro-pot legalization (and regulation).  Anti-death penalty, pro-euthanasia, and yes, I'm against "in God we Trust" and "One nation under God" being in currency, the pledge of allegiance, etc.  Pro-gun control.  Support letting in more immigration in. 

Economic: Fair trade, very progressive taxation, passionately pro-labor unions (except sometimes the teachers' unions with regards to tenure.  And the American Musicians' Union can also be rather dogmatic).  Pro-regulation of big business and banks, including the reinstatement of the Glass-Stegall Act in its full original entirety.  Put a financial transaction's tax in there too.  Support raising the minimum wage to the living wage.  Support a single-taxpayer health care system, and a large increase in Social Security spending so that we actually have a safety net that's not a complete joke. 

Environmental: Yes, climate change is real.  Support a gradually implemented cap and trade system, along with much greater funding for solar and wind technology.  Oppose nuclear energy.  Also a big animal rights supporter. 

Foreign Policy: Dove.  Pro-Palestinian (though both their factions are crap), anti-Afghan war, anti-Iraq war, and generally extremely skeptical of anyone who wants to start a war even against the most insane regimes in the world.  Though I did (and still do) support the Libya intervention, and I think something seriously has to be done about the situation in Syria.  Very passionate about human rights in general.

Miscellaneous: Support campaign finance reform, want a parliamentary system in my heart of hearts, support proportional representation and oppose upper houses in general.  But so long as we're stuck in the shackles of the structure of government related to us by the Founding Fathers, I guess abolish the electoral college and institute preferential voting.  Same with all House and Senate elections.  Oh, and maybe give more Senate seats to larger states so that it's actually proportional to the population.  And give D.C. Statehood status already. 

Have sex with me now.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

used to support support sending criminals to alaska or siberia

That's um, interesting.

Yeah I used to see it as a alternative to capital punishment but now I dont since I favor it.

Why Alaska of all places?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Very socially conservative. A few examples;
Abortion: Only when the life of the mother is seriously threatened.
Gay "Marriage": Completely and totally illegal.
Drugs: Marijuana should be completely illegal, and I'm not too fond of alcohol or cigarettes but I realize those two would be nearly impossible to illegalize, so I'll tolerate them in moderation.
Church and State: Keep "In God we Trust", school prayers should be allowed but determined based on the school districts, freedom OF religion not FROM religion, take out the "Solemnly swear" parts of oaths and return to what it was, etc.

Moderately economically conservative. A few examples;
Taxes: Should be a universal tax rate from the bottom of the ladder to the very top, with the exception being the absolute poorest of the poor, whom should receive government assistance, but must prove they are actively trying to secure a job that can pay for themselves.
Deficit Spending: Slash spending across the board, with the only exceptions being education and the military.
Welfare: Only for the poorest of the poor, and drug test applicants.
Debt Ceiling: Lower, lower, LOWER!!!!

May I be the first to say that you make me, as a gay man, an atheist, a man who thinks government shouldn't control what you put in your body, a man who believes that those who can afford it should give back to the community, who believes that science should lead the way on issues of women's health and that women shouldn't be made to carry their rapist's baby, that our military is bloated and needs to be cut, and that everyone deserves a basic standard of living, sick? I think you might find a certain other Vladimir to be a good friend of yours.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Very socially conservative. A few examples;
Abortion: Only when the life of the mother is seriously threatened.
Gay "Marriage": Completely and totally illegal.
Drugs: Marijuana should be completely illegal, and I'm not too fond of alcohol or cigarettes but I realize those two would be nearly impossible to illegalize, so I'll tolerate them in moderation.
Church and State: Keep "In God we Trust", school prayers should be allowed but determined based on the school districts, freedom OF religion not FROM religion, take out the "Solemnly swear" parts of oaths and return to what it was, etc.

Moderately economically conservative. A few examples;
Taxes: Should be a universal tax rate from the bottom of the ladder to the very top, with the exception being the absolute poorest of the poor, whom should receive government assistance, but must prove they are actively trying to secure a job that can pay for themselves.
Deficit Spending: Slash spending across the board, with the only exceptions being education and the military.
Welfare: Only for the poorest of the poor, and drug test applicants.
Debt Ceiling: Lower, lower, LOWER!!!!

...Do you really have Hitler quotes in your signature?

No, the second one's Goebbels IIRC.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

99% of what you believe makes me cry tears of joy, but I'm not sure if the Voter ID thing is sarcasm or not. Also, why the E Pluribus Unum hate?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

99% of what you believe makes me cry tears of joy, but I'm not sure if the Voter ID thing is sarcasm or not. Also, why the E Pluribus Unum hate?

The Voter ID thing is not sarcasm. If you're 18 years of age and want to take part in the political process, I don't necessarily see the wrong in having to provide a photo ID at the polls.

E pluribus unum, when it became our motto, essentially meant "out of many rich white slaveowners, one elitist society composed of rich white slaveowners". That is still basically true (switch out African-Americans with the average laborer, and you still have slaveowners in corporate boardrooms), and the connotations of the motto just bother the hell out of me.

On the voter ID thing, you seem to be assuming that everyone has a photo ID, which is simply not true. Those sorts of laws have been shown again and again to disenfranchise legitimate voters at basically no benefit to the integrity of the system - the number of voter impersonation cases in every election is negligible.

Of course, it's rather obvious that old-timey America was a terrible place with slavery and all those things, but (and here I go being all idealistic with my head in the clouds) the whole point of America is, as I see it, the place where anyone can come and forge a new life, get ahead, raise a family if they want, yada yada yada. The reality of that vision is, sadly, basically not true at all in today's society, but mottoes are about ideals. If national mottoes reflected a country's history, most of them would be depressing as .

Also, you can have your beliefs, but I'm not a fan of comparing the current conditions of the non-wealthy to slavery, no matter how bad they are.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

99% of what you believe makes me cry tears of joy, but I'm not sure if the Voter ID thing is sarcasm or not. Also, why the E Pluribus Unum hate?

The Voter ID thing is not sarcasm. If you're 18 years of age and want to take part in the political process, I don't necessarily see the wrong in having to provide a photo ID at the polls.

E pluribus unum, when it became our motto, essentially meant "out of many rich white slaveowners, one elitist society composed of rich white slaveowners". That is still basically true (switch out African-Americans with the average laborer, and you still have slaveowners in corporate boardrooms), and the connotations of the motto just bother the hell out of me.

On the voter ID thing, you seem to be assuming that everyone has a photo ID, which is simply not true. Those sorts of laws have been shown again and again to disenfranchise legitimate voters at basically no benefit to the integrity of the system - the number of voter impersonation cases in every election is negligible.

Of course, it's rather obvious that old-timey America was a terrible place with slavery and all those things, but (and here I go being all idealistic with my head in the clouds) the whole point of America is, as I see it, the place where anyone can come and forge a new life, get ahead, raise a family if they want, yada yada yada. The reality of that vision is, sadly, basically not true at all in today's society, but mottoes are about ideals. If national mottoes reflected a country's history, most of them would be depressing as .

Also, you can have your beliefs, but I'm not a fan of comparing the current conditions of the non-wealthy to slavery, no matter how bad they are.

I don't see America that way, but we're all entitled to our beliefs. Probably my problem with the motto is that I'm a solid non-patriot and think that the Founders were sort of circle-jerking when they came up with these mottoes etc. etc. about liberty and equality, but that's just me.

Well, they were (except Thomas Paine, the underrated bro that he is), but I believe we can make America better. I mean, yeah, deep down we're just constrained by random lines drawn on maps and I could easily drive over to Toronto right now, but I think change is possible, even though it may seem hard.

Let's have an everyone's-entitled-to-their-beliefs party! We can bring Ken Ham and everyone on Conservative Political Forum.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

99% of what you believe makes me cry tears of joy, but I'm not sure if the Voter ID thing is sarcasm or not. Also, why the E Pluribus Unum hate?

The Voter ID thing is not sarcasm. If you're 18 years of age and want to take part in the political process, I don't necessarily see the wrong in having to provide a photo ID at the polls.

E pluribus unum, when it became our motto, essentially meant "out of many rich white slaveowners, one elitist society composed of rich white slaveowners". That is still basically true (switch out African-Americans with the average laborer, and you still have slaveowners in corporate boardrooms), and the connotations of the motto just bother the hell out of me.

On the voter ID thing, you seem to be assuming that everyone has a photo ID, which is simply not true. Those sorts of laws have been shown again and again to disenfranchise legitimate voters at basically no benefit to the integrity of the system - the number of voter impersonation cases in every election is negligible.

Of course, it's rather obvious that old-timey America was a terrible place with slavery and all those things, but (and here I go being all idealistic with my head in the clouds) the whole point of America is, as I see it, the place where anyone can come and forge a new life, get ahead, raise a family if they want, yada yada yada. The reality of that vision is, sadly, basically not true at all in today's society, but mottoes are about ideals. If national mottoes reflected a country's history, most of them would be depressing as .

Also, you can have your beliefs, but I'm not a fan of comparing the current conditions of the non-wealthy to slavery, no matter how bad they are.

I don't see America that way, but we're all entitled to our beliefs. Probably my problem with the motto is that I'm a solid non-patriot and think that the Founders were sort of circle-jerking when they came up with these mottoes etc. etc. about liberty and equality, but that's just me.

Well, they were (except Thomas Paine, the underrated bro that he is), but I believe we can make America better. I mean, yeah, deep down we're just constrained by random lines drawn on maps and I could easily drive over to Toronto right now, but I think change is possible, even though it may seem hard.

Let's have an everyone's-entitled-to-their-beliefs party! We can bring Ken Ham and everyone on Conservative Political Forum.

Thomas Paine was, admittedly, kinda cool.

That everyone's-entitled-to-their-beliefs party idea seems like it would be interesting...

Don't worry, the Democratic Underground people would balance CPF out.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Wait, what are you doing not being a Democrat?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Two questions, Boshie: How is marijuana a "poison that enslaves and kills"? And why do you seem to think black people are the only people who do drugs (or are you pointing out the racism in our justice and law enforcement systems?)?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Very socially conservative. A few examples;
Abortion: Only when the life of the mother is seriously threatened.
Gay "Marriage": Completely and totally illegal.
Drugs: Marijuana should be completely illegal, and I'm not too fond of alcohol or cigarettes but I realize those two would be nearly impossible to illegalize, so I'll tolerate them in moderation.
Church and State: Keep "In God we Trust", school prayers should be allowed but determined based on the school districts, freedom OF religion not FROM religion, take out the "Solemnly swear" parts of oaths and return to what it was, etc.

Moderately economically conservative. A few examples;
Taxes: Should be a universal tax rate from the bottom of the ladder to the very top, with the exception being the absolute poorest of the poor, whom should receive government assistance, but must prove they are actively trying to secure a job that can pay for themselves.
Deficit Spending: Slash spending across the board, with the only exceptions being education and the military.
Welfare: Only for the poorest of the poor, and drug test applicants.
Debt Ceiling: Lower, lower, LOWER!!!!

May I be the first to say that you make me, as a gay man, an atheist, a man who thinks government shouldn't control what you put in your body, a man who believes that those who can afford it should give back to the community, who believes that science should lead the way on issues of women's health and that women shouldn't be made to carry their rapist's baby, that our military is bloated and needs to be cut, and that everyone deserves a basic standard of living, sick? I think you might find a certain other Vladimir to be a good friend of yours.

Actually, I'm a big Putin fan. So is 70% of Russians and most Crimeans.

Good to know, I'll need a good punching bag about which to get needlessly angry and rant on the internet. Now, starting with the easy questions, why should gay marriage be illegal?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

...Do you really have Hitler quotes in your signature?

No, the second one's Goebbels IIRC.

   Is it Dr. Goebbels? Could've sworn that was Adolf. If you can show me it was Goebbels, I'll change my signature to show that.
[/quote]

Oh, wait, apparently you're right. Wikiquote says it's from Mein Kampf.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

"I'm also opposed to taking rights from others in order to benefit other individuals" - Is this not the foundation of modern society?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

"I'm also opposed to taking rights from others in order to benefit other individuals" - Is this not the foundation of modern society?

A modern Socialist society maybe.

So how's the public fire department working out for you?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Abortion: Allow on demand at any stage of pregnancy, with no questions asked, no frivolous restrictions placed upon it by state legislatures and completely free of charge.

So you're saying that life begins at birth? How did you come to this conclusion?

Gun control: Completely opposed, legalize all guns and require gun training courses in schools. Ideally replace the standing army with citizens' militia, same goes for the police force (assuming we're also abolishing most of the criminal code in favor of a more restitution-oriented kind of criminal code, of course) and nationalize the gun industry. Very strongly supportive of "gun culture" and individual self defense.

What if the "self-defense" turns out to be unnecessary - would have acquitted George Zimmerman? Does "abolishing most of the criminal code" mean changing our punishment system or abolishing most criminal laws? What if a psycho goes and takes a cannon and kills a hundred people? Are you aware that a gun in the home is more likely to kill a child than an intruder?

Voter ID: End voter registration, let anyone who can make it to the polls vote.

What if they're not citizens? I don't think Venezuelans should be allowed to choose our leaders.

Unions: Should essentially run the economy, very very very supportive, abolish all restrictions on them (Taft-Hartley, Landrum-Griffin, Hatch Act, ect), encourage their growth, ban scabs, require union shops and hiring halls, etc. Collectivize industry and allow unions to manage it wherever industry is collectivized.

I'm inherently suspicious of anyone "essentially running" anything with no restrictions. What if unions go bad (and don't say they can do no wrong because of your union fetishism)?

Military: End standing army in favor of citizen militias, end all overseas activity, bring troops home etc
War: Only if the US is attacked
Foreign Aid: Cancel all debt owed to the US and leave them alone

I agree with most of this stuff, but what if, say, North Korea attacks South Korea and the only way to stop them is military intervention (Kim Jong-un is not one for diplomatic negotiation, after all)? Are we not obliged to defend our friend, an ally, and a democratic state from North Korean dictatorship? Secondly, what if South Korea's economy is devastated by the Second Korean War and they need our help to get back on our feet?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

I assume Tiffany means no crosses on public land and suchlike.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I support abolishing citizenship as a concept.

Does this mean abolishing all nations and living under one world government? Not saying that's a bad thing, just asking for clarification. Also not using subjects in sentences.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Wait, Vlad was banned for his political views? I don't buy it.

I'm told he posted actual Nazi propaganda, though it doesn't show up in his posting history and was presumably deleted.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Caffeine should be legal but strongly regulated.

This is a joke, right?

I know there's no way it's realistically happening but I'm a Mormon and I don't drink caffeine.

I live in a suburb and don't own a gun. Therefore gun ownership should be legal but strongly regulated.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Caffeine should be legal but strongly regulated.

This is a joke, right?

I know there's no way it's realistically happening but I'm a Mormon and I don't drink caffeine.

I live in a suburb and don't own a gun. Therefore gun ownership should be legal but strongly regulated.

I get the joke, but isn't that your actual view on gun control?

Oh, yes.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Reform Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security

expand aid to poor, promote upward mobility

Something's not right here...