With the upcoming election, my life has been inundated with political propaganda. Some I agree with, and others I do not. My opinions on politics have shifted dramatically over the short life span I've accrued. I was raised in a conservative, Republican environment and my political expression consisted of, "That's what they believe, so that's what I believe." Once I got into college, I started realizing that I what I truly believe is in fact not what my family primarily believes. And that's okay. I know they have their reasons for believing what they do, just as I have my reasons. All I ask for is respect. I do not want anyone to change me, or try to convince me that I'm misguided. I'm not changing my mind. So in the spirit of self disclosure, allow me to express what I believe.
Legalize Marijuana Use
If marijuana is completely legalized, you can tax it the same way you tax cigarettes. This will bring in government revenue to be used for public programs. Marijuana is less dangerous than cigarettes and alcohol, so let's gain a little perspective here. It would also put less taxes into the correctional system which by the way, is where your money goes a lot of the time.
LGBT Rights
People love people. People are not all the same. Why is this difficult? Everyone deserves to feel safe in the world and in their own skin. Figuring out who you are is a difficult process anyway. But when people spew hatred and vitriol, you can feel isolated and scared. Newsflash: someone who is trans has already used the same bathroom as you. Guess what? You're fine. Newsflash: you've interacted with someone who is homosexual. And I'm guessing you're fine. So let them be fine too.
Women's Rights
This is something that will never change for me. First, the idea that life begins at the moment of conception is a religious belief. Which means, it has no business governing politics. Separation of Church and State. It's a thing, shockingly enough. Second, for the government to enforce their belief means it has more autonomy over my body than I do. Which is akin to rape. Taking control of my body away from me, is what a rapist does. Lastly, I was sexually assaulted. I was lucky I wasn't raped. But if I had been, and I had gotten pregnant, there is no doubt in my mind that I would have gotten an abortion. I have rights over my body. When raped, that is taken away. Telling a woman who has gotten pregnant from rape that she has to keep that reminder for 9 months is heinous. I respect any woman brave enough to carry a child of rape. You are stronger than I can even imagine. But no woman should be forced to do so. I can shorten this argument quite easily: No Uterus, No Opinion. Unless you've got the materials, keep your mouth shut about mine. I'm equal to you. We're all equal. So can we legislate to make sure women are actually treated as equals?
Immigration
America is the great melting pot. Or now at least, it's the great melting pot for the white people who usurped the Native Americans, but no one else. Especially not brown people. What makes America great is the collection of people and ideas and cultures that make us well rounded and informed. If you don't want that, you are free to leave and usurp someone else somewhere and make your own walled in country. I hear Siberia has lots of space. Lady Liberty still stands, with welcome arms. That's why people want to come here.
Respecting the Earth
It is truly mind boggling that people don't believe in global warming when we can quite literally see from photographs that ice is melting and ocean levels are rising. Earth's resources are finite. Conserve energy. Recycle. Don't have five fucking cars. Take a bus. Walk. Bike. Do what you know you can do to make a difference. It may be small. It may be fucking minute. But it's a difference. If everyone in the world made a minute difference, think of what we could actually achieve. If animals raised for slaughter were actually treated like living beings and respected? If food wasn't pumped full of chemicals? If we all actually gave a damn about the planet that we continue to suck dry of resources and fill the air with chemicals? What if everyone just cared?
Money Stuff
Did you know, that when a person has more money, they spend more?! Quite insanely logical, right?! So this whole notion that raising the minimum wage will cripple the economy is utter and complete horseshit. A person who makes more money can afford their bills and have money to spend on other shit, which stimulates the economy. I don't understand why this is so fucking hard to comprehend. If you're going to spend thousands of dollars a year eating McDonalds, the person flipping your damn burger deserves to be able to feed their own family. Just because a person is poor doesn't mean they are a welfare junkie sucking the life force from your tax teat. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe they were born into poverty? Is that their fault? Is it their parents' fault? What about theirs? Or theirs? Here's the thing: an unequal system perpetuates inequality. You have to fix the system and continue to help people along the way. Everyone pays for everyone else in this country. My tax dollars go to the roads you drive on, and vice versa. Stop bitching about your money sucking welfare "queens." It goes more towards corporations than anything else.
So you might be wondering why I've put this together. Why I am putting my views out there so plainly? Really, because this is the first election I have felt confident in what I believe. I've grown into who I am and what I believe, and I refuse to apologize for it. If you're going to post retorts, don't bother. I'm not changing my mind and I'm certainly not going to stoop to arguing. Accept me for who I am, or walk away. That's it. I'm a feminist, liberal, hippy, social justice warrior. And I wouldn't fucking change it for anything.
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