Wow, just noticed this thread. Well... if everyone jumped off a bridge, then I would too I guess.
Name: Hugh (I know, it sucks)
Sex: Male
Age: 20
School: Harvard College
Background info
Originally born in New Orleans, but I lived most of my early years in southern Alabama with my mom. After attending 7-9 different schools, I moved back to New Orleans with my dad for 8th grade, and then went to Phillips Academy, Andover, a boarding school located north of Boston on a full ride for high school. I'm dual concentrating in Economics and Chinese Civilization (read: language). Between surviving college, internships, and family, I run my own business helping families and businesses reduce their environmental impact and save money on energy costs. In my spare time I really enjoy music (especially Korean), movies, video games (Zelda is my favorite), relaxing, watersking, and learning languages. Outside of school, I'm working on Korean and Spanish right now, but I'm also starting to dabble in German. I'm also a really heavy reader. I probably go through a couple books a week. I used to really suffer from dyslexia, so now I'm making up for lost time. I also do a lot of work with ARC and recently the Red Cross.
Politically
I come from a divided house of paradoxes. My father is a college philosophy professor who votes Republican. My mom is a born again Christian who voted for Gore and Kerry.
I myself lean to the left on social issues, but I'm very conservative on economic policy.
Low taxes, mimumum- but some- regulation of business, free trade, but still a believer in a mixed economy.
While I think that everyone has a right to practice their religion, I don't think religion should have any influence on the government.
Whilel I don't fully accept the global warming theory, I do adhere to it's basic tenants, if only because of the overall scientific consensus.
I don't support Medicare or Medicaid and feel that they should be phased out because of their expensive price tags, but I feel social security is too important to dismantle.
On the Iraq War, I initially didn't support the invasion. I don't think Saddam was a credible threat to the US. I think that the money we are spending in Iraq could have been far better spent; however, I also subscribe to Thomas PM Barnett's Core-Gap Theory and believe that Iraq could be a stepping stone towards a democratic world. I also believe that Saddam was unfit to rule, and that ultimately more lives will be saved then ended by the invasion.
I feel education is the most important issue facing the country. I support school choice, vouchers, merit pay, accountablility, more diverse school types, and dividing classes by ability. I hate public schools for personal reasons.
Deficit Hawk
Pro- Gay Marriage
Anti Death Penalty
Pro Life ( I am deeply conflicted on this issue and frequently change my position)
Pro-stem cell research (I'm willing to sacrifice invetro stem cells that will never see life for the good of billions.)
I feel that the government needs to greatly increase its funding of scientific reasearch
Right now, I'd vote for a democrat for the House, and a Republican for the Senate. I voted Bush in 04, and will probably vote Republican in 08. I really like John McCain for 08 (Please don't go on about it).
I'm probably forgetting a lot of things. Not that anyone really does care, but just post if you want my position on something else.
What brought you here
Originally a research project for a class on Partisanship, but my therapist recommended that the short frequent posting on the forum like this could possible help me with my dyslexia. I hope to improve my spontanious writing . Because of this, I don't edit my posts. That way I can compare my progress over the months with my therapist. I feel like I am improving and would appreciate any feedback frpm the board on this issue.