Let's see if we can talk about this without rancor: name one subject / topic ---

[Exiled in America]

If this turns into arguments about the topics itself and becomes some flame war, I'll ask for the thread to be locked myself.

But I thought it would be interesting to discuss this. I know full well that there are one or two topics where I cannot have a reasonable debate with someone who disagrees with me. If the topic comes up, and someone starts suggesting the opposite viewpoint from mine, I am going to go off.

I'm talking about that one topic that gets you so passionate that its hard to even listen to disagreement. I'm not saying that's a good thing, I just believe we all have them, and I'm curious to know what some of yours might be.

I'll start:

The topic of poverty is one where I simply cannot stomach viewpoints from the other side of the spectrum from me. When I hear someone start talking about how "poor people" should just work harder or how most of them "exploit the system" or whatever I want to beat my monitor to pieces with a baseball bat. When people try to defend the staggering and increasing chasm between richest and poorest Americans, when people attempt to defend the corporate psychopathic business structure that has bought our government and runs our world today, when people start trying to talk to me about how bad labor unions are and that union workers are lazy or whatever else.......

....essentially when people take a greedy, arrogant, condescending position on issues of poverty and economic justice, I become ANGRY. :)

I can talk about it, but I admit that I get riled up about that particular subject.

So..... what issues are like that for you?

[TahitiNut]

1. So, when a candidate says that 'training & education' is the problem with the unemployed ...

... despite the fact that college grads are asking "fries with that?" and corporate America is importing people without a high school education ... do you continue to support that candidate?

[Exiled in America]

3. If the candidate actually said that --

-- said it was THE problem, rather than suggesting that making education accessible to everyone is one of multiple parts of a full strategy to end poverty.... then no, I wouldn't continue to support the candidate.

[Warpy]

5. Somebody posted a chart here yesterday

that showed deviation from the unemployment stats by educational group.

HS dropouts fared the best, HS grads next, "some college" and college grad fared worst, with unemployment levels higher than the previous two groups.

It seems more education makes it more likely you'll be unemployed, even though you'll make more money if you are employed.

[Exiled in America]

7. I couldn't find a job locally because my resume and education background was too good. Seriously.

I had to start lying about it and hiding things off my resume, and even then I still couldn't get work. Took me six months until I finally got a job making $9 an hour (after formerly making $50,000 a year as a single person with no dependents) through a staffing agency. I even got rejected from a job as a cashier at barnes and noble. I went in for the interview, and discovered the "supervisors" interviewing me were about 19. I'm 30. I made the mistake of a using a large word or two in my answers and walked out knowing they'd never call me back because who wants to hire someone and know that they are probably ten times as qualified as you are for your own job?

[JuniperLea]

2. Poverty only exists so others can be...

filthy, stinking, dirty, rotten rich. Greed is the basis of all our woes.

My issues are generally green. I'm like the ex-smoker who cannot fathom why others continue to smoke. Once I traded in my SUV and realized how nice is was NOT to be a gas hog, using up more than my fair share, I find little tolerance for others driving Hummers and Suburbans, Tahoes, etc. My sister is selling her big new BMW... and she bought a Mini Cooper. She is already impressed by how little gas she is using in comparison.

My other issue is people who think they shouldn't pay taxes that go to education, even though they would reap the benefits of society being better educated. Even if those better educated people are only flipping burgers... at least they would be ready to assume a more meaningful job should one become available... you know, like when some miracle happens with our economy. So there you have it... back to the economy... and greedy people.

[stirlingsliver]

4. Reproductive Choice

When someone wants to deny people the right to reproductive choice, it makes it very difficult for me to listen without getting VERY angry.

[Exiled in America]

6. I don't deny the right, I just think fathers should have as much say in the decision................

... (snicker)..........


Just kidding. :silly: