What is your most controversial opinion?
Replies
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Here's the thing-- A study in 1998 linked autism to the MMR vaccine. However, in subsequent years the research was considered to be invalidid, and the article was retracted.My issue with the vax argument is Ms. McCarthy is not the sole individual following this there is an entire sub community of people that support this and she wasn't the first one. It seems the only people that are interested in looking into this are those affected. I dont have the the time to go scratch up some article with evidence....all Im stating is its possible that all of these kids affected share some type of gene that when exposed to a vaccine or a combination of vaccines at the right time in there development something goes wrong. You cant disprove that's incorrect. That's called a scientific theory They have lots of data that correlates enough of a concern that certain scientific organizations are looking at it. Some theories are taken as fact and they haven't even been proven.
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-02-02/health/lancet.retraction.autism_1_andrew-wakefield-mmr-vaccine-and-autism-general-medical-council?_s=PM:HEALTH
However, multiple studies since have found no noticeable link:
A Population-Based Study of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination and Autism http://www.safeminds.org/research/library/20021107.pdf
Autism and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine: no epidemiological evidence for a causal association
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673699012398
New research demolishes link between MMR vaccine and autism
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1116011/
Association of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine: A Systematic Review of Current Epidemiological Evidence
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/pdf/MMR_8.pdfThe current literature does not suggest an association between ASD and the MMR vaccine; however, limited epidemiological evidence exists to rule out a link between a rare variant form of ASD and the MMR vaccine. Given the real risks of not vaccinating and that the risks and existence of variant ASD remain theoretical, current policies should continue to advocate the use of the MMR vaccine.
Vaccines and Autism: Evidence Does Not Support a Causal Association
http://www.miottawa.org/healthcomm/health/pdf/2007_Nature_DeStefano_Vaccines_and_Autism.pdfA suggested association between certain childhood vaccines and autism has been one of the most contentious vaccine safety controversies in recent years. Despite compelling scientific evidence against a causal association, many parents and parent advocacy groups continue to suspect that vaccines, particularly measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs), can cause autism.
Sorry for all the links. I apologize if my post is too long. But in short, there has been more evidence that they (autism and vaccines) are NOT linked than evidence that they ARE linked. I'm not saying it's impossible that a link exists... of course it's possible, but current evidence suggests it is highly unlikely.
Scientists continue to look fo a link to vaccines because of the high publicity of this theory, which in my opinon results in time and energy being pulled away from researching other possible causes and links that may actually hold some weight. They keep looking at the same stuff-- autism and vaccines-- rather than coming up with more novel hypotheses of the origins of autism.
...How does the saying go about doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results?0 -
But then how can be blame the "illegals" for stealing OUR jobs?Here's a good controversial POV.
I believe that if you own/manage/operat/run a business and-or you employ people, and you employ Illegal Immigrants, you are guilty of high treason. You are a traitor to your contry and to your fellow americans.
Just penalties?
1) your business/household/assets etc. are seized and liquidated and the proceeds used to deport your illegal employees, and reimburse the treasury for the costs incurred by your illegal behavior. You don't get to pass on your ill gotten gains to your useless family.
2) 10 years in real prison, preferably picking beans on a state farm in Louisiana. In pink pajamas.
A year after this policy is initiated, after a couple hundred "Job Creators" are in the clink, nobody without a birth certificate/driver's license/passport will be able to get a job pumping gas, and you'll have to open the borders to let all the illegals go home. And that would solve the problem.0 -
Probably my MOST controversial view: I think the National Guard should be on our boarders and shoot anyone coming over in any way other than a boarder crossing. The department of homeland security warned US law enforcement that Al Qaeda and other terrorists plan to sneak into the U.S. through Mexico, though I think we have already seen this happening. Besides terrorists, have you seen images of the trails used to sneak people in? Rape trees? The garbage and murdered people human smugglers left behind?
Or we could fix things like NAFTA, instead of murdering a bunch of people. *facepalm*0 -
(start sarcasm)
But then how can be blame the "illegals" for stealing OUR jobs?<<SNIP>>And that would solve the problem.
Dude, have you ever met an illegal mexican immigrant fresh from the border? 5'4", 130 pounds, malnourished & dehydrated, 3rd grade education, No habla engles, wearing one flip-flop. If this cat can take your job, Illegal immigrants are the very least of your problems.
(end sarcasm :happy: )0 -
A year after this policy is initiated, after a couple hundred "Job Creators" are in the clink, nobody without a birth certificate/driver's license/passport will be able to get a job pumping gas, and you'll have to open the borders to let all the illegals go home. And that would solve the problem.
I'm sorry, but what problem would this solve?0 -
Illegal immigrants come for jobs. This would stop the hiring, stop the jobs, and they'd quit coming and go home. Contrary to what you hear on the radio,,, most of them are not on welfare - they're working in the fields.
On the downside, a salad will cost $12.0 -
Here's the thing-- A study in 1998 linked autism to the MMR vaccine. However, in subsequent years the research was considered to be invalidid, and the article was retracted.My issue with the vax argument is Ms. McCarthy is not the sole individual following this there is an entire sub community of people that support this and she wasn't the first one. It seems the only people that are interested in looking into this are those affected. I dont have the the time to go scratch up some article with evidence....all Im stating is its possible that all of these kids affected share some type of gene that when exposed to a vaccine or a combination of vaccines at the right time in there development something goes wrong. You cant disprove that's incorrect. That's called a scientific theory They have lots of data that correlates enough of a concern that certain scientific organizations are looking at it. Some theories are taken as fact and they haven't even been proven.
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-02-02/health/lancet.retraction.autism_1_andrew-wakefield-mmr-vaccine-and-autism-general-medical-council?_s=PM:HEALTH
However, multiple studies since have found no noticeable link:
A Population-Based Study of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination and Autism http://www.safeminds.org/research/library/20021107.pdf
Autism and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine: no epidemiological evidence for a causal association
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673699012398
New research demolishes link between MMR vaccine and autism
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1116011/
Association of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine: A Systematic Review of Current Epidemiological Evidence
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/pdf/MMR_8.pdfThe current literature does not suggest an association between ASD and the MMR vaccine; however, limited epidemiological evidence exists to rule out a link between a rare variant form of ASD and the MMR vaccine. Given the real risks of not vaccinating and that the risks and existence of variant ASD remain theoretical, current policies should continue to advocate the use of the MMR vaccine.
Vaccines and Autism: Evidence Does Not Support a Causal Association
http://www.miottawa.org/healthcomm/health/pdf/2007_Nature_DeStefano_Vaccines_and_Autism.pdfA suggested association between certain childhood vaccines and autism has been one of the most contentious vaccine safety controversies in recent years. Despite compelling scientific evidence against a causal association, many parents and parent advocacy groups continue to suspect that vaccines, particularly measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs), can cause autism.
Sorry for all the links. I apologize if my post is too long. But in short, there has been more evidence that they (autism and vaccines) are NOT linked than evidence that they ARE linked. I'm not saying it's impossible that a link exists... of course it's possible, but current evidence suggests it is highly unlikely.
Scientists continue to look fo a link to vaccines because of the high publicity of this theory, which in my opinon results in time and energy being pulled away from researching other possible causes and links that may actually hold some weight. They keep looking at the same stuff-- autism and vaccines-- rather than coming up with more novel hypotheses of the origins of autism.
...How does the saying go about doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results?
Can you then explain this Japanese study that showed a rise and fall of autism cases with a similar ratio of the increased numbers based on the increase and decrease of the numbers of kids getting vaccinated? Just a coincidence?
http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/japvaxautism/0 -
Certainly. I said there is MORE evidence that shows no link, than there is evidence which shows a link. (Furthermore, a correlation does not equal a causation, but that's a whole other story.)Can you then explain this Japanese study that showed a rise and fall of autism cases with a similar ratio of the increased numbers based on the increase and decrease of the numbers of kids getting vaccinated? Just a coincidence?
http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/japvaxautism/
Also, you aren't citing an actual journal. You're citing a blog with an obvious bias. What do you know about the researchers who conducted this study? How about their methods? What were the limitations to their study?
It's best to go as close to the source as possible for scientific information-- which would be the actual, peer-reviewed article. Anybody can quote an article and leave out what they feel like leaving out.
But if you prefer getting secondary information, here are some popular (rather than scholarly) articles from PBS, WebMD, and the New York Times that also report on studies that showed no link between autism and vaccines:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/health-science-technology/the-vaccine-war/report-no-link-between-vaccines-and-autism/The National Academy of Sciences released a report yesterday concluding that “few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines.” The findings, reached by a committee of experts at the Institute of Medicine, concluded that there are 14 adverse reactions to vaccines that are scientifically sound but rare, and include “seizures, inflammation of the brain, and fainting.”
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20100913/cdc-study-shows-no-vaccine-autism-linkExposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines in infancy or in the womb is not associated with an increased risk for developing autism, according to a new study from the CDC. Children in the study who developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) actually had less exposure to vaccines with the mercury-containing preservative than children who developed normally. The study is the latest of almost 20 studies to find no link between childhood vaccinations and autism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/health/26vaccine.htmlYet another panel of scientists has found no evidence that a popular vaccine causes autism. But despite the scientists’ best efforts, their report is unlikely to have any impact on the frustrating debate about the safety of these crucial medicines. “The M.M.R. vaccine doesn’t cause autism, and the evidence is overwhelming that it doesn’t,” Dr. Ellen Wright Clayton, the chairwoman of the panel, assembled by the Institute of Medicine, said in an interview.0 -
Here's a good controversial POV.
I believe that if you own/manage/operat/run a business and-or you employ people, and you employ Illegal Immigrants, you are guilty of high treason. You are a traitor to your contry and to your fellow americans.
Just penalties?
1) your business/household/assets etc. are seized and liquidated and the proceeds used to deport your illegal employees, and reimburse the treasury for the costs incurred by your illegal behavior. You don't get to pass on your ill gotten gains to your useless family.
2) 10 years in real prison, preferably picking beans on a state farm in Louisiana. In pink pajamas.
A year after this policy is initiated, after a couple hundred "Job Creators" are in the clink, nobody without a birth certificate/driver's license/passport will be able to get a job pumping gas, and you'll have to open the borders to let all the illegals go home. And that would solve the problem.
Do you know how many people actually hire illegal immigrants unknowingly? There is a reason that illegal immigrants bolster social security to the tune of 7 billion a year. Its because they have very good false paper work. I know, I have seen it, many many times.0 -
lol I need to stop looking at this thread. Its a cluster cluck of so many different conversations lol0
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lol I need to stop looking at this thread. Its a cluster cluck of so many different conversations lol
I was thinking the same thing, I wish there was a way to split the thread! Theres some interesting debates going on, but they're all overlapping
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Illegal immigrants come for jobs. This would stop the hiring, stop the jobs, and they'd quit coming and go home. Contrary to what you hear on the radio,,, most of them are not on welfare - they're working in the fields.
On the downside, a salad will cost $12.
On the upside, it would open a lot of jobs for the 10% that don't have them.0 -
This entire country was started by stealing land from people who were already here. Yet people complain about illegal immigration? It seems very stupid, to me. However, I don't think that illegal immigrants should have better care and rights than legal citizens should have--I think EVERYONE should have the SAME EXACT RIGHTS. Unless of course you're a criminal or something.
I guess I'm a big weirdo and I think that everyone should be able to go anywhere they want to, when they please, and establish roots in any country they please.
I feel all these borders restrict us. But, I also see why they're in place, since people cannot, never have, and probably never will "get along."
I feel that if you have children in your home, and you smoke inside your home, it should be considered child abuse.
I feel that certain items should not be allowed to be purchased using welfare/food stamps/whatever. I love seeing signs at the produce stands and farmers markets "Now accepting EBT!" And I'm not being sarcastic--I truly honestly like that! I do NOT like it that when I worked at Starbucks, people were purchasing $5+ frappuccinos and lattes with their EBT card. :explode: I'll never forget this one girl I rang up...the Starbucks I was at was inside a Super Target, so we could ring a lot of stuff up that was sold at Target. This girl brings up a loaf of bread, some milk, some veggies, and some oreos. The oreos certainly aren't a necessity, but that didn't bother me. What bothered me is that she ordered TWO...TWO Starbucks drinks with it! For a while, that stuff wasn't allowed...I remember in the years I worked there, people would try to use EBT cards and it wouldn't work. We would even tell them it wouldn't work as soon as they tried to use the card/handed the card to us, but if they insisted we try, then we'd try, and they couldn't get their stuff. Then I took a short leave of absence for a couple of months last year for some school-related stuff, and I came back, and I told that girl "Your EBT card will cover the cost of the food items, but it won't cover the drinks." She got really crappy with me and basically said "No, you're wrong! It works for that now!" So I obliged her and tried it, and mentally prepared myself for the usual speech--"EBT doesn't cover Starbucks, it's considered a luxury item...blah blah.." and then to my surprise, it worked! It paid for her TWO frappuccinos! :mad: She gave me this smug look and said "Guess you shouldn't tell me what I can and can't buy!" I felt like saying "I think I should, since me working here and paying taxes just allowed you to buy TWO frappuccinos, because you CLEARLY will die without them!" :grumble: And she wasn't the only one...I remember quite a few people doing that. I'm all for being able to buy food, produce, baby stuff...but jeez...STARBUCKS COFFEE?! I do remember someone trying to buy XBox games with their EBT card, too. And they seemed REALLY shocked that it wouldn't work. :laugh:
I feel that a lot of schools go overboard on their dress-code policies. I live in Florida...and when you're walking around outside to get to the other buildings, or you're in phys. ed. class, or the worst--when the A/C is BROKEN! :noway: then students should be allowed to wear tank-tops. I'm not saying they should be allowed to wear pasties and g-strings, but tank-tops aren't hurting anyone.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. :laugh:0 -
Illegal immigrants come for jobs. This would stop the hiring, stop the jobs, and they'd quit coming and go home. Contrary to what you hear on the radio,,, most of them are not on welfare - they're working in the fields.
On the downside, a salad will cost $12.
On the upside, it would open a lot of jobs for the 10% that don't have them.
Tell that to the farmers in Alabama and see what kind of response you get.0 -
This entire country was started by stealing land from people who were already here. Yet people complain about illegal immigration? It seems very stupid, to me. However, I don't think that illegal immigrants should have better care and rights than legal citizens should have--I think EVERYONE should have the SAME EXACT RIGHTS. Unless of course you're a criminal or something.
I guess I'm a big weirdo and I think that everyone should be able to go anywhere they want to, when they please, and establish roots in any country they please. I feel all these borders restrict us. But, I also see why they're in place, since people cannot, never have, and probably never will "get along."
Me too!! I agree with all of that. I'm kind of a hippie though. lol!!0 -
Certainly. I said there is MORE evidence that shows no link, than there is evidence which shows a link. (Furthermore, a correlation does not equal a causation, but that's a whole other story.)Can you then explain this Japanese study that showed a rise and fall of autism cases with a similar ratio of the increased numbers based on the increase and decrease of the numbers of kids getting vaccinated? Just a coincidence?
http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/japvaxautism/
Also, you aren't citing an actual journal. You're citing a blog with an obvious bias. What do you know about the researchers who conducted this study? How about their methods? What were the limitations to their study?
It's best to go as close to the source as possible for scientific information-- which would be the actual, peer-reviewed article. Anybody can quote an article and leave out what they feel like leaving out.
But if you prefer getting secondary information, here are some popular (rather than scholarly) articles from PBS, WebMD, and the New York Times that also report on studies that showed no link between autism and vaccines:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/health-science-technology/the-vaccine-war/report-no-link-between-vaccines-and-autism/The National Academy of Sciences released a report yesterday concluding that “few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines.” The findings, reached by a committee of experts at the Institute of Medicine, concluded that there are 14 adverse reactions to vaccines that are scientifically sound but rare, and include “seizures, inflammation of the brain, and fainting.”
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20100913/cdc-study-shows-no-vaccine-autism-linkExposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines in infancy or in the womb is not associated with an increased risk for developing autism, according to a new study from the CDC. Children in the study who developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) actually had less exposure to vaccines with the mercury-containing preservative than children who developed normally. The study is the latest of almost 20 studies to find no link between childhood vaccinations and autism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/health/26vaccine.htmlYet another panel of scientists has found no evidence that a popular vaccine causes autism. But despite the scientists’ best efforts, their report is unlikely to have any impact on the frustrating debate about the safety of these crucial medicines. “The M.M.R. vaccine doesn’t cause autism, and the evidence is overwhelming that it doesn’t,” Dr. Ellen Wright Clayton, the chairwoman of the panel, assembled by the Institute of Medicine, said in an interview.
Actually no I didn't read the blog I was referencing the study found within the blog which incidently I'm still not sure I found the complete source but this isn't a blog. Here is the study...Its not the blog that show the issue its the study.
http://www.bmj.com/content/322/7284/460.full
Mumps, measles, and rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general practitioners: a time trend analysis
BMJ 2001; 322 doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7284.460 (Published 24 February 2001)
Cite this as: BMJ 2001;322:
I agree you did say there is MORE evidence Good thing They didn't throw out the whole curvature of the earth thing when everyone else said there was more evidence to prove it was flat.
This isn't a difficult study to understand in fact its the simplicity of it that gives it so much weight. Time trends: Autism cases increased and decreased at the same rate vaccinations increased and decreased. Regardless of any other study that disproves its that's not coincidental evidence. Correlations Hint at causation0 -
This entire country was started by stealing land from people who were already here. Yet people complain about illegal immigration? It seems very stupid, to me. However, I don't think that illegal immigrants should have better care and rights than legal citizens should have--I think EVERYONE should have the SAME EXACT RIGHTS. Unless of course you're a criminal or something.
I guess I'm a big weirdo and I think that everyone should be able to go anywhere they want to, when they please, and establish roots in any country they please. I feel all these borders restrict us. But, I also see why they're in place, since people cannot, never have, and probably never will "get along."
I feel that if you have children in your home, and you smoke inside your home, it should be considered child abuse.
I feel that certain items should not be allowed to be purchased using welfare/food stamps/whatever. I love seeing signs at the produce stands and farmers markets "Now accepting EBT!" And I'm not being sarcastic--I truly honestly like that! I do NOT like it that when I worked at Starbucks, people were purchasing $5+ frappuccinos and lattes with their EBT card. :explode: I'll never forget this one girl I rang up...the Starbucks I was at was inside a Super Target, so we could ring a lot of stuff up that was sold at Target. This girl brings up a loaf of bread, some milk, some veggies, and some oreos. The oreos certainly aren't a necessity, but that didn't bother me. What bothered me is that she ordered TWO...TWO Starbucks drinks with it! For a while, that stuff wasn't allowed...I remember in the years I worked there, people would try to use EBT cards and it wouldn't work. We would even tell them it wouldn't work as soon as they tried to use the card/handed the card to us, but if they insisted we try, then we'd try, and they couldn't get their stuff. Then I took a short leave of absence for a couple of months last year for some school-related stuff, and I came back, and I told that girl "Your EBT card will cover the cost of the food items, but it won't cover the drinks." She got really crappy with me and basically said "No, you're wrong! It works for that now!" So I obliged her and tried it, and mentally prepared myself for the usual speech--"EBT doesn't cover Starbucks, it's considered a luxury item...blah blah.." and then to my surprise, it worked! It paid for her TWO frappuccinos! :mad: She gave me this smug look and said "Guess you shouldn't tell me what I can and can't buy!" I felt like saying "I think I should, since me working here and paying taxes just allowed you to buy TWO frappuccinos, because you CLEARLY will die without them!" :grumble: And she wasn't the only one...I remember quite a few people doing that. I'm all for being able to buy food, produce, baby stuff...but jeez...STARBUCKS COFFEE?! I do remember someone trying to buy XBox games with their EBT card, too. And they seemed REALLY shocked that it wouldn't work. :laugh:
I feel that a lot of schools go overboard on their dress-code policies. I live in Florida...and when you're walking around outside to get to the other buildings, or you're in phys. ed. class, or the worst--when the A/C is BROKEN! :noway: then students should be allowed to wear tank-tops. I'm not saying they should be allowed to wear pasties and g-strings, but tank-tops aren't hurting anyone.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. :laugh:
That coffee thing really sounds annoying lol
I am very lefty when it comes to people eating. But I do get mad at abuse also. There is a Costco that I like to go to that has a lot of immigrants (from Europe) and more than a few times I have been stuck behind them while they buy cases of pop and multiple huge boxes of cookies on their EBT cards.0 -
This entire country was started by stealing land from people who were already here. Yet people complain about illegal immigration? It seems very stupid, to me. However, I don't think that illegal immigrants should have better care and rights than legal citizens should have--I think EVERYONE should have the SAME EXACT RIGHTS. Unless of course you're a criminal or something.
I guess I'm a big weirdo and I think that everyone should be able to go anywhere they want to, when they please, and establish roots in any country they please. I feel all these borders restrict us. But, I also see why they're in place, since people cannot, never have, and probably never will "get along."
Me too!! I agree with all of that. I'm kind of a hippie though. lol!!
The older I get, the more of a laid-back hippie I'm becoming! :laugh: You live close to me, btw! Maybe there's something in the water. 0 -
Ya', I heard about that. At one farm 3 folks showed up. The first one left when he found out he wasn't going to be driving a tractor, neither of the other 2 made it to lunchtime. I've done field work, potatoes, hay. It's hot hard miserable work and most folks won't do it unless the alternative is starvation. The immigrants ain't out there for the free chiggers y'know.Illegal immigrants come for jobs. This would stop the hiring, stop the jobs, and they'd quit coming and go home. Contrary to what you hear on the radio,,, most of them are not on welfare - they're working in the fields.
On the downside, a salad will cost $12.
On the upside, it would open a lot of jobs for the 10% that don't have them.
Tell that to the farmers in Alabama and see what kind of response you get.0 -
This entire country was started by stealing land from people who were already here. Yet people complain about illegal immigration? It seems very stupid, to me. However, I don't think that illegal immigrants should have better care and rights than legal citizens should have--I think EVERYONE should have the SAME EXACT RIGHTS. Unless of course you're a criminal or something.
I guess I'm a big weirdo and I think that everyone should be able to go anywhere they want to, when they please, and establish roots in any country they please. I feel all these borders restrict us. But, I also see why they're in place, since people cannot, never have, and probably never will "get along."
I feel that if you have children in your home, and you smoke inside your home, it should be considered child abuse.
I feel that certain items should not be allowed to be purchased using welfare/food stamps/whatever. I love seeing signs at the produce stands and farmers markets "Now accepting EBT!" And I'm not being sarcastic--I truly honestly like that! I do NOT like it that when I worked at Starbucks, people were purchasing $5+ frappuccinos and lattes with their EBT card. :explode: I'll never forget this one girl I rang up...the Starbucks I was at was inside a Super Target, so we could ring a lot of stuff up that was sold at Target. This girl brings up a loaf of bread, some milk, some veggies, and some oreos. The oreos certainly aren't a necessity, but that didn't bother me. What bothered me is that she ordered TWO...TWO Starbucks drinks with it! For a while, that stuff wasn't allowed...I remember in the years I worked there, people would try to use EBT cards and it wouldn't work. We would even tell them it wouldn't work as soon as they tried to use the card/handed the card to us, but if they insisted we try, then we'd try, and they couldn't get their stuff. Then I took a short leave of absence for a couple of months last year for some school-related stuff, and I came back, and I told that girl "Your EBT card will cover the cost of the food items, but it won't cover the drinks." She got really crappy with me and basically said "No, you're wrong! It works for that now!" So I obliged her and tried it, and mentally prepared myself for the usual speech--"EBT doesn't cover Starbucks, it's considered a luxury item...blah blah.." and then to my surprise, it worked! It paid for her TWO frappuccinos! :mad: She gave me this smug look and said "Guess you shouldn't tell me what I can and can't buy!" I felt like saying "I think I should, since me working here and paying taxes just allowed you to buy TWO frappuccinos, because you CLEARLY will die without them!" :grumble: And she wasn't the only one...I remember quite a few people doing that. I'm all for being able to buy food, produce, baby stuff...but jeez...STARBUCKS COFFEE?! I do remember someone trying to buy XBox games with their EBT card, too. And they seemed REALLY shocked that it wouldn't work. :laugh:
I feel that a lot of schools go overboard on their dress-code policies. I live in Florida...and when you're walking around outside to get to the other buildings, or you're in phys. ed. class, or the worst--when the A/C is BROKEN! :noway: then students should be allowed to wear tank-tops. I'm not saying they should be allowed to wear pasties and g-strings, but tank-tops aren't hurting anyone.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. :laugh:
That coffee thing really sounds annoying lol
I am very lefty when it comes to people eating. But I do get mad at abuse also. There is a Costco that I like to go to that has a lot of immigrants (from Europe) and more than a few times I have been stuck behind them while they buy cases of pop and multiple huge boxes of cookies on their EBT cards.
I don't think EBT should be allowed for anything bought in a restaurant-type establishment. No fast food, no Starbucks, etc. If you are poor enough to qualify for food stamps (which you have to be pretty low income), then you shouldn't be able to afford to purchase starbucks instead of real food.0 -
Actually no I didn't read the blog I was referencing the study found within the blog which incidently I'm still not sure I found the complete source but this isn't a blog. Here is the study...Its not the blog that show the issue its the study.
http://www.bmj.com/content/322/7284/460.full
Mumps, measles, and rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general practitioners: a time trend analysis
BMJ 2001; 322 doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7284.460 (Published 24 February 2001)
Cite this as: BMJ 2001;322:
...Did you actually read the study that you linked?...the data provide evidence that no correlation exists between the prevalence of MMR vaccination and the rapid increase in the risk of autism over time. The explanation for the marked increase in risk of the diagnosis of autism in the past decade remains uncertain.
That's from the conclusion of the study you posted. The study basically states that as vaccinations increased and bacame more widespread, so did autism rates... BUT once vaccination hit its peak (about 95% of the kids in the country), autism rates CONTINUED to increase. This suggests that autism was not, after all, linked to the vaccinations. If it were linked, the autism rates would have stabilized as well.
I fail to see how this article supports your stance on the matter.0 -
Well, as someone who is pro choice, for one thing - it's damaging to the woman's body to keep having abortions. It's also stupid and a waste of resources when you could just take a pill or use condoms.
I absolutely agree with this, abortions are definitely damaging to the woman's body, but having multiple children can be damaging to her body too. But again, if she chooses to damage her body, why is it an issue for me? I guess the people are pro-choice but say that they wouldn't support its legality "as a form of birth control". There are definitely "preferable" methods, but if she happens to choose this one and does this to her own body, I guess I just don't see the big deal.
Are you pro-life? If you are, your comments don't make sense. Why would any educated person do that to their body? They wouldn't. I've never known a person in my entire life who used abortion as a birth control method. Have you? Most people will learn from their mistakes. Reasons for abortion are so varied.0 -
Here's a good controversial POV.
I believe that if you own/manage/operat/run a business and-or you employ people, and you employ Illegal Immigrants, you are guilty of high treason. You are a traitor to your contry and to your fellow americans.
Just penalties?
1) your business/household/assets etc. are seized and liquidated and the proceeds used to deport your illegal employees, and reimburse the treasury for the costs incurred by your illegal behavior. You don't get to pass on your ill gotten gains to your useless family.
2) 10 years in real prison, preferably picking beans on a state farm in Louisiana. In pink pajamas.
A year after this policy is initiated, after a couple hundred "Job Creators" are in the clink, nobody without a birth certificate/driver's license/passport will be able to get a job pumping gas, and you'll have to open the borders to let all the illegals go home. And that would solve the problem.
The problem with this is that America is at a point where if they ACTUALLY closed the border, they would alienate a portion their own population who have Mexican roots. It's too late now. You can't suddenly stop it. If they actually wanted to stop the illegal immigration, they'd have to start shooting anyone trying to cross and obviously they're not going to do that.. I bet half the border patrol is made up of hispanic people!
So many people are unaware of their white privilege.0 -
What I'm saying is that we should remove the factor that motivates people to immigrate 'illegally'. They come here for jobs - to make money to send home. I'm suggesting that we prosecute folks who hire illegally. When you do that, they'll stop hiring illegally. When the jobs go away the immigrants will stop coming.
No white privilege involved, and note that I didn't suggest anything punitive on the immigrants except return to the place from whence they came.0 -
Absolutely agree.What I'm saying is that we should remove the factor that motivates people to immigrate 'illegally'. They come here for jobs - to make money to send home. I'm suggesting that we prosecute folks who hire illegally. When you do that, they'll stop hiring illegally. When the jobs go away the immigrants will stop coming.
No white privilege involved, and note that I didn't suggest anything punitive on the immigrants except return to the place from whence they came.
No one "stole" the land originally either. It wasn't owned. There were no laws about immigration either so that argument doesn't fly with me. The Indians were treated very poorly. I absolutely agree with that. It's a tragedy. But enough already. You can't fix the past by punishing people today for things done 200 and more years ago. Also, my great grandparents came here legally from Europe so again, not even the same thing.
Another controversial opinion -- I hate political correctness. Everyone is so dang afraid of "offending" someone anymore. It's ridiculous. I say Indian or American Indian, not "native American" They're no more native to America than I am. I was born here. My parents were born here. My grandparents were born here. Some of my great grandparents were born here. The rest came from Europe. I have no rights in Poland or Hungary or France. If I were to go there and claim to be a native they'd think I was nuts and rightfully so. I also don't say "African American". I say black. Africa is a continent, not a country. There are also plenty of white people who were born and raised in Africa. Can you imagine what would happen if a white person immigrated to the US from S. Africa and said they were "African American"? I lived in Germany for 1 1/2 years recently. The black Germans weren't African German. There are no African French or even African Canadian. It sounds quite stupid actually
Final controversial opinion for now - give your kid a real name not some weird @$$ thing you made up. Latrina and Schamisha are not names. They sound stupid, make you sound stupid, and give teachers headaches. On another board we were talking about stupid names. Someone said they had a kid in their class (they were the teacher) named La-ah. When taking roll the teacher said "La ah" as a guess on how to pronounce it. Nope. It's Ladasha, the ' - ' isn't silent. :huh: That kid's parent needs to be slapped.0 -
Are you pro-life? If you are, your comments don't make sense. Why would any educated person do that to their body? They wouldn't. I've never known a person in my entire life who used abortion as a birth control method. Have you? Most people will learn from their mistakes. Reasons for abortion are so varied.
Sorry - I thought I had made it clear that I am very, very, very pro-choice. I guess the controversial opinion is that I believe in abortion in all cases, even as "a form of birth control". Sorry for being unclear!0 -
So be it than if that is your stereotype then I fit it well Im an animal hater! Bacon is my favorite! I hate hogs more then any other animal on the planet. !!!!
Im okay with being an animal hater if that's what you want to say. Ill go home and punt my lovable little Dachsund/Yorkie outside into the snow so he can die as it settles below freezing tonight. God knows that little piss of crap chewed up enough of my stuff he deserves to die cold and hungry....Oh but I still kept him around and I still fed him and took him to the vet...I must be trying to keep him healthy solely to throw money down the drain or is it to fatten him up so I can put him into a nice garlic broccoli stir fry with some brown rice?
And on the same subject matter...Shooting an animal with a gun for sport isn't as sporting as say shooting them with a bow (Which I strongly urge all sportsmen to try its much more challenging). Its not the actual shooting of the animal that takes skill its the stalking and planning that is necessary to hunt big game that makes it a bit of an accomplishment. Not everyone that goes out gets a kill you do have to know what your doing and in some types of hunts it takes more then just knowing what your doing
Just to clear the matter, never once did I call anyone an "animal hater". I simply find it odd when people refer to themselves as "animal lovers". I don't really understand why people love their Dachshund/Yorkie and buy him toys and a fluffy bed to sleep in but with those same hard-earned dollars, they support an industry that promotes the suffering, imprisonment, and ultimate slaughter of other animals.
I like when people get defensive like this about how well they take care of their pets, and I must be wanting them to harm the pet in some way. That's not what I mean at all, and you know it. I see that you've chosen the "I love bacon!" argument, which as always, is compelling and insightful. I'm glad that your own momentary gustatory pleasure is worth more than the life of another sentient, intelligent creature.
As a vegan, I am abhorrently against hunting, so really whether you use a gun or a crossbow, it's all the same to me. It's almost 2012 and humans are fully capable of reasoning and empathy, but it's good to hear that we can revert to prehistoric times to "organize and plan the kill". Maybe it's just a foreign concept to me to find joy and pride in death.3. I do love animals, I also love BBQ. Life feeds on life, it's the way we were designed. the cow ate the beautiful flower, the wolf ate the cow, the bear ate the wolf, and I ate the bear. there is no place in that chain of predatory reality I'd rather be than at the top. Besides if the founding deity of existence did not mean for me to eat animals, he would not have made them out of tasty meat.
I have to say that humans are pretty pathetic "meat eaters" - our canine teeth are pretty pitiful, we have no claws, we don't crave raw, bleeding meat and we have to cook it over fire to eat it. For "the top of the food chain", we are pretty poorly designed.
Also, just because "that's the way things have been done" doesn't mean that it's the right thing to do. What separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom is the ability to empathize, to make choices and reason. The lion cannot choose not to hunt the gazelle, but the human can choose not to harm his fellow living being and go for the pulled BBQ jackfruit or tempeh ribs instead 0 -
Mmmmmmm BBQ. Ribs.0
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II believe we should bring back the gladiatorial arenas. We should make all violent criminals who have been sentenced to over 20 years in prison the gladiators. We should televise these matches on pay per view and use the money to balance the deficit.
I believe this sounds similar to the plot of the hunger games trilogy......0 -
I think that there are some vaccines that everyone should be required to get (with the exception of medicial issues and maybe religion) such as polio and measels. Maybe not the flu or vagisil but at least the really big ones that could bring down our society.
I think that the bible was written by men with agendas, not by God out of love.
I think that every religion has some part of the big picture correct and a LOT of the big picture wrong.
I think the TSA is just there to make it look like our government is doing something for us and that they are only there b/c the government is making money off them.0
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