Amen to that. It's a scary thought. Although, I'm sure little Orrinetta, will make a great citizen.

...absentee voting from the convent...

Why shouldn't they be allowed to vote?

Brandon:

As a class they are the voters most likely to be in favor of government because dependent.

So they shouldn't be allowed to vote because you don't approve of the way they vote?

Brandon
When the US needed someone to run the "torture chambers", who did they go to. nuff said.

Brandon:

No, they shouldn't be allowed to vote because the purpose of the Republic is liberty, rather than security.

OJ:

How will the people you wish to deprive of voting rights secure their liberty?

Brandon:

The Constitution secures their liberty, but it shouldn't have been changed to enfranchise them, which has had a negative impact on all our liberty. The social welfare state rose with suffrage.

Well, the Constitution should secure their liberty, but historically, didn't. Without the right to vote, which gives them influence and respect from the people who run the government, women were frequently at the mercy of the people who were supposed to be providing that security you wish to deny them from the government.

Do you remember the way the old laws regarding rape, domestic violence and sexual harrasment were enforced? I do.

But this is a purely academic discussion since they have the vote now and democracy makes it impossible to take it away from them.

They've pretty much settled this argument for us any way...since they don't vote, that is.

Brandon:

To the contrary, gender selection abortions make it likely that women in many democracies will begin to lose rights again.

Meanwhile, there's less respect for women rather than more over the period of time they've been voting.

OJ:

Gender selected abortions may make women a minority, they may not. That's a little too speculative for me. Most democracies aren't China with its deforming one-child policy.

And as for women getting less respect since the 1920's, that's just not true. You've been reading too much Austen.

"Until I feel there is a candidate who really represents my views..."

What - on earth - are views that are "not represented" to cause Adriana and her 21 million cohort to refuse to participate in democracy. Those views must be doozies!

Do you remember the way the old laws regarding rape, domestic violence and sexual harrasment were enforced? I do.

Wait a minute. You remember what life was like before women got the vote? Jiminy, how old are you?

brandon:

First of all, it's not possible to read too much Austen. Second of all, India is the largest democracy in the world. Third, if we respected women they wouldn't be alone and aborting our babies or raising them solo. Women's liberation freed men.

Okay, pace Timothy, I guess "remember" isn't really the right word. Perhaps, "know about" is more accurate.

OJ:

There is more to respecting women than just marrying the girl you knocked up.

I agree with Brandon. O.J.'s last comment has merit. Why are we here and where are we going with this?

Let's write about Ted Kennedy's latest comments on the USA, the military and the President. This Senator has flown beyond the the Byrd. His liver has finally failed and He ought to be impeached. How many seniles must we tolerate in the Senate?

Brandon:

No, but it's a good start.

Brandon:

Not of equal moment.

Brandon:

"There is more to respecting women than just marrying the girl you knocked up."

Just?

How about: "There is more to love than simply being faithful to your wife." Then there is: "There is more to loving your kids than feeding, clothing and educating them." Maybe you prefer: "There is more to honouring your parents than caring for them in their old age."

Funny, why do these oh-so-sensitive insights always seem to come from people who don't want to do any of those things?

And I hasten to add I wasn't suggesting you or anyone here are among them.

All animals are equal but pigs are more equal.

Orrin had a deal to say today about equality and the Constitution and religion. All of that contradicts all he's said here.

How?

We start out equal in the Constitution.

It is your fantasy that women are more dependent. Not the ones I know.

And, to the extent you're right, it probably would be because they are oppressed by men.

It's like witchcraft. You create the bad situation, then blame the victim.

talk to Darwin.