Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Same-sex marriage

2008-11-17T13:22:53Z

ABunny: /* Issues */

'''Same-sex marriage''' is the term for a legal arrangement which mimics [[marriage]], except that the partners are of the same gender: e.g., two men, or two women. Although the [[gay rights movement]] promotes the arrangement as a [[civil rights]] issue, conservatives believe the actual intention is to destroy the institution of marriage altogether.

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Social conservatives regard same-sex marriage as immoral, and argue that use of the word "[[marriage]]" is a misnomer, because the [[Form of Solemnization of Matrimony|marriage services]] of Christian denominations define marriage as the union of a man and a woman,<ref>E.g. In some Christian marriage ceremonies,the wedding will begin with a statement along the lines of: "Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony." ''The Book of Common Prayer,'' Episcopal Church, The Church Hymnal Corporation and the Seabury Press, 1979: "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage," p. 423</ref> a definition which was also written into United States federal law in 1996.<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode01/usc_sec_01_00000007----000-.html US Code - Title 1, section 7]</ref>

Dr. [[James Dobson]]'s [[Focus on the Family]] organization prefers the phrase ''same-sex 'marriage,''' with quotation marks around the word ''marriage,'' to call attention to his belief that marriage—civil as well as religious—is intrinsically a union between a man and a woman, and that he therefore believes that same-sex unions are "counterfeits."<ref>[http://www.family.org/socialissues/A000000464.cfm Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Civil Unions], ''Focus on the Family's'' website</ref>

Abuse of the term was unheard of a few decades ago; however, these unions are now among a number of issues advocated by [[liberal]] activists. In the United States, marriage is primarily governed by each individual state and marriage laws differ from state to state. Several states allow [[civil union]]s between two people of the same sex, and three, Massachusetts, California, and [[Connecticut]] currently issue same-sex marriage licenses. These marriage licenses are not recognized by the Federal government.

== Background ==
In 1996 Congress recognized the likelihood that [[liberal]] activists would soon seek changes to the laws in some states that pertain to homosexuals. It considered the possibility of test cases reaching the Supreme Court, and of the court conceivably ruling that a state—even though it prohibits same-sex marriage itself—must honor same-sex marriages performed in another state. The Defense of Marriage act, which was passed and signed by President Clinton, prevents this possibility, and also prevents the Federal Government from recognizing marriage as anything other than a union between a man and a woman.

In 1999 a Vermont court ruled that under its constitution, it was not required to allow same-sex marriage but was required to make provisions to grant same-sex couples legal rights identical to those provided by marriage. Vermont responded by creating "civil unions," which are legally distinct from marriages but convey the same rights. As of 2007, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Maine also provide civil unions or "domestic partnerships." Beginning in 2008, the states of Washington, Oregon, and New Hampshire will also provide same-sex unions. Hawaii provides certain benefits to same sex couples. <ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--civilunions-optio0531may31,0,341613.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut Newsday]</ref> In 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that under Massachusetts' constitution, same-sex couples could not be denied Massachusetts marriage licenses, making Massachusetts the first state to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Some same-sex marriage privileges are also legal in the states of [[California]] and [[Connecticut]].<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_re_us/connecticut_same_sex_marriage Conn. high court rules gay couples can marry]</ref>

Same-sex marriage is legal in five countries: [[South Africa]], [[Spain]], [[Canada]], the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]]. Other countries, such as [[France]], [[Germany]], and the [[United Kingdom]], recognize [[civil unions]] and [[domestic partnership]]s.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/05/content_311998.htm Countries worldwide address gay marriage]</ref>

The religious ceremony of marriage is governed by each denomination and is unaffected by laws passed by civil authority. Same-sex marriage is forbidden in Orthodox Judaism, Catholicism, and most mainstream Protestant denominations. In Massachusetts, however, about 6% of all marriages are same-sex marriages, so this does not appear to be a problem. <ref>[http://www.massequality.org/news/news_story.php?id=273]</ref><ref>http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fnchs%2Fdata%2Fnvss%2Fmarriage90_04.pdf&images=yes</ref>

Public attitude toward same-sex marriage parallels attitude toward homosexuality. In general, it is opposed by social conservatives and outside of this group, support is split down the middle leaning to opposition.<ref>[http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Relationships/same_sex_marriage_poll_040121.html Same Sex Marriage Poll from ABC News]</ref>

== Issues ==
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|200px|right|A recent study by the [[Canada|Canadian]] government states that "violence was twice as common among homosexual couples compared with [[heterosexual]] couples".<ref>http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/85-570-XIE/2006001/findings/risk.htm Aforementioned Canadian Study.</ref>]]
[[James Dobson]] cites Stanley Kurtz to argue that the motivation of those advocating same-sex marriage is not to secure the benefits of marriage for gay couples, but to destroy the institution of marriage itself:
:...most gays and lesbians do not want to marry each other. That would entangle them in all sorts of legal constraints. Who needs a lifetime commitment to one person? The intention here is to destroy marriage altogether. With marriage as we know it gone, everyone would enjoy all the legal benefits of marriage (custody rights, tax-free inheritance, joint ownership of property, health care and spousal citizenship, etc.,) without limiting the number of partners or their gender. Nor would "couples" be bound to each other in the eyes of the law. This is clearly where the movement is headed.<ref>Stanley Kurtz, "Beyond Marriage," The Weekly Standard, August 4/August 11, 2003. - cited in [http://www.focusonthefamily.com/docstudy/newsletters/A000000771.cfm Marriage on the Ropes], Dr. James Dobson, retrieved from ''Focus on the Family'', 15 May 2007. </ref>

According to a March, 2007 report, there are 65,000 adopted children in the U.S. being raised by same-sex couples. The same report says 14,100 foster children were being raised by one or more gay or lesbian foster parents.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/25/gay.adoption/index.html Gay adoption: A new take on the American family]</ref>

In Great Britain, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has expressed its full support to the stand taken by the Catholic Church opposing regulations on gay adoption. The Catholic Church sought to be exempt from the new law. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams of the Church of England, supports the Catholic Church's efforts declaring that the rights of conscience cannot be subject to laws. Catholic leaders have already said that its teachings prevent its agencies placing children with homosexuals and they will have to close if bound by the rules. The MCB, the UK's leading Muslim umbrella group embracing over 400 affiliated organizations, said that while it supported anti-discrimination laws, homosexuality is forbidden in Islam. <ref>[http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/menu-234/0701266670200554.htm UK Muslim group backs Christian opposition to gay adoption rules London], Islamic republic News Agency, Jan 26, 2007.</ref>

Studies indicate that homosexual couples have higher rates of promiscuity than heterosexual couples. Allowing gays to marry would make gays seek more partners. In addition, studies report that [[Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence|homosexual couples have significantly higher incidences of violent behavior]].{{fact}} These studies are not surprising given what pathologists have stated regarding the [[Homosexuality and Murders|commonness and brutality of homosexual murders]]. The prevalence of violence and emotional abuse in gay domestic partnerships.A particularly worrisome factor among [[gay rights]] [[activist]]s is One survey found 53% of gays felt if the high incidence of violence against partners in homosexual relationships was known and understood by the heterosexual population, it would hinder the drive for gay rights.{{fact}}

Domestic abuse is divided into two categories, emotional abuse and physical abuse. While gay domestic abuse has not been studied to the extent that heterosexual relationships have, [[Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence|preliminary studies indicate a much higher level of abuse]].

One type of emotional abuse--threatening to "out" a partner to family, friends, or employers--is unique to homosexual relationships. Legalization of so-called "gay marriage" still would not end this type of abuse.

It should however be noted that homosexual marriages tend to be more stable than hetrosexual marriages. In the Netherlands, only 1% of the male homosexual marriages and 3% of the female homosexual marriages end in divorce, versus more than 30% of hetrosexual marriages. <ref>Newspaper 'De Pers' Thursday februari 15th, 2007. http://www.depers.nl/UserFiles/File/PDF/26.pdf</ref> The UK features similar statistics.

==See also==
*[[Intimate Partner Violence]]

==Reference==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
*[http://www.nogaymarriage.com/tenarguments.asp Gay Marriage: Why Would It Affect Me? Ten Arguments Against Same Sex Marriage], NoGayMarriage.com

[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]

Homosexuality and Murders

2008-11-17T12:48:27Z

ABunny: removed the sections which state that homosexuals are more likely to murder from the evolution section because they are completely unsupported by references or the article

Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S. who is a former commander of Bronx homicide for the New York City Police Department stated in 1995 regarding '''homosexual murders''' that [[homosexuality|homosexual]] murders are relatively common and these murders may involve male victims murdered by other males or may involve female victims who are in some type of lesbian relationship and they are murdered by another female.<ref>[http://www.serve.com/PHIHOM/articles/homoserial.htm Homosexual Serial Murder Investigation By Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S. Former Commander, Bronx Homicide, NYPD]</ref> In 2005, Dr. Harnam Singh, Dr. Luv Sharma, and Dr. Dhattarwal reported in the ''Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine'' in regards to homosexuality and murders that homosexual murders are quite common and that these murders may involve both sexes either as victims or as assailants.<ref name="jiafm">[http://medind.nic.in/jal/t05/i3/jalt05i3p184.pdf SEX RELATED HOMICIDES AND OFFENDERS -A MEDICO-LEGALISTS VIEW, Dr. Harnam Singh, Dr. Luv Sharma, Dr. S.K.Dhattarwal, ''Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine'', 2005 ; 27 (3). ISSN 0971 -0973]</ref>

The statements above are not surprising given the studies regarding [[Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence|homosexual couples and domestic violence]].
==Homosexual Murders and Brutality==
According to the [[New York Times]], Dr. [[William Eckert]] was a world-renowned authority in the field of pathology and he worked on major murder cases including the assassination of Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]] and the [[Charles Manson]] murders.<ref name="nyt">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E2DE123FF937A1575AC0A96F958260 ''New York Times'', William Eckert, 73, Medical Sleuth in Major Cases By WILLIAM H. HONAN, September 24, 1999]</ref> Dr. Eckert founded the ''American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology''.<ref name="nyt" /> <ref name="time">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,992160,00.html Time Magazine, Milestones by By VAL CASTRONOVO, MATTHEW COOPER, AUTUMN DE LEON, DANIEL S. LEVY, LINA LOFARO, CHRIS TAYLOR AND DAVID E. THIGPEN, October 9, 1999]</ref> According to ''[[Time]]'' magazine, Dr. Eckert was a pioneer who encouraged collaborative effort between law-enforcement and forensics teams.<ref name="time" />

Dr. Eckert wrote regarding homosexual murders the following:
{{cquote|Equally high is the number of homicides, many probably related to transient attachments, which often lead to suspicion, jealousy, and murder. When murder does occur it is exceptionally brutal with an overkill appearance... Overkill, as it is seen in homosexual and lesbian murders, is certainly a form of sadistic crime. In these instances multiple stabbing and other brutal injuries...are common findings...<ref>Tedeschi CG, Eckert W, Tedeschi LG, eds. Forensic medicine; vol 2. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1977:962</ref>}}
[[Image:0-picture.jpg‎|thumbnail|180px|right|The eminent pathologists [[Bernard Knight]] and [[Pekka Saukko]] stated that it is a fact that some of the most violent homicides seen by pathologists are among male homosexuals.]]
[[Bernard Knight]] CBE, MD, BCh, MRCP, FRCPath, FHKCPath, DMJ (Path) was a Professor of Forensic Pathology in the University of Wales until he retired in 1996.<ref name="knight">http://bernard-knight.mysite.orange.co.uk/index.jhtml</ref> In 1993 he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to forensic medicine.<ref name="knight" /><ref name="kfp">Knight's Forensic Pathology',(3rd Ed) Saukko P. and B. Knight (2004) Arnold Publishers, London, foreword</ref> Dr. Bernard Knight has been involved in many notorious murder cases, including [[Fred West]] and [[Rosemary West]], [[Roberto Calvi]] (the Vatican banker), the child killer [[Mary Bell]], and the [[Steven Truscott|Truscott case]] in [[Canada]].<ref name="knight" />
Dr. [[Pekka Saukko]] is Professor and Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Turku in [[Finland]].<ref name="kfp" /> Dr. Saukko is also the editor of ''Forensic Science International''.<ref>http://www.forensicmed.co.uk/books_2.htm</ref> Doctors Knight and Saukko coauthored a pathology textbook entitled ''Knight's Forensic Pathology'' in 2004 which stated the following:
{{cquote|As with heterosexual offenses, the cause of death in fatal cases is almost always some form of general trauma, such as strangulation or head injuries. Homosexual activity, however, may be a parallel event; it is a fact that some of the most violent homicides seen by pathologists are among male homosexuals.<ref>Knight's Forensic Pathology',(3rd Ed) Saukko P. and B. Knight (2004) Arnold Publishers, London, page 428</ref>}}

The previously cited article in the ''Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine'' states regarding homosexual murders the following: "These "Lovers' quarrels" between male homosexuals manifest an increased level of violence due to the fact that the parties involved in the emotional conflict are both sexual aggressors."<ref name="jiafm" />

''The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers'' by Michael Newton reports the following regarding the issue of homosexuality and murders:
{{cquote|Homosexual slayers clearly have no monopoly on violence, but it is true that their crimes often display extremes of "overkill" and mutilation... On balance, it seems fair to say that while homosexuals sometimes fall prey to "gay bashing" violence by bigoted "straights," they are far more likely to be murdered by another homosexual than in a random [[Hate crime|hate crime]].<ref>The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers by Michael Newton, page 103</ref>}}

The previously cited pathology textbook by Knight and Saukko stated the following: "In addition, quite a number of fatal altercations arise because a heterosexual man becomes violent when importuned by a homosexual."<ref>Knight's Forensic Pathology',(3rd Ed) Saukko P. and B. Knight (2004) Arnold Publishers, London, page 428-429</ref>

==Evolutionary theory==

In accordance with the [[evolutionist]] "[[gay gene]]" theory, evolutionists explain gay murders to be an effect of the [[genetic]] purpose to promote the [[death]]s of genetically dissimilar individuals (as opposed to promoting the [[birth]]s of genetically similar individuals, i.e. [[child]]ren). If the theory were true, it would explain why homosexuals murder. This aspect of the [[gay gene]] theory has been suppressed even by those who support it, since it may lead to scientifically supported "[[homophobia]]."{{fact}}

==See Also==
*[[Homosexuality]]
*[[Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence]]
*[[Homosexuality Statistics]]
*[[Homosexuality Research]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{homosexualityb}}
[[Category:Homosexuality]]

Illegal immigration

2008-08-10T13:59:23Z

ABunny: see talk page

[[Image:Coleman - Arellano.jpg|thumb|The Rev. Oscar Carrasco and Elvira Arellano]]

'''Illegal immigration''' is when people without legal permission from a country cross the border and proceed to dwell there. Therefore, illegal immigration is the act of immigrating to a country without having the right to do so.

__TOC__

This has become a major issue in the [[United States]], because of foreigners living in the U.S. illegally. Many illegal immigrants do not pay taxes and but still use services, such as health care and schools. It is estimated that over 21 million illegal immigrants live in the United States.<ref>http://immigrationcounters.com/</ref> However, many are afraid to use available services, such as domestic violence shelters, out of fear of deportation. Many illegals cannot speak [[English]]. Illegal immigrations is defended, saying that they are simply coming to find work and are a valuable part of the US labor force. Some come illegally to escape political oppression, as legal channels are not open to them.<ref>http://www.immigration-usa.com/george_weissinger.html immigration Usa</ref><ref>www.uscis.gov Immigration and Naturalization Services</ref><ref>www.dhs.gov Department of Homeland Security</ref> Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically gain one citizenship. When Army Spc. Alex Jimenez was captured by terrorists in [[Iraq]], his wife was almost deported by the government. Strong public opinion allowed her to stay.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/20/national/main2956093.shtml Missing Soldier's Wife Faces Deportation]</ref>

[[Mexico]] is the source of the vast majority of illegal immigrants to the United States, who cross the border mostly through the desert southwest or less often by swimming across the Rio Grande. The United States receives constant criticism from the Mexican government for its efforts to curb illegal immigration. Ironically, one of Mexico's harshest criticisms was a plan by the United States to make illegal immigration a felony offense, which would impose harsher penalties on illegal Mexican immigrants. Mexico's own laws make illegal immigration a felony offense in that country.[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1602610/posts][http://www.vdare.com/awall/060518_memo.htm]

Many Mexicans have to come to the United States to work because for many years the Mexican government was under the control of the [[socialist]] [[Institutional Revolutionary Party]] (called PRI from its initials in Spanish), which limited economic opportunity and growth. Many Mexicans will return to Mexico after they have made some money because they do not like certain aspects of American culture, such as the [[homosexual agenda]], the [[Abortion|abortion]] industry and teenage promiscuity.{{fact}} Mexican families sometimes return home just before their children reach [[puberty]]. Many Mexicans workers send money to their families remaining in Mexico, which is the second largest source of foreign income, after crude oil sales. It represents as much as 2.5 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product <ref>[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20724214~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html] World Bank Report on Migration and Welfare</ref>

As the [[Bible]] exhorts people to be compassionate towards illegal immigrants (Exodus 23:9 and Leviticus 19:34), and as more Americans are [[Christian]] than any other religion, many Americans feel compelled by their religion to show compassion and caring for illegal immigrants, many of whom are trying to escape tyranny or poverty in their homelands.

Some conservatives oppose illegal immigration because it allows for immigrants to fall between the cracks of society thus making them more likely to commit crime or experience poverty. Other conservatives view illegal immigration as an exercise in a basic [[individualism|individual]] [[human rights|human right]] to pursue happiness. Illegal immigration is also economically damaging to countries because illegal immigrants will often work illegally for below minimum wage, resulting in job loss for legal citizens.

==Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the U.S.==

*2008 - Diego Pillco, a 20-year-old illegal immigrant from Ecuador, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter of actress Adrienne Shelly. Pillco was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Pillco admitted strangling Shelly and then hanging her body to make it look like a suicide. The judge said Pillco would be subject to immediate deportation upon release from prison. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,337719,00.html Illegal Immigrant Worker Sentenced in Slaying of Actress Adrienne Shelly], ''[[Associated Press]]'', March 13, 2008</ref>

*2008 - Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant, killed three people on their way home from a family picnic. Ramos had been arrested multiple times before the killings (once for mugging a pregnant woman), but the city of San Francisco shielded him from deportation. <ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/20/MNK011MAFR.DTL</ref>

==Statistics==

The amount of people immigrating to the United States illegally is at epidemic levels: The estimated number of illegal immigrants in the United States in 2005 was 11.1 million. <ref>http://www.cnn.com/interactive/us/0603/charts.immigration/frameset.exclude.html?eref=yahoo</ref> <ref>[http://www.house.gov/mccaul/pdf/Investigaions-Border-Report.pdf A Line In The Sand] House Committee on Homeland Security</ref>

$397 billion dollars have been paid to illegal immigrants through social services since 1996.<ref>http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecentersf134</ref>

The number of illegal aliens who are in prison is over 600,000.<ref>http://www.gao.gov/htext/d05646r.html</ref>

Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the United States. Each sex offender averaged 4 victims. <ref>[http://www.drdsk.com/articles.html#Illegals The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration] Violent Crimes Institute, 2006</ref>

Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $26.3 billion in costs on the federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, creating a net fiscal deficit of almost $10.4 billion, or $2,700 per illegal household. <ref>[http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html The High Cost of Cheap Labor] Center For Immigration Studies</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Xenophobia]]
*[[Lozano v. Hazleton]]
*[[Elvira Arellano]]
*[[Reno v. Flores]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.rightwingnews.com/category.php?ent=5455 Answering 13 Frequently Asked Questions About Illegal Immigration], [[Right Wing News]]

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Immigration]]
[[Category:Political Terms]]

Talk:Illegal immigration

2008-08-08T17:23:25Z

ABunny: signed (sorry)

Some pretty sweeping statements there. Not all illegals are Mexicans, and many of them do speak some English. Also, many American citizens do not speak English. [[User:Czolgolz|Czolgolz]] 16:06, 22 March 2007 (EDT)

==Misc ideas I just had==
Seems to me the reason for so much illegal immigration is that it takes upwards of a decade to get citizenship. Maybe we should do something to streamline the process and make it easier to get citizenship? That gets rid of tax-dodging, insuranceless illegals working for less than minimum wage.

Also, I think that forcing schools to teach in two languages is crap, and what we need to do is to build special schools where immigrant children are given one year of intensified English language training, which will prepare them for learning in an English school curriculum. Just put them right where they left off in a normal school once they're done learning English.

Of course, we absolutely wouldn't have any of these problems if Mexico wasn't such a cesspool of subhuman living conditions around the border. Believe me, I've been there, and it's awful. People living in unfinished houses and whatnot.

I used to live in Mexico. They view their north the way we view our south...[[User:Czolgolz|Czolgolz]] 11:44, 27 March 2007 (EDT)

== WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? ==

Why does the entry for "Guatemalan" redirect to "Illegal Immigration?" I call RACISM! [[User:Jacobin|Jacobin]] 21:21, 15 April 2007 (EDT)
:It's been deleted, and the user has been warned. --[[User:Hojimachong|'''Hojimachong''']][[User_Talk:Hojimachong|talk]] 21:22, 15 April 2007 (EDT)

== Illegal Immigration in Mexico ==

I used to live in Mexico. They were not kind to the illegals who came there from Central America. [[User:Maestro|Maestro]] 18:53, 30 May 2007 (EDT)

It seems to me that some of the illegal immigration hysteria is based on prejudice. In New York City I hear the same things about Asians as about Hispanics. In northern New England I bet they're hysterical about French Canadians coming into the U.S. I have the impression that many people don't make a distinction between legal and illegal immigration. As long as the immigrants don't come from Europe, they're all considered illegal.[[User:Oldoligarch|Oldoligarch]] 17:46, 12 June 2007 (EDT)

== Liberty ==

Like the Lady says:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I will build a fence to keep them out! [[User:PerpetualAngst|PerpetualAngst]] 20:53, 19 June 2007 (PDT)

Fences at the Mexican border, fences in Palestine...fences everywhere...this is progress? [[User:Maestro|Maestro]] 00:56, 20 June 2007 (EDT)
:No different than the fences in one's own yard. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 15:03, 20 June 2007 (EDT)
:Just a little higher than the average Joe can jump.--[[User:Will N.|Will N.]] 15:15, 20 June 2007 (EDT)

The debate over illegal immigration is thinly disguised racism. It used to be Irish, Swedes, Poles, Jews, Italians, Blacks, et al. that were ruining the country. Now it's Mexicans. Who's next?[[User:Panini|Panini]] 13:46, 21 July 2007 (EDT)
:Does that same standard apply to opposition to Mexican laborers goods being sold in the United States? If Mexican's are kept out because of racist laws, wouldn't laws that restrict, prohibit, or tax the fruit of their labor being sold in the US also be racist? Isn't opposition to [[free trade]] and [[NAFTA]] racist then, granting the special privilege of higher income by virtue of birth to US citizens, over foreigners, who can starve to death, for all we care? [[User:RobS|RobS]] 14:58, 22 July 2007 (EDT)
:: I'm pretty sure none of what you just said makes any sense [[User:NRupert|NRupert]] 22:35, 1 June 2008 (EDT)

== crimes committed by illegal immigrants ==
what is the relevance of this section? [[User:NRupert|NRupert]] 22:34, 1 June 2008 (EDT)

==Welfare and ILLEGAL Immigrants==

The article is about '''illegal''' immigration. The cite is about welfare paid to '''legal''' immigrants. [[User:NormanS|NormanS]] 22:38, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
:And perhaps next time you revert another user perhaps you could consider raising the issue on the talk page yourself rather than leaving it to others. [[User:NormanS|NormanS]] 22:38, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
::Thankyou [[User:NormanS|NormanS]] 22:43, 6 August 2008 (EDT)
:::Sorry for the sarcasm--[[User:Jpatt|jp]] 22:48, 6 August 2008 (EDT)

== Unsubstantiated statement ==

The statement 'Many Mexicans will return to Mexico after they have made some money because they do not like certain aspects of American culture, such as the homosexual agenda, the abortion industry and teenage promiscuity' is not supported by any source in the article and seems like pure speculation. If a reputable source cannot be found, it must be removed. [[User:ABunny|ABunny]] 13:23, 8 August 2008 (EDT)

Talk:Illegal immigration

2008-08-08T17:22:46Z

ABunny: /* Unsubstantiated statement */ new section

Walmart

2008-08-08T17:01:31Z

ABunny: change 'largest employer' to 'largest private employer' which is more accurate

[[Image:Walmart.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Wal-Mart logo and slogan]]

'''Wal-Mart''' is America's largest private employer,<ref>[[Christian Science Monitor]]. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0219/p01s04-usec.html Wal-Mart: world's largest company]</ref> running a chain of department stores. The company was founded by [[Sam Walton]] in Arkansas in 1962. Walton was a [[Christian]] and tried to make his store pro-family. The current Wal-Mart CEO is Lee Scott. Wal-Mart also owns the "Asda" chain of superstores across the [[United Kingdom]].

It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Wal-Mart is often the subject of criticism for allegedly paying low [[wage]]s with insufficient [[fringe benefit|health benefits]] and allegedly forcing "Mom and Pop" stores out of business. It was also criticized for supporting [[homosexuality]]<ref>[http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/08/21/4 "Wal-Mart launches gay-friendly initiative" August 21, 2006]</ref> and for not dispensing [[abortion]] inducing drugs at its pharmacies. The company's defenders reply that Wal-Mart tries to uphold a family value system and is a well-known provider of decent employment and affordable merchandise across America and the rest of the world. Wal-Mart's wages average significantly higher than minimum wage, which may explain why nearly 2 million people choose to work for Wal-Mart.

It has also been criticized for selling imports of products manufactured in [[China]].<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/wmchina.html Is Wal-Mart good for America?]</ref>

==Wal-Mart in the U.K.==
Wal-Mart entered the U.K. in 1999 following its purchase of the Asda supermarket chain, taking over around 300 stores which remain under the Asda brand name. Wal-Mart's performance, however, has failed to meet Wall Street's expectations, and its 16% share of British grocery spending has not changed over the last eight years, partly because of the company's inability to pursue its usual expansion strategy of oversaturating markets. In the United States Wal-Mart has driven its growth by building massive superstores that dwarf all of a town's existing businesses combined and that are spaced relatively close together across a region. This strategy has enabled Wal-Mart to overwhelm local economies and force out tens of thousands of small businesses through over-development.
[[Image:Asda.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The company's U.K. logo]]
Wal-Mart has had more difficulty employing this tactic in the U.K. due to the legislation known as "Planning Policy Statement 6" (''PPS6''), which requires local governments to keep retail development in town centers and to limit retail development on the outskirts unless there is a clear, well-defined need.<ref>''Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres'' [http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1020432884848.html Planning Portal]. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref> Wal-Mart has lobbied heavily for the removal of the "needs test".

In 2006 Asda-Wal-Mart were ordered to pay $1.66 million for breaking U.K. law by offering illegal inducements to workers to quit a trade union. Around 340 drivers and warehouse staff at a distribution depot in the north-east of England were offered a 10% pay rise if they left the union. The members rejected the offer. A court established that the legislation had been breached and the company was ordered to pay every worker at the depot almost $5000 each in compensation.<ref>''Asda fined for trying to make workers quit union'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/feb/11/supermarkets.tradeunions The Guardian], 11 February 2006. Accessed 22 January 2008</ref>

In December 2007 Asda-Wal Mart was one of several companies that were fined over $225 million after admitting that they fixed the price of milk, cheese and butter in a scandal estimated to have cost U.K. consumers about $526 million.<ref>''Supermarkets fined for price fixing'' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/08/supermarkets.asda The Guardian], 8 December 2007. Accesed 22 January 2008</ref>

==Biblical Action Figures==

[[Image:Daniel and the Lion's Den - Biblical Action Figure.jpg|right|thumb]]

Wal-Mart said it will test sales in some [[store]]s of [[biblical]] [[action figure]]s whose makers (the [[toy]]s are made by [http://store.messengersoffaith.net/ One2believe]) say they are aimed at [[Christian]] [[parent]]s who prefer their [[children]] play with [[Samson]], [[David]] or [[Noah]] rather than with a [[comic book character]] or [[Bratz doll]]. <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289689,00.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Companies]]

Talk:Atheism and charity

2008-08-08T01:18:45Z

ABunny: signed my edit (sorry)

unlock this article so I can add a template to it-- [[Image:50 star flag.png|12px]] [[User:Deborah|Deborah]] [[Special:Contributions/Deborah|(contributions)]] [[User_talk:Deborah|(talk)]] 12:47, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

== donations ==

Perhaps it should be noted that some of the most liberal and atheistic countries in the world, eg north-western Europe, are some of the worlds largest aid donors, [http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp#ForeignAidNumbersinChartsandGraphs source] and by some measure, are considered the most charitable nations on the international level [http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/ source].
And while some of these nations have a well developed social security system, still spend a signigicant amount of money on charity, in the Netherlands, for example, private citizens spend, in relative terms, about a 1/3 of what US citizens spend on charity [http://www.cbf.nl/Downloads/Bestanden/Verslag_fondsenwervers/Verslag%20Fondsenwerving%202006.pdf source] [[User:ABunny|ABunny]] 21:18, 7 August 2008 (EDT)

Talk:Atheism and charity

2008-08-08T01:18:14Z

ABunny: /* donations */ new section

Leiden

2008-08-05T18:09:03Z

ABunny:

'''Leiden''' (in older sources sometimes spelled ''Leyden'')is a small city in the Dutch province of [[Zuid Holland]], located near [[The Hague]], close to the heart of the [[Randstad]]. It is the home of Leiden University, founded in 1575 and one of the most prestigious universities in Europe.

The city has a population of 118,000.

==Further Information==
Leiden University: http://www.leiden.edu/

[[Category:Dutch Cities and Towns]]

Laffer curve

2008-03-24T13:19:45Z

ABunny: edited references.

The Laffer curve illustrates that increasing tax rates may decrease government revenue as people stop working, and increasing tax rates towards 100% causes government revenue to decline to zero as everyone stops working. Government revenue is not always increased by increasing taxes. This curve is named after [[Arthur Laffer]], an influential economist behind the tax cuts of President [[Ronald Reagan]].

If the tax rate is higher than t* in the Laffer curve below, then increasing taxes causes government revenue to decrease. Few dispute the underlying principle of the Laffer curve, but the debate centers on where to set the tax rate to obtain the maximum revenue. The concensus among economist is, however, that t* is above the current tax rates. <ref>Blanchard, O. ''Macroeconomics, 4th edition''. 2003, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall (p. 430-431, 500)</ref> <ref>Begg, D. Fischer, S. & Dornbusch, R. ''Economics, 8th Edition''. 2005, Berkshire, United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill (p. 289-290)</ref>

In the Reagan era, the Laffer Curve is thoughed to have demonstrated that tax cuts lead to a near doubling of federal tax receipts ($500 billion to $900 billion). <ref>[http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-261.html Supply Tax Cuts and the Truth About he Reagan Economic Record], by William A. Niskanen and Stephen Moore, Cato Policy Analysis No. 261 October 22, 1996.</ref> However, others dispute this <ref>Blanchard, O. ''Macroeconomics, 4th edition''. 2003, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall (p. 430-431, 500)</ref>, and claim the increased revenue can be at least partly attributed to a policy of [[deficit spending]].

<center>
== Laffer curve ==
 

[[Image:Laffer_curve.jpg]]
</center>

==References==
<references/>
[[category:economics]]

Laffer curve

2008-03-24T13:17:37Z

ABunny: Added a well supported counter claim against the claim that taxcuts increase government revenues.

The Laffer curve illustrates that increasing tax rates may decrease government revenue as people stop working, and increasing tax rates towards 100% causes government revenue to decline to zero as everyone stops working. Government revenue is not always increased by increasing taxes. This curve is named after [[Arthur Laffer]], an influential economist behind the tax cuts of President [[Ronald Reagan]].

If the tax rate is higher than t* in the Laffer curve below, then increasing taxes causes government revenue to decrease. Few dispute the underlying principle of the Laffer curve, but the debate centers on where to set the tax rate to obtain the maximum revenue. The concensus among economist is, however, that t* is above the current tax rates. <ref>Blanchard, O. Macroeconomics, 4th edition. 2003, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall (p. 430-431, 500)</ref> <ref>Begg, D. Fischer, S. & Dornbusch, R. Economics, 8th Edition. 2005, Berkshire, United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill (p. 289-290)</ref>

In the Reagan era, the Laffer Curve is thoughed to have demonstrated that tax cuts lead to a near doubling of federal tax receipts ($500 billion to $900 billion). <ref>[http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-261.html Supply Tax Cuts and the Truth About he Reagan Economic Record], by William A. Niskanen and Stephen Moore, Cato Policy Analysis No. 261 October 22, 1996.</ref> However, others dispute this <ref>Blanchard, O. Macroeconomics, 4th edition. 2003, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall (p. 430-431, 500)</ref>, and claim the increased revenue can be at least partly attributed to a policy of [[deficit spending]].

<center>
== Laffer curve ==
 

[[Image:Laffer_curve.jpg]]
</center>

==References==
<references/>
[[category:economics]]

Essay:Liberal Intellectualism

2008-03-04T12:15:05Z

ABunny:

[[Liberal]] ideology, and [[liberal]] arguments, have their greatest appeal with intellectual wannabees: people who are long in academic degrees but short in intellectual achievements of their own. Perhaps they genuinely fall for the superficial, fallacious [[liberal logic]], or perhaps they just enjoy the attention and extra income in being pseudo-intellectuals and media-promoted experts.

Examples of not-quite-intellectuals who promote [[liberal]] arguments include:

*[[John Kerry]]
:*privileged youth, weak student at [[Yale]], no original work
*[[Al Gore]]
:*privileged youth, poor graduate student, claimed to help with the creation of the [[internet]]<ref>http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp</ref>
*[[Bill Clinton]]
:*may have virtually flunked out of the pre-med program at [[Georgetown University]], never released his grades, failed to earn a degree at [[Oxford]], no original work or ideas
*[[Richard Dawkins]]
:*lasted only 2 years teaching at [[University of California, Berkeley]], a mere lecturer at [[Oxford]] until a wealthy ally donated a professorship for him
*[[Stephen Jay Gould]]
:*[[Antioch College]] graduate (geology major), his work is riddled with contradictions
*[[Laurence Tribe]]
:*dropped out of a graduate math program, passed over initially for Law Review, passed over for [[Solicitor General]] in 1993,<ref>Tribe admitted he was being considered, but he was not nominated. "Under Clinton, Crimson tide washes over Washington," The Boston Globe (Mar. 4, 1993).</ref> [[plagiarism]] later found in his work<ref>"Joseph Bottum, books and arts editor of the Weekly Standard, presents overwhelming evidence to support his claim that Tribe's 1985 book, God Save This Honorable Court, was largely copied from a 1974 book called Justices and Presidents by the University of Virginia's Henry J. Abraham. Bottum's case rests on the relentless citation of example after example where it is clear that Tribe has copied both the substance and, in many cases, the exact wording of Abraham's text. Most damning is Tribe's repetition of errors, like slight misquotations of original sources, in Abraham's book."[http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/007975.php]</ref>
*[[Robert McNamara]]
:*described as a "whiz kid," he wrote or did nothing of significance, mishandled [[Vietnam War]]
*[[Henry Kissinger]]
:*fluent in relatively few languages for a diplomat, had no insights or noteworthy work, mishandled [[Vietnam War]] and [[Soviet Union]]
*[[J. Robert Oppenheimer]]
:*repeatedly passed over for the [[Nobel Prize]] due to a lack of achievement, allowed multiple leaks from [[Los Alamos]]
*[[Jon Stewart]]
*[[Noam Chomsky]]
:*famous for making a few guesses about [[linguistics]] some of which turned out to be partially correct. He has not done any work in linguistics in 30 years and just spends his time promoting left-wing politics outside his supposed area of expertise.
*[[John Maynard Keynes]]
:*dropped out of [[math]] to pursue the less rigorous [[economics]], but was unable to earn a doctorate even in that
*[[Michel Foucault]]
*[[Rachel Carson]]
:* Started the [[environmentalist]] movement with her book [[Silent Spring]] which was found to be full of errors, exaggerations and disregard for actual [[science]].
*[[Bertrand Russell]]
:*claimed to be proving the completeness and consistency of math, a goal [[Godel]] proved was impossible. Advocated unilateral nuclear disarmament.
*[[Ward Churchill]]
:*Offended millions of Americans by comparing those that died in 9/11 to Adolf Eichmann, notorious organizer of the [[Holocaust]]. Had the gall to sue the University that terminated him.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jul25/0,4670,EmbattledProfessor,00.html</ref>
*[[Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr.]]
:*privileged youth, rise to the top based upon family name and inherited connections. Currently publisher of the ''[[New York Times]]''.
*[[Charles Darwin]]
:*poor student
*[[Carl Sagan]]
:*insisted that there must be life in outer space
*[[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]
:*flunked the [[D.C.]] bar exam; worked on the House Judiciary impeachment staff investigating [[Richard Nixon]]. Hillary's work was so poorly conceived and drafted that a member of the Committee, [[William Dixon]] said Hillary "paid no attention to the way the [[Constitution]] works in this country, the way politics works, the way Congress works, the way legal safeguards are set up."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=foWUM2R1K0wC&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&dq=hillary+nixon+olson&source=web&ots=06xJC-jwnM&sig=P6LflOsDROMR16cn_WGvXg4iZHU#PPA122,M1 Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton], By Barbara Olson, Regnery Publishing, Inc, 2001, pp. 122-123.</ref>

Please add other examples.

== Praised Heaped by Pseudo-Intellectual [[Liberals]] on Each Other ==

It is remarkable how pseudo-intellectual [[liberal]]s praise each other as geniuses. Examples include:

*[[Bertrand Russell]] declaring that the most intelligent man he ever knew was [[John Maynard Keynes]]<ref>http://www.hwkhelp.com/node/43</ref>

*[[Laurence Tribe]], who saw the best law students for several decades, insisted that fellow [[liberal]] [[Barack Obama]] was the "best student I ever had" and the "most exciting research assistant."<ref>http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/NEWS01/711140429/1217/NEWS98]</ref>

Please add other examples.

== Motivation ==

There are two primary motivations for the [[liberal]] advocacy by pseudo-intellectuals:

* it is easier for them to obtain acclaim from the liberal press than from real intellectuals

* they genuinely fail to understand certain abstractions, such as:

:* how cutting taxes often increases government revenue ([[Laffer Curve]])
::* it should be noted that many economist also fail to understand this <ref>Blanchard, O. ''Macroeconomics, 4th edition''. 2003, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall (p. 430-431, 500)</ref><ref>Begg, D. Fischer, S. & Dornbusch, R. ''Economics, 8th Edition''. 2005, Berkshire, United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill (p. 289-290)</ref>
:* how guns save more lives through deterrence and prevention than they harm
:* how childbirth has a positive effect on health, and thus [[abortion]] harms health
:* how cease-fires always help a determined opponent in war
:* how arms limitations treaties always helps a dishonest adversary

* they expect superficial, flawed logic to persuade others, such as:

:* claiming that inequality in outcome implies discrimination
:* demanding equal treatment for genders in all situations
:* claiming that the [[gay agenda]] is like the civil rights struggle by African Americans
:* insisting that government can reduce poverty with more programs

Please add to these lists.

== References ==

<references/>
[[Category:Essay]]
[[Category:Oxymorons]]