JCliffordCook - whereIstand.com

The Pledge of Allegiance should not include the phrase "under God," because it was put in for explicitly religious purposes and as such should be removed. (Religion and Government)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:28:52 GMT

I can't believe that Sarah Palin thinks that the Founding Fathers wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. Actually, the Founders saw no reason to write a pledge, and if the lack of a pledge is good enough for them, then it's good enough for me. Using a pledge of

There is no convincing evidence that a higher being exists. (Religion)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:25:33 GMT

There is convincing evidence that people WANT to believe that a "higher being" exists, but there has never been one shred of evidence that proves the case. Given that billions of people have been trying for thousands of years to find that proof, I think

Congress should not issue a second round of the 2008 stimulus checks. (U.S. Economy)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:22:00 GMT

The first round of stimulus checks didn't work. Now, most Americans don't even have enough money for back to school supplies for their kids - and we're further in debt to China.

The U.S. should not allow drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (ANWR). (Environment)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:20:25 GMT

Look - it's called a wildlife refuge for a reason. If the Republicans want to go drilling there, let them pass an act of Congress renaming the place the Arctic National Oil Company Refuge.

The U.S. should have signed the Kyoto Treaty. (Kyoto Protocol)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:53:18 GMT

Years have passed, and the inaction supported by Palin Republicans has been repudiated by science, and by widespread disasters.

The use of birth control is not equivalent to abortion. (Sexual & Reproductive Health)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:05:58 GMT

No, they're not equivalent, any more than sticking a spade into the ground is equivalent to mountain top removal coal mining. The scale is almost unimaginably different.

Sarah Palin was not a good choice for John McCain's vice presidential candidate. (2008 Presidential Election)

JCliffordCook — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:53:49 GMT

Sarah Palin is an ideological extremist who is clearly in the pocket of Big Oil, inexperienced and untested, running as the 1st in line to succeed to the Presidency with a presidential candidate who likely would not survive his first term in office. The p

The President should not order domestic warrantless wiretaps to combat terrorism. (The War on Terror)

JCliffordCook — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:26:44 GMT

A warrant is proof that a wiretap is needed to deal with criminal behavior. If the government can't provide proof - even 72 hours after the fact as the old FISA allowed, they shouldn't be allowed to spy on Americans - period.

Congress should not lift the ban on offshore oil drilling. (Environment)

JCliffordCook — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:17:30 GMT

While people are filling the gas tanks of jet skis at 1 to 5 miles per gallon, no, we don't need offshore drilling. If there's really a supply problem with gasoline, let's ban jet skis, producing an instant increase in the gasoline supply, not an increas

The American news media did not appropriately handle coverage leading up to the war in Iraq. (Media)

JCliffordCook — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:11:50 GMT

Journalists accepted government assertions at face value, and ignored evidence that contradicted the idea that a rush to war was necessary. Independent small media did a much better job covering the issues before the war.