Blue Patriot in a Responsible Community

Anti-natalism (or antinatalism) is a philosophical stance holding that procreation is ethically problematic. In its most fundamental form, it argues that bringing new people into existence inevitably exposes them to suffering and harm—a burden imposed without the individual's consent. Proponents contend that, given the intrinsic pains of life (from daily hardships to the inevitability of death), abstaining from procreation is the more compassionate and morally One of the central arguments in favor of anti-natalism is known as the asymmetry argument, famously advanced by philosopher David Benatar. This argument maintains that while coming into existence brings both pleasure and pain, the absence of life spares potential beings from suffering, without missing out on any benefits (since non-existence cannot experience pleasure). In this view, since non-existence avoids harm altogether, choosing not to procreate is seen as ethically preferable—essentially a bet against inevitable futu...

Term limits in politics refer to restrictions on the number of terms an elected official can serve in a particular office. These limits are designed to prevent individuals from holding power indefinitely and to encourage fresh leadership and ideas in government. In the United States, term limits vary by office. For example, the President can serve a maximum of two four-year terms, as established by the Twenty-second Amendment. Some state governors and legislators also have term limits, while members of Congress and the Senate do not have federally mandated term limits. Some believe federal term limits should be implemented as they are for the President. But, the following points should be considered.   Term limits affect the relationship between the officeholder and voters. During their term in office, the officeholder may feel less accountable to constituents because they will not be held responsible through elections. As a result, the officeholders might vote according...

Just Facts: As Many Americans Have Criminal Records as College Diplomas With as many criminal convictions as college degrees, it’s more evident than ever why “ban the box” laws are important for the economy. Matthew Friedman, November 17, 2015, Brennan Center for Justice The number of Americans with a criminal history has risen sharply over the past three decades. Today, nearly one-third of the adult working age population has a criminal record. In fact, so many Americans have a criminal record that counting them all is nearly impossible. According to a 2012 Department of Justice survey , state criminal history repositories contain more than 100 million records. These are popularly referred to as “rap sheets” or “criminal records” although most people who have them have never been convicted of a serious crime. These repositories chronicle nearly every arrest, regardless of whether or not it leads to an indictment or conviction. And while 100 million records do exist, this figur...