Don't forget, we also batter people to death by kicking footballs at them (soccerballs to you)

Well about the crime rates.

Look, in Europe we're way less strict than you guys in the US but our crime rates are way lower than yours (we are also not allowed to purchase guns that easily). We don't use the death penalty but we have way less murders than the US.

Forgiveness is always a good thing. I'm German, my grandfathers started the second world war. Today when I tell people that I'm german they often say "that's cool, I like Germany". If it wasn't for the forgiveness of the other European countries germany surely wouldn't be that well integrated in the EU today and maybe someone would've started another war. Just to give you an example.

Coincidently, high criminal rates could directly relate to the lack of socialism in the US.

Oh and I hope my previous comment didn't offend you. That wasn't my intention. I apologize in that case.

thanks, my husband warned me not to talk politics...next time i will listen to him

i think it would be great to fined out why crimes are being committed, however something would still need to be done because unfortunately us knowing why is not necessarily going to stop them. and then there is a whole other issue with peoples feelings as to why because every expert has their own theory...the thing is, is that you cant pin point one reason that sums up all murders and why they are committed or all rapes and say this is why they occur or all robberies and say that they all take place because of one reason. personally, i think that most crime is do to the brake down of the family and parents not taking interest in raising their children with any kind of moral compass, and every one having their own opinion as to right and wrong and nothing being black and white. if everyone makes their "own truth" and right and wrong is all in the eye of the individual then that allows for all kinds of issues...

I love Germany and the Germans are great (and very friendly) people. I'm English by the way. My grandad doesn't hold what the Germans did against us, so why should I?

For those asking "what god has to do with it?", it is actually very simple.  It is the concept of divine provedence. If you look at the declaration of independence it should jump out at you in one of the most often quoted parts:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This is, I think most would agree, a principle of the most profound importance to our country, our constitution, and most importantly our individual rights and our freedom.  This idea that our rights are granted by a higher power and are "unalienable".

Now lets be clear, I'm agnostic so I don't buy into religous texts as a basis for logical argument because I believe it presupposes the existance of god.  But you cannot ignore that by removing entirely the concept of a higher power from the underlying principles that guide our government you are removing that which makes your rights "unalienable".

If you choose not to believe in god that is a personal decision.  But when you deduce from that that the government should completely remove any relation to even a generic concept of a higher power then you necessarily remove the concept of divine provedence.  You remove your gauruntee of unalienable rights and in it's place you say that you're willing to accept the word of your fellow man that by nothing but his strength of character and his promise you will trust him to honor your right to rights, the most fundamental right. 

That concept of rights granted by men is EXACTLY what the founding fathers wanted to avoid because it is exactly that sort of government that they were rejecting as having been tried and proven untennable as way to have or produce a free society.  How is it that a representative who serves you in your government which you control could be the one who grants to you the right to vote for them?  It doesn't even make sense. The rights of others cannot and should not be gaurunteed by the promise of one man to abdicate his natural tendency for ambition (as all politicians have) so that we might retain our rights as a free people.  That concept is sheer insanity, it's trusting the scoprion not to sting your back as you help him across the river.

This may seem like a simple issue of semantics to those who are professed athiests (ie it might seem like that is the case regardless), but that line of reasoning actually betrays an ignorance of what religion truly is.  Honestly, I don't know how to properly explain it either so if you feel this way lets just agree to disagree. 

With that said it is quite clear that "I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life." is not a principle I agree with. I would however say I very strongly agree with the other 8 principles.  I think if people can agree with 8 of 9 it's clear there is plenty of common ground for the group to work from if they're willing to work from what unites them rather than bickering about what divides them.

PS - Glenn Beck is insane

i have always wondered that, b/c i know there are lots of murders in teh states but are we at number one?

i mean people will always kill people but if i was given teh choice i think i would rather be shoot in teh head then stabbed 30 times and left to bleed out while in huge amounts of pain ;)

You know that you defeated your own argument, right? Countries in the EU with low murder rates (and coincidentially, gun control) are also the most well developed countries. In the EU, there are in fact several countries who are underdeveloped, and unless the US has states that are also underdeveloped (which I don't believe is the case), then theprof's point stands valid.

i think it is safe to say that i am pretty well done with this thread. i cant possible keep up with everyones beliefs and then try and defend mine and debate every thing brought into question.(it hurts my little blond brain :0) it is sufficient to say that, no matter how you feel about my opinions, i truly love this county and want the best for it as i am sure the rest of you guys do.

Translation:

I'm not offended I just think the things you believe in are pompous douchebagery.

You're assuming that because they say they believe in something that your disagreement with them means you do not.  By that logic anyone who voted against Obama was against "Hope"!  Can you believe the pompous douchebagery of that guy? The nerve to imply that I don't believe in hope?

Words having meaning.  Lack of words have implied meaning.  One is justification for a reaction, the other is justification for requesting clarification.

Haha, did he now?

Well, it would be weird if every member of a site where people come from all over the world agreed on something as complex as politics

I am definitely in for preventing crime, rather than punish for crime, but I don't think anyone is so delusional as to think it's an easy task. No person is just the same, and if it was easy to prevent crime, it wouldn't be here in the first place.

And another reason for why people commit crimes is because of a lack of money. If your family is starving, and you can't get an honest job, then what solutions do you have? Borrow money from the bank? People not being able to repay their loans is a big reason we are in this economic mess in the first place. Get an education so you qualify for a job? If your family is starving, you probably can't afford a new education.

At the same time, you might not be able to pay for heat, and if it's winter, you might get ill. How do you plan on paying for the treatment? Some people are pushed into crime by economic desperation, and a system that provides money for people who can't earn money themselves (even when it is just enough to get by), free healthcare and free education provides many more solutions for people to get back on their feet. People don't have to worry about day-to-day survival, the government has you covered.