There are a few issues or topics that have caused heated discussions between myself and others.  I'm not quite sure who is right or who is wrong because each of these topics has shades of gray that make it difficult to say what is the right answer.

My first topic is illegal immigrants and people in the US right now on work Visas when our economy is in shambles and American workers are being laid off.  I have a hard time stomaching the fact that there are so many illegal immigrants here mooching off the system and my tax dollars (especially in MA) pay for their housing, cars, cell phones, food stamps, and other bills, including schooling. While at the same time US born and raised citizens are struggling to pay their own bills and taxes, nevermind having to pay for people who technically, don't exist.  They have no paper trail here in many aspects.  Yes understand that the citizenship process is ridiculous, but illegal is illegal in my mind.  I'm working my ass off struggling to pay of student loans from college barely getting by and yet people come to this country with their hands out expecting a free ride and I say screw that!  Yes many of them come from conditions which we couldn't even imagine, however there is a legal way of being here.  I do believe that the process to becoming a citizen should be made a bit more attainable so that they can get citizenship and start paying taxes and live their own way.  My other issue personally with a place I  worked for was that they would bring people from all over the world to work here, buy their work visas, pay for their housing and their rental cars (which they switched and got new ones every 3 weeks) and at one point gave them a weekly "allowance" to buy groceries etc...plus they got a pay check...then they would bring their families pop out a few kids and bam, can't send them home now....get me very angry if you can't tell.  Because not only were they making more than me in general but basically all of their bills were taken care of at the expense of the company...American workers and citizens got laid off and yet all and I mean every single one of the people brought here are still working there with their housing and cars and pay checks taken care of...where's the fairness in that?

Another topic which is a very gray area for me is the topic of abortion.  As a woman I believe that it is my body, my choice, but do I think that I could ever do this? I don't know.  Growing up my family instilled very Christian values and beliefs in me so like I said it is a gray area.  I don't think that it should be used soley as a means of birth control, if you're dumb enough to get pregnant then you really should deal with the consequences.  Call me harsh or whatever but my mother could have just as easily chose not to have me as an 18 year old high school senior.  Adoption is always an option, yes I know that there are already so many children out there without homes, but does that justify killing?  I think that in the instances of rape or terminal or severe complications are certainly reasons for having an abortion and no one should judge any woman struggling with such a tormenting decision.  It is an agonizing thing to contemplate.  Do you have the baby knowing that it really isn't fair to bring the child into the world, when you aren't ready and can't provide for the child?  Do you go through the 9 months of carrying the child and then give birth and give the child up for adoption?  Do you have the abortion and live with that for the rest of your life?  How can anyone tell a woman what to do in such a situation?  It is a deep and painful moral and ethical decision that a woman must choose, and yes she should consult family, friends, doctors, her partner or spouse, but it all boils down to it being her final decision.  I had a pregnancy scare last year and it terrified me, but for me there really wasn't a choice, had I been pregnany I would have had the baby.

Another serious issue I have, espcially in the current state of the economy is the fact that our civil sevice workers, the police officers, firemen, emt's, etc are having their pay and numbers cut back to accomodate the budget (MA).  How is that a logical thing to do?  These men and women are first in line when things go wrong and they put their lives on the line for civilians day in and day out and the governor of MA justifies cutting back?  I honestly believe the man needs his head checked and to start packing his bags because there's no way in Hell that the man will be re-elected because honestly what the Hell has the idiot done for the state? (getting a bit heated but I'll be voting for anyone besides that man)  The men and women who serve as police, firemen, emts, etc. I thank you, for your dedication, your hard work and the sacrafices that you make everyday!

I also want to thank the men and women serving our country in the armed services for their sacrafice and dedication to make the world a little bit safer everyday!  Because regardless of how we, the civilians, may feel about a political issue or topic it is our duty to support our troops and pray for their safe return. Regardless of how much we may or may not agree with what they're doing, it doesn't really matter...what matters is that they are dedicated to a cause and believe in what they're doing, therefore they not only deserve our support but they have earned by time and again answering the call of duty, leaving behind their family friends and homes and going to distant lands to defend freedom.

And I believe that I am done rambling now.  I have vented and I feel better.  Even though you may or may not agree with my point of view at least try to stop and think and try to look at things from all angles and sides before forming an opinion.

Jen