Controversial opinions

Everyone has beliefs which they think are simple and obvious. In 2017, I have become aware that some of mine are a lot more controversial than I imagined. Back in February I started assembling a list. Here’s what I have so far.

Apparently controversial opinions in 2017:

• Everyone should have healthcare covering essential treatment. What counts as essential should be decided by panels of trained medical professionals.

• Everyone should vote.

• Slave labor is wrong. Always. Even if it’s convicted prisoners doing it.

• Contraception is a good thing and should be legal.

• Torture is bad. It is always morally wrong and it doesn’t work.

• All Nazis are bad.

• Adult men trying to have sex with underage teens is bad.

• Science is good. It is the best way we know to learn about the world we live in.

• Facts and non-facts are different. Fact is not just a matter of opinion; we can determine which things are facts, and which are not facts. We can do this using science; see above.

• Art is good. Everyone should make art and appreciate art.

• Immigrants are good for America. The entire nation is an experiment in whether you can have a nation of immigrants held together by principles.

• Everyone should have enough food to eat.

• Everyone should have a place to live.

• Compassion for others is good. A person who cries because they feel bad for what is going to be done to others, is a better person than one who feels nothing.

• Diversity is good. Meeting people of other races and other faiths and getting to know them is good for everyone involved.

2018 additions

• Children should never be kept in cages.

• Seeking refugee status is not a crime.

I’m sure I’ll have more to add to the list, and will come back and update it from time to time.