US Politics..

[alienlovechild 75]

Vote third party!

Nader wouldn't be bad, in fact I think he'd be a good change for this place but.. he never really gets very far and some appear to think he just steals their votes? It looks like the big money makers get to the top and stay there?

No, no. Nader doesn't "steal" any votes. Any votes he gets, he's earned. He deserves them. However, given the fact (yes, fact) that this election cycle has only two viable participants (D and R), any votes earned by Nader or La Riva or Barr are votes that could have (theoretically) gone to one of the two mainstream candidates. Emphasis on "could have" - voters can always just stay home.

In 1992, Bill Clinton won with only 43% of the popular vote. This was only possible due to a strong showing by a third party (or was he Independent?) candidate - Ross Perot, who got almost 19% of the popular vote (but nothing in the EC).

In 2000, Nader got about 3% of the popular vote. The difference between GWB and Gore was approximately zero.

Interesting...

All that was news to you? You must not know much about recent elections but we have to hear your uninformed opinion on electoral reforms. Let's hear your take on Bulgarian politics, too.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

We have the Yankees and the Mets.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

I don't know about your part of the UK but where I lived down south there was no shortage of scorn scorn for politicians and political parties - but I don't remember people going off on big stereotypical diatribes about the types of people who vote Tory or Labour.

Its really very strange seeing that here - that people seem at least as concerned about trashing people who vote a different way than the politicians themselves.

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

We have the Yankees and the Mets.

The Yankees won last night.

5 - 1 against the White Sox.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

We have the Yankees and the Mets.

does that rivalry ever get violent?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

We have the Yankees and the Mets.

does that rivalry ever get violent?

Rarely. When it does, it's a freak occurrence.

It's mostly just verbally abusive.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

I don't know about your part of the UK but where I lived down south there was no shortage of scorn scorn for politicians and political parties - but I don't remember people going off on big stereotypical diatribes about the types of people who vote Tory or Labour.

Its really very strange seeing that here - that people seem at least as concerned about trashing people who vote a different way than the politicians themselves.

Oh sure people dislike the other party - I just don't think it's quite the same.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

I don't know about your part of the UK but where I lived down south there was no shortage of scorn scorn for politicians and political parties - but I don't remember people going off on big stereotypical diatribes about the types of people who vote Tory or Labour.

Its really very strange seeing that here - that people seem at least as concerned about trashing people who vote a different way than the politicians themselves.

Oh sure people dislike the other party - I just don't think it's quite the same.

It always seemed to me that there was a bit of a disconnect in the UK when it came to politics - I suspect that has something to do with the nature of our system, that you don't get to choose the PM - only the party. There was plenty of criticism of Blair (and John Major and Thatcher before that), but I never really heard anyone blaming others for voting those people into office.

[Marilyn. 340]

Do people really take AJ's "insults" seriously?

yes... they don't know him to well, I guess..

[rocks 494]

There was plenty of criticism of Blair (and John Major and Thatcher before that), but I never really heard anyone blaming others for voting those people into office.

you obviously weren't around me much then, anyone who voted for labour a second time was a fool!

[ginger1981 0]

What is the story with American politics? I mean.. I'm trying to understand how they can all be so vicious to each other e.g. Obama Vs Hillary yet appear all nice and happy? I mean bush supposedly did this to mccain back in 2000? Why so vicious then so fake "nice" to each other and the public?

Why are there only two choices, I know there are more than two choices but they get pushed out right away. It's like all the "little guys" don't stand a chance? I wonder how many out there would prefer a 3rd or even a 4th actual choice instead of the two?

One of the reasons (and there are others) is that when a third party idea hits home with Americans then one of the two major parties comes along and usurps the idea as their own.

An example is the Green party. The green party took just enough votes from a few states that lost the electoral college for the Socialists (Dems). Following that the Socialists then have have taken over the Green party ideas as their own. The last election showed the Green party not coming near to what they had before done.

It also happened with many other parties that have came along in history. And even we have witnessed recently the immigration debate. At first both parties positioned them selves and to an extent still are. So far the Socialists seem to be moving ahead on usurping the ideas but their caution as the American public are so ready to backlash any that try to be too open to the idea of amnesty. Not too surprisingly the hispanic vote is very conservative in outlook and the Reps does very well with that vote. It is a minefield though.

LMAO....yeah, and government takeover of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and AIG is TOTALLY capitalist! I love how those totally uneducated in what the true definition of socialism is like to apply it to whatever is even vaguely liberal. Hmmm...guess deregulation and the laissez faire approach really worked eh?

Vote third party!

Nader wouldn't be bad, in fact I think he'd be a good change for this place but.. he never really gets very far and some appear to think he just steals their votes? It looks like the big money makers get to the top and stay there?

No, no. Nader doesn't "steal" any votes. Any votes he gets, he's earned. He deserves them. However, given the fact (yes, fact) that this election cycle has only two viable participants (D and R), any votes earned by Nader or La Riva or Barr are votes that could have (theoretically) gone to one of the two mainstream candidates. Emphasis on "could have" - voters can always just stay home.

In 1992, Bill Clinton won with only 43% of the popular vote. This was only possible due to a strong showing by a third party (or was he Independent?) candidate - Ross Perot, who got almost 19% of the popular vote (but nothing in the EC).

In 2000, Nader got about 3% of the popular vote. The difference between GWB and Gore was approximately zero.

Interesting...

All that was news to you? You must not know much about recent elections but we have to hear your uninformed opinion on electoral reforms. Let's hear your take on Bulgarian politics, too.

Still working on stirring the pot eh?

[no name 1]

43

[HAL 9000 96]

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

I don't know about your part of the UK but where I lived down south there was no shortage of scorn scorn for politicians and political parties - but I don't remember people going off on big stereotypical diatribes about the types of people who vote Tory or Labour.

Its really very strange seeing that here - that people seem at least as concerned about trashing people who vote a different way than the politicians themselves.

My husband's unscientific theory about why politics is so ugly here is because we don't have football as an outlet for all our petty jealousies and tribal hatred. Political opposites hate each other with a similar passion to the way Liverpool fans hate Man U. The only thing missing is the pub fights.

We have the Yankees and the Mets.

The Yankees won last night.

5 - 1 against the White Sox.

That's OK... I'm a Cubs fan!

(And raised a Mets fan...)

[panamania79 2]

i find the censorship on tv quite odd too, i don't get that part

It's for the chil'run

And for some grown-ups who can't handle such things.

[SpiritAlight 1]

You asked some great questions Aiden80, and some good points were raised in these posts.

What has boiled down to a two party system sucks.

People buy the story perpetuated by commercial media about: "OMG if you don't vote for this guy or that guy, you will be throwing away your vote."

You know what I mean.

I have more to say, but ....so....tired.....sleepyyyy.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz