Where's the sticky for us to teach us about the politics?

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Is there a thread in here that explains American politics? The different kinds of Democrats and Republicans, and how if there's only two political parties, they can still have so many different kinds? Lol, preferably to someone that is used to a parliamentary multi party system?

My fiance thinks it's too hot of a subject to discuss with me, even though we seem to be on the same page politically, it just seems to rile him up when he's talking about it... something about too many dumb@sses in government, and if I was Mexican I'd already be in the States, and how the citizen applying for the petition is treated more unfairly than a foreigner that wants to come there to take a job from and American, why should we have to wait this long so that their petition goes through first? (yes, it rambles on like that, lol!)

So, is there someone that wants to point me to the best thread, link? I suggest that a politics and religion forum should have a sticky at least explaining what the most common religions in the US are, where the heads are, and another one explaining the political system, lobby groups and the like. I only know what I DO know from watching the West Wing, do you really want that to be how I learn??

[luckytxn 2,265]

Is there a thread in here that explains American politics? The different kinds of Democrats and Republicans, and how if there's only two political parties, they can still have so many different kinds? Lol, preferably to someone that is used to a parliamentary multi party system?

My fiance thinks it's too hot of a subject to discuss with me, even though we seem to be on the same page politically, it just seems to rile him up when he's talking about it... something about too many dumb@sses in government, and if I was Mexican I'd already be in the States, and how the citizen applying for the petition is treated more unfairly than a foreigner that wants to come there to take a job from and American, why should we have to wait this long so that their petition goes through first? (yes, it rambles on like that, lol!)

So, is there someone that wants to point me to the best thread, link? I suggest that a politics and religion forum should have a sticky at least explaining what the most common religions in the US are, where the heads are, and another one explaining the political system, lobby groups and the like. I only know what I DO know from watching the West Wing, do you really want that to be how I learn??

Must be new here. Do you really think you should learn all about religion and politics from this forum?

[scandal 951]

There is no sticky section for P&R, this area of VJ isn't like the regular immigration forums which are designed to help you immigrate or acclimate to life in the US. This is the rough&tumble section for people with too much time on their hands who like to argue incessantly about how terrible a President Obama is, how awful liberals are, how treasonous is the Hate America First crowd that dares to believe in anything outside of a neocon libertarian agenda, and last but not least, how oppressive and genocidal Israel is in victimizing Palestinians. If you fit in with any of those viewpoints you'll do just fine here. Welcome aboard.

[luckytxn 2,265]

There is no sticky section for P&R, this area of VJ isn't like the regular immigration forums which are designed to help you immigrate or acclimate to life in the US. This is the rough&tumble section for people with too much time on their hands who like to argue incessantly about how terrible a President Obama is, how awful liberals are, how treasonous is the Hate America First crowd that dares to believe in anything outside of a neocon libertarian agenda, and last but not least, how oppressive and genocidal Israel is in victimizing Palestinians. If you fit in with any of those viewpoints you'll do just fine here. Welcome aboard.

Should have been here a few years ago when it was all the other way. I remember the laughs and laughs and giggles when anything derogatory was said about the ones in office then. Especially loved it when someone posted the horrid pictures and the always popular thumbs ups. It was all fun and games.

Now that side stupidly can't understand why the same is done to them now.

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

There is no sticky section for P&R, this area of VJ isn't like the regular immigration forums which are designed to help you immigrate or acclimate to life in the US. This is the rough&tumble section for people with too much time on their hands who like to argue incessantly about how terrible a President Obama is, how awful liberals are, how treasonous is the Hate America First crowd that dares to believe in anything outside of a neocon libertarian agenda, and last but not least, how oppressive and genocidal Israel is in victimizing Palestinians. If you fit in with any of those viewpoints you'll do just fine here. Welcome aboard.

you left out there's also a group that believes in taxing until the rich bleed, that green power and throwing money at global warming will stop it in it's tracks, and how obama really is the 2nd coming of christ.

eta: oh i left out the zomg guns are bad group.

Edited July 10, 2011 by charles!

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Must be new here. Do you really think you should learn all about religion and politics from this forum?

lmao, yeah, but if I post this in the adjusting to America section, it will eventually get moved here anyway, because I'm sure you guys just can't help yourself.

I'm serious by the way, I have been finding myself right clicking things to search in google ever since I started on this site, and my fiance only has one point of view, lol...

And I'm going to be moving to Missouri for crying out loud, please help me know what I'm getting in for!!

eta: oh i left out the zomg guns are bad group.

right clicked and googled zomg guns. Edited July 10, 2011 by Stuart and Thea

[luckytxn 2,265]

lmao, yeah, but if I post this in the adjusting to America section, it will eventually get moved here anyway, because I'm sure you guys just can't help yourself.

I'm serious by the way, I have been finding myself right clicking things to search in google ever since I started on this site, and my fiance only has one point of view, lol...

And I'm going to be moving to Missouri for crying out loud, please help me know what I'm getting in for!!

right clicked and googled zomg guns.

Well welcome to the site. I also see that you must be from Canada, eh. I have been to Canada many times and have met many people and from what I understand about Canadians politics then I am sorry to break it to you but Missouri may have been the last place for you to have fallen in love with someone from there. Well there and Texas. Should have checked out someone from California or other nut job states.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

He lives in Branson, so it's at least the closest thing to nutty that they have!

And come on, do you really want me to watch Stephen Colbert to learn what I need to know??

[luckytxn 2,265]

He lives in Branson, so it's at least the closest thing to nutty that they have!

And come on, do you really want me to watch Stephen Colbert to learn what I need to know??

Well TV is pretty much how most Americans learn their politics then yes please watch Colbert.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

He lives in Branson, so it's at least the closest thing to nutty that they have!

And come on, do you really want me to watch Stephen Colbert to learn what I need to know??

I'm a Missourian. Generally speaking, you are moving to a bellwether state. How ever the country votes, Missouri will vote. The cities of Missouri generally lean towards democrats while rural areas lean towards republicans.

In reality both parties are actually quite similar on the political spectrum (with the exception of the tea party element of the republican party). For instance they are not nearly as far apart as the Labour Party, the Tories, or the Lib Dems of Britain if you are familiar with their system.

Edited July 10, 2011 by Sousuke

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

And I'm going to be moving to Missouri for crying out loud, please help me know what I'm getting in for!!

how many teeth do you have?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

how many teeth do you have?

Well Branson used to be considered pretty backwater ozarky. But its become somewhat more popular and there is a lot more investment and development in the past decade.

how many teeth do you have?

I also want to point out I have all my teeth (minus my wisdom teeth) thank you very much!

[scandal 951]

He lives in Branson, so it's at least the closest thing to nutty that they have!

And come on, do you really want me to watch Stephen Colbert to learn what I need to know??

Here's what you need to know.

There is no Governor General, the President is the Head of State. It is a Republic, not a Constitutional Monarchy as is Canada.

The two legislative bodies (Senate, House of Representatives) are both elected chambers unlike Canada in which the House of Commons is elected and the Senate is appointed.

In the US there are three co-equal branches of Government - the Executive (President, Cabinet, and the various departments of the Federal Government), the Legislative (House+Senate), and Judicial (the US circuit courts, appellate courts and Supreme court). This formal three-way split differs from the Canadian parliamentary system in which the legislative and executive functions are both largely unified in Parliament, and the ruling Government is composed of the largest party (or parties, in a coalition or minority government) of MPs. This has practical effect: In the US there is often tension between a President and Executive Branch and members of his own party (e.g. Obama and Congressional Democrats don't always agree). This rarely happens in Canada since the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are also sitting MPs in Parliament.

US Elections are called for on a pre-determined date. Canadian elections are either called by the Prime Minister whenever it seems politically expedient to do so, or they occur when a government falls on a non-confidence motion. Such concepts are alien in the United States. Elections for members of the House occur every 2 years, for the entire body. Elections for the Senate occur every 2 years but Senators are elected for 6 year terms. This means each 2 years a third of the Senate is elected. The President is elected every 4 years. Elections always take place on the first Tues of November. There are no term limits for Congresscritters, however a President is Constitutionally limited to two 4-year terms.

The words to the Pledge of Allegiance are "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". Canada has no such pledge.

Canada has two official languages in which the federal government may serve you. The United States has no official language, but will offer governmental services in English as well as many other languages such as Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog and more based upon demand.

The US Constitution is a framing document that is almost as old as the Republic. The Canadian Constitution dates to the 1980s when Pierre Trudeau was finally able to get political buy-in from the provinces (particularly Quebec and the western provinces) to charter a Constitution and retire the British North America Act, which had been the country's founding charter.

Canada has had universal health coverage since Tommy Douglas introduced it in Saskatchewan and it's been in all provinces since the 1960s. The US is on the verge of getting a watered-down form of universal health coverage without a single-payer model in 2014, unless the Supreme Court strikes it down first.

Canada has better donuts.

The US has better microbrewed beer.

Loonies and Toonies jangle in my pocket too much. I prefer paper bills rather than too many coins.

BTW - I am a dual US/Canadian citizen. It is possible to hold citizenship in both countries.

[luckytxn 2,265]

In the Branson area don't be surprised if you see most of the people look alike whether female or male.

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

Well Branson used to be considered pretty backwater ozarky. But its become somewhat more popular and there is a lot more investment and development in the past decade.

I also want to point out I have all my teeth (minus my wisdom teeth) thank you very much!

you don't live there either, do you?

In the Branson area don't be surprised if you see most of the people look alike whether female or male.

and there's only 6 last names in town.