Author Topic: American politics-I just don;'t get it.... (Read 543 times)

ratherbefishin · « **on:** January 03, 2012, 07:46:17 AM »

Before I begin-I am married to an American,travel south frequently,and our children have dual citizenship.My own family ran a little shipping business out of Boston[pirating, slave trading and rum running] up until the early 1700's when they came to Canada[to get free land,no doubt]

anyway-try as I might-I just can't understand American politics,we have similar parties[Liberals are Democrats,Conservatives are Republicans] and we elect our own representitives ,but unlike my American relatives-he party picks the leaders-we don't.
But what really puzzles me is the LENGTH of time an election runs-in the US-it seems to be about a two year process-in Canada,we onlyb have to suffer through 6 weeks of mindless rhetoric-we vote-and thats that-we're done.[thank goodness]no matter WHO wins-our taxes go UP -even thought they ALL say they will LOWER them....

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2012, 08:08:10 AM »

When you are interviewing for a really important position you take your time.
The selection of the party is a time to hear about the candidate, hear their views and see where they would like to steer the country.
And after the last ellection where no one vetted the current president and no one really listend to the Hope and change he wanted they just stopped at Hope and change they expected not what he had said in his books and on the road.
We want to be sure the candidate will do what he says, will be able to stand up to the liberals and the media that are against him.

BBF · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2012, 09:29:26 AM »

Without passing judgement on the US or my system I get all the info I need from the years of prior performance of the party and individual.

Gary G · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2012, 11:36:02 AM »

It is nature of the state to always grow at the expense of a free people. That is why both parties of special interests, while saying different things, always go the same direction of power and size. We fought a war because of this, and now years later, we are back in the same predicament because we have allowed the constitution, which limits government, to be abandoned.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2012, 12:09:50 PM »

it seems the more laws we drafter-the more complicated it got,and the less the ordinary guy even understands.Ten commandmets were simple,and everybody knew them.There isn't much to NOT understand about ''thou shalt not commit adultery''We might not LIKE it but we could UNDERSTAND it

blind ear · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2012, 02:16:44 PM »

Quote from: ratherbefishin on January 03, 2012, 12:09:50 PM

it seems the more laws we drafter-the more complicated it got,and the less the ordinary guy even understands.Ten commandmets were simple,and everybody knew them.There isn't much to NOT understand about ''thou shalt not commit adultery''We might not LIKE it but we could UNDERSTAND it

Too many lawyers in government, it's a conflict of interest. ear

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2012, 03:48:47 AM »

Don't you guys get tired of all the political rhetoric that goes on and on and on at least a year BEFORE you get to go to the polls?
I live in the country and when there is an election-we put a 45 gallon barrel beside the mailboxes for all the ''I really care about the little guy''political fodder which is tossed in unopened -saves picking up the litter on the roadside

magooch · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2012, 04:21:51 AM »

I for one am more than happy that light is shined on our political system and candidates as much as it is. As a matter of fact, we would all be better off if the news media would really objectively stay right on top of all the candidates, politicians and their machinations. They richly deserve the scrutiny.

About the absence of vetting on the obamanation; not true--it was all there for all to see, except some details (birth certificate, college transcripts, etc.), but Obama made no special effort to hide the fact that he is a radical communist and a person who has no more regard for the truth than the Clintons. If anyone missed it, it was their own fault for having their head stuck where the light doesn't shine.

BAGTIC · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2012, 06:27:44 PM »

Originally the parties did pick the candidates and the state legislatures did pick the US Senators. We need some changes. The open primary as is used in Louisiana and, for the first time in California, is a start. There is one non partisan primary and the top two candidates regardless of party run it off.
Remember it was the intention of the Founders that America would be spared from partisan politics, that political parties would never come in to being here.
The presidency presents another problem. The country is so large and campaigning so expensive that no one can run a nationwide campaign without organized support and big bucks and that will not come in the primary. It may be that emulating parliamentary systems and letting the Congress pick one of its own members to serve as president may be the best alternative.
We also need term limits. Representatives begin positioning themselves only a few months after taking office. Two years is absurdly short a term. I would suggest a single six year term for everyone, President, Senator, Representative. It would give them time to learn the ropes and they could devote full attention to their official responsibilities without being distracted by reelection politicking.

magooch · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2012, 04:17:18 AM »

I would hate to think how much damage politicians could and would do if they only had to face voters every six years. And if they knew they were done after 6 years, they would have nothing to lose by doing their absolute worst while they are in office.

There is no perfect system and any system can and will be corrupted by people without scruples. Obama, Reid and Pilosi prove my point.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2012, 11:32:03 AM »

I know you guys have your system and we have ours-but frankly about 6 weeks of listening to political rhetoric and mudslinging prior to us going to the polls is about all I can take-and as far as I am concerned,I never met any politician who had anything worth saying that he couldn't say in 6 weeks.From an outsiders view-it looks like my American friends are in one continuos unending election campaign,but if thats what turns your crank-so be it.Me-I listen to what they say,discard about 75% of it and take the rest with a grain of salt-then I cast my ballot-which is generally Conservative[Repubican to you]
I started as a young guy out with a lot of idealistic socialist ideas[tax the rich], then went Liberal[let the other guys pay taxes] and now I vote Conservative[cause I'm the guy paying the taxes]is that any diferent down your way?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2012, 05:27:55 PM »

Quote from: ratherbefishin on January 05, 2012, 11:32:03 AM

I know you guys have your system and we have ours-but frankly about 6 weeks of listening to political rhetoric and mudslinging prior to us going to the polls is about all I can take-and as far as I am concerned,I never met any politician who had anything worth saying that he couldn't say in 6 weeks.From an outsiders view-it looks like my American friends are in one continuos unending election campaign,but if thats what turns your crank-so be it.Me-I listen to what they say,discard about 75% of it and take the rest with a grain of salt-then I cast my ballot-which is generally Conservative[Repubican to you]
I started as a young guy out with a lot of idealistic socialist ideas[tax the rich], then went Liberal[let the other guys pay taxes] and now I vote Conservative[cause I'm the guy paying the taxes]is that any diferent down your way?

Well this is going to take about 12 weeks and then it will die down and about september after the end of summer it iwll pick up till November. About 6 weeks of mudd slinging and lies from the Democrats.

BBF · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2012, 10:19:24 AM »

ratherbefishin

It took you a while to grow up political.
I guess I am a freak that way,I never voted liberal/socialist.
My first ever Prez vote was for B. Goldwater waaay back then

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2012, 12:53:41 PM »

took a while to grow up politically?-maybe-I just went from an idealist to a realist-and the fact thats theres no free lunch-for anybody.That said-I do believe the super rich like Warren buffet said-should at least pay as much as his employees were paying.Personally,I support a flat tax-same across the board-no loop holes.
Get this-my wife being an American citizen-has to file in BOTH countries-even though she owes NO US taxes.But here's the rub-she pays $200 to file her Canadian Tax return-who do all the calculations-then walks over to her US tax preparer,with the Canadian tax return all done-the US tax preparer picks the figures off the Canadian tax return,completes the US return-and CHARGES HER $600.........see-theres LOTSof Canadian tax services but very FEW American Tax services-so they can-and do-charge whatever they want-and get it.Don't file?-with the border computorizied,all they do is pass her US passport across their screen-and it AUTOMATICALLY tells them if she has files or not-she could be ARRESTED RIGHT ON THE SPOT-even though SHE OWES NO US TAXES.