35 replies to this topic

[Rafterman]

Legaia, on 18 November 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

Even more proof that the "entitled" will decide every election from now on.

Edit to add : Take a particularly close look at Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. My home state was single handedly decided by Philadelphia. Even Pittsburgh was somewhat split.

The scarier point in all of this - and it should be scary for both Republicans AND Democrats - is that election science has been honed to such a degree that  tactically targeting a mere handful of counties around the country can deliver an election for one candidate or another.

When I was growing up, the chief complaint was that "we never see XXXXX campaigning in our state" - well, now, the complaint is "we never see XXXXX campaigning in our county."

Until such time as we have another great unifier in the mold of Reagan on the political scene, Broward, Cuyahoga, and a few other counties are going to be deciding our Presidents.

[questionmark]

Rafterman, on 19 November 2012 - 07:30 PM, said:

The scarier point in all of this - and it should be scary for both Republicans AND Democrats - is that election science has been honed to such a degree that  tactically targeting a mere handful of counties around the country can deliver an election for one candidate or another.

When I was growing up, the chief complaint was that "we never see XXXXX campaigning in our state" - well, now, the complaint is "we never see XXXXX campaigning in our county."

Until such time as we have another great unifier in the mold of Reagan on the political scene, Broward, Cuyahoga,

If people keep on voting for the same campaign after campaign they become irrelevant for the politicians, both during the campaign as during their tenure in office. Those who opt for a case to case get attention, presents and benefits, the others get nothing.

[RavenHawk]

questionmark, on 18 November 2012 - 08:21 PM, said:

You better buy yourself a dictionary, the above is some great, though involuntary, slapstick.

And I could buy up all the dictionaries in the world and you still wouldn’t understand what I am talking about.  It’s not all that difficult to understand.  But you being from Greece, I don’t know why I even try to explain.

[questionmark]

RavenHawk, on 19 November 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

And I could buy up all the dictionaries in the world and you still wouldn't understand what I am talking about.  It's not all that difficult to understand.  But you being from Greece, I don't know why I even try to explain.

Well, yes, if you use words and definitions out of their context nobody knows what you are talking about. That is why language is a defined set of expressions.

[MiskatonicGrad]

I just wish I was dumb enough to buy a smart phone. because everyone I know on goverment assistance has one.

I wish I didn't know so much about the founding of this country then I wouldn't be so sad about what a mess it has become.

I wish I wasn't so responisble with my money then I could take advantage of other responsible tax-payers.

I wish I was dumb enough to vote for Obama. Then I wouldn't be so sad he won.

[preacherman76]

questionmark, on 18 November 2012 - 01:34 PM, said:

You mean like on the Michigan upper peninsula where most everybody lives half a year from unemployment benefits? Looks very red to me.

Places like Michigan took the worst hits when our government sold us to China. The poorest states among us would benefit the most from sucession. Sure they might not be able to take governmnent welfare anymore from states that are currently doing well, but they would be able to make thier own trade agreements, and compete on the world stage again. Theyd also be able to place tariffs on prducts coming in. No more supporting slave labor from china.

Of course it will never happen, but Id love to become part of America 2.

Edited by preacherman76, 20 November 2012 - 11:00 AM.

[Legaia]

Wearer of Hats, on 18 November 2012 - 09:37 PM, said:

That's what democracy is.

As mentioned, this nation is not a democracy, it is a representative republic.

[FLOMBIE]

Of course is the USA a democracy. Republic is simply a term that describes that the head of a country is not a monarch. Nothing more.

Edit: It is not a direct democracy, but a representative democracy. I think those are the terms you were looking for.

Edited by FLOMBIE, 20 November 2012 - 01:41 PM.

[questionmark]

FLOMBIE, on 20 November 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

Of course is the USA a democracy. Republic is simply a term that describes that the head of a country is not a monarch. Nothing more.

Not quite, but mostly right.

Republic means that the interests of the citizens are in care of representatives. If the representatives are there because of their religion we call it a theocracy, if they are there because they have most money a oligarchy, if they are there because they belong to a caste we have an aristocracy, if because they have the productive means we have a plutocracy and finally, if they are  elected by suffrage we have a democracy.

This tendency of certain circles to say that the US is a republic but not a democracy is just another soft attempt to take away citizens rights without anybody missing them.

[FLOMBIE]

RavenHawk, on 19 November 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

And I could buy up all the dictionaries in the world and you still wouldn’t understand what I am talking about.  It’s not all that difficult to understand.  But you being from Greece, I don’t know why I even try to explain.

You don't understand it, so please refrain from making comments like "democracy is socialism". That is as silly as it can get. And I do understand what I am talking about.

By the way, questionmark may be living in Greece, but is not 'from' Greece.

Edited by FLOMBIE, 20 November 2012 - 01:52 PM.

[FLOMBIE]

questionmark, on 20 November 2012 - 01:46 PM, said:

Not quite, but mostly right.

Republic means that the interests of the citizens are in care of representatives. If the representatives are there because of their religion we call it a theocracy, if they are there because they have most money a oligarchy, if they are there because they belong to a caste we have an aristocracy, if because they have the productive means we have a plutocracy and finally, if they are  elected by suffrage we have a democracy.

This tendency of certain circles to say that the US is a republic but not a democracy is just another soft attempt to take away citizens rights without anybody missing them.

You are right. I only broke it down to the most important part. If I were to write an essay on this, I'd elaborate more.

[Legaia]

questionmark, on 20 November 2012 - 01:46 PM, said:

This tendency of certain circles to say that the US is a republic but not a democracy is just another soft attempt to take away citizens rights without anybody missing them.

An all out democracy would completely alienate and revoke the rights of the people that just want to be left alone, while kowtowing to those that want to be taken care of. That's what has been slowly happening in this country. The rights and wishes of the new minority no longer matter.

Edited by Legaia, 20 November 2012 - 04:53 PM.

[questionmark]

Legaia, on 20 November 2012 - 04:53 PM, said:

An all out democracy would completely alienate and revoke the rights of the people that just want to be left alone, while kowtowing to those that want to be taken care of. That's what has been slowly happening in this country. The rights and wishes of the new minority no longer matter.

You are talking about people deciding every step of the way by direct vote without representatives nor leaders? That is not a democracy, that is an anarchy (like the Greek word seez: without boss). In a democracy, ever since it was invented in the 5th century BC in Greece people elect representatives to rule for them.

[RavenHawk]

questionmark, on 20 November 2012 - 09:48 AM, said:

Well, yes, if you use words and definitions out of their context nobody knows what you are talking about. That is why language is a defined set of expressions.

Only you and a few others that are of similar mindset seem to have problems with it, which is understandable.  That’s one reason I continue to push it because you don’t understand.  Your kind never understands.  I’ve been very specific answering you in several threads.  You should have by now been able to tell by context what I am talking about and that it is well within established definitions.  That is why language is a defined set of expressions.

[Hasina]

What?! The South isn't blood red?! This is an outrage! Now the rest of the country will start to suspect that we 'think' and have a wide variety of 'opinions'. What happened to the backwards, bumpkin, Christian and racist South I... never actually knew but only saw stereotyped as such on TV?