Questions for our American folk

[STEED]

How passionate are you on politics?

Only at elections or all the time?



Reason I ask, here in the UK most people don't give a stuff which in my view is wrong. As if you want real change you got to get off your rump.

[AVGWarhawk]

I keep up with it. You have to. Legislation is going on all the time. Need to keep a running record until the next election comes up. This helps to determine if you want to keep them in or dump them off.

[Blacklight]

I'm a loudmouth who doesn't keep his mouth shut when he doesn't agree with something he finds morally wrong. Therefore, damn right, I pay attention to the crap my government is doing, who the candidates are.. what they stand for... etc...
At the risk of starting a fight, I can seriously say that I am a die hard liberal and I find the "Conservative" way of doing things backwards wrong, and fundamentally flawed. The Conservatives are also WAY too much puppets of special interest groups and the "Religious Right" who shouldn't even be INVOLVED in politics in the first place hence "Separation of Church and State" ! They've been trying to get that rule taken out of the Constitution for years and have pretty much been ignoring it altogether anyway. Look how many public schools out there still have prayer at the beginning of the day and shun teaching about evolution.

Okay.. I've gone too much off on a rant. I'll shut up now.:roll:

[DeepIron]

I'm with AVG, I keep an eye on political things and get more animated in the election years. This year especially since we have an opportunity to "break the mold" and get some new blood (no pun intended towards Mr. Obama) in the White House. :up:

[SUBMAN1]

How passionate are you on politics?

Only at elections or all the time?



Reason I ask, here in the UK most people don't give a stuff which in my view is wrong. As if you want real change you got to get off your rump.Very! :D

And yes, I do write my Senators and district Congressman all the time.

-S

[mrbeast]

Think I'm one of the few people who actually vote in the UK, practically all of the people I know don't bother voting at all. :nope:

Its amazing how many people won't take 5 minutes to excercise a right that countless thousands have died to defend. :hmm: :roll:

[baggygreen]

We get people interested for 6 weeks every 3 years.

Mandatory voting system.

interviews with young kids 18, 19, 20 - why did you vote Labor? "cos Kevin07 (his slogan) sounds cool" or "cos he's younger than howard"

I'd much rather a system of voluntary voting, then you won't get all the dolts and ignorants voting on the basis of a cool, rhyming slogan rather than policies.

[JSF]

How passionate are you on politics?

Only at elections or all the time?



Reason I ask, here in the UK most people don't give a stuff which in my view is wrong. As if you want real change you got to get off your rump.

1) Very!

2) 24/7

3) We have a similar situation here in the U.S.of A. However, I sense it's probably consistant around the globe...people sitting on thier big fat apathies waiting for someone else to get involved and then tell them what to think about it. Lead, follow or get out of the way, but for crying out loud DO SOMETHING!

[Sailor Steve]

I'm more political than I used to be, but my real passion is history; i.e. what politicians did before and why. I worry some about what's going on now, but my take usually ends up being a little different from those around me.

[Onkel Neal]

I'm mildly interested, I watch a few debates, read a few articles, and I vote in the primary and general election. Since I only have one vote in 60 million, it's hard to get overly excited in the process.

[Tchocky]

I used to get to lots of rallies etc when I lived in the US. I've seen both McCain & Obama speak in public, got to shake Obama's hand. (firm grip, but you could tell he'd done it a thousand times before)*
Following the Presidential campaigns with intense interest, I'd say my interest in politics run, by country - US, UK, then Ireland in a distant third.








* - oh my, how inadvertently seedy

[Letum]

National interest in politics = poor standard of living X (political freedom + political awareness)

ok, its not math, but that sums it up.

The UK and America both have a high standard of living, so politics seams less important.

[Peto]

I try to keep my eye on the ball most all of the time. Having connections with the international community helps as it is quite embarassing to learn how much more someone from another country knows about US politics than I do. And I try to use my knowledge of history (college minor/lifetime hobby) as a basis to compare trends I see in individuals, parties and powerfull special interest groups. The last 7 years have been quite frightening...

[CDR Resser]

I am quite active in politics. It began while I was in high school, and had a very active history teacher and participated in Model UN. Yes I was, and probably still am a nerd.
Got a chance to meet all of the Republican candidates during the '96 cycle. I remain more impressed with Lamar Alexander than any candidate since, although Alan Keyes certainly can give a speech.
Elections are the only way that we can affect the course of our government. Now it is too corrupt, and driven by lobbyists. You can thank the tax code, as well as 40 years of one party control of the congress for that.
I can't believe that people here are contemplating the lurch to the left, and a nanny state, that many current candidtes are advocating. That ideology has failed everywhere it has been tried, often with spectacularly bloody results.
Our Bill of Rights is non-negotiable, not one little bit, not now, not ever.
Our government is too big, too expensive, too expansive and too intrusive.
Thomas Jefferson was right to fear for the future of the republic when people figured out that they could vote themselves money from the treasury, and thats basically where we are now.
Abraham Lincoln was also right when he said that as a nation of free men we would endure for a thousand years, or die by suicide, which is where I am afraid that we are going.
ED: I support the "Law & Order" candidate-- Fred Thompson.

Respectfully Submitted;
CDR Resser

[Letum]

Our Bill of Rights is non-negotiable, not one little bit, not now, not ever.


ahh, they said that about the Magna Carta Libertatum, the mother of the US
constitution, here in the UK and we only follow 2 of the freedoms form that now and
not quite in the original form.

If there is one thing you learn from having a constitution for 800 years, it's that
relevancy is never timeless.

[orwell]

And yes, I do write my Senators and district Congressman all the time.

-S

Ever get a response beyond a form letter? Ever get any response?

I'm mildly interested, I watch a few debates, read a few articles, and I vote in the primary and general election. Since I only have one vote in 60 million, it's hard to get overly excited in the process.

That's about my feelings on it, though I'm not a registered voter, however, I think the Americans who aren't a total lost cause would probably speak out on it a little more if they felt they could influence it themselves, perhaps on a county or even state level. Though perhaps kinda sadly I watch world politics far more closely than anything that's going on locally.

[STEED]

I get the impression here from you guys in America take this subject more serious than folk here which is a shame.

[bradclark1]

When I was in the army I really didn't care about politics. Other things were more important. I started paying attention when I was pasturized with Clinton. I really got into it when this current president started running for his first term. Sometimes my heart rate goes up but then what Neal says. One in sixty million, but yes I am One. I vote out of fear that that idiot might win by one vote.

[dean_acheson]

I am a huge C-Span junkie which stays on at my house all weekend while I clean and pick up the house, I like to get my news from the Net, haven't watched a network news show in years.

I worked on Capital Hill during law school (which I went to in D.C.) I catch every debate that I can, both Republican and Democrat. This summer I'll watch Gubinatorial (sp) debates from other states.

I follow certain Supreme Court cases.

I follow the actions of my County Commissioners. I actively particiapate in decisions made in the area in which I live.

I love politics, I love ideas. I like the debates. It's all very fun, and very serious to me, at the same time. Some folks like football, or soap opreas, or such. I like Politics (and military history and NASCAR)

Not to offend, but it is a rare day that I don't wake up, and thank God that the English won the French and Indian wars, so that this country is based on the English Republican/Common Law system. Yay! :)

I subscribe to the Weekly Standard and the National Review. I did let my Economist subscription run out.

[STEED]

I love politics, I love ideas. I like the debates. It's all very fun, and very serious to me, at the same time.

Sadly this is lacking here with a lot of people, they rather talk about the latest story line in East Enders (BBC Soap) which is fiction. The funny thing is people here bitch on about the government but they will not make a effort to even write a letter to there Member of Parliament.

Democracy is dying here in the UK, some times I feel let's have a Military dictator in charge with tanks rubbling down your streets at 5AM in the morning just to teach folk here what they missed.

[CDR Resser]

Our Bill of Rights is non-negotiable, not one little bit, not now, not ever.

ahh, they said that about the Magna Carta Libertatum, the mother of the US
constitution, here in the UK and we only follow 2 of the freedoms form that now and
not quite in the original form.

If there is one thing you learn from having a constitution for 800 years, it's that
relevancy is never timeless.
Without putting too fine a point on the matter, unless I am wrong, please correct me if I am, there was no provision about the right to keep and bear arms included in the Magna Carta.
The Second Amendment is the only one that guarantees all of the others. That is why it is so hotly debated here. That is also why our politicians should take note that should they ever feel the compulsion to abribge that particular freedom, they will be greeted in a most unfriendly manner.
Rope, Tree, Politician. Some assembly required.


Respectfully Submitted;
CDR Resser

[Letum]

The Second Amendment is the only one that guarantees all of the others. That is why it is so hotly debated here. That is also why our politicians should take note that should they ever feel the compulsion to abribge that particular freedom, they will be greeted in a most unfriendly manner.
Rope, Tree, Politician. Some assembly required.

I can see the logic in saying that:
"The Second Amendment is the only one that guarantees all of the others"
i.e.It allows people to to shoot politicians or the police to stop constitutional
changes. Perhaps not as sensible as voting, but I'll put that aside.However, is
it not also the one that threatens all others?
It equally allows you to shoot politicians or the police to force constitutional
changes. :doh:

[Sailor Steve]

No.

If the government has all the guns, then the people exist by the whim of the government.

If the people have all the guns, the the government exists by the whim of the people.

The Second Amendment indeed guarantees us the ability to overthrow the government by force, if necessary.

But only as a last resort.

[Tchocky]

No.

If the government has all the guns, then the people exist by the whim of the government.

If the people have all the guns, the the government exists by the whim of the people.

The Second Amendment indeed guarantees us the ability to overthrow the government by force, if necessary.

But only as a last resort.
I can't convince myself that in my country, where indeed the government have all the guns, we exist by the leniency of government power.
You're placing government and people alongside each other, as if one could exist without the other.


12,221! Palindromic postcount, congrats Steve :)

[nikimcbee]

people don't give a stuff .


Wow, you guys get "stuff" during political times? All we get is pamphlets and dumb commercials. What kinda "stuff" do you get? Cool "stuff" ? ....like Christmas? Maybe if I was good, I could get a box of summer sausages and crackers.:rotfl:

Sorry, couldn't resist.:cool: :lol:

If one Party totally controls the area (ie state, region) it's really hard to change anything, the main party does whatever the hell they want. ...and they'll change the laws to make it hard to boot them outta office.:dead: :roll:

[STEED]

the main party does whatever the hell they want.

In the case of our government to true. :nope:

[Sailor Steve]

No.

If the government has all the guns, then the people exist by the whim of the government.

If the people have all the guns, the the government exists by the whim of the people.

The Second Amendment indeed guarantees us the ability to overthrow the government by force, if necessary.

But only as a last resort. I can't convince myself that in my country, where indeed the government have all the guns, we exist by the leniency of government power.
As soon as any one person, or group, decides otherwise, what are you going to do about it? Write a new law?

You're placing government and people alongside each other, as if one could exist without the other.
No, I believe that the people who created my government did so for the specific purpose of securing their rights. After all, they had just fought a war against a government who tried to use force of arms to "make them behave".


12,221! Palindromic postcount, congrats Steve :)
Cool! I didn't even notice!:sunny:

[Cohaagen]

People care enormously about politics in the UK, but they rarely realise that the issues which they feel strongly about are in fact "political" as such.

I am glad that the UK - despite the fact that it's a closed-down, CCTV-ridden, sanctimonious, servile, drunken, has-been supplicant nation that trades on rapidly-fading past glories - doesn't have a political scene like the US.

Frankly, I'm glad that we don't suffer from that repellent "conservative vs. liberal" divide than runs through America like a Grand Canyon full of rancid pus. I'm also grateful we don't have millions of people (even teenagers) self-identifying as either one and thereby being inducted into party political trench warfare where opposing sides actually hate their opposite numbers. It's great that we don't fill up terabytes of the internet throwing dog**** at each other and shrieking about "****ing reactionary wingnuts" and "goddamn liberal pinko commie faggots". I sometimes wonder if people will wake up one day and have spontaneous realisation of how bogus and contrived it all is.

One of the worst things Tony Blair did, in ten years and countless multitudes of bad decisions, was to Americanise the post of Prime Minister. That is one thing we don't want to import from the US.


EDIT: Incidentally, on the subject of guns et al - there is the English 1689 Bill of Rights, which guarantees that all Protestants shall have the right to keep arms for self-defence.

[bradclark1]

Frankly, I'm glad that we don't suffer from that repellent "conservative vs. liberal" divide than runs through America like a Grand Canyon full of rancid pus. I'm also grateful we don't have millions of people (even teenagers) self-identifying as either one and thereby being inducted into party political trench warfare where opposing sides actually hate their opposite numbers. It's great that we don't fill up terabytes of the internet throwing dog**** at each other and shrieking about "****ing reactionary wingnuts" and "goddamn liberal pinko commie faggots". I sometimes wonder if people will wake up one day and have spontaneous realisation of how bogus and contrived it all is.

Yeah it would be one hell of a violent civil war.
But in reality it's not that big a number. Maybe someone will google it but a lot of Americans just don't vote nor are interested in politics. Cuts into the football and Nascar. Look at this forum how many thousands are members but it's only the less than a dozen usual suspects that sling snot.

[bookworm_020]

We get people interested for 6 weeks every 3 years.

Mandatory voting system.

interviews with young kids 18, 19, 20 - why did you vote Labor? "cos Kevin07 (his slogan) sounds cool" or "cos he's younger than howard"

I'd much rather a system of voluntary voting, then you won't get all the dolts and ignorants voting on the basis of a cool, rhyming slogan rather than policies.

I'd keep it mandatory, It means that everyone keeps an interest(?) in politics, so that when the election comes around, people care about who they vote for.

People do take it seriously, I OIC of a polling place at the last election, people may grumble, some may write isnults on the ballot paper that will never be seen by the person they dislike, but they do think about the people they want to vote for and who they don't.:yep:

I woul hate it to be a case of who can get the most supporters to a polling place, and how many times they can vote!