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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:03 pm
by dragon wench
RPGguy wrote:Typical Republican response: yell, kick and scream...insult, suggest violence but then quit and pout when you don't get your way.
Indeed... I've often noticed that, not just amongst US Republicans but also amongst their Canadian counterparts.
Talk about reinforcing the thuggish, brutish stereotype...
lmao@Endboss :laugh:
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:56 am
by Ode to a Grasshopper
LMAO - that was unusually quick.
Guys!
![Frown :(](./images/smilies/)
The rental situation here in Oz is terrible, and you scared him off before I could get the lease for under his bridge.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/)
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:53 am
by RPGguy
Ode to a Grasshopper wrote:Guys!
![Frown :(](./images/smilies/)
The rental situation here in Oz is terrible, and you scared him off before I could get the lease for under his bridge.
Sorry Ode, but the good news is Rush Limbaugh promised to leave the country if the health care bill became law. So his place should be available...
...aaaaany day now. (taps finger waiting for him to leave)
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 2:54 am
by DesR85
jklinders wrote:I am not an American as my profile clearly states, if you would like advise from an outsider and truly despise what both parties down there have become(as I do) give up the myth of the 2 party system and vote for someone else, your vote is only truly wasted if you vote against your conscience .
I know this isn't directed at me, but I would like to point out that you can also choose to abstain from voting if you do not like any of the candidates/parties represented (based on past experiences, what they stood for, etc). It may sound ignorant, but it is one way to issue a form of protest against them.
Just saying.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/)
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:31 pm
by dragon wench
DesR85 wrote:I know this isn't directed at me, but I would like to point out that you can also choose to abstain from voting if you do not like any of the candidates/parties represented (based on past experiences, what they stood for, etc). It may sound ignorant, but it is one way to issue a form of protest against them.
Just saying.
I have been there, and I completely understand the sentiment and argument that inspires the feeling. However, I've only ever abstained from casting my ballot once; I did so because I personally knew the candidate representing the party I'd have normally voted for and I couldn't stand the person at any level... they were a nasty, manipulative piece of filth.
I've often wrestled with the temptation of not voting, but ultimately I do go out to the poll booth. Why? Because not voting achieves absolutely nothing. You might feel better at having "voiced" your protest, but in the grand scheme of things it does diddly squat, and simply breeds apathy.
So, instead I vote strategically and I support the party most likely to defeat the one I despise above all others. To bolster my sense of voice I have also often ended up active in particular protest movements.. I figure that way I'm affecting at least some influence, however minor.
The reality is that *somebody* is going to be elected, it really doesn't matter how you personally feel on the matter.. so you may as well vote for the people you hate least.
Moreover, the battle for Suffrage was a long one that did not come easily; I'm not about to laugh in the face of those who came before me and fought for the right to vote.
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:44 pm
by jklinders
RPGguy wrote:Sorry Ode, but the good news is Rush Limbaugh promised to leave the country if the health care bill became law. So his place should be available...
...aaaaany day now. (taps finger waiting for him to leave)
Whoa whoa whoa buddy. We still have Harper up here. He might find the climate better for himself here. I would rather not have that blow hard any where near Canadian soil.
In all seriousness, I am a slow typer so I am little disappointed that the intended audience of the posts I wrote did not seem to read them.
@ Des, I have not abstained at the vote, but on one occasion I have deliberately spoiled my ballot in protest. Those are counted...well at least up here they are. they just don't count for much. I do appreciate the opportunity to vote "none of the above"
![:angel:](//cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/twitter/twemoji@latest/assets/svg/1f47c.svg)
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 2:20 pm
by endboss
If you don't vote, then an even smaller minority gets to pick the country's leaders.
If you vote for someone other than a Republican or a Democrat, you are essentially screwing over the candidate you like more. There is good evidence that the reason we had 8 years of Bush can be tracked to a single county in Florida that ended up as an outlier because of the butterfly ballot. (
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9740/buchanan2k.jpg)
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:00 pm
by DesR85
dragon wench wrote:I have been there, and I completely understand the sentiment and argument that inspires the feeling. However, I've only ever abstained from casting my ballot once; I did so because I personally knew the candidate representing the party I'd have normally voted for and I couldn't stand the person at any level... they were a nasty, manipulative piece of filth.
I've often wrestled with the temptation of not voting, but ultimately I do go out to the poll booth. Why? Because not voting achieves absolutely nothing. You might feel better at having "voiced" your protest, but in the grand scheme of things it does diddly squat, and simply breeds apathy.
True. Then again, it all comes down to numbers. I remember that the threshold for the number of voters in an election result to be legitimate is 50% or more in the majority of democratic countries. Less than that, then it is void.
If only a few people choose to abstain and the majority of voters choose one candidate/party over another, then it is nothing more than a piss in the wind. But if a lot of people choose to abstain, enough to drag the percentage below 50%, that might send a strong signal of discontent to them. Thing is, I doubt anything like this ever occurred in any democratic country.
Thinking about this, I still remember the EU Parliamentary elections last year where the BNP manage to secure a seat just because the British voters are angry at both Labour and Conservatives over their MPs' expenditure scandal. I understand the anger, but I do not see how voting in a chauvinist party justifies that (one the majority of the public do not like at all). Not to be judgemental, but it does say something about the voters if you ask me.
jklinders wrote:...I do appreciate the opportunity to vote "none of the above"
![:angel:](//cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/twitter/twemoji@latest/assets/svg/1f47c.svg)
Well, I understand the need
if voting is made mandatory. Since it's voluntary, you can either choose to vote for one or to abstain.
![Stick Out Tongue :p](./images/smilies/)
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:54 pm
by RPGguy
New voting system on the way...
Ballots now give you ability to rank your choices
A. Joe Blow Independent you want to win
B. 2nd Choice Democrat
C. Ratbag Teabagger
You can now vote 'A' and vote will be counted as 'A' until it becomes statistically impossible for 'A' to win race. Then vote become 'B' automatically.
You can vote your conscience without worrying about Ratbag winning by vote-splitting effect.
Cheers to the scientists on that one!
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:42 am
by galraen
Obama is as far left as Palin is far right, if you can't see the similarities that's very sad indeed.
The number of Americans who demonstrate their complete ignorance of politics with startements like this is incredible. Obama far left!!?? He's right of centre as far as most of the world is concerned, and fairly well to the right at that! Of course almost every American who would say something as daft as that are so insular they think the world ends at Florida Keys!
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:31 pm
by RPGguy
galraen wrote:Of course almost every American who would say something as daft as that are so insular they think the world ends at Florida Keys!
galraen, you have to trust me bud (remember, I am Canadian)...I have probably 100 or so friends/business contacts in the US.
Rest assured that the majority or them are really experiencing tough times right now. I am almost stunned to the degree to which this economic crunch has humbled them and given them a new perspective they won't soon forget.
Almost all of them are really decent, hard working folk.
It is true that the heart of America is good. I say that 100% confidence.
It's just unfortunate that they are so terribly misrepresented through their media and political system. The extremes get the press coverage. The Paris Hiltons, the Rush Limbaughs, the Donald Trumps, the internet trolls, rock stars and movie stars.
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:02 pm
by galraen
I'm well aware that it's only a vocal, and hysterical minority, personally I've only ever met one Usian I didn't like, and he was just a spoiled brat of 13 who may well have grown up to be a decent guy.
I did say
every American who would say something as daft as that
, which i realise is a minority, but sadly that minority seems to get a lot more media attention than their numbers warrant. It really doesn't help when people like Palin get within spitting distance of the White House though.
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:17 pm
by jklinders
Politics are very much a bloodsport down there. I provided consumer and tech support for a US based company. We are at the direction of the client NOT to discuss religion or politics with customers even if they bring it up. A person could easily get shot for having the wrong opinion in the wrong place down there.
I agree also with RPGguy as I have spoken to many Americans who are "just folks". I am reminded of this quite frequently so it is easy to forget any sparring matches with an ideologue.
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 12:16 pm
by endboss
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 1:11 pm
by jklinders
*Sigh* I live within a days drive of these yahoos. Too close to home, way way too close to home. Glad to see there are at least SOME teachers down there who would DARE to teach critical thinking though. It's the teabagge-er I mean tea partiers that are the sheep not the students in this case.:mischief:
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 6:45 pm
by Ausoi
galraen wrote:The number of Americans who demonstrate their complete ignorance of politics with startements like this is incredible. Obama far left!!?? He's right of centre as far as most of the world is concerned, and fairly well to the right at that! Of course almost every American who would say something as daft as that are so insular they think the world ends at Florida Keys!
I had to laugh when I saw your post.
You really had to dig deep to find something to insult me with.
Honestly, its all about perspective. You made an assumption that I was including all of the ''world'' in my political spectrum. Which I wasn't.
Hell, why stop there, why not include the entire history of man in our discussion of what's left and right.
FYI, don't make stupid comments unless you have some evidence to back them up with, yeah, maybe Obama isn't as far left as you or the country you live in; but he is sure far left for the United States, more so then any president to date.
Honestly your thought processing is fail. peace
![Cool :cool:](./images/smilies/)
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 11:09 pm
by Ode to a Grasshopper
Hey Ausoi, can you do a piece for [url="http://www.venganza.org/category/hate-mail/"]here[/url] next? It'd be refreshing to read some FSM hate mail that uses actual punctuation and decent spelling.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/)
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:06 am
by endboss
Play any good RPGs lately, Ausoi?
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/)
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:24 am
by galraen
Ausoi wrote:I had to laugh when I saw your post.
You really had to dig deep to find something to insult me with.
Honestly, its all about perspective. You made an assumption that I was including all of the ''world'' in my political spectrum. Which I wasn't.
Hell, why stop there, why not include the entire history of man in our discussion of what's left and right.
FYI, don't make stupid comments unless you have some evidence to back them up with, yeah, maybe Obama isn't as far left as you or the country you live in; but he is sure far left for the United States, more so then any president to date.
Honestly your thought processing is fail. peace
How to underline the fact you are ignorant! Never heard of Michael Moore or Ralph Nader?
In fact Obama wasn't even close to being the most left wing candidate for the Democratic nomination, in fact I'd say the only candidates that might be considered 'right' of Obama were Biden and Clinton. If you want a serious candidate for the 'Socialist' tag try Dennis Kucinich, now he's my kind of politician.