Silly Americans... Haha watch this!
- Thread starter PaganBlood
- Start date
Tyra
Member
I don't think it's because people are idiots, I think it's more to do with two things:
1. Not enough people vote. Then you end up with a government that doesn't represent most people.
2. Not enough political parties. Then you end up with poor choices, which makes people not want to vote. This stems from the fact that one must raise zillions of dollars to run for office, which means that a major portion of the populace do not have a voice. Most Americans just do not have zillions of dollars, and those people can not only not run for office, but they feel alienated from those that do have the money to run.
Some of my best friends in this world are Americans. Some of them are not so swift, but most of them are just as intelligent as any of us. Some even smarter. The difference between them and some of my non-US friends is that even those American friends who are smart, are not educated (can't afford it), and many of those who are, feel so alienated that they do not vote. Apathy is the prevailing feeling I get from discussing politics with them. Voter reform is easier said than done in countries where the currency rules who gets into office, though, so it's a bit of a catch 22. That's just my opinion.
I remember coming to Canada in my late teens and being totally shocked at how little political involvement my peers had. Shit, when I was in high school, we had mock elections, and the political parties sent out representatives to debate in the cafeteria. We were all very involved. By the time we got to college, we were politically active in the youth branches of the various political parties. We also had a 98% voter turnout back then. I don't know what it's like now. I just know that we thought that our votes counted and that it was important to vote. I think that has to do with the old Norse system of the Thing, and everyone having a voice at the Thing, which made us Scandinavians different from other peoples of that era. It was not a duty, but an honour, and it was also a rite of passage to finally get to vote. It was empowering as hell. I don't see anything like that either in Canada or the US, wich is very unfortunate. Your people have fought hard as hell for your right to vote, and not just Rosa Parks and other black people, but I believe the war of independence was fought for the principle of no taxation without representation. It's just fucking sad that nobody ever remembers that it is not a duty, it is an honour to vote, and that you've got such pissy choices to choose from. Franklin and Washington would be turning over in their graves if they knew...
1. Not enough people vote. Then you end up with a government that doesn't represent most people.
2. Not enough political parties. Then you end up with poor choices, which makes people not want to vote. This stems from the fact that one must raise zillions of dollars to run for office, which means that a major portion of the populace do not have a voice. Most Americans just do not have zillions of dollars, and those people can not only not run for office, but they feel alienated from those that do have the money to run.
Some of my best friends in this world are Americans. Some of them are not so swift, but most of them are just as intelligent as any of us. Some even smarter. The difference between them and some of my non-US friends is that even those American friends who are smart, are not educated (can't afford it), and many of those who are, feel so alienated that they do not vote. Apathy is the prevailing feeling I get from discussing politics with them. Voter reform is easier said than done in countries where the currency rules who gets into office, though, so it's a bit of a catch 22. That's just my opinion.
I remember coming to Canada in my late teens and being totally shocked at how little political involvement my peers had. Shit, when I was in high school, we had mock elections, and the political parties sent out representatives to debate in the cafeteria. We were all very involved. By the time we got to college, we were politically active in the youth branches of the various political parties. We also had a 98% voter turnout back then. I don't know what it's like now. I just know that we thought that our votes counted and that it was important to vote. I think that has to do with the old Norse system of the Thing, and everyone having a voice at the Thing, which made us Scandinavians different from other peoples of that era. It was not a duty, but an honour, and it was also a rite of passage to finally get to vote. It was empowering as hell. I don't see anything like that either in Canada or the US, wich is very unfortunate. Your people have fought hard as hell for your right to vote, and not just Rosa Parks and other black people, but I believe the war of independence was fought for the principle of no taxation without representation. It's just fucking sad that nobody ever remembers that it is not a duty, it is an honour to vote, and that you've got such pissy choices to choose from. Franklin and Washington would be turning over in their graves if they knew...
Anglorfin
Don't Fuck with Dinobot
- Sep 8, 2004
- 237
- 0
- 16
Agreed. Most people in America are very cynical about politics and voting. And I think they have good reason to be. I am one of them after all. But at least I make my way to the polls to if nothing else voice my disgust of the electoral process.
I hear so many conversations from so many different sources saying that internet is a great equalizer. It makes lives easier. You can shop online for anything from digital camcorders to carrots. So it boggles my mind as to why people don't take a few minutes each day to read up on a candidate. The internet is a tool that has not been exploited properly by the smaller parties to gain an advantage. It would certainly even the playing field a little bit. Unfortunately it still has a lot to do with the people's motivation; which is next to none at this point.
I hear so many conversations from so many different sources saying that internet is a great equalizer. It makes lives easier. You can shop online for anything from digital camcorders to carrots. So it boggles my mind as to why people don't take a few minutes each day to read up on a candidate. The internet is a tool that has not been exploited properly by the smaller parties to gain an advantage. It would certainly even the playing field a little bit. Unfortunately it still has a lot to do with the people's motivation; which is next to none at this point.
In Trashheads bi-whenever-I-feel-like-it section we are now gonna say it with song.
[quote='Iced Earth - Valley Forge]
Close your eyes and imagine
the soldier at Valley Forge
The suffering that he endured was real
starvation, total war.
Yet in has eyes the iron will to win
and for the cause, he won't relent
[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed
Standing barefoot, frozen bloody hands
his musket clutched, an iron grip
and for the cause, he has but one regret,
he's only got one life to give
[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed
It's time for us, to open up our eyes,
and cherish the lives we all can have
and to the ones who've kept our freedom free
words can't express all that you've done
[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed
[/quote]
[quote='Iced Earth - Valley Forge]
Close your eyes and imagine
the soldier at Valley Forge
The suffering that he endured was real
starvation, total war.
Yet in has eyes the iron will to win
and for the cause, he won't relent
[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed
Standing barefoot, frozen bloody hands
his musket clutched, an iron grip
and for the cause, he has but one regret,
he's only got one life to give
[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed
It's time for us, to open up our eyes,
and cherish the lives we all can have
and to the ones who've kept our freedom free
words can't express all that you've done
[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed
[/quote]
With American political climate and culture...it's very complicated.
As Tyra touched on, you need money to run for office here now. Without it, you are basically a nobody; even if you managed to get your views and policies known...with a population of 300+ mil, you need media attention (and you cannot get that without the funds). In addition, the political culture in the average American home is basically non-existent in many American homes (it's comparable to religion, in that many people don't question what they are brought up with).
Many Americans don't have represented voices; hell, DC (our capitol) doesn't even have representation! Yet, they still get the honor of paying those taxes :Spin
- of course, this is probably justified due to some legal bullshit (yay ambiguous terminology!).
What also doesn't help is the lack of choice to choose candidates freely, as a majority of the time the candidates displayed are just from the two parties. Not only that, but in order to vote, you must actually be signed up with one of the parties, otherwise you will have no one to choose from!
As Tyra touched on, you need money to run for office here now. Without it, you are basically a nobody; even if you managed to get your views and policies known...with a population of 300+ mil, you need media attention (and you cannot get that without the funds). In addition, the political culture in the average American home is basically non-existent in many American homes (it's comparable to religion, in that many people don't question what they are brought up with).
Many Americans don't have represented voices; hell, DC (our capitol) doesn't even have representation! Yet, they still get the honor of paying those taxes :Spin
- of course, this is probably justified due to some legal bullshit (yay ambiguous terminology!).What also doesn't help is the lack of choice to choose candidates freely, as a majority of the time the candidates displayed are just from the two parties. Not only that, but in order to vote, you must actually be signed up with one of the parties, otherwise you will have no one to choose from!
Grundig Avkom
Son of the Aesir
Tyra i couldnt agree with you more.... but then again there are also those who CAN vote but dont do it anyway.... and then they complain about it when someone they dont like is elected... and yes like you said... i dont think people in this country view their ability to vote as being an honour ... but rather an obligation.....
Bates
Swamp Yankee
T, I understand what you're saying. I vote, but most of the time, I'm usually voting against someone and not for someone, you know? Lesser of two idiots and all that. You know, it's hard to out-American me, I'm related to a ridiculous amount of early American patriots, thinkers, and whatnot, my family history is kinda like Lt. Dan's from Forrest Gump, at least one of us has died in pretty much every American war, ever. (Except the latest fuckup, luckily) And you know what happens when I talk politics to people, generally? I get called unAmerican. And to that, I can only reply, "Fuck you, it's your lack of interest, lack of respect, and lack of willingness to sacrifice that's fucking unAmerican."
I'll climb off my soapbox now.
I'll climb off my soapbox now.
Grundig Avkom
Son of the Aesir
T, I understand what you're saying. I vote, but most of the time, I'm usually voting against someone and not for someone, you know? Lesser of two idiots and all that. You know, it's hard to out-American me, I'm related to a ridiculous amount of early American patriots, thinkers, and whatnot, my family history is kinda like Lt. Dan's from Forrest Gump, at least one of us has died in pretty much every American war, ever. (Except the latest fuckup, luckily) And you know what happens when I talk politics to people, generally? I get called unAmerican. And to that, I can only reply, "Fuck you, it's your lack of interest, lack of respect, and lack of willingness to sacrifice that's fucking unAmerican."
I'll climb off my soapbox now.
agreed
