American Politics
Friends, Not-Friends, and Random browsers alike, the topic may bore you, or the mere mention of politics may have just made you pee a little bit, but I urge you to read on. Especially if like me you don't know what's going on in America and why so many people are angry. If you DO happen to understand this stuff, please read on and fill me in on the basics. I think everyone would appreciate it. Especially if you're American.
You guys are wild.
I have no clue about what the Yanks are up to when it comes to their system. In particular, what their differing points of view are in politics. Everyone obviously thinks differently, but having only two parties? That's really is beyond me. From what I understand, democrats are the more liberal ones and want to allow abortion ,separate church and state, and have tighter gun control restrictions. Republicans are the conservative ones, want looser gun controls, more private business and in general like god more than democrats.
Sort of like because you believe in god doesn't make you a republican, but if you're a republic you believe in god. That's a stereotype but it's one that the media sort of perpetuates.
Seriously. That's about it. Please click on the image below to see my knowledge of how the majority of major American policy is decided.
So in order to better understand our friends down south, I've been doing a little research.
Democrats apparently want a 'Mixed Economy' or more of it. In Canada we have this all over the place. An example would be Canada Post or Manitoba Public Insurance. These are good things! They keep prices down because when you have a government regulated service they have to serve the people in an efficient and agreeable manner and have to answer for their actions to the people using the service.
I've heard, and was actually taught in school, that privatizing industry creates more competition means companies have to lower prices in order to offer better deals to customers.
What I've learned but wasn't taught, is that privitization is a double edged blade because they can also charge more, and if one company offering an essential service charges lots, a competitor only has to offer a marginally better deal to come out ahead, so you can end up paying just as much anyway. Who wouldn't want to make more money faster?
I'm all for a few crucial companies offering important services like insurance, power, postal, and transit being controlled by the crown. Lots of these are crown corps already. Except in Alberta power, insurance, and liquor are all privatized. All of these services are crazy expensive. Don't try to tell me it's cheaper. I'll just laugh at you.
Crown corpsa are more secure too, because even if you may have to pay taxes to them it just means that they'll be able to stick around longer in uncertain times to offer important services.
And we aren't in uncertain times now, then you probably think the apocalyspe will be a pleasent sunset.
There are more of these types of businesses in Canada than the States. As I said before, democrats would like to see more of these. Republicans on the other hand, would not.
On a side-note I've been getting my kicks lately browsing around extremely right-wing republican blogs. For every one normal level headed member of the Grand Old Party I find, there's about ten screaming maniacs who'd like to "Shoot themselves some Sand Niggers" and "Git rid of that Obamanation abomination in the Whitehouse."
Other than the offensive comments about sand niggers, which I think would be as offensive to folks from the Middle East and it would be to blacks, that's just condensing two slurs into one, I understand where they're coming from. I'll bet the comments about Obama are just as offensive to democrats as the "Down with Bush" and "Bush is an idiot" stuff was to a lot of republicans. Nobody should get too up ons about that one.
Anyway, back on track now. A lot of these right wingers think the crown corporations (or State-Corporations as they're called in America) are akin to socialism. Which is the nice word Americans like to use to call someone or something A Dirty Commie, or Communism. I don't why anyone tries to act like that's not what they're trying to say when they throw around phrases like "Doing such-and-such is a socialist scheme!"
I hate to over-use the term, but once again, The way I understand it, the right-wing yanks don't want crown corps because doing so would take money out of the hands of the people and put it into the hands of greedy politicians. Instead, privatize the economy and get that money into the hands the business men and women of America.
A noble goal indeed!
In the past that money has indeed gone back to hands of Americans. Albeit, the majority of those hands were a select few, and lots of them already had more money than they could hold. Bush was particularly bad for this. I'm sure though that the plan had worked well in the past. For serious, I'm not being sarcastic. I fully believe as many Americans do that properly executed further privitization would work well for Americans. It would indeed see more 'Mom n Pop' type stores open, and suppourt the ones are struggling to stay open.
But hey, properly executed Communism is something I'm all for as well.
If the Democrats had their way, that money raised from the crown corps would go to help the poor, and the Republicans think that their small business plan would enable the poor to do their own thing, and encourage them to better themselves with less government help.
Other issues aside, this is what my research has basically lead me to. I still have no fucking clue about anything else. The political spectrum of beliefs and agendas is just so diverse that it just straight-up doesn't make sense to me how so many different people can sign up and actively participate for what is basically a two-party system.
It's kind of like choosing between being stabbed in the foot or stabbed in the hand. They both suck, one will offer benefits the other doesn't, so you just gotta pick what one you'll dislike the least.
Canada's system is only marginally better though. Instead of two radically different primary parties, we have three. Only two of them stand a serious chance of getting elected in, and the third sort of swings between the two depending on if they're actually going get attention paid to the things they're saying.
Canada has actively tried to keep the Green party out of debates up until five or six years ago. You know, back when Paul Martin was leader of the Liberal party. That's something I'm dead against. How can a small party expect to compete with national parties when they don't get national exposure. The green party fought hard to get consideration, and they're gaining momentum. I almost voted for them too. It came right down to the moment before I cast my ballot to decide who I wanted. But being that I was living in Brandon, Manitoba at the time the decision basically Conservative or New Democrat. Green was a wasted vote.
Anyway, the CBC did really well this year with their election debate, especially for letting the Green leader participate. That was a proud moment. The US won't let old man Ralph Nader, the Green Party of the States participate ever though. He's only thing even close to a third party, and they still won't let him in.
The worst thing about elections in the states is that a two party system is basically one that says "Agree with me. If you don't get the hell off the boat."
I think it's time for me to move to the states and run for government. Much like 2008 American Election folk hero Al Franken, who's still fighting for his rightfully won seat as senator for the state of Minnesota, I will rise above the rabble and control a state. Then I'll do a Guns for Hugs program or something. That should help things.
Okay, enough politics for now. When I get some time I think I'll actually do some serious journalism and do a nice piece on how Canadians see The US and what we need to know about the American parties and how it affects us. I'll probably use my massive influence as a Cool Dude to get it published in Reader's Digest. Both American and Canadian. Until that time though, I'm just going to assume the political process works for Americans the way it is. As referenced below:
To finish, can anyone enlighten me on politics? I obviously need it.
Friends, Not-Friends, and Random browsers alike, the topic may bore you, or the mere mention of politics may have just made you pee a little bit, but I urge you to read on. Especially if like me you don't know what's going on in America and why so many people are angry. If you DO happen to understand this stuff, please read on and fill me in on the basics. I think everyone would appreciate it. Especially if you're American.
You guys are wild.
I have no clue about what the Yanks are up to when it comes to their system. In particular, what their differing points of view are in politics. Everyone obviously thinks differently, but having only two parties? That's really is beyond me. From what I understand, democrats are the more liberal ones and want to allow abortion ,separate church and state, and have tighter gun control restrictions. Republicans are the conservative ones, want looser gun controls, more private business and in general like god more than democrats.
Sort of like because you believe in god doesn't make you a republican, but if you're a republic you believe in god. That's a stereotype but it's one that the media sort of perpetuates.
Seriously. That's about it. Please click on the image below to see my knowledge of how the majority of major American policy is decided.
So in order to better understand our friends down south, I've been doing a little research.
Democrats apparently want a 'Mixed Economy' or more of it. In Canada we have this all over the place. An example would be Canada Post or Manitoba Public Insurance. These are good things! They keep prices down because when you have a government regulated service they have to serve the people in an efficient and agreeable manner and have to answer for their actions to the people using the service.
I've heard, and was actually taught in school, that privatizing industry creates more competition means companies have to lower prices in order to offer better deals to customers.
What I've learned but wasn't taught, is that privitization is a double edged blade because they can also charge more, and if one company offering an essential service charges lots, a competitor only has to offer a marginally better deal to come out ahead, so you can end up paying just as much anyway. Who wouldn't want to make more money faster?
I'm all for a few crucial companies offering important services like insurance, power, postal, and transit being controlled by the crown. Lots of these are crown corps already. Except in Alberta power, insurance, and liquor are all privatized. All of these services are crazy expensive. Don't try to tell me it's cheaper. I'll just laugh at you.
Crown corpsa are more secure too, because even if you may have to pay taxes to them it just means that they'll be able to stick around longer in uncertain times to offer important services.
And we aren't in uncertain times now, then you probably think the apocalyspe will be a pleasent sunset.
There are more of these types of businesses in Canada than the States. As I said before, democrats would like to see more of these. Republicans on the other hand, would not.
On a side-note I've been getting my kicks lately browsing around extremely right-wing republican blogs. For every one normal level headed member of the Grand Old Party I find, there's about ten screaming maniacs who'd like to "Shoot themselves some Sand Niggers" and "Git rid of that Obamanation abomination in the Whitehouse."
Other than the offensive comments about sand niggers, which I think would be as offensive to folks from the Middle East and it would be to blacks, that's just condensing two slurs into one, I understand where they're coming from. I'll bet the comments about Obama are just as offensive to democrats as the "Down with Bush" and "Bush is an idiot" stuff was to a lot of republicans. Nobody should get too up ons about that one.
Anyway, back on track now. A lot of these right wingers think the crown corporations (or State-Corporations as they're called in America) are akin to socialism. Which is the nice word Americans like to use to call someone or something A Dirty Commie, or Communism. I don't why anyone tries to act like that's not what they're trying to say when they throw around phrases like "Doing such-and-such is a socialist scheme!"
I hate to over-use the term, but once again, The way I understand it, the right-wing yanks don't want crown corps because doing so would take money out of the hands of the people and put it into the hands of greedy politicians. Instead, privatize the economy and get that money into the hands the business men and women of America.
A noble goal indeed!
In the past that money has indeed gone back to hands of Americans. Albeit, the majority of those hands were a select few, and lots of them already had more money than they could hold. Bush was particularly bad for this. I'm sure though that the plan had worked well in the past. For serious, I'm not being sarcastic. I fully believe as many Americans do that properly executed further privitization would work well for Americans. It would indeed see more 'Mom n Pop' type stores open, and suppourt the ones are struggling to stay open.
But hey, properly executed Communism is something I'm all for as well.
If the Democrats had their way, that money raised from the crown corps would go to help the poor, and the Republicans think that their small business plan would enable the poor to do their own thing, and encourage them to better themselves with less government help.
Other issues aside, this is what my research has basically lead me to. I still have no fucking clue about anything else. The political spectrum of beliefs and agendas is just so diverse that it just straight-up doesn't make sense to me how so many different people can sign up and actively participate for what is basically a two-party system.
It's kind of like choosing between being stabbed in the foot or stabbed in the hand. They both suck, one will offer benefits the other doesn't, so you just gotta pick what one you'll dislike the least.
Canada's system is only marginally better though. Instead of two radically different primary parties, we have three. Only two of them stand a serious chance of getting elected in, and the third sort of swings between the two depending on if they're actually going get attention paid to the things they're saying.
Canada has actively tried to keep the Green party out of debates up until five or six years ago. You know, back when Paul Martin was leader of the Liberal party. That's something I'm dead against. How can a small party expect to compete with national parties when they don't get national exposure. The green party fought hard to get consideration, and they're gaining momentum. I almost voted for them too. It came right down to the moment before I cast my ballot to decide who I wanted. But being that I was living in Brandon, Manitoba at the time the decision basically Conservative or New Democrat. Green was a wasted vote.
Anyway, the CBC did really well this year with their election debate, especially for letting the Green leader participate. That was a proud moment. The US won't let old man Ralph Nader, the Green Party of the States participate ever though. He's only thing even close to a third party, and they still won't let him in.
The worst thing about elections in the states is that a two party system is basically one that says "Agree with me. If you don't get the hell off the boat."
I think it's time for me to move to the states and run for government. Much like 2008 American Election folk hero Al Franken, who's still fighting for his rightfully won seat as senator for the state of Minnesota, I will rise above the rabble and control a state. Then I'll do a Guns for Hugs program or something. That should help things.
Okay, enough politics for now. When I get some time I think I'll actually do some serious journalism and do a nice piece on how Canadians see The US and what we need to know about the American parties and how it affects us. I'll probably use my massive influence as a Cool Dude to get it published in Reader's Digest. Both American and Canadian. Until that time though, I'm just going to assume the political process works for Americans the way it is. As referenced below:
To finish, can anyone enlighten me on politics? I obviously need it.
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