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Not At My Table - Political Discussions => National & International Politics => Topic started by: Conan71 on October 17, 2006, 02:38:13 PM

Title: 300,000,000
Post by: Conan71 on October 17, 2006, 02:38:13 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061017/ap_on_re_us/300_million_milestone_3
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: aoxamaxoa on October 17, 2006, 04:07:40 PM
File it under "discussion" or "forum chat", Conman. What's this got to do with politics? I mean, I could make it political, but why set you and other "cons" up?
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: inteller on October 17, 2006, 07:24:11 PM
In related news, Mexico just announced its population descreased to 20 million.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: aoxamaxoa on October 17, 2006, 07:30:55 PM
Neo con, er bigot, sign in now.....

Conman you pimp....
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: iplaw on October 18, 2006, 10:13:02 AM
Isn't calling someone a bigot a personal attack?
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: si_uk_lon_ok on October 18, 2006, 03:07:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw

Isn't calling someone a bigot a personal attack?



I don't think insulting people is of any concern to aoxamaxoa.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: aoxamaxoa on October 18, 2006, 04:30:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by si_uk_lon_ok

quote:
Originally posted by iplaw

Isn't calling someone a bigot a personal attack?



I don't think insulting people is of any concern to aoxamaxoa.



Hey. I only insult republijerks and hate mongers. Sometimes, imposters.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: iplaw on October 18, 2006, 04:35:49 PM
You truly are a 5 year old.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: aoxamaxoa on October 18, 2006, 04:45:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw

You truly are a 5 year old.



You must have an honesty issue, lawless. Why else would you have a problem with me on a political thread making fun of the regime?

Meantime, if you do not appreciate my castigation of the intolerant ones here, suffer.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: iplaw on October 18, 2006, 04:56:03 PM
Yet more of the same.  It's a surprise to me that you understand how to use a keyboard...
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: DM on October 18, 2006, 08:52:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

In related news, Mexico just announced its population descreased to 20 million.



I actually found it kind mildly funny. Well, thats what TBS told me when I called them.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: papaspot on October 18, 2006, 10:04:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by aoxamaxoa


Hey. I only insult republijerks and hate mongers. Sometimes, imposters.



Okay, now look here, Aux, lemme ask you something. What goes through your mind when you see a right winger use some term like "Dimacraps" or "Dims"? I'll tell ya what goes through my head. I think they look pretty damn childish. In fact, I think to myself, "Now here's a real mental midget." So how is it any different if you use words like "republijerks"? Well, it's NOT any different. It just makes you a left wing version of a right wing dunderhead. I mean, Jesus CHRIST, dude. Is everyone that's not a liberal your enemy?

pancakes? Why does everything have to be left wing or right wing, liberal or conservative...Democrat and Republican? Is it everyone's objective to drive the wedge as deep as possible in our lifetimes?
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: rwarn17588 on October 18, 2006, 10:26:09 PM
Papaspot shoots, he scores!
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: pmcalk on October 18, 2006, 10:59:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by papaspot

QuoteOriginally posted by aoxamaxoa


pancakes? Why does everything have to be left wing or right wing, liberal or conservative...Democrat and Republican? Is it everyone's objective to drive the wedge as deep as possible in our lifetimes?



Because, deep inside, what we Americans love more than anything is a good fight.  Heck, we'll watch pro-wrestling.  Ultimately, what's right and what's wrong matters so much less than who wins or losses.  A good fight means good ratings for the media, so they'll get spin doctors like Carville and Novak to yell at eachother, without really saying anything, cuz what people care about is who yells the loudest (and therefore wins), not what they say.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: Double A on October 18, 2006, 11:24:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by pmcalk

quote:
Originally posted by papaspot

QuoteOriginally posted by aoxamaxoa


pancakes? Why does everything have to be left wing or right wing, liberal or conservative...Democrat and Republican? Is it everyone's objective to drive the wedge as deep as possible in our lifetimes?



Because, deep inside, what we Americans love more than anything is a good fight.  Heck, we'll watch pro-wrestling.  



Heck, in Tulsa, we're building a multi-million dollar "iconic" arena to watch pro-wrestling in.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: Conan71 on October 19, 2006, 07:52:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by pmcalk

quote:
Originally posted by papaspot

QuoteOriginally posted by aoxamaxoa


pancakes? Why does everything have to be left wing or right wing, liberal or conservative...Democrat and Republican? Is it everyone's objective to drive the wedge as deep as possible in our lifetimes?



Because, deep inside, what we Americans love more than anything is a good fight.  Heck, we'll watch pro-wrestling.  Ultimately, what's right and what's wrong matters so much less than who wins or losses.  A good fight means good ratings for the media, so they'll get spin doctors like Carville and Novak to yell at eachother, without really saying anything, cuz what people care about is who yells the loudest (and therefore wins), not what they say.



Right on target PM...

Can I get an "AMEN!" here?
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: snopes on October 19, 2006, 08:03:12 AM
quote:
Originally posted by papaspot

quote:
Originally posted by aoxamaxoa


Hey. I only insult republijerks and hate mongers. Sometimes, imposters.



Okay, now look here, Aux, lemme ask you something. What goes through your mind when you see a right winger use some term like "Dimacraps" or "Dims"? I'll tell ya what goes through my head. I think they look pretty damn childish. In fact, I think to myself, "Now here's a real mental midget." So how is it any different if you use words like "republijerks"? Well, it's NOT any different. It just makes you a left wing version of a right wing dunderhead. I mean, Jesus CHRIST, dude. Is everyone that's not a liberal your enemy?

pancakes? Why does everything have to be left wing or right wing, liberal or conservative...Democrat and Republican? Is it everyone's objective to drive the wedge as deep as possible in our lifetimes?



Amen Papaspot! I lean toward the conservative side for sure, but my best friend is very liberal. I have a lot of conservative friends as well, of course, but my liberal friend has more ethics in his little finger than many of my so-called conservative friends. It's not all black and white aox.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: iplaw on October 19, 2006, 08:36:30 AM
I wonder how much longer we are going to tolerate a two party system that doesn't work?
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: snopes on October 19, 2006, 08:50:15 AM
Good question Iplaw. I don't know. Things are certainly coming to a head over the last decade and more. I think most people, liberal and conservative, are alot closer in values and goals than people believe. I do believe that it is the party leaders that have created this divisive attitude between the common folk.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: Conan71 on October 19, 2006, 09:17:58 AM
I don't think a sharply divided 24-hour media is much help either.

I think the biggest part of the problem lies in the present mentality of party leaders being more concerned with a power grab instead of really worrying about what direction the country is going.

To that end, I see the present philiosphy as being that power is more attainable by sticking their thumb in the eye of their opponent.  It's easier to snipe about what the other party is doing wrong instead of offering up what changes can realistically be made to benefit every American.

Maybe I've got blinders on, but I don't hear any real solutions from either party right now.  All I hear is fear-mongering from both sides about what will happen if the opposing party takes power or remains in power.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: si_uk_lon_ok on October 19, 2006, 11:35:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by snopes

Good question Iplaw. I don't know. Things are certainly coming to a head over the last decade and more. I think most people, liberal and conservative, are alot closer in values and goals than people believe. I do believe that it is the party leaders that have created this divisive attitude between the common folk.



I think the easiest way to end the tyranny of the two party system would be to introduce some form of proportional representation. It would require a major rework of the constitution, which would involve the parties signing over there hegemonic power. So in other words it ain't happening.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: iplaw on October 19, 2006, 11:43:46 AM
You don't need proportional representation to facilitate that.  People are free to start parties that represent them at any time and there is no constitutional mandate of a 50% majority to win the whitehouse.

People's ideas must change.  The constitution is fine as it is.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: si_uk_lon_ok on October 19, 2006, 11:50:44 AM
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw

You don't need proportional representation to facilitate that.  People are free to start parties that represent them at any time and there is no constitutional mandate of a 50% majority to win the whitehouse.

People's ideas must change.  The constitution is fine as it is.



It would make it a lot easier though.
Under first past the post a vote for anyone other than a Republican or a Democrat is a wasted vote. Proportional representation would encourage people to consider voting for other parties as their chances of getting in would be raised much more. In the UK there is a three party system, (four in Wales, Scotland and NI) using first past the post so it possible. However those three parties have been around for over 100 years, in various forms, its nearly impossible to break into a first past the post system. In contrast in elections where there is proportional representation (Scottish Assembly and the EU) more parties are springing up.
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: si_uk_lon_ok on October 19, 2006, 12:07:44 PM
Sorry I guess what I'm trying to say is that in my experience its possible to move away from the 3 party system within a first past the post system, but it is harder to achieve when compared to proportional representation.

PS Am I getting called an imposter?
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: pmcalk on October 19, 2006, 01:07:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw

You don't need proportional representation to facilitate that.  People are free to start parties that represent them at any time and there is no constitutional mandate of a 50% majority to win the whitehouse.

People's ideas must change.  The constitution is fine as it is.



The problem with that is ballot access--places like Oklahome make it extremely difficult for any other party to get on the ballot (like the Green or the Libertarian party, which have both been trying to be included for a number of years).
Title: 300,000,000
Post by: iplaw on October 19, 2006, 01:11:04 PM
First past the post...

First off, to make it possible in America we're gonna have to call it Takin' the checkered flag or King of the hill to make it more appealing.  Americans don't like words such as bumbershoot, anti-clockwise and candy floss.

Title: 300,000,000
Post by: si_uk_lon_ok on October 19, 2006, 01:23:13 PM
quote:
Originally posted by iplaw

First past the post...

First off, to make it possible in America we're gonna have to call it Takin' the checkered flag or King of the hill to make it more appealing.  Americans don't like words such as bumbershoot, anti-clockwise and candy floss.





You already have first past the post. But let's change it and call it an ABBA inspired 'winner takes it all' system.