The upcoming election in the USA

[flutter]

The electoral college process was created with a dual role in mind.  First it was intended to keep the population at large from voting a demagogue into office and throwing the republic away through "bread and circuses"  as happened in ancient rome, and secondly to allow for balance among the states within the Union.  I think it was also to allow the wealthy/educated segment of Colonial society to have a veto on the public election of chief magistrate.

No more calls, we have a winner.  Its not that the people elect the president, in fact, the states do, which is why its THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and not just America.

I recognize the origin of the electoral college, but I feel it's an outdated concept. It leaves people feeling disenfranchised because their votes truly don't matter. If you're in a solid red state and you're a democrat, you have no incentive to go to the polls. You have no incentive to become informed, because no matter what you think/feel/know - your vote is eventually going to aggregate into the tally of the other party.

I think the Parliamentary election process actually leads to a government that is more closely representative of the peoples wishes.

I also love watching BBC to see the PM answer a volley of questions from parliament. If our leaders had that kind of direct accountability, we'd see a different caliber of leader. I know Bush could never handle it the way Tony Blair did.

[tekla]

Had the system been allowed to work in 2000, the Florida vote would not have passed the certification process in time, been discounted, and the election would have gone to the House.  Though I'm sure that even in that process Bush would have won, it would have been a very different deal had he been put into power via Congress instead of the Supreme Court.

[Pica Pica]

I think the Parliamentary election process actually leads to a government that is more closely representative of the peoples wishes.

I also love watching BBC to see the PM answer a volley of questions from parliament. If our leaders had that kind of direct accountability, we'd see a different caliber of leader. I know Bush could never handle it the way Tony Blair did.

I wish I had your confidence

If our government followed people's wishes Britain would be different - in some ways worse if you listen to the people calling for the death penalty - or better if they listened to the huge antiwar marches....

I am have also been an avid viewer of prime-ministers question time, but for me it's entertainment, skilled players of a long played game.

[flutter]

I may not have agreed with Blair on the issues, but he was definitely eloquent and fun to watch. (I guess it's easier to enjoy the performance when the decisions don't really effect you)

[tekla]

skilled players of a long played game

Thank you Pica for that insider look, I think in the end that if I understood the issues and policies that like our press shows over here its far more posturing then it is truth.

[Sephirah]

I am have also been an avid viewer of prime-ministers question time, but for me it's entertainment, skilled players of a long played game.

This is true, and the media even draft in pundits to rate the various players' performances each week. Ex politicians, political correspondants... none seeming particularly bothered by what is actually being discussed but seemingly more intent on who 'won' or 'lost'.

"Oh, Brown got slaughtered by Cameron this week! Totally battered."

or

"Gordon scored a few points with that answer, he held his own under a very flacid Tory performance."

It's like political baseball. Tony Blair was a charismatic man, and could make PMQs a show of personality and bravado... same thing with William Hague and David Cameron to a lesser extent, they are all skilled orators and capable of thinking on their feet. And when Blair was PM, it was like the Tories were constantly trying to strike him out while he attempted to knock their questions out of the ball park. Entertaining, if ultimately style over substance.

Gordon Brown doesn't really have a personality though, in my opinion. He's like political wallpaper. And now it seems more like poking a bear with a stick to see how angry you can make it.

[tekla]

We just ask Sara Palin simple questions and see how bad she can screw them up.  It would be funny if it were not so true.

[Pica Pica]

The more I hear about Palin, the more worried I am that she will 'do a Boris' and win because people find her gaffes amusing. (Which is pretty much how the mayor of London, Boris Johnson found himself in that position).

[TamTam]

I just read an article about how Palin is actually McCain's largest liability.  She has a less than 50% approval rating, now that things have calmed down after the "OMG SHE'S SO HAWT" nonsense during the first few weeks, and the vast majority think she's not ready to become president in the event McCain dies.

[Nero]

I just read an article about how Palin is actually McCain's largest liability.  She has a less than 50% approval rating, now that things have calmed down after the "OMG SHE'S SO HAWT" nonsense during the first few weeks, and the vast majority think she's not ready to become president in the event McCain dies.

In that event, think I'd flee the country.

[TamTam]

I was just telling a friend the other day, how I honestly never thought that anyone could be more incompetent a president than George Bush- but that Palin could probably manage it.

[flutter]

If McCain wins, I'm out of here.

Canada is starting to swing right as well, so that's not an option.

I'm thinking Denmark or France.

[Pica Pica]

I'd choose Denmark

Enlightened welfare state, little wage gap, cafe's and they all speak english

(and aren't french).

Posted on: October 22, 2008, 04:35:29 pmoh, and no sarkozy in denmark of course.

[flutter]

I should start boning up on Danish just in case.

I could even switch to my mom's maiden name when I go for the name change - blend in better. (mom is danish/french)

[tekla]

win because people find her gaffes amusing

Funny, that's how we picked our city supervisors.

[joannatsf]

win because people find her gaffes amusing

Funny, that's how we picked our city supervisors.

I voted on that incredible array of local propositions (22 for SF alone) using the reverse Newsome indicator.  If Gavin is for it, I should probably be against it.  I vote absentee and it took me a couple hours to wade through all of the combined state and city issues.  By the time I got to the end where they put the non-binding resolutions I voted against them just because I was pissed at the amount of time I wasted reading them! 

[Hypatia]

If Palin is elected, I'm heading for Spain. Less corruption than in Italy, less racism than in France, better climate than in Scandinavia, and food I like, plus for once I would be in a country of people who look like me. And I'm much more familiar with the Spanish language than Danish. But best of all, Spain has the most advanced LGBT rights in Europe, including same-sex marriage and transgender equal rights.

[tekla]

This is my country too.  And I'll be damned if I'm going to let a bunch of pinheaded pukes take it away from me without a fight.  We have gay marriage here too, and are fighting them to keep it.  We have a pretty good LGBT rights deal going on too.  Also worth fighting to keep.

And if they really win here, do you think the forces of darkness are not going to try elsewhere?

[Melissa]

I would vote Obama, but it's pretty irrelevant since the state I live in is strongly democratic anyways.

[tekla]

Yeah, one more vote for Obama in SF is going to be a teaspoon into the ocean, but as Claire said above, we have ballots that read like novels.  So its more than one issue.