THE US Political Parties Thread (merged)

lowem · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 1:00 am Post subject:

Over here at my place, there's no such thing as a Republican, Democrat or Libertarian, and I'm continually amused at all the labels being thrown around. Laughing

Gun control, huh. Looked down the business end of a 6-barrel Gatling before? Fired a real machine gun before? Or maybe even just an M-16 in full auto mode? Doesn't matter whether you're a Republicrat, or Demo-whatsit-librarian, that, is firepower. Better hope not to stand in the way of a standing army, or a horde (which might have broken into an armory or two on the way), unless you have your own (army, or horde, take your pick).

So what'll it be? Join an army, start one, buy one, or join a horde, start one (hmm, you probably can't buy and control a horde, but who knows ...) Twisted Evil

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SilverHair · Guest

I see the Republicans and Democrats as two branches of the same party; the name of that party is the collectivist party. When they fight over issues it is just a fight over what to have the government do to us next and how much bigger government should be, both branches proposing it grow in the direction they most favor.

Apparantly, judging by the many posts on this site, a substantial number of you who are in the US favor government rule instead of freedom. Perhaps as the economic pie shrinks, yet as government seeks to take a greater share just to stay even, the increased misery in your lives will shake us out of this insanity.

smiley · Fission Joined: Apr 16, 2004 Posts: 2146 Location: Europe

Frankly I find the Republican/Democratic issue very strange. The membership of a certain party doesn't define who you are or what you (should) think.

In the past I have voted republican as well as democratic. This time I have voted for the socialist party. Maybe next time I'll vote republican again. That doesn't necessarily mean that I fully agree with the views of those parties or that I'm unable to make up my mind on what I am.
When I prepare to go voting, I look for the issues that are most important at that moment. Then I look for the party that represents those issues the best for me. I don't care on which side of the spectrum that party is as long as they have a program which I think is the best for the country in the long run.

That I voted for the socialist party this time doesn't mean that I am a communist, just that I found several aspects of their program appealing. In this years program they put forward some good ideas on education, public transport and healthcare. On the downside their fiscal responsibility is less than desired.
For economic responsibility our republican party would be a better choice. Since the republicans already had a lot of support I decided to cast a strategic vote on the socialists. Overall it seems to have worked out very well for me. We now have a government with a strong economic policy as well as attention for the social factors.

Here you don't vote for a party, but for a certain balance between certain parties and certain ideas. For me it is incomprehensible that you can classify a person based on the way he/she votes.
About gun control. I have an outspoken opinion on it, but I decided a while back not to meddle with these discussions anymore. It seems to be the only thing in this forum where we can absolutely get no agreement on, so why stir it up again? It also doesn't matter so much to me as long as you keep those guns on the other side of the pond. Smile

dmtu · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:05 am Post subject:

Jato, Curious about how your work peers feel about the Libertarian stance on drugs? As a former middle of the road doper who easily fell out of the lifestyle, I can see the soft drugs and even LSD decrimed but, meth is a menace to society.
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Kingcoal · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:25 am Post subject:

What's the problem? This is a debate site, where intelligent posts are debated and pointless, inflammatory posts are ridiculed. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
For example: Damn slimy Democrats always trying to take my guns away. - pointless, bad post
Gun control doesn't work, has never been demonstrated to work and the Democrats are dumb to keep pursuing it. - a debatable point, good post

Theo · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:

Mr_Hat · Guest

This is bad.
So none of you have heard of "hey! it's just one guy holding up both puppets" explanation of Politics in America ?
Yo-ho-ho & a Skull and Bones Punch and Judy show.....

I'll bet these are the sorts of posts that get would-be assassins all riled up, ready to go and execute those who have failed them in the correct representation of people, even tho' everyone else has known what a sham it is for years, and that's just the ones that work in it, yeah! you go and get that evil Cathy Lee!

dmtu · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject:

I agree theo. On the small chance that a lib would get elected to the presidency it would be an up hill battle to get anything done because there would still be plenty of the duopoly around to stiffle the ideas. Since that is the case I veiw them more as a moderating force. Open boarders? we already have those.
_________________
You observed it from the start
Now you’re a million miles apart
As we bleed another nation
So you can watch you favorite station
Now you eyes pop out your sockets
Dirty hands and empty pockets
Who? You!
c.o.c.

jato · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:08 pm Post subject:

Josephus · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:10 pm Post subject:

I would like to just make the small point that a lot of us Americans aren't either Republican or Democrat. It just happens that we end up voting that way because of the propoganda used to make us believe those are our only two choices. It's embarassing how easy it could be for all of us moderates who like and don't like things on both sides of the fence to just stand up and fight for a representative government that actually portrays and thinks like a vast majority of the population. I guess it's just another example of how apathetic we've gotten about the way things are. I look at places like the Ukraine today and wonder how long it'll be before hundreds of thousands of Americans care enough about their vote to threaten to fight for it. Mad

bruin

Would you say lack of oil will get more votes for Republicans because we need to drill more?
Or would you say we need more social welfare and Democrats will be in favor?

Wagon_Train · Guest

Neither; by the time people start to suffer and die they will blame the government and have the same attitude toward the Republicans/Democrats as they do toward the Nazis. Are you a party member or just a beggar of favors from them?

Tyler_JC · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:37 pm Post subject:

In the short term, the Republicans.
In the mid term, Democrats
In the long term, no one will care.

For the next 30 years or so, America will have to fight other countries over resources. Wars benefit the GOP. (Remember, John Kerry, wrong on defense?) It will be 30 years of near constant warfare ending with the loss of all oil imports and thus a collapse of the American War Machine.
After the 30 year war is over and people realize what was really going on, the Democrats will be seen as the people who were fighting for renewable energy all along.

Beyond a 60+ year time frame, both American political parties will be looked upon as two sides of the same oil consumption coin. The Dems, fighting for conservation, but continued use of oil. The Dems also creating a welfare system that will go bankrupt soon and cut off millions of people who otherwise would have had to learn how to survive on their own.

The Republicans will be blamed for starting The War in the first place and not using their power to change the way we do business here in the US. The GOP will also be credited with opening up every single parcel of land on the planet (and perhaps the moon) to resource extraction and thus delaying total collapse for a decade or two.

However, neither party is really capable of doing anything to help the situation. Only Jimmy Carter had the courage to address the problem, and he got booted out of office in a hurry. If either party told us the situation today, the other party would call it crazy and gain big points politically.

pea-jay · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:52 pm Post subject:

JayHMorrison

I LOVE THIS COUNTRY !!! What a great idea. Support the troops! link
'Adopt a Sniper' fund-raiser shot down
Marquette University says 'no' to Republican students' plan
Thurs, 3 Feb 2005 Posted: 5:10 PM EST (2210 GMT)
CHICAGO (Reuters) -- A Catholic university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has blocked an attempt by Republican students to raise money for a group called "Adopt a Sniper" that raises money for U.S. sharp-shooters in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The students were selling bracelets bearing the motto "1 Shot 1 Kill No Remorse I Decide".

"Clearly the rhetoric of that organization raised some questions and we had some strong objections as a Jesuit university," Marquette University school spokeswoman Brigid O'Brien said Thursday.
The students, representing a group called College Republicans, originally got permission to set up a table at the student union to raise money for U.S. troops in Iraq.

But they chose to promote a group called Adopt a Sniper, which says on its Web site it supports snipers deployed by the United States armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The group says it "helps real snipers get the real gear they need to help keep us safe."

The brainchild of a Texas police SWAT officer Adopt a Sniper (www.adoptasniper.org) has raised thousands of dollars in cash and gear to supplement the kit of sharp shooters in U.S. combat platoons.
Among products sold on the site is a $15 coin with the imprinted phrase "Assistance From A Distance."