The Official Politics Thread

[JERK DISEASE]

As far as Democracy goes, we don't have one. The United States is a Republic.

You don't know what the word "Republic" means do you.

We are absolutely a Democracy.

[Bottlenose]

We're a democratic republic.

We can multitask.

[Nobodyman]

Well, we do say "and for the republic for which it stands."

[JERK DISEASE]

We're a democratic republic.

We can multitask.

Republic is a basic word that can refer to any non monarchy in the vaguest sense.

The US is not a direct Democracy, but so little places are.

[RoboBlue]

You don't know what the word "Republic" means do you.

We are absolutely a Democracy.

We elect people to represent us and then hope they do their jobs. We can only hope that loyalty and fear of not being re-elected will keep the system straight, but I'm not really convinced that it has.

In a pure Democracy, every citizen would have equal power to decide matters of state. That would probably be a pretty disorganized and ineffective system, which is why we have a Republic.

[xilium]

We elect people to represent us and then hope they do their jobs. We can only hope that loyalty and fear of not being re-elected will keep the system straight, but I'm not really convinced that it has.

Our system doesn't work because people in this country are incredibly gullible. If a candidate wins an election and doesn't do the things that s/he promised to do (or at the very least, work towards them), then sham on that candidate for being a liar or otherwise useless politician. But when that candidate comes out every couple of years making the same promises and getting re-elected again and again, the fault then lies with the people voting this person into office.

All this talk about fixing Washington and the corrupt political system is completely wasted because nothing will change until the voters get a clue and start voting for people that are more practical and honest about what they can and can't do in office and not the person that tells them everything they want to hear.

[JERK DISEASE]

We elect people to represent us and then hope they do their jobs. We can only hope that loyalty and fear of not being re-elected will keep the system straight, but I'm not really convinced that it has.

That is a Democracy. Not a direct Democracy but so what. Doesn't absolve it of being a Democracy. I'm pretty sure no country now or ever has been a direct Democracy. Though some have instituted it in some things.

In a pure Democracy, every citizen would have equal power to decide matters of state. That would probably be a pretty disorganized and ineffective system, which is why we have a Republic.

This has nothing to do with whether a state is a Republic. A Republic is basically a government that operates around the interest of the public in it's theory. This covers both absolute communist dictatorships, some military juntas and direct democracies.

Sweden, where people can browse the emails of their head of state is a republic.
Burma, where people are shot for suggesting policy change is a republic.

Both governments claim to act in express interest of the people. The structure is publically motivated on paper.

[Ubiq]

Well, we do say "and for the republic for which it stands."

The Pledge of Allegiance didn't exist until 1892.

Anyway, James Madison thought of the US as a Representative Democracy so it's probably best to use that particular label.

[Malintex_Terek]

We're a democratic republic.

We can multitask.

I just noticed there are two dolphin-themed users on AP. Wow, what next?

Also, Prop 19 in California is really dumb. Don't vote for it.

Don't vote for Batcrazy McBrown either.

[JERK DISEASE]

Also, Prop 19 in California is really dumb. Don't vote for it.

If anyone in the world could use some weed it's you.

[RoboBlue]

I just noticed there are two dolphin-themed users on AP. Wow, what next?

Also, Prop 19 in California is really dumb. Don't vote for it.

Don't vote for Batcrazy McBrown either.

You should at least say what Prop 19 IS before trying to influence peoples' votes.

[JERK DISEASE]

You should at least say what Prop 19 IS before trying to influence peoples' votes.

Legalizing regulated sales of Weed.

[Nobodyman]

The Pledge of Allegiance didn't exist until 1892.

What does it matter when it was established? We still make our kids say it 5 times a week.

[ChesCa]

I just noticed there are two dolphin-themed users on AP. Wow, what next?

Also, Prop 19 in California is really dumb. Don't vote for it.

Don't vote for Batcrazy McBrown either.

You know the Prohibition? Where criminal organizations made a killing (literally) off of illegal goods?
You hear about the dead men, women and children in Mexico and other places?
Just sayin'.
(P.S. I know that Prop 19 alone won't fix the problem, but it's a start.)

[JERK DISEASE]

But weed is scary and mean.

[fedcom]

We had a lesson on Prohibition once in my history class, and after the class was over everyone generally agreed it was a bad thing.

The next day I brought up the possible link to marijuana with my teacher and she literally recoiled with horror at the thought of legalization.

With some people, it seems there's some huge social stigma associated with weed that I can't understand. I bet she has a dozen students who smoke it too.

[JERK DISEASE]

I would rather smoke weed then tobacco anyday.

[RBoar]

I would rather smoke weed then tobacco anyday.

[fedcom]

Me too, although I'd rather stay away from them both.
I like to consider myself an athlete.

[CCC]

With some people, it seems there's some huge social stigma associated with weed that I can't understand. I bet she has a dozen students who smoke it too.

All the protective coddling we get in elementary through high school instills that stigma (which isn't that bad when you're young as long as you can learn to look at things objectively and rationally when you grow up). Of course I can see what a bunch of fearmongering bullshit D.A.R.E. is now, but as impressionable 4th grader? I was sold.


But wait. You're.... in Toronto? The school you're talking about must not have been, right?