[Jordan]

And people don't realize what they've done. They don't realize that by electing Bush, they didn't just vote for the next 4 years

This is where you're wrong. They do realize. They voted for him based on the same bullshit that kerry spits at his audience. There are no deep dark secerts here.

[civilian_number_two]

I think the stupidest aspect of the electoral college (and I appreciate your explanation, Chef), is that is essentially IGNORES the rural areas, and divides the country up by STATES. Like you have the majority of the votes in a state, you win the entire state. What does this do? It forces candidates to cater to the largest population centres in every state (the cities) and if they win them, then the rural areas roll on up.

Here in Canada, we have ridings, and each riding contains an actual representative of that party, who will represent that area in Parliament. So you could have the majority of the votes in the Province of British Columbia, but one neighborhood in the city of Vancouver could go to the opposition. And they'd keep it: their guy would hold that seat and be that region's representative in Ottawa.

It's dumb and arbitrary as well, I agree, but it is loosely based on population. Large cities will contain several ridings while large rural areas will be represented by one riding. So while the rural areas with the lower populations will have lesser representation, it's harder for one party to take over the entire Urban vote. And, yes, by and large, the election is decided in two provinces, but these two provinces together contain most of the people, so that's maybe as it should be.

*Note please : I have oversimplified the Canadian electoral process, and I think it too is awful and terribly terribly flawed. I just like it more than yours.

Anyway, hooray for Bush. Too bad for fags, dykes, ragheads, teenage moms and niggers. Those people are fucked.

[Amber-Nicole]

Jordan, maybe there are quite a few people who know the candidate they vote for, but I can tell you that I've met quite a few younger voters are don't. And they're dumb. They'll vote based how they were raised by their parents, without understanding anything and not thinking for themselves at all. Or they're just like "Hmm. Kerry likes gay boys and kills babies. I'll vote Bush because he's a Christian."

[Vwing]

Anyway, hooray for Bush. Too bad for fags, dykes, ragheads, teenage moms and niggers. Those people are fucked.

You forgot Jews. Don't forget, Bush is only friends with Israel because he wants to make sure they're all in one place for when the Apocalypse comes. They can't die now, they have to be judged by the Lord when the time is right, and then will all go to hell. Makes sense to me.

[SimeSublime]

Maybe I'll move to Australia. It's supposed to be nice there, right JYAMG?

Sadly, the Liberal(equivelent of American Republican)party managed to win a vast majority in the last election not just in the Lower House, but in the Senate as well. So, like America, we are quite fucked.

We run a similar voting system to Canada, wherein the country is broken into n different seats, each containing approximatly 1/n of the population. Each electorate votes on who they want to represent them in the Upper and Lower Houses, and then which ever party has >50% of the seats in the House of Reps will be the government, and that parties leader will be the Prime Minister(assuming they win their own seat). As such, we didn't vote for Howard or Latham directly, but rather for our local member.

[Slade]

Yep. We're fucked for all eternity. *bangs head into desk* Oh well. Maybe some post-apocolyptic humans will turn out better than we did and learn from our mistakes.

Your Republican equivalent is your Liberal party? How are the horses and buggies doing down there?

[SimeSublime]

The Liberal Party are misnamed for reasons that I can't remember. Our other major party is the Australian Labour Party, which tends to favour a more equality for all view.

[Jordan]

And, yes, by and large, the election is decided in two provinces, but these two provinces together contain most of the people, so that's maybe as it should be.

Yes, it's a weighted average. I use the same principle in my hydrology course when determining which region will contribute the most rainfall runoff (rain that flows along the ground) to determine where culverts, ditches, storm drains, porous soil, trees and dykes need to be placed. It's a perfectly logical approach in science.

Jordan, maybe there are quite a few people who know the candidate they vote for, but I can tell you that I've met quite a few younger voters are don't. And they're dumb. They'll vote based how they were raised by their parents, without understanding anything and not thinking for themselves at all. Or they're just like "Hmm. Kerry likes gay boys and kills babies. I'll vote Bush because he's a Christian."

It was the young voters who pulled for Kerry, not the older ones. Our generation is predominately liberal. And sure why not, as a Christian you should probably vote for Bush if you base it on social issues. Just like an atheist would vote for Kerry if he/she only measures social issues.

Your Republican equivalent is your Liberal party? How are the horses and buggies doing down there?

No, it's the conservative party aka reform aka CRAP

This post has been edited by Jordan: 04 November 2004 - 02:52 AM

[Heccubus]

I can't believe how ignorant some of these posts are. I expected more of the people on these message boards. Bush won. Deal with it. At least it's not quite as shady this time around. Personally, I extend my congratulations to him. He had a hard fight to get back into office, and he did it. To me, that's dedication. He honestly feels that what he has done so far is what's right for his country, and while many (myself included) might disagree with some of it, a pretty good-sized chunk of the US agrees with him. Until someone drops a bomb on your country, you're not "fucked", you just have to deal with some policies and decisions in the future that you might not agree with. The party that I voted for (New Democratic Party) didn't get into office in Canada this past summer, but no one heard me screaming and complaining. You cross your fingers, and hope for the best.

[SimeSublime]

Heccubus, what did you really expect? A large proportion of the people on this board are here because they like to complain about changes to a movie that was made 20 or so years ago. Thats nothing compared to the most powerful country in the world electing a leader who's policies terrify many rational people.

Edit: This poses an interesting idea. Now to create a poll.

This post has been edited by SimeSublime: 04 November 2004 - 04:11 AM

[Just your average movie goer]

Heccubus... do you have any idea how much blood is on Bush's hands? The guy is a fiend. He is invading countries for his own private interests (read - oil), getting lots of innocent people killed on both sides in the process... and quite a lot of innocent bystanders. Think of all these people who are being kidnapped and murdered in Iraq at the moment.... sure, it's not Bush who's doing it but it's a direct result of the civil disorder he has caused in that country.

Also, he is an affront to the environmental movement and is oppressing people left, right and centre...

Why are you at all surprised at our posts here? I am just dumbfounded that so many people were so stupid and irresponsible as to vote him back in.

On a secondary note to Laura -

QUOTE 
You knew what I meant, Chefelf. These areas do have a very high concentration of gun lobbyists, wife beaters, and negro-haters.



Are you serious? That's an extremely ignorant attitude. Do you even know anybody from the southern States?

Yes, I am serious. No it's not ignorant. Yes, I do know people from the southern states. And as an well educated person in a DIFFERENT country, I do know a little bit about other places in the world, such as the southern states in America.

I never said that those states are entirely populated by those people but they are there... and in large numbers.

Those people are everywhere, that is true. But these states are a haven for nutbars.... just check out "the Bible belt" for instance.

It was a generalisation, Laura, I know. But not all generalisations are wrong.




Lastly, on the idea of living in Australia.... we're not as fucked as America... but our population can't vote either. They've voted John Howard three fucking times now.


Why am I ranting like this? Well, I'm pretty angry, disappointed and overal, I'm frustrated. I'm having a crisis of faith.... in humanity.

[SimeSublime]

Actually, I think this is his fourth term...sorry to make things worse.

To try and brighten things up, on the radio today they were saying "Today Today would like to congratulate George Bush for being elected by the American people for the first time."

[Heccubus]

Of course I realize all of the problems with Bush being re-elected, but sitting around Bush-bashing on here isn't doing anything. Of all the people who have voiced a complaint so far, I can name one who actually tried to do something about it (JM Hoffman attended several anti-Bush protests, as I recall). But you apparently neglected to read about half of my post. I already stated that I didn't agree with many of his policies, and I also stated that I was surprised at the ignorance of some of the posts. It bothers me that there are people here who are doing nothing but point the finger and rant and complain about something that has moved beyond their control. And in your case particularly, JYAMG, you had no say in the matter to begin with. I didn't want him back in office, and I didn't want him in office the first time around, yet I seem to be the only one who isn't sitting around getting angry about it. Why? Because, as a Canadian, I had no way of helping to keep him out in the first place, and as such, all I can do is--as I said already--cross my fingers and hope for the best.

[Just your average movie goer]

I know I had no say in it. That's not my point. My point is that the rest of the world was relying on the majority of Americans to not put him back in power... because frankly the idea of another four years of Bush foreign policies terrifies me... and they didn't do their job.

The problem here is that the decision made by the American people does not just affect them. It affects everybody. And I really wished they could have been a little more considerate of other people.

I wished they could have thought about all the innocent children who've been maimed and killed in Iraq. I wish they could think of the poor men in Korea who must do a compulsory two years of military service... and now, they all have to worry about being sent to a real war. On that note, I wish they could think about all the countries around this area that are concerned by the way the Bush administration keeps prodding North Korea with a big stick.

This election, the world put its trust in all Americans, hoping that they would set things right. And the majority of American voters decided they'd let the world down.

That's why I am angry and frustrated.

[Amber-Nicole]

It was the young voters who pulled for Kerry, not the older ones. Our generation is predominately liberal.

(Jordan)

Yeah, maybe where you're from. But I live in "the bible belt." I'm not talking about all young people in general. I'm alking about the young people here, locally. Out of every single classmate that I have, I know three Kerry supporters. THREE. I'm not saying that it's like that everywhere in the south, because I honestly don't know. But in my town, there are a fucking lot of young people who voted Bush.