Current or modern politics in the United States

[9876543210]

Puhbear69,

Originally Posted by Puhbear69

But they are in a very, very small minority and are going for the amusement of 99,999..% of the majority.

I wish it were that way here in the US but far from it. From what I can see the Republicans have been taken over by the god-botherers. I don't see how anyone can deny it.

But seriously and not amusing:
We had here too two cases of raped woman, who were denied from two Catholic hospitals of the same region any help.
No securing of evidences, neither the morning after contraception pill. That this is unlawfully - no doubt at all, those hospitals are funded of the public insurances and the tax payer. In this cases the operator of the hospitals (Catholic Church of that diocese) will be threaten with a closing of the hospitals, it will be interesting, how and if the hospitals will be getting out of this case.
The prosecution and the country government were involved, after it got public in nearly all media here. It will have hard consequences, I'm sure. That's an example for a "no go".

Sadly, this is way too common nowadays in the US. The Republican "War on Women" is being driven by these jesus freaks that seem to want women back in the stone age; barefoot and pregnant. Its one of the reasons I wonder if Republicans are really "human" when all they really want to do is send over half of our population back to being property. Why any woman (who isn't a god botherer) would support these freaks is beyond me.

And just to show the "War on Women" continues let me introduce you to Mike Pence, the new Governor of the state of Indiana. We all remember Bob McDonnell, the Governor or Virginia and often known as "Governor Ultrasound". McDonnell earned that nickname after he tried to force all women wanting an abortion to have an internal ultrasound. He only backed down when council pointed out to him this could be construed as rape!

Well, along comes new Indiana Governor Mike Pence. He wants to force women to not only have the first invasive forced ultrasound but he also want to force them to come back two weeks later to have a second!

http://rhrealitycheck.org/video/2013...rom-mcdonnell/

I mean really! What is the matter with these people? They say they want smaller government and more individual freedom but their actions increase government and decrease individual freedom.

[Puhbear69]

But this guy (Mike Pence) had been won the vote anyhow.
Scary, indeed! Here woman groups would go on the barricades (with justification), and they would have a big support.

Help me to understand:
The US really don't have a lack of different parties:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._United_States

Why don't the citizens of the US vote more differently ? Of course I know the mainly reason, it's about the funding.

I know too, the turnout is very low in the US (frustration?).

In the most European countries it's more "colorfully", not only "Black and White". In the very most European countries we do have coalitions for example.
Of course the most European countries are having no separate president votes; the biggest party (by the vote) designates the prime minister (England, Spain, Italy), chancellor (Germany) or president (France) ect.

Of course for the presidency it would make no sense in the US.
But it would make sense for the congress, IMHO.

[9876543210]

Puhbear69,

Originally Posted by Puhbear69

Why don't the citizens of the US vote more differently ? Of course I know the mainly reason, it's about the funding.

Really, really difficult question but my opinion boils down to a lack (or really an interest) of education. Most people in the US wind up with a high school degree (probably about 80% or so) with the rest dropping out. And because of the state of Texas we wind up with really stupid text books. Let me explain that a bit.

I don't know all of the reasons for this but most info that winds up in a text book is largely determined by Texas because they buy more text books than any other state. So, as a true example, if a Texas legislator wants creationism in a book then creationism gets in the book. No matter what any other state says or complains about the subject. The other state can look around for another text book but, if one isn't available, then its up to that states teachers to put something together without a text book. So you should see that American education is really at a stupid place. And its been that way for a while.

So, because many Americans have never been taught the art of critical thinking they wind up going with whoever is loudest and seems to know what they're talking about (even if they don't have a clue whats really going on, i.e. Limpbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Palin, etc.).

So technically you're correct about the funding being a major reason. But thats really only because most people can't go any deeper about our real problems.

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

Puhbear69,



Really, really difficult question but my opinion boils down to a lack (or really an interest) of education. Most people in the US wind up with a high school degree (probably about 80% or so) with the rest dropping out. And because of the state of Texas we wind up with really stupid text books. Let me explain that a bit.

I don't know all of the reasons for this but most info that winds up in a text book is largely determined by Texas because they buy more text books than any other state. So, as a true example, if a Texas legislator wants creationism in a book then creationism gets in the book. No matter what any other state says or complains about the subject. The other state can look around for another text book but, if one isn't available, then its up to that states teachers to put something together without a text book. So you should see that American education is really at a stupid place. And its been that way for a while.

As a resident of California, with 10% of the entire country's population, I'm wondering how the *BLEEP* TEXAS got in that position. CA pretty much determines the entire country's vehicle emissions and gas mileage standards simply by being the biggest market and there are other ways the state throws its weight around, so why is it that it doesn't influence text books enough to break that kind of monopoly. We certainly have more students than Texas does.

[Puhbear69]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

Puhbear69,



Really, really difficult question but my opinion boils down to a lack (or really an interest) of education. Most people in the US wind up with a high school degree (probably about 80% or so) with the rest dropping out. And because of the state of Texas we wind up with really stupid text books. Let me explain that a bit.

I don't know all of the reasons for this but most info that winds up in a text book is largely determined by Texas because they buy more text books than any other state. So, as a true example, if a Texas legislator wants creationism in a book then creationism gets in the book. No matter what any other state says or complains about the subject. The other state can look around for another text book but, if one isn't available, then its up to that states teachers to put something together without a text book. So you should see that American education is really at a stupid place. And its been that way for a while.

So, because many Americans have never been taught the art of critical thinking they wind up going with whoever is loudest and seems to know what they're talking about (even if they don't have a clue whats really going on, i.e. Limpbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Palin, etc.).

So technically you're correct about the funding being a major reason. But thats really only because most people can't go any deeper about our real problems.

Only because some people are less educated, they are not necessarily less intelligent. I'm moving on thin ice with that, I know.

It's the duty of the press, to inform those people. It's the duty of fora like this too, to inform people - so that they can make their own opinion. I'm with you in case of the US education, the US are having a small elite and the rest of the country doesn't count. And for many years, I remember the report of friends, visiting the US years ago.
For example a kind of the tea party wouldn't be possible here in such an amount of followers. Not absolutely impossible of course, but in very margin numbers.
The school system here is - at all critics - very much broader, we do have very less private schools/universities and they are also in control by public authorities.

With my post I want to give an example: "Hey, the goals of the XXX-party might be also kind of interesting".

For an example here of the 80s: a former Ministerpresident of a country (you would say Governor) wanted to solve "the problems with the Green party with roof battens". At the next vote the voters had disposed him (maximum losses for the party from an absolute majority to about ~35%) and the Green party was in parliament.
Only as an example of a "no go", but this is an American thread.

I've simply been astonished, that there are a number of parties in the US, playing no political role at all. I did not know a few month ago, that any other parties are existing ... but I'm non American either.
(Some of them sound quite funny .. , some quite scary!)

[bombermouse]

Originally Posted by DTravel

As a resident of California, with 10% of the entire country's population, I'm wondering how the *BLEEP* TEXAS got in that position. CA pretty much determines the entire country's vehicle emissions and gas mileage standards simply by being the biggest market and there are other ways the state throws its weight around, so why is it that it doesn't influence text books enough to break that kind of monopoly. We certainly have more students than Texas does.

I'm not sure but I think Texas is the most populous of the few states where a central authority decides which textbooks will be used in all public schools. Most states leave that decision to the various school districts.

[9876543210]

DTravel,

Originally Posted by DTravel

As a resident of California, with 10% of the entire country's population, I'm wondering how the *BLEEP* TEXAS got in that position. CA pretty much determines the entire country's vehicle emissions and gas mileage standards simply by being the biggest market and there are other ways the state throws its weight around, so why is it that it doesn't influence text books enough to break that kind of monopoly. We certainly have more students than Texas does.

As I was writing that yesterday there was a moment where I wondered the exact same thing. Why Texas over California? Makes no sense to me. I'll see if I can find some more out in the next day or two but can't today. We've just had about six inches of "heart attack snow" dropped on our heads so if you don't hear from me again you'll know I'm still shoveling snow in hell.

[dethtongue]

Originally Posted by bombermouse

I'm not sure but I think Texas is the most populous of the few states where a central authority decides which textbooks will be used in all public schools. Most states leave that decision to the various school districts.

A couple years ago there were some conservative groups who were angling to write and publish their own history books for public schools in Texas. Something to do with the liberal bias of modern history books. (Damn those socialist college professors.) Not sure what ever happened with it. This was back around 2008-2009...when a certain black guy got real famous and the conservatives were predicting their usual bout of end of the world hi jinx.

[9876543210]

Puhbear69,

Originally Posted by Puhbear69

Only because some people are less educated, they are not necessarily less intelligent. I'm moving on thin ice with that, I know.

The problems here are not from a lack of intelligence, they're from a lack of the "use" of that intelligence. Americans aren't any smarter than anyone from any other country. Nor are they more stupid. In my opinion they are lazier, at least as far as their critical thinking skills are concerned. Lazier than people from other countries? Probably not. But lazier than Americans from earlier generations.

It's the duty of the press, to inform those people.

That used to be the case but is no longer. Most of the "press" has their own political agenda which people "should" be aware of but, sadly, most people are not. Just look at Faux News which is the communications arm of the Republican/Tea Party.

It's the duty of fora like this too, to inform people - so that they can make their own opinion. I'm with you in case of the US education, the US are having a small elite and the rest of the country doesn't count. And for many years, I remember the report of friends, visiting the US years ago.

It would be nice to think that a forum like this one could make a difference (and maybe it can) but lets be realistic. Judging from the "Thanks" given by people in these threads there are maybe 10 to 15 people that most are from. There are, of course, others that keep an eye on these threads and say nothing. Which if OK. But those of us that actually comment in here are a very small minority. So the amount of education going on here is pretty minimal.

I've simply been astonished, that there are a number of parties in the US, playing no political role at all. I did not know a few month ago, that any other parties are existing ... but I'm non American either. (Some of them sound quite funny .. , some quite scary!)

Most all of our third parties have no role at all. I think there is only one Socialist in the Senate (Bernie Sanders from Vermont) with few, if any, in the House. We have a Green Party whom I've voted for but they've never done very much. The last time I remember a third party having any impact was Ross Perot back in the 80's and 90's. He didn't win but he did create a heck of a stir when he got about 20% of the vote (I think I voted for him twice).

[9876543210]

bombermouse,

Originally Posted by bombermouse

I'm not sure but I think Texas is the most populous of the few states where a central authority decides which textbooks will be used in all public schools. Most states leave that decision to the various school districts.

I think you just hit the nail on the head with "a central authority decides which textbooks will be used in all public schools." Which brings up an interesting question. Doesn't "a central authority" sound like Communism? So Texas is a Communist state?

Heh, heh. I can hear heads blowing up in Texas all the way up here in Wisconsin.