Obama and the 2012 Election

  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ Kurtni
    Yeah, and to me that defeats the whole purpose because I liked the idea of getting rid of a two-party system that doesn't allow for real change/new ideas. I also hate the electoral college.
    November 9th, 2012 at 04:56pm
  • The Rumor

    The Rumor (365)

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    They wanted to put that in place for Britain and all I could think when reading about the system is that it's a great way to elect a candidate that No one really wants...a lot like the coalition now.
    November 9th, 2012 at 06:53pm
  • kafka.

    kafka. (150)

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    @ Kurtni

    I'm not sure how preferential voting works in Australia, but single transferable vote is used in Scottish local elections - you rank your preferences from 1 to 3, though your vote is valid even if you only rank one or two candidates. I do think it works well to ensure proportional representation as well as a comparatively diverse range of political options - the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens and independents all have a chance to participate in the political dialogue and run for office (this is not to say that they all have the same resources etc, but the legislation is much more supportive of smaller parties and diversity - and in local elections even a few seats can make a difference for the community). The Scottish Parliament has a different and even more complicated mixed system of first past the post and proportional representation, though.
    November 9th, 2012 at 09:35pm
  • The Master

    The Master (15)

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    @ kafka.
    Even then, it's entirely up to you if you want to put down preferences and how many preferences you have (at least that's what I remember from the last elections).
    November 9th, 2012 at 11:02pm
  • fen'harel

    fen'harel (560)

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    So, I'm not very up to date with everything occurring in the U.S., but I was hearing the news and I heard that 34 states are filing petitions to secede from the union and here too.

    So, my question is, is this possible? I read that if it reaches 25,000 signatures in 30 days, then it can be reviewed; however, how would they proceed on this?
    November 13th, 2012 at 11:58pm
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    @ sobre mi cadaver
    People make petitions like that all the time, they're a joke... It's a poor attempt to delegitimize Obama's election, which is why we're hearing about it now. As far as I'm aware, those signatures haven't even been validated.

    And if they wanted to proceed with succession, I would say the next step would be Civil War. Mr. Green
    November 14th, 2012 at 01:17am
  • kafka.

    kafka. (150)

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    sobre mi cadaver:
    So, I'm not very up to date with everything occurring in the U.S., but I was hearing the news and I heard that 34 states are filing petitions to secede from the union and here too.

    So, my question is, is this possible? I read that if it reaches 25,000 signatures in 30 days, then it can be reviewed; however, how would they proceed on this?
    Having been exposed to Scottish ideas about civic nationalism and regional independence, I can't help feeling that very strong political differences in different regions are a perfectly legitimate reason to seek (greater) independence. In Europe federal states have broken up peacefully / democratically through referendums, so a peaceful secession would be possible - if everyone is committed to democracy, in any case.
    November 14th, 2012 at 12:34pm
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    @ kafka.
    They're not strong political differences though, it's a minority of people (because the signatures are not checked against voter registrations/verified to be real people, we have no idea how small the minority is) driven by racism and bigotry.
    November 14th, 2012 at 06:54pm
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    I'm all down for letting Texas secede. Coffee
    November 14th, 2012 at 07:45pm
  • Jewel Nicole

    Jewel Nicole (100)

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    @ dru will wait.

    I'm not! Shocked I don't want to secede! I'm a rational Texan. ::smug:
    November 14th, 2012 at 09:16pm
  • The Master

    The Master (15)

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    @ Kurtni

    There are elements to the Scottish independence debacle which are based on...err, religion. Since Protestants are generally pro-union and the Catholics are generally against it...it's just not as simple.
    November 14th, 2012 at 11:57pm
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    @ joan.
    I never said it was simple... I was commenting on the petitions in the US, I wouldn't feel informed enough to comment on Scotland's politics xD
    November 15th, 2012 at 12:39am
  • The Master

    The Master (15)

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    @ Kurtni

    Ahhh I know but I was just adding that the Scottish thing is all...wibbly. Sorry if it sounded otherwise dude.
    November 15th, 2012 at 02:50am
  • fen'harel

    fen'harel (560)

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    dru will wait.:
    I'm all down for letting Texas secede. Coffee
    Hell nawww. Can we somehow export El Paso to the rest of the U.S.?

    Now seriously, Rick Perry, who had claimed back in 2009 that Texas could do well by becoming independent from the U.S., is not even backing up the whole secession thing. First coherent thing this man has done in his life.

    And I agree with Kurtni, this whole thing screams racism and bigotry.
    November 15th, 2012 at 07:27pm
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    Romney's gift comments reek of racism to me. Obama meeting the needs of the Latino community is considered giving a "gift," but corporate welfare was hard earned? Rolling Eyes
    November 16th, 2012 at 04:54am
  • Ayana Sioux

    Ayana Sioux (1175)

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    dru will wait.:
    @ Kurtni
    Yeah, and to me that defeats the whole purpose because I liked the idea of getting rid of a two-party system that doesn't allow for real change/new ideas. I also hate the electoral college.
    I have to agree completely. I now identify myself as a Libertarian (mostly based on the why this country functions) so democrat or republican isn't going to cut it too long for people like me.
    Kurtni:
    @ sobre mi cadaver
    People make petitions like that all the time, they're a joke... It's a poor attempt to delegitimize Obama's election, which is why we're hearing about it now. As far as I'm aware, those signatures haven't even been validated.

    And if they wanted to proceed with succession, I would say the next step would be Civil War. Mr. Green
    And the step after that would be me moving to another country.
    I don't give a fuck if this country breaks up. Frankly, I'm just tired of the US. I'm not a very patriotic person and just in the way the US was built, it just helped me to dislike it even more.
    November 18th, 2012 at 12:13am
  • This.Useless.Heart.

    This.Useless.Heart. (115)

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    Crazy people wanting to succeed aside. This election ended up being rather anticlimactic, and I am very glad of that. It's like I was so scared of Romney winning and/or it taking forever to get results and something shady happening with all that, but then it was like "Nope. Obama already won; the end." It was pretty great.
    November 27th, 2012 at 10:29pm
  • oldbook;

    oldbook; (100)

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    @ lovecraft
    lovecraft:
    ^Which is one of the big reasons I support Ron Paul. How about voting in a politician who doesn't want to support the status quo?

    And while everyone is praising Obama for trying to give you healthcare, something you consider a right, no one seems to care about the fact that he is TAKING away constitutional rights, and rights guaranteed by the universal declaration of human rights.
    Giving you shitty, broken health care, does not make up for the fact that Obama is trampling over the rights of people in other countries. Are they suddenly not human?
    I agree with this. This national health care is simply a way to get everyone to rely on the federal government when America was formulated on the concept of a person's work ethic. I don't think I should be paying for someone who sits on their ass all day so we both get the lowest common denominator of healthcare. Not to mention, a national healthcare will lower the standard of healthcare, as I've already stated. Let's put this into perspective: We are one of the only countries in the world without national healthcare and where does everyone go for major procedures? America! Why? Because with national health care, it takes an astronomically long time for people to get the help they need.

    Essentially, national healthcare is one step towards socialism. We're going to control what kind of care you get and how much, then how you get places, then how much you can make and finally, why don't we all just be 'equal' on everything. So even though you made $100,000 this year, we're taking away $30,000 to give to someone who only made $40,000 because that's 'equal' no matter how hard either worked.

    That's idiotic, socialism and Obama. In four years, you'll all be pissed that you're hard work is being given to people who simply don't care.
    December 2nd, 2012 at 07:16pm
  • oldbook;

    oldbook; (100)

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    And in regards to Texas, Texas wants to secede because it does very well on its own. It has a very successful economy that is being dragged down by America's economy. 34 states threatening to secede speaks for itself; something is clearly wrong.
    December 2nd, 2012 at 07:21pm
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ witheverything;
    I love that anyone who could use Obamacare sits at home on their ass all day and does nothing. I don't have insurance. I work 32-36 hours a week and I barely manage to get buy. I'm on welfare, I pay my rent, I take the bus to work since I don't have a car.

    I work incredibly hard at my shitty-paying job that refuses to allow me as a full-time worker so I could get healthcare. Yes, I am currently looking for a full-time job but it's very hard to find one I can actually commute to since I don't have a vehicle.

    I'm not some lazy fuck sitting at home on their ass begging working people to give me healthcare. I'm someone who is working their ass off and getting raped by the system.

    Most people who could use a hand are like me, not like your stereotypical view of someone sitting at home on their ass and 'getting rich' off the government.
    December 2nd, 2012 at 07:50pm