Stupid Americans?

i dont understand the american system at all

i just dont know why they cant have a 6 wk election campaign like all other countrys and get it over and done with and this electing the president instead of the party seems pointless
electing their president is just so long winded ?
and anyway not everyone has to vote there so really he is not representing the whole country is he ?

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Originally Posted by dzcook

i dont understand the american system at all

i just dont know why they cant have a 6 wk election campaign like all other countrys and get it over and done with and this electing the president instead of the party seems pointless
electing their president is just so long winded ?
and anyway not everyone has to vote there so really he is not representing the whole country is he ?

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Australia is one of the few (only?) democracies that requires voting by law. Failing to vote is a choice too, just like ignorance. Both have their downsides.

Also, do you think the leader of a country is really best chosen in back room somewhere? Really? I wonder how the voters of NSW feel about that?:rolleyes: Or the UK for that matter.

While I find many aspects of the US perplexing, I think the three arms of government idea pretty good in theory, and often so in practice.

To be honest I read that article and one thing came to mind. If I changed only a few words you'd think he was talking about Australia - hansonism comes to mind. I'm at a loss to understand the American obsession. And why is it those that have a definite leftest (liberal minded... whatever label you want) leaning are often heavy on insults and few on facts when they criticize others that disagree with their philosophies.

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Originally Posted by gregoryq

Australia is one of the few (only?) democracies that requires voting by law.

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Actually you are only required to attend a polling booth and have your attendance noted by being crossed of the roll.

Actual voting is optional and not compulsory. You can elect to vote or not to vote as you wish, once your attendance is noted.


Peter.

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Originally Posted by gregoryq

That's because Eisenhower had Sherman Adams as his Chief of Staff. I had the occasion to meet him once in the sixties (I think I was 15). He was an intense son of a bitch even after being diminished by scandal. There used to be a joke in D.C. about Eisenhower dying and Nixon becoming president. The punch line was "Never mind that, what if Sherman Adams dies and Eisenhower becomes President!".

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IIRC, Sherman Adams had a pretty good mop on top during the Eisenhower administration; probably thinning somewhat when you met him.

Another DC joke around 1973 had a setup concerning a man who awoke from a 20-year sleep (a la Rip van Winkle from [Washington Irving's Legend] of Sleepy Hollow). The man's first question was, "How is President Eisenhower?" He was told that Eisenhower had died. He replied, "Oh NO! Richard Nixon is President!"

"System?" What system:?

Joe

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Originally Posted by dzcook

i dont understand the american system at all

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At times, neither do I.

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Originally Posted by joe greiner

... "Oh NO! Richard Nixon is President!"

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ROTFLMAO!

:D :2tsup: :2tsup: :D