Democrats bid for 2020

[sprintcyclist]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

Thanks.
Sounds similar to our system.

[brian ross]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

[brian ross]

Briney wrote

Yeah, sure, Bogan, sure. Whatever you say man. Must be good stuff your smokin'..

That's a weak comeback, even for you. I must be getting to you.

Nope, not at all, mate, not at all.

[Texan]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

Too many nations have neglected self defense because the US is able to do it. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us.

What do you know of the "average American"? I will admit that our education system has become more and more a leftist indoctrination, but outside of large cities with poor education Americans are still pretty smart.

[sprintcyclist]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

Too many nations have neglected self defense because the US is able to do it. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us.

What do you know of the "average American"? I will admit that our education system has become more and more a leftist indoctrination, but outside of large cities with poor education Americans are still pretty smart.

.................. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us. .......................

Absolutely

[brian ross]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

Too many nations have neglected self defense because the US is able to do it. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us.

What do you know of the "average American"? I will admit that our education system has become more and more a leftist indoctrination, but outside of large cities with poor education Americans are still pretty smart.

You appear to believe there is only two ways, two solutions to any problem, Tex - the US way and well, surrender. Why?

Australia is not under threat from any nation. China is too far far away and lacks the means to threaten us with conventional weapons. Ditto for Russia. Come on, lets get real, please.

Look, there are many alternative solutions to any given problem. Why must we always bow down to the will of Washington, Mmmm? Look at what Washington invariably gets out of it's demands - a betrayal of it's claims to believe in Democracy. Having to install and maintain an unpopular form of government.

What is wrong with working with say a Leftist Government? Mmmm? Afterall, it worked in Yugoslavia for 40+ years. There would be a lot more people alive if the US had not decided to stop Ho in Vietnam, Mossadegh in Iran, Arbenz in Guatemala, Sukarno in Indonesia, etc,

[Texan]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

Too many nations have neglected self defense because the US is able to do it. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us.

What do you know of the "average American"? I will admit that our education system has become more and more a leftist indoctrination, but outside of large cities with poor education Americans are still pretty smart.

You appear to believe there is only two ways, two solutions to any problem, Tex - the US way and well, surrender. Why?

Australia is not under threat from any nation. China is too far far away and lacks the means to threaten us with conventional weapons. Ditto for Russia. Come on, lets get real, please.

Look, there are many alternative solutions to any given problem. Why must we always bow down to the will of Washington, Mmmm? Look at what Washington invariably gets out of it's demands - a betrayal of it's claims to believe in Democracy. Having to install and maintain an unpopular form of government.

What is wrong with working with say a Leftist Government? Mmmm? Afterall, it worked in Yugoslavia for 40+ years. There would be a lot more people alive if the US had not decided to stop Ho in Vietnam, Mossadegh in Iran, Arbenz in Guatemala, Sukarno in Indonesia, etc,

I don't tell other people how to run their country. I will only give my opinion on American responsibilities and interests. You deal with whomever you see fit however you see fit. If you don't have a problem with China running a sea port or farming on Australian soil or investing heavily into your universities and government institutions I wish you well. If you want to disarm your public and invite people with no respect for your laws and culture from all over the world that's not my concern either. You won't see me suggesting that your whole government be torn down so it can be rebuilt. That's not my business.

[Black Orchid]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

Too many nations have neglected self defense because the US is able to do it. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us.

What do you know of the "average American"? I will admit that our education system has become more and more a leftist indoctrination, but outside of large cities with poor education Americans are still pretty smart.

You appear to believe there is only two ways, two solutions to any problem, Tex - the US way and well, surrender. Why?

Australia is not under threat from any nation. China is too far far away and lacks the means to threaten us with conventional weapons. Ditto for Russia. Come on, lets get real, please.

Look, there are many alternative solutions to any given problem. Why must we always bow down to the will of Washington, Mmmm? Look at what Washington invariably gets out of it's demands - a betrayal of it's claims to believe in Democracy. Having to install and maintain an unpopular form of government.

What is wrong with working with say a Leftist Government? Mmmm? Afterall, it worked in Yugoslavia for 40+ years. There would be a lot more people alive if the US had not decided to stop Ho in Vietnam, Mossadegh in Iran, Arbenz in Guatemala, Sukarno in Indonesia, etc,

I don't tell other people how to run their country. I will only give my opinion on American responsibilities and interests. You deal with whomever you see fit however you see fit. If you don't have a problem with China running a sea port or farming on Australian soil or investing heavily into your universities and government institutions I wish you well. If you want to disarm your public and invite people with no respect for your laws and culture from all over the world that's not my concern either. You won't see me suggesting that your whole government be torn down so it can be rebuilt. That's not my business.

Feel free to say how ridiculous all this is and most of us will agree with you. Although Brian thinks he is representative of the majority of Australians ... he isn't!

[brian ross]

I don't know what to tell you, Brian. We are a democratic republic with 3 branches of government. Beyond that we are a collaboration of 50 state governments that are democratically elected. Texas even has the distinction of being an independent republic before joining the United States. We have never been majority ruled by popular vote and before the ill conceived 17th Amendment our senators were chosen by state legislatures. We have an electoral college and a bicameral Congress to ensure that smaller states are not ignored. These were the conditions that were negotiated when our union was formed and we are bound to them until our Constitution is amended to say otherwise.

No denying that, Tex. It is a shame that the majority of American citizens don't seem to know that. It is also a shame that the majority of US Congress people/Senators are ignorant as is the US President and his cabinet. Afterall, they are the ones who claim that the US is a democracy and that it is the largest democracy in the world (ignoring of course, India, just for a minute). They make that claim whenever the US is invading one country or another...

Too many nations have neglected self defense because the US is able to do it. I would gladly pull most of our troops back into the US and put them on our borders. Europe and Australia could deal with Chinese and Russian aggression. If you don't like our policies, don't depend on us.

What do you know of the "average American"? I will admit that our education system has become more and more a leftist indoctrination, but outside of large cities with poor education Americans are still pretty smart.

You appear to believe there is only two ways, two solutions to any problem, Tex - the US way and well, surrender. Why?

Australia is not under threat from any nation. China is too far far away and lacks the means to threaten us with conventional weapons. Ditto for Russia. Come on, lets get real, please.

Look, there are many alternative solutions to any given problem. Why must we always bow down to the will of Washington, Mmmm? Look at what Washington invariably gets out of it's demands - a betrayal of it's claims to believe in Democracy. Having to install and maintain an unpopular form of government.

What is wrong with working with say a Leftist Government? Mmmm? Afterall, it worked in Yugoslavia for 40+ years. There would be a lot more people alive if the US had not decided to stop Ho in Vietnam, Mossadegh in Iran, Arbenz in Guatemala, Sukarno in Indonesia, etc,

I don't tell other people how to run their country. I will only give my opinion on American responsibilities and interests. You deal with whomever you see fit however you see fit. If you don't have a problem with China running a sea port or farming on Australian soil or investing heavily into your universities and government institutions I wish you well. If you want to disarm your public and invite people with no respect for your laws and culture from all over the world that's not my concern either. You won't see me suggesting that your whole government be torn down so it can be rebuilt. That's not my business.

Isolation does not solve anybody's problems, Tex. It has failed your nation and it will continue to fail the US. What is needed is not less engagement but more. I understand that less than a quarter of your Congress people have passports and have travelled overseas. I'd suggest that say, 75% would be a better figure. Get out there and experience the world! Learn about it. Discover what other people think and why they think the way they do. It would do Americans the world of good. The USA is NOT the world.

[The4thEstate]

4E wrote

Sometimes I find it more fun to engage ... just to see what falls out of his head next.

One thing which fell out of Brian's head, was that he said that he did not mind if all of Europe became Muslim "provided it is done democratically."

Brian really is from another planet.

You really do have problems with the concepts of democracy, don't you? Tsk, tsk.

I am surprised as well by 4E's unwillingness to upbraid you, Bogan. He who proclaims himself t be a true supporter of democracy.

When did I ever proclaim myself a "true supporter of democracy"? Don't trip over your own straw there, Brian.

Actually, I'm a fan of the constitutional republic. Not that I oppose democracy, but I'm not a purist about it.

I look at my nation much like I look at my house: My first responsibility is to my own family, not everybody else's. It's commendable to be a good neighbor to those around you, and if you can help other people along the way, great.

But the bottom line is, I'm under no obligation to let anybody enter my home, camp out in my yard, etc. Nor do I owe anybody a meal or a handout just because they're not doing as well as I might happen to be. And if they show up on my doorstep uninvited, I have no obligation to let them in or even allow them to remain on my property.

Most of all, if I do allow someone into my house and they start misbehaving, I have every right to kick them out and tell them to go back where they came from. And it's not my problem if they don't have a place to spend the night. That's what homeless shelters are for.

That, in a nutshell, is the problem that many Western nations grapple with ... badly: They make themselves responsible for other people's problems.

See, if I were the leader of Greece, I'd stop wringing my hands over the plight of the thousands of people who sailed across the Mediterranean and deposited themselves on my shores. I'd simply think of my own property, live by "My house, my rules," and give them a return trip to whatever shore they departed from.

Because just as I'm not running a homeless shelter in my basement, Greece has no responsibility for the care and feeding of other nation's refugees -- especially to the detriment of their own "family members." And if the EU doesn't like it, they can start letting refugees sleep in their headquarters.