US election 2012

Duff-Man said:
Absolutely - hence my use of the words "making moves towards" universal healthcare. It's a far cry from what we have come to expect in Europe, but it's still a step too far for a lot of Americans. Romney has said repeatedly that he would seek to immediately repeal the bill upon his election.
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^^ Well said.

When I was in Texas I got a taste of the locals' attitudes towards universal healthcare. It wasn't pretty.

The American national psyche is so hopelessly perverse, people will happily vote against their own interests in the sincere belief that they're doing themselves a favour. :confused:
 
Evangelion said:
Obamacare will not provide universal healthcare. Far from it. Take a good look at the policy and you'll see it's laughably inadequate by the standards we're accustomed to in Australia, the UK, etc.
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I don't think many middle class americans would support it if it were more extensive. I think he was lucky to get anything through.

I find it odd that a country so rich has such disregard for those less fortunate.
 
Mailed my absentee ballot off last week. I'm registered in a very blue state (Washington), so I'm just throwing my presidential vote away (in some people's eyes). I voted yes on I-502 as well.
 
Evangelion said:
The American national psyche is so hopelessly perverse, people will happily vote against their own interests in the sincere belief that they're doing themselves a favour. :confused:
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In America they don't see themselves as a nation of have and have nots, they see themselves as haves and soon-to-haves. No matter how poor, uneducated and no matter the lack of opportunity an American may have they still think that in 10 years time they'll be a millionaire.
 
Duff-Man said:
The east coast states that are firmly in one camp or another should be called late tonight. It will be the early hours of Wednesday before the eastern swing states or the west coast states start reporting.

By Wednesday morning UK time we should expect to have a winner.

Edit - beaten by simulatorman :p




Absolutely - hence my use of the words "making moves towards" universal healthcare. It's a far cry from what we have come to expect in Europe, but it's still a step too far for a lot of Americans. Romney has said repeatedly that he would seek to immediately repeal the bill upon his election.
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I thought flip flop has since announced he now supports some elements of 'Obamacare'?

We need some Obama/Romney memes :D
 
Morbius said:
Probably as a result of the drone strikes in Pakistani territory.
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...which Mitt Romney has supported, and intends to continue:

WASHINGTON - White House hopeful Mitt Romney on Tuesday said he would maintain drone strikes in Pakistan if he defeated President Barack Obama and would impose conditions on aid to the nuclear-armed nation.

At the two men’s final debate before November 6 elections, Romney largely embraced Obama’s positions on Pakistan and in a departure from his frequent criticism, said he did not blame Obama for troubled ties between the nations.
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(Source).

Romney is a non-Christian religious fundamentalist with a medieval worldview and a dubious attitude towards women. I think most male Pakistanis can relate to that. Romney's their kind of guy.

Brookert said:
I don't think many middle class americans would support it if it were more extensive. I think he was lucky to get anything through.

I find it odd that a country so rich has such disregard for those less fortunate.
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Read Thomas Frank's What's the Matter with America? It explains a lot.

Moses said:
It's far better than having fifty million Americans without health insurance, though, no?
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Not if it doesn't actually provide them with affordable care. Which it doesn't. Obamacare is a massive concession to the private health insurers, and will still leave ~31 million people uninsured.
 
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Evangelion said:
^^ Well said.

When I was in Texas I got a taste of the locals' attitudes towards universal healthcare. It wasn't pretty.

The American national psyche is so hopelessly perverse, people will happily vote against their own interests in the sincere belief that they're doing themselves a favour. :confused:
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Being born in Texas, I feel qualified to retort. In Texas, we don't like big government. Heck, about half of America just wants to live their own lives, and be responsible for themselves. It doesn't mean we're dumb or don't care about people - just look at all the great charities, and the sense of community we have down there. We would rather just keep our money in our pockets and be responsible with it - something the Federal Government is wholly incapable of doing.
 
Munky1080 said:
Being born in Texas, I feel qualified to retort. In Texas, we don't like big government. Heck, about half of America just wants to live their own lives, and be responsible for themselves. It doesn't mean we're dumb or don't care about people - just look at all the great charities, and the sense of community we have down there. We would rather just keep our money in our pockets and be responsible with it - something the Federal Government is wholly incapable of doing.
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Why have a federal government at all then? Why not declare independence and be done with it?
 
Munky1080 said:
Being born in Texas, I feel qualified to retort. In Texas, we don't like big government. Heck, about half of America just wants to live their own lives, and be responsible for themselves. It doesn't mean we're dumb or don't care about people - just look at all the great charities, and the sense of community we have down there. We would rather just keep our money in our pockets and be responsible with it - something the Federal Government is wholly incapable of doing.
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So I assume, then, that after having moved to the UK, you insist on paying for your doctors appointments on the NHS out of your own pocket?

Beggers belief that anyone could be against certain aspects of 'big government', such as universal healthcare.

I can see the appeal of Romney if you're a multi-millionaire, but since 99.9% arent..... :confused:
 
Morbius said:
Why have a federal government at all then? Why not declare independence and be done with it?
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A lot of Texans would agree with you. We are actually the only state in the US that has the right to secede. Texas won it's independence from Mexico in 1845, and as a result wasn't "annexed" as such, like the rest of the West. We joined the Union under treaty, which give Texas the right to secede and for it's own country, "The Lone Star Republic", consisting of five states. Pretty interesting stuff, really.
 
I found it strange that America has so few women in positions of political power. They rank 80th in the world with 17% of positions filled by women :o

Compared to even Afghanistan at 57% and Iran at 25%! Not a good record by the US there.
 
Munky1080 said:
Being born in Texas, I feel qualified to retort. In Texas, we don't like big government. Heck, about half of America just wants to live their own lives, and be responsible for themselves. It doesn't mean we're dumb or don't care about people - just look at all the great charities, and the sense of community we have down there. We would rather just keep our money in our pockets and be responsible with it - something the Federal Government is wholly incapable of doing.
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There was an article on the BBC not long ago (can't find it at the moment) which specifically looked at the correlation between lack of welfare and the increase in domestic violence/abuse/family breakdown and Texas was one of the worst offending states, due to their lack of any support structure.
 
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