Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
And Ohio what's with this "300 years" thing? America was a great concept when founded. It's Forefathers didn't even want to have one unified army because that would be too much power for the federal executive branch.
Things began to change in 1910. After 1917, when the US won WW1, courts came up with doctrines like sovereign immunity. Because if the federal could defeat an army thousands of miles away, they could certainly quash a rebellion at home. Things have only gradually gotten worse since.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
Ok, this "President" thing is just not working out. We have all been under this delusion for nearly 300 years that we should elect a good politician, and really all we have gotten is car salesmen and a little charisma. Now if the country had not become a world leading economy during that 300 years, you might think that the system had really screwed up. Or, if we had years of violent military coups followed by years of dictators, where other potential leaders were suicide bombed into oblivion, then you might think that we had screwed up somewhere.
But the proof is sort of in the pudding isn't it?
Foreigners may not like our system, we may have some minority that is discontent with the current President or his policies, but you really have to admit, that the system on balance has been positive for the American people.
I say from this point forward we should only elect Losers, in the best interest of JayR. Electing anyone with a background of success will surely be only to please the elite.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
still middle class, upper middle maybe.
book keeper had good income just like an accountant has now, but still upper middle class, not the elite in any way.
still leaves Obama, guiliani, reagen, hastert, edwards, ridge, cuomo etc as just some examples of major political figures who came from very modest backgrounds. Nixon could not even go to harvard because while he was admitted he did not have money to go even after a scholarship. thatcher and major we have already covered. even Tony Blair's father was a university lecturer.
Yaar abh upper middle class ke naih bane ge to kya sirf Elite ke bane ge?
I said that there is hardly any one, who become challenges the Presidential candidates with a weak background like Ahmadinejad. Which is foremost a revolution. Nelson Mandela is another good example..So you cannot say "third world countries" have only landlords and rich people participating for President.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
ali so what ppl from modest backgrounds have become Pakistani prime ministers ?
btw I noted one example of a book keeper "potentially" being upper middle class, I listed others who came from families of mere shop owners, university lecturers, petty criminal etc.
I never said third world countries 'only' have landlord and rich, but that is the general trend.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
My point in all this is that 300 years of successful political handoffs from one president to another is a damn fine accomplishment. By definition, there will always be a minority, but that minority can exercise checks and balances through the congressional and judicial system. And what are you thinking about sovereign immunity? The impeachment process is there to insure that corrupt leaders can be removed. Sovereign immunity is there soley to prevent the President from being tied up in court every day of his term. There are administrative appeal functions that serve to protect the interests of the public.
Frankly I don't know of any American who does not believe that their government has deep flaws. On any given day the government can be very wrong. But on balance, most Americans believe that the system is self correcting and balanced over time. Obviously slavery was wrong, the lack of civil rights for minorities was wrong. Over time the wrongs get corrected and the country moves forward.
And, to the guy who called me an "old fogey"; shut up, I resemble that remark!( however, I am 50 years old, and can still bench press 300 lbs, can you?)
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
Having worked in a Congressional office, I can assure you that much, much more could be done. Constituent services is probably 80% of the work done in a congressional office.
Requests for reconsideration from a key Congressman would have a near 100% chance of success, unless there is something negative in the backround of the individual. Pakora, a Guppy here was initially denied a visa to visit his family here. I coached him through the process and he was approved the next time. And he was a "jihad-aged" single male from Pakistan, the most scrutinized Visa category.
If you did not visit your Congressman and Senators office, you certainly did not use the government services to which you are entitled.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
US might be acting as a policeman on the foriegn policy and have gone way too far with Eastern countries and interfered in their domestic matters and commited Int'l crimes, but as far as the political system is concerned, I think it is one of the closest to perfection. With media and other means, it is definetely facing challenge of keeping itself clean, but the surge of likes of Obama shows that it still finds and filters true leadership. Need more sincere leadership, thats it. It should stop people who runs their business through White house like this administration (Carlyl group, Haliburton, Enron, Exxon and Mobil).
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
Frankly I don't know of any American who does not believe that their government has deep flaws. On any given day the government can be very wrong. But on balance, most Americans believe that the system is self correcting and balanced over time. Obviously slavery was wrong, the lack of civil rights for minorities was wrong. Over time the wrongs get corrected and the country moves forward.
And, to the guy who called me an "old fogey"; shut up, I resemble that remark!( however, I am 50 years old, and can still bench press 300 lbs, can you?)
OG, there lies the difference between the observation of yours and mine.
I dont believe these civil rights to be 100% same for the black as well as for the red, yellow as they are for the white. There are still cases of racials discrimination. Some claimed about some rigging in afro-american regions in previous elections. Has their been some independent inquiry dont besides that the Bush administration denied such claims?
Turning gangster rap into main stream rap doesnt solve the issue. The average afro-american is still suffering coz of his race. And dont let us forget the afro-american is just one of many who feel troubled.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
AliR,
We may be in more agreement than you think about the situation in the US for Blacks. Undoubtedly we have a very unequal education system, and incidence of crime. We have a lot more children out of wedlock, and a heavy murder and drug use rate. I am unsure how to assign blame or responsibility for this however. When a Black man fathers a child and then disappears, there is not much society can do to raise the child right. On the other hand, there are certainly biases and prejudice that work against the Black Man. I do not really believe the squalking about voting irregularities, however. There are enough groups around like the ACLU who would carry the calim forward if there was really adequate proof.
Undoubtedly Blacks have not achieved a coequal level with Whites, but apportioning blame is very difficult.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
US GDP in Billions of Current Dollars
Q4 1997 8,471
Q4 2007 14,080
What do you mean value? The statistics are valued in **current dollars **to eliminate inflationary effects. If you want to compute value in rubles, or euros or Pesos, or some form of social or cultural value, please feel free.
Re: leaders background sicussion- split from primary watch thread
What do you mean value? The statistics are valued in **current dollars **to eliminate inflationary effects. If you want to compute value in rubles, or euros or Pesos, or some form of social or cultural value, please feel free.
