Obama slams Republicans for threat to blow up entire economy

[klr]

And a range of viewpoints from various commentators:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24346960

[Warren Dew]

Who's at home, and who's still working:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24302508

Seems like everything that's really needed is still running.

[Seabass]

Congress approval rating is at an all time low of 10%. And this is before the shutdown.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/ ... -approval/

[JimC]

Congress approval rating is at an all time low of 10%. And this is before the shutdown.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/ ... -approval/

Is this a generalised dislike of politicians?

If so, very similar in Oz. Cynicism and contempt for politicians is at an all time high. Given the behaviour of our pollies in recent years, that is not surprising at all...

[klr]

Is there any country where politicians as a body are liked?

[JimC]

Is there any country where politicians as a body are liked?

In Oz, they used to be at least tolerated. They are regarded much more negatively these days...

[klr]

Is there any country where politicians as a body are liked?

In Oz, they used to be at least tolerated. They are regarded much more negatively these days...

I'd say that's true of most countries.

There was a piece on BBC Newsnight earlier this evening about how the number of paid-up members of major political parties in the UK has fallen drastically over the past few years. It seems fewer and fewer people are long-time supporters of/activists for political parties.

[pErvinalia]

This thread exemplifies why our current system is not fit for purpose. No one willing to accept that both sides are filled with and supported bunch of fucking pricks who care about democracy as much as I care about the economic system of the Fairy Folk.

Apes waggling their dicks and calling it "reason".

Comedy gold.

Er, this ain't a democracy Skippy. Never was. Hopefully never will be.

Yes Flipper, I'm not talking about Rationalia but the democratic political system, i.e letting any twat with an opinion vote. Yes Yes I'm aware you're a republic blah blah, the point stands.

In common parlance and in modern English usage, the US is a democracy AND a republic. The UK is a democracy, but not a republic. I disagree with Seth on this rather pedantic point. Sure, we're not a "pure" democracy, where the electorate votes on everything, but nothing ever was that. A democracy is, according to most dictionaries, a form of government in which people elect leaders through voting. We do that. Most of Europe does that. A republic is almost the same, because a republic is a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

So, the US is a democracy and a republic.

The point is that what you say the "common parlance" is and what it actually is are two different things. Those who spout "democracy" at every turn don't mean or support a republic bound and guided by a constitution which limits both the power and scope of the government, but also restricts the "democratic" decisions of the collective.

Just like they are all Marxists too, eh?

[Warren Dew]

Congress approval rating is at an all time low of 10%. And this is before the shutdown.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/ ... -approval/

Is this a generalised dislike of politicians?

Approval for one's own congressperson generally runs 30 percentage points higher than for congress in general. It's all those guys that those other idiots elect that are really bad!

[Tero]

I can't say I ever supported but one Senator. Also the governor, more often.

[Collector1337]

Shouldn't give money to panhandlers.

Actually, if I'm going to give charity to anyone, it'll be panhandlers and the like. They are living the American Dream. They idle about all day, drink Thunderbird and ask people to give them money. What ethically and morally distinguishes them from the government, and armed robbers, is that they ASK for money and don't stick a gun in your face if you don't give it to them. They live free, they owe nobody, they take nothing other than what they are freely given, and they pay no taxes.

Beats the shit out of the slum dwellers who use government proxy thugs in jackboots to extract money from people by force to support their lifestyle.

Direct donation to the needy is always the best use of your charity. All charitable organizations do is skim 30 percent or more off the top and then misadminister the rest. When I give, I give directly and 100% of the gift goes to the needy person, with no skimming by government or anyone else.

LOL. You are indeed correct.

I said shouldn't give money to panhandlers because if you worked in social services you'd know they're just going to buy booze, or whatever their drug of choice is.

Where I live, they can go to a shelter and get 3 squares a day if they wanted to.

[Warren Dew]

You know how all those panhandlers always carry signs about how they're veterans, they need to support their children, etc.? The other day, I ran into one carrying a sign saying, "Why lie? I need a drink."

I had to give him a few dollars for his honesty.

[JimC]

There is nothing exceptional about the US form of democracy. People keep on banging on about the word "Republic", as if it has some form of magical power...

All democracies have some form of built-in limitations - it's not a case that elected representatives can just do what they like. Many democratic nations have either an explicit constitution, as in the US, or have legal frameworks and judicial systems which achieve the same thing for all practical purposes.

Modern western democracies involve a complex, interacting network of institutions, within and without the elected government. An independent judiciary and a free press are major players, but all the other permanent institutions have roles to play. That old fashioned term "checks and balances" is the key...

[JimC]

You know how all those panhandlers always carry signs about how they're veterans, they need to support their children, etc.? The other day, I ran into one carrying a sign saying, "Why lie? I need a drink."

I had to give him a few dollars for his honesty.

[Collector1337]

You know how all those panhandlers always carry signs about how they're veterans, they need to support their children, etc.? The other day, I ran into one carrying a sign saying, "Why lie? I need a drink."

I had to give him a few dollars for his honesty.

Not a new strategy.