Post Elections for November 2014.

[Mr_Hi_n_Mitey]

Hello Folks:

Main question: What do each of you have to say about the Elections of November 2014 here in the USA? As for me - without mentioning exactly who I voted for - I am not happy with any of the results. Nowadays, there's nothing but endless partisan bickering whilest nothing really seems to get done. On the average, at least in my voting district, there was hardly anyone at the voting booths; except for during lunchtime (12:00 pm to 2:00 pm) where there was a steady crowd. Otherwise, I voted around 2:45 pm, and the entire process - from entering the building to exiting the building - took me less than five minutes. There is so much Public Apathy (and even Ignorance) in regards to Politics nowadays, that hardly no one seems interested in our Government(s) anymore - unless we're holding the Presidential Elections; that's a different story then. Yet so many people - among them most of my coworkers - get easily FIRED UP when it comes to discussing which football/basketball team will when the next game; it's gotten so bad that there even been shootings and fights stemming from these sports debates. (Incredible! ) When I ask the average Citizen about whether or not he voted, I get something like, "Why? Them people up there in D.C. ain't gonna do nothing for me no how, so what's the point?" Furthermore, many of my coworkers didn't even know that there were elections being held in Virginia and in other states earlier this week. Oh well. Also, for those of you who live over in the UK (United Kingdom), how many of you participated in those elections concerning the independence of Northern Ireland? Did your vote succeed? What is going on in Spain; I heard that there is a certain region that is trying to secede. If this is true, then what is the full story? (Hey, I believe that voting is not just a right and/or privilege - but it's also a civic duty for all legal citizens of any given country! Amen!)

Otherwise, my job situation is so-so. We just had a Second Round of massive layoffs the other week, and I myself was pretty much near the Chopping Block. You see, Corporate wants to replace the current production employees (including myself eventually) with industrial robots for obvious reasons - or least bring in migrant workers from another country because of their cheap labor. (I don't want to make too much of a political issue out of this.) How's y'all's job situations holding out? At this plant that produces margarine, the supervisor that I work under is very mean, and many of the other employees argue, fight and/or just gossip about folk all of the time - especially the women. (Ghetto employees and drama queens with that Hood Mentality!) I know that a few production employees are cool with Corporate and Management, regardless of what they do - so I won't mess with them because they will snitch on the other employees real easily. (The plant is almost run like a plantation!) Anyway, I am making preparations to leave just in case that Evil Grim Reaper of Job Layoffs (Corporate/Management) is ready to give me the Scythe or the Axe ...

As a "student" of Archaic Symbology, I just want to ask 1 more thing. What do each of you have to say about this sign: Now I know that it probably is not a big deal to most of you, but I was intrigued as I saw it on the side of a tractor trailer as it went by. Perhaps the Corporate Heads of MacLane Distributors might, in some way, have some connections to the Freemasonry and/or Illuminati; you never know. Also, check out this symbol for VCU : Doesn't it remind (some of) you of those forbidden herbs? Oh well; what do the rest of you think? (By the way, MacLane Distributors is NOT the company that I am currently working for, nor am I currently attending VCU.)

Mr_Hi_n_Mitey

[inflatable dalek]

You know, I'm so used to automatically deleting a certain sort of thread as soon as I see it I had to do a double take when I saw this was from our number one Officially Not A Mildly Rubbish Spam Bot Honest poster.

[inflatable dalek]

Though as a non snarky response...


The thing that surprises me as an outsider about American politics is how many of the people of that great nation react violently and loudly against any suggestion from their leaders that they might want to do something nice for the electorate. "Free healthcare... **** that bitch!"

[Unicron]

Though as a non snarky response...


The thing that surprises me as an outsider about American politics is how many of the people of that great nation react violently and loudly against any suggestion from their leaders that they might want to do something nice for the electorate. "Free healthcare... **** that bitch!"

It comes from a certain segment of population that thinks the Government is incompetent at best, or outright evil and out to get them at worst. Tie that in with a certain amount of probable racism (a lot don't want those 'other people' getting another government hand out) and it's quite a frustrating thing to see. It astounds me how so many can vote against their own interests just to spite some other group.

There's also just a high level of idiocy, or at least a lot of un/ill-informed going on. You'll see people with signs that read, or they'll actually say, "Keep your government hands off my Medicare!". And they'll say that completely seriously, not realizing that Medicare is a government program.

[Notabot]

The thing that surprises me as an outsider about American politics is how many of the people of that great nation react violently and loudly against any suggestion from their leaders that they might want to do something nice for the electorate. "Free healthcare... **** that bitch!"

Free health care? Ha! The problem that people have with the socialism that's being pushed through is that it claims to be free but clearly isn't. It punishes those who actually work, and encourages people to not improve their position in life.

In addition, for all the claims of equality and everyone having the same chances, it establishes a clear two class system: Those in the government who know what to do, and those not in the government who are deemed unable to handle themselves. "Give us all your money, because we know how to spend it better than you ever could."

Yes, there are a lot of ill-informed, knee jerk reactions on the right, but there's plenty of that on the left too.

[Denyer]

It punishes those who actually work, and encourages people to not improve their position in life.

Basic healthcare has a massive impact on the entire population. With anything contagious, staff who can't afford time off infect larger numbers. Early intervention is less likely to happen, so things become serious before being dealt with. Insurance is predicated around cutting off support to more serious ongoing conditions, with bankruptcy and financial difficulty being common. Plus fear adds to stress and ill-health.

The thing that amazes is that a large part of the US population identifies as Christian, often simultaneously with a Victorian concept of poverty that suggests most people can work their way out of a hole and poverty/illness/etc. are moral failings.

Once in a hole, those less well off end up paying more for services/goods/transport, with poorer diet and health, situations where one piece of bad luck becomes debt that would take long periods to repay, etc.

And it's highly convenient for anyone in a cosy position to be able to get those further down the ladder to kick at the people below them.

For example, politicians in this country are keen to push benefit cuts with imagery of feckless, work-shy claimants. Most benefits are paid to workers, topping up wages that fall below a liveable threshold -- i.e. corporate bodies are receiving tax payer assistance to set minimal rates of pay. Entirely coincidentally, many of those politicians have interests in those corporate bodies.

Has anyone actually read the mono-paragraph in the first post?

[Blackjack]

Hail Hydra!

[inflatable dalek]

Has anyone actually read the mono-paragraph in the first post?

Basically they hate how Americans don't care about elections.


Except when they do care about the Presidential elections.

[Cyberstrike nTo]

Basically they hate how Americans don't care about elections.


Except when they do care about the Presidential elections.

That is probably sadly true for the Liberals/Progressive/Democrats when comes to the mid-terms. Although several liberal ballot issues won in several red states most of them were too legalize pot and too raise the minimum wage.

If I had the money I would seriously think about moving to another country. The USA is a falling empire and I don't think it can be restored or at least in my lifetime.

[electro girl]

That was a wild ride from start to finish.

[Heinrad]

Speaking for myself, I work a full time job, and if it wasn't for 'Obamacare', I wouldn't be able to afford my medication. Hell, I couldn't survive on what I make if I hadn't stumbled across somebody who had a spare room. And I make over minimum wage.

But for the part of the country I live in, I'm making about $5 an hour under the livable wage level.

That being said, even before the recession hit, this part of the country wasn't exactly thriving economically. Yes, Vermont has lots of beautiful scenery, but when the going gets tough, you can't live off of scenery.

Now, the big cry that comes when the "Raise the minimum wage!" campaign kicks into a higher gear is one that makes sense. The problem that comes up is that prices would need to go up for the smaller local businesses to stay in business. And the larger ones would follow suit to keep their profits up. So while your wage goes up, your cost of living goes up more.

And all the politicians care about is staying in office. Or they'll lie through their teeth to get into office. Will they actually change anything? They might try, but aside from the Tea Party and their poo flinging members, nothing will change very much.

[Shrapnel Clone]

Electrons?! Count me in!!

[Knightdramon]

Probably disregarded this as spam on my first take...

Elections and their perception vary wildly depending on which part of the world you are in, and what economic state your country and yourself are in.

Regarding health systems, I'm a supporter of the current UK health system. There's reasonable tax and payment to the health system, and in return, no matter what happens in your life, money wise, you've got your basic health needs covered. Yes, it means that a percentage of the population gets to just go by without having to work for some "privileges", but it works both ways. The actual benefits system is a whole different story though.

A decent way to characterize elections in general is to draw a comparison with this fandom and new hasbro toy reveals---everybody WOWS at the new figures [even the people that swore never to buy them again], they rush out to overpay and buy them, and once the newness wears off, you see that you paid money for something that's a piece of crap.

This just enforces the rise of right wing fanatics and right wing parties all across Europe at this point; people in an economic crisis are looking for the easy way out of guilt, thinking that blaming the outsider for -your- crisis is the right way, blissfully ignoring that at their core, right wing supports the rich and the upper class instead of the actual working class they entice for votes.

I've seen it happen first hand in Greece the past 5 years--a right wing party just came in and by bullying and threatening other politicians, they almost rose to power before they were left in a prominent position for a while, and people actually saw that they were bullies and thugs given political asylum, and now they're just fading to obscurity.

Thankfully the British political system seems to fight off this level of BS and the corresponding party/ies are being mocked instead of taken seriously. Then again, immigration conditions and terms are vastly different within a country using the most common language.

Lastly, going back to the medical issue, I'm closing this with this little comedy based on actual events--

When I came to the UK, jobless, I had health coverage because I was an EU national regardless. Having a job and paying for my taxes, pension etc, I have more or less the same health coverage, but I'm still not a British citizen. Yet, if something happened to me while I was in Greece for holidays and I needed medical attention, I'd have no health insurance or claims in the country that I'm a national of.

Crazy EU stuff, right?

[Mr_Hi_n_Mitey]

That is probably sadly true for the Liberals/Progressive/Democrats when comes to the mid-terms. Although several liberal ballot issues won in several red states most of them were too legalize pot and too raise the minimum wage.

If I had the money I would seriously think about moving to another country. The USA is a falling empire and I don't think it can be restored or at least in my lifetime.

True, I myself do disagree with this Obamacare Thing, but I do not believe that the USA will fall anytime soon.

[Cyberstrike nTo]

True, I myself do disagree with this Obamacare Thing, but I do not believe that the USA will fall anytime soon.

I think America we've already fallen and most Americans are either to scared, stupid, proud or any combination to admit it. The fall of the USA will be like the fall of the Roman Empire slow and painful.

I think Obamacare is a good first step but we NEED Medicare for all would be much better than another big blow job to big insurance companies. Honestly I've been on social security for most of my life and the number of times I've been screwed over by the federal government is none. I've been screwed over by the state of Indiana (which I've in my whole life) and big business more times than I can count. So I have no love for the outdated notion of "state's rights" and less love for the so-called "free market" economy which tends to reward failures and corruption and punishes success and honesty and has done more damage to the world in large than anything short of the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs has done.

Short of a damn miracle to get the amentdent to get the money out of politics (yeah I know about and support http://www.wolf-pac.com) but by the time that does happen, IF happens at all, I think it'll be too late to save the USA.