BS: Politics and Depression

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 10:07 AM

At present I see little difference between the US and Canada. Mexico has been a drug deal gone bad for decades. Electorates are not as aware as they used to be, or at least it doesn't seem so.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Greg F.
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:59 AM

In the U.S, the Reublican cuts to education funding of the last 30 years are bearing fruit. We've now raised up several generations of uneducated, ignorant idiots.

Suggest y'all read: Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free by Charles P. Pierce.

Then too, there's the "Citizens United" decision......

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:51 AM

There is more than one country in "North America", and they have quite different systems of government. It is confusing to lump all of these countries together as North America as if they were all the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:18 AM

The AV voting system would likely fail in North America. First, I doubt there is even five percent of the population that digs deep enough to know the candidates. Second, it would require computers to do the tabulations, and there--there be dragons. Third, we need parties that aren't foisting shit on the electorate.

I've reached the conclusion that the only fair way to decide on a ruler is by a duel to the death with axes between the contenders only, no proxies. It would be a nice followup to the law and economic degrees.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 09:15 AM

If you were to print a thousand copies of a screed and spend the day passing them out on street corners, 995 of them would wind up in waste bins unread. If you were to publish that same screed on a blog, a thousand people would read it and 995 of them would agree with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: DMcG
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:52 AM

Oddly enough, we seem to have got to close where the AV voting system would have taken us according to its detractors, but with just its problems not its advantages.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Stanron
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:32 AM

I don't get it. What is there about politics that could possibly make anyone depressed?

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 08:24 AM

Over here in The UK, it will be once again impossible for a party to form a majority government at this year's election because people are less inclined to be taken in by empty promises ... Interesting times...

Quite so, as far as interesting times is concerned. I'm not *quite* so sure about the empty promises bit: I'm certain people have always been suspicious of that. I think what has happened is that while we have been a two and a bit party system for a long time, with tribal loyalty a big player, the big three from last time have all grown so similar and are held in such low regard that we are now entering a seven-or-so party system, and no-one has any idea how that will play out. In particular, the 'vote-for-who-you-dislike-least' group has probably almost disappeared, changing into a vote for one of the other parties.

My guess? There is a fair chance that no two parties will be big enough to form a majority [unless we had a Lab-Cons pact], and that it will take three or more to do it. However, to treat my guess with the contempt it deserves, I had expected there to be a substantial swing to LibDem last time, whereas it was near enough unchanged from the previous election.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 07:49 AM

Manners are different on the internet, just as they are on the tar-and-concrete superhighway.

People who are normally polite and considerate turn into violent psychopaths behind the wheel of a car moving at 70 miles per hour. At least that's true in the East coast of the US; though apparently not, or at least less so, in some places I've been, such as Seattle.

Similarly, people will say things online that they would never say in person, if only because they don't want to risk being punched, stabbed, or shot in response. I don't know if this case has regional variations.

Subject: RE: BS: Politics and Depression
From: Musket
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 03:35 AM

I don't think there are any more nasty people around, in fact I see less prejudice and bigotry as time passes.

But I am aware that communications and media has transformed causes and opinion making in a big big way. So nasty people getting the oxygen of publicity? More oxygen and more publicity. Oh and in this soundbite age, quicker delivery from mouth to unsuspecting public.

The influence of malign intent is deeper but I remain convinced that people are seeing through it more at the same time. Over here in The UK, it will be once again impossible for a party to form a majority government at this year's election because people are less inclined to be taken in by empty promises and the art of slagging off the other lot is increasingly back firing.

Interesting times...

Subject: RE: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 10:22 PM

Re-read my post. I guess there are worse things in the world than respect for one's fellow man. Still, it might be in the top 10.

Subject: RE: Politics and Depression
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 09:25 PM

I've decided there are a lot more nasty people in the world than I ever thought. It is almost unbelievable. The antidote? I have no idea.

Subject: RE: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 09:22 PM

Sorry. Should've posted this in the b.s. section.

Subject: Politics and Depression
From: Elmore
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 08:53 PM

Okay, I'm a liberal Democrat. I've followed politics closely for decades. April 2 will be my 74th birthday. In the (anti) social media people are ridiculing one another like kids in a school yard. Worst of all, politicians, voters, non-voters, and a host of ill-informed sheep take every opportunity to insult the President, his family, and his ancestors. I've never seen anything like it. Gives me the blues. Any Hope?