Comments on Crunchy Chicken: My country, 'tis of thee

You said it - this is a great post.

2008-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

You said it - this is a great post.

I think a lot of the apathy arises from the fact t...

2008-07-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

I think a lot of the apathy arises from the fact that we essentially have a two-party system, which leaves few progressive people, who hope for a radical change in the way we view and treat our fellow human beings, with little hope for any real progress. Since each party is heavily ensnared in big business and the power games of political elites. Now, participating in one's local elections definitely makes sense.

There are lots and lots of self-righteous people. ...

2008-07-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

There are lots and lots of self-righteous people. Haha

I've been meaning to blog about this, maybe today,...

2008-07-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to blog about this, maybe today, but I've recently been inspired by ants. They all take random paths wandering around their neighborhoods. One day, one of them finds a good path. Since they have been leaving a pheromone trail, another ant may happen along and wonder what happens if they follow along. The pheromones are doubled. Eventually if enough ants decide this "good" path is worth traveling, the entire colony will be taking the same route. All it takes is someone like you, wandering around and sharing your path. Others will follow, we will reach critical mass and the entire civilization will be following the same path together.

No need to apologize to many of us. I don't like b...

2008-07-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

No need to apologize to many of us. I don't like bullies either and that is exactly what the US is and always has been-remember those pesky Indians, Mexicans etc? Of course some will see this as "in your face racism". I never knew we were a seperate race but oh well.

As a country I think the USA sucks and have though...

2008-07-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

As a country I think the USA sucks and have thought so ever since the anzus thing when we went (by popular vote) anti nuclear and were bullied for years about it. I don't like bullies much. I also don't like the fact that WE have to suffer your politics and yet we have absolutely no say in your voting system. The whole UN thing was set up to prevent just that sort of situation but the USA is running roughshod over anyone who might have a different opinion. Its almost as if the rest of the world either doesn't exist, or if it does, is so inferior that it counts for nothing except maybe the odd handout. With strings attached! A lot of us out here are feeling ripped off, sore and manipulated.

Ummm sorry about the rant and it doesn't apply to all of you either :) But you asked!

Boy am I glad we have almost-compulsary voting in ...

2008-07-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

Boy am I glad we have almost-compulsary voting in Australia (it's compulsary to turn up to a polling place and have your name ticked off the roll, it's not actually compulsary to fill out the ballot paper, although about 97% of people do once they've turned up). It's a lot harder to disenfranchise whole groups of people when the government KNOWS they're going to turn up and vote.

Psh. Why on earth would I vote between bad and wo...

2008-07-04T22:26:00.000-07:00

Psh. Why on earth would I vote between bad and worse? McCain sucks; Obama sucks. I'll be damned if I'm going to vote for either of them. When someone WORTHY of the presidency actually comes along, then I'll vote. Otherwise, what's the point? Neither of them is going to steer this country in the direction I believe it needs to take. One's a waffler, and one's a manipulator.

I know the issues, I know the candidates, and I can safely say that neither one of them deserves the job, so I'm not going to help either one of them get it.

I'm a vegetarian, kt, you can keep your bone. And...

2008-07-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

I'm a vegetarian, kt, you can keep your bone. And your bones of contention.

I have lived abroad - 3 different countries during...

2008-07-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

I have lived abroad - 3 different countries during the Clinton era, long enough in the UK to acquire dual citizenship. America wasn't popular then in much the same way as it's not popular now. No one really cared much about the world's opinion until we went into Iraq - honestly, you could mark it to the day.

I moved back here because it really is the land of opportunity. Plus, I was getting tired of the in-your-face racism (call it anti-Americanism if you want, but that's what it is). Instead of using our social or economic status as an excuse to not succeed, as a people we just roll up our sleeves and do it anyway. Call it a contemporary manifestation of our historical rebelliousness :) As such, we attract the brains and the innovators that played major roles in establishing us as a superpower (Oppenheimer, anyone?). Would Scottish-born Alexander Graham Bell have invented the telephone (FYI he knocked it up in his Massachussetts lab, but I'll throw Ms. T a bone - he did first use it in Canada) within the oppressive class systems that stunted talent in the Olde Worlde at that time? Now, what if the internet had been invented in Europe instead of MIT...

I love the irony in Canadians laughing at us when we make things like decent socialized medicine feasible for them - amazing what public funds can accomplish when defense spending is at "token" levels (a quarter of American spending, per capita) because someone else, ahem, has their back. So I beg to differ with who the underappreciated party is in North America. However, I do feel bad for them, though, when they travel in other countries covered in maple leaf flag badges and are asked "are you American".

I love Canada. Of course, living so close to the b...

2008-07-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

I love Canada. Of course, living so close to the border makes me feel like an honorary citizen. Well, without the benefits.

Anyway, I think Canada is sorely underappreciated by many Americans. Canada ends up being pushed around and/or goaded by the U.S. and mostly just has to grin and bear it. I can't imagine what kind of mixed emotions Canadians have about their "big" brother to the south.

I have a great pride for what my country stands for, but also a deep appreciation for others and where they are coming from. The only way to build successful relationships is to understand the other's perspective.

I'd like to hear the perspective from other non-Americans, or those who live abroad about how America is thought of...

kt - glad you got a laugh at our expense, I've had...

2008-07-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

kt - glad you got a laugh at our expense, I've had lots at yours, so I guess it's only fair. But maybe put down that telephone eh? And hope you or your family don't need any insulin any time soon.

You guys can monopolize the blog comments section ...

2008-07-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

You guys can monopolize the blog comments section all you like, just as long as people keep it polite. That's why I bring these things up - so you can discuss stuff. Even if it does run slightly off-topic.

So, go at it!

I am proud of the country I live in. I am just not...

2008-07-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

I am proud of the country I live in. I am just not very proud of those who are running it. Our political system has ALOT of flaws and there are an awful lot of people who just don't seem to give a damn about much other then themselves. That being said there are still alot of us who do care, take their vote and their position in humanity seriously, and hope to teach our children to do the same.

Ah, multi-party I can get behind! Representationa...

2008-07-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ah, multi-party I can get behind! Representational voting would be EXCELLENT. We really only have one party, with two right wings and both wings in thral to big money.

KT-pretty snarky aren't you? Canada at least has the sense to make sure all her citizens have health care. And if it weren't in our best interests, we'd sell Canada down the river in a heartbeat, especially if there was a buck to be made.

Finally, love ya Crunchy, yer the best!

With all due respect to Crunchy (this is her blog,...

2008-07-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

With all due respect to Crunchy (this is her blog, and this is getting off topic), Equa Yona, the answer is no, I don't favor a one party system. I favor a no party system, and I question why there has to be parties at all, why we have to have voting along "party lines", and why our Federal Government has to be so divided on issues that really do affect our lives - like the President insisting that we need to drill in ANWR, and because the "Democrat" Congress says no, the "Democrats" are to blame for the energy crisis.

Ha! The "energy crisis" is nothing new and has been brewing since ... well, since before many of those reading here were even born.

That's all. I just don't think that having two sides is all there should be, and it would be better if it were a circle - no sides, no parties - everyone has a right to vote *period*.

If you want to continue this, we should do so privately as to not monopolize Crunchy's space :).

So...Canada, a world power? Thanks for the deep be...

2008-07-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

So...Canada, a world power? Thanks for the deep belly laugh!

Canada is not in debt because y'all know your big neighbor to the south won't let anything bad happen to you, so no need to blow the budget on defense and technology. But hey, I'm all for giving credit where credit is due, so thanks for the zamboni, round bacon, and the venerable Pamela Anderson.

As for world aid - I'm glad my government doesn't give away more money than it already does. Having said that, I understand we're consistently amongst the top five for private citizen contributions, which I think is (a) more in line with our free market system, and (b) speaks greater volumes about our national character than does our ability to elect a president we can be proud of.

Woot. And holla. And all the rest, girl.

2008-07-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Woot. And holla. And all the rest, girl.

Oh, one last thing. Again, to Texan Mama, Canada d...

2008-07-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Oh, one last thing. Again, to Texan Mama, Canada does A LOT better than we do when it comes to world aid. CUBA does better than we do when it comes to worldwide medical aid. And, honestly, I would rather not take credit for most of the military aid we give. In Israel and Palestine, for example, I think we're just making things worse.

A couple of points I want to take on here.

2008-07-04T11:25:00.000-07:00
A couple of points I want to take on here.

Get rid of the two-party system? Yes. Definitely. Not in favor of one party, but in favor of many. Most other democracies (at least, those I am familiar with) have many political parties. In such a system, perhaps we might manage to have a party that is both anti-war and anti-abortion. Wowsers.

And, yes, I think Congress gets off easy insofar as being held accountable. From what I've heard the main reason the renewable energy tax credit are in danger is because the Democrats and Republicans in Congress can't agree on what other crap to stuff into the bill. That's simply ridiculous.

And last of all, to Texan Mama: abortion is an important issue to me, too. But I think we as voters need to look at our pet issues as part of the larger picture. Meaning George W. may say he's anti-abortion, but has he done anything to reduce the number of abortions performed in this country? Not a bit. I'd rather vote for a war-monger who is going to pay attention and be accountable for the ensuing carnage THAN for a peace-lover who will bury his head in the sand and let the rest of Congress decide on our path.

A bit convoluted there, but I think you get the point. It doesn't matter how much you agree with a politician if he won't act on his beliefs.

First of all, people need to take responsibility f...

2008-07-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

First of all, people need to take responsibility for their vote. By that I mean, 1) Do your research 2) Vote 3) Learn From Your Vote.

Of course no one knew exactly what would happen if Bush got elected again. But if you did your research then you had a pretty good idea and if you didn't do your research then hopefully you will have learned something and will apply it to your voting techniques in the future.

Not taking responsibility in this case is understandable - Bush can't/won't take responsibility so why should anyone else?

NormalMiddle - what did Bush promise to do that he didn't do?

When the White House lies to Congress, the Senate, the people - who then is responsible?

When the White House carefully orchestrates devastating personal attacks on those who dare disagree - who then is responsible?

When the White House creates a climate of fear based on personal goals not reality - who then is responsible?

When the White House threatens people's jobs if they speak the truth - who then is responsible?

Texan Mama, I'm sorry but a lot of Canadians don't...

2008-07-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Texan Mama, I'm sorry but a lot of Canadians don't see America as a world leader in a lot of ways. We don't need help with our deficit, our country runs with a surplus. And we don't start any wars, period, so we don't need the US to help us fight any. I think we're helping you in this one, actually, and taking a casualty rate that is very high in relation to our population.

Hi. First off, I voted for Bush and WTF I was thin...

2008-07-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hi. First off, I voted for Bush and WTF I was thinking was that he holds some ideas very seriously which I agree with. Not all his ideas, but some. For me the issue was abortion. You will never find a candidate that agrees with you 100% on all your views, so you have to pick the one topic most important to YOU and go with that candidate. Or the other option is not to vote for anyone. The NOT VOTE is a vote. Oh, by the way Rob, I'm not a moron, thank you. Simply because I disagree with you doesn't make me a moron and more than you disagreeing with me makes you a moron.

Second off, I agree that voting is apathetic, but the right to vote or not vote is part of our right to freedom. I personally believe that Americans are encouraged to push the envelope when deciding about their own personal freedom. The desire to be a citizen who serves the betterment of our community and country is fast fading. It may be coming back in some areas, but I seriously doubt that Americans will, anytime soon, set aside their personal comforts to help the world at large. Here in lies the oil crisis, energy crisis, etc. etc.

Oh, and finally, I think the rest of the world does view America as a country that is a leader. Who is the #1 place a country turns to in order to get assistance in fighting their wars? Or funding their defecits? Do we or don't we help earthquake victims in China and typhoon vicims in Thailand? And aren't we even putting ourselves in financial straits with the price of oil because our own government won't allow drilling around the coasts of our own country - all to protect our own wildlife? If that's not something to admire - protecting your own wildlife at the expense of your own citizens economic welfare - then I don't know what could be.

I live in America, but I have to take it warts and all. I don't love every part of it; it's not perfect. But neither am I.

Wendy, when you say get rid of the two party syste...

2008-07-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Wendy, when you say get rid of the two party system are you proposing that we have only ONE political party? As in the Soviet Union, Communist China, Cuba, Fascist Spain, Italy et al? Are you thinking this through? We don't have MUCH choice now, you would eliminate ALL choice? I find this a most peculiar proposition.

Oh, to those who voted for the current emperor more than once, as Himself once said, "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

Thanks, Crunchy, for a very thoughtful and thought...

2008-07-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Crunchy, for a very thoughtful and thought-provoking (maybe action-provoking?) post.