Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Feb 8, 2008 21:10:15 GMT -5
I'm not sure what to think about that, to be completely honest, Strange - but I can say that I agree with what Kiri said. So she "owes the opportunity of Presidency to generations of women," does she? Sounds to me like she's asking for votes purely on merit of her gender. Sorry, but that's not how votes should be decided. I'd vote for a half-human hermaphrodite if the person showed the qualities and abilities necessary for the Presidency.
I will go out and say it: I'm anti-abortion, pro 2nd Amendment rights. Abortion is murder in my eyes, and I firmly believe the "right to keep and bear arms" refers to an individual's right to (RESPONSIBLY) keep firearms. I in no way condone the abuse of that right, and I will go along with measures taken to keep everyone involved safe - like obtaining a license to use or own a firearm, waiting periods, etc - but that right is Constitutional, and it's not gonna be a pretty picture if the President tries to take that away.
Anyways, there's my outlook on that. That's just my opinion, of course. But I'm sure you can all see why Hillary's not too popular around here, judging from the kinds of posting that's been going on. XD
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Post by Sorien on Feb 9, 2008 0:14:19 GMT -5
Hmm. See, lots of this stuff we don't hear, and that, in some ways has actually opened my eyes a little about some of the policies of some of the candidates. All I seem to (or prior to this, should I say) hear is: I like this person, but I dislike this. No reasons. Now, however, I'm beginning to see what people are talking about. Everyone has their own opinions about things, and (I have quite a few extremist views actually about things, which is why I keep them to myself most of the time) it's interesting to hear who is campaining for what.
Maz: I don't support Bush for a few reasons, I can't remember which veto it was, but there was something he vetoed a while ago which I disagreed with, there is of course the war, the speech blunders, and a few other decisions he voted against (I'll talk to you about this if you want, when I see you next XD) which, admittedly was his own decision and could have well gone with his policies of previous election campains, but I still think it was the wrong one to make. This is why I would like to see him out of office. Not because I'm voting with the mob.
Weezie: I have met some election fanatisists here in NZ, but what I mean is, we don't go as far (or at least, what I see) of T-shirts. I don't think I've ever seen a " <3 John Key" or "Clark for PM" T-shirt XD
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Post by Weezieishness on Feb 9, 2008 2:32:59 GMT -5
Sorien: Actually I have seen T-shirts, more for a political party in general than a specific candidate. But that's because NZ politics is run differently, and we don't get to choose which candidates lead the parties.
Hmm, interesting to hear everyone's views. It's difficult for me to comment on some of the stuff you guys have said, just because I disagree strongly with quite a few things, yet I don't particularly wish to start a debate on these issues like abortion and gun control. And as for spending, it really depends what specifically Hillary plans to spend a lot on. I come from a strongly socialist family, and so I've been brought up to believe that the government should spend as much as possible on important things like health and education, even if it means high taxes.
Definitely, poorer people who 'have to choose between tax and eating' shouldn't be taxed more, but in the US, from what I've gathered, the gap between rich and poor is astronomically huge, and the people at the richer end of the spectrum, in my opinion, can afford to be taxed a lot more than they currently are, to provide government services that the whole country can benefit from.
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Feb 9, 2008 11:59:40 GMT -5
A lot of the problem is, in my opinion, the fact that people are expecting the federal government to do too much. Constitutionally, every American citizen has two main governments responsible to him or her: state and national governments (I won't count county, city, and other local governments for the purpose of this example, since I'm speaking constitutionally here). While some social programs and other services - like the postal service, for example - are spelled out as under direct control of the National government, the tier that is actually responsible for any social programs is that of the State government. I can testify to this, as I have a relative who's had to jump through all the hoops to get some financial assistance due to a disabling injury. Every single program he dealt with was run at the State, or even the County, level.
Sure, every now and then we truly need Federal intervention. But, thanks to wide interpretation of what's called the "Necessary and Proper Clause" (basically a clause in the Constitution saying that Congress has the power to pass bills deemed "necessary and proper" in order to fulfill their specifically listed Constitutional powers and responsibilities), we're seeing a lot more of these kinds of programs on the National level.
And while I understand that sometimes Federal regulation, intervention, etc is necessary, I believe we can cut down on a lot of Federal big spending by letting the States deal with social programs and welfare (since the State governments have much more power to directly relate to the needs of their residents on a much more specific and personalized level anyways), and letting the Federal government do its job by focusing on the bigger picture that encompasses the Nation as a whole - and other countries as well. That's my opinion, and of course anyone who wants to is free to disagree with me, but that's one reason I'm not likely to vote for a candidate who wants to spend Federal dollars doing everything for every citizen and legal resident, when that's not the job of the Federal government in the first place.
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Post by SeraphMazrakiel on Feb 9, 2008 16:28:16 GMT -5
NZers: I remember seeing one guy on the plane home from America wearing a John McCain t-shirt and similarly thinking "Dude, no-one'd ever do that at home." I don't think I'd ever come across anyone wearing a National or Labour t-shirt. Ever. Haha.
In regards to Hillary... yes, I think that was it; her lust for power. There's nothing wrong with ambition... but basing your ambitions on "being the first woman president" instead of "bettering the country" sends my vote in direction. I'm all for women in power: I live in New Zealand! XD... but... just not her. And given Kiri's and K-chan's enlightenment on her policies, I'd run in the opposite direction if she came screamig after me for my vote. XD
I'd say, vote my sister for president. Kill all the birds with one stone. She can be the first non-Caucasian, woman president. In fact, she could break even newer ground... FIRST NON-AMERICAN TO BECOME PRESIDENT. ALL UR BASE ARE BELONG TO NEW ZEALAND.
HA HA HA !!.
I'd have to side with the Ishness (XD) and say that, in line with most people... TAXES ARE OKAY... if spent on the correct things. There are reasons for each of the decisions the government makes. It just... a lot of their decisions never seem to be effective enough to make a difference on the national level.
Then again, maybe the government's spending DOES affect the whole nation.... in ways we never see.
You know, it's quite difficult to compare New Zealand politics to American politics. Mainly because of the size difference, really -- in comparison, New Zealand would qualify perhaps as a single state. A lot of our priorities are different because we're so small. The United States, on the other hand... has over 200 million people (possibly over 300 million) to worry about. And while a lot of our priorities are the same to what Americans would want to see -- health care, education, a strong economy -- it just seems so much more difficult a solution in the States.
...My vote still goes to those muffins!
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Feb 9, 2008 20:44:47 GMT -5
And that's one reason I think it's best to leave Social programs and the like to the individual States here in America: the States can know better what their residents need, what sort of work is required to get things done. Different states have different needs, and it'd be impossible to come up with programs on a National level than can get everything done. I don't disagree with Federal social programs because I think we shouldn't have social programs. I disagree with them because for a country like America to have such things on the Federal level really doesn't make any sense. As for Education, well, while Federal intervention may end up having good consequences in the end, we Americans have NOT had the best of experiences with such a thing. The biggest example I can think of of Federal government messing around with that has had catastrophic consequences. I can sum it up in four words, and anyone who's seen the state of public education in the United States will probably run screaming for the hills: No Child Left Behind. By the way, Maz, constitutionally your sister couldn't become President unless she were a citizen, and even then we'd have to amend our Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to the position. So you'll have to stick with your muffins for now.
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Post by Kiri on Feb 9, 2008 23:00:36 GMT -5
If I had the opportunity to reform education, here is what I would do.
Rather than making parents send their kids to school based on the school district they live in, I would have the government grant each child their alotted school money and allow their parents to choose what they deemed the best place to have their child educated. This would introduce competition into the education arena, forcing schools to improve their curriculum if they didn't want to get shut down. Just giving the money straight to the schools doesn't give them any incentive to do anything at all.
And this fact is quite obvious, 'cause honestly, the public school system in the US is a complete joke. If something isn't done about it soon... I don't know.
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Post by Weezieishness on Feb 10, 2008 2:14:50 GMT -5
Muffins for president!!
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Post by Kiri on Feb 12, 2008 2:29:28 GMT -5
Lol. I saw an article on Yahoo that really ticked me off. Essentially, it said something like, "Public is more interested in finding out about John McCain's wife and daughters than about his policies." How? How is it possible for us to elect an inept official? The American public is so obviously well-informed...
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Feb 15, 2008 17:37:25 GMT -5
I have to agree, having attended public schools all my life...They really do lack something to be desired. I mean, when students can get away with smoking a mini-bong in the back of the class, and a girl who's smoked herself so stupid she can't even keep her head up can graduate...something is VERY wrong there.
Granted, there's a lot of things that need to be fixed in this country. Education, Law enforcement, Social Security, Medical care....the list just goes on...
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Post by Kiri on Feb 16, 2008 6:02:25 GMT -5
Some need to be fixed more than others. I don't think many things are going to improve if we don't equip our children for the future. Just a thought.
Law enforcement is a big one, too.
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strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
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Post by strangevisitor on Feb 17, 2008 7:09:02 GMT -5
That's actually a good point. Fix education, and hopefully things will start to fall into place. Seeing some of the current school-age kids....things aren't looking too good..
I guess the leader of Boston (the musical group) is pissed at Huckabee for using their song "More than a feeling" without their permission. Seems kinda funny to me.
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Post by Kiri on Feb 17, 2008 17:58:28 GMT -5
Awww. That's sad. XD Though why Huckabee was using that song...? THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW. HE HAS MORE THAN A FEELING THAT HE'LL BE PRESIDENT.
Or not.
Someone from that band died this year. T__T
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Post by Rasengan on Jun 10, 2008 21:28:44 GMT -5
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Post by Kiri on Jun 11, 2008 5:47:19 GMT -5
Wow. A little late, isn't it? I mean, if you were going to have him impeached and possibly removed from office, it would have made sense to do so before he's a little over half a year from leaving office anyway.
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