Castiel233 Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 So it is reported here in the UK that Jeb Bush is considering a run at the White House, while Mrs Clinton is considered to be a shoe in for the democrat ticket.......Wow in a country of over 300 million people, our cousins across the water are being given the possible choice between two families again. Not forgetting of course the US has had two father and son presidents and a grandfather and grandson president and at least two presidents were second cousins. Now I hate to sound like a "Dale Gribble" here, but are these people "elected" by the people or rather "selected" by shadowy figures behind the scenes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenstar Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Quite similar to a Monarchy, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TrueFreedom Posted December 22, 2014 Moderator Share Posted December 22, 2014 It's become an oligarchy: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746 http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9354310 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted December 22, 2014 Super Moderator Share Posted December 22, 2014 Nope, never a democracy, envisioned as a republic from the start. Our system is rotten to the core, but I don't see anything odd about dynasties in high profile professions. We have it in big industry, music, acting and politics. The political parties make the choices independently of voters then offer them up for election. They are afraid to venture far from recognized names for the ballot since newcomers and unknowns traditionally don't do well on election day. The money and power connections tend to stay within the same cliques and families in all the high powered professions. In this case with Bush, Jeb is probably the only white sheep of the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 The USA is a democracy only during the free trail period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castiel233 Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 Personally I prefer a republic to a democracy, what with all the checks on power and inalienable rights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 No, the aliens have rights here, too. They just have to stay in Area 51... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdp Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Well of course we don't have to vote A or B, we could vote C or D or E, if one appeals to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I'm not entirely sure that any country is a democracy. Ancient Athenian style (as I understand it, all citizens can vote on each issue - adjusted for modern sensibilities as to the equality of women and abolition of slavery) would probably be the only thing I would consider to be really democratic. But that is probably impractical in modern times. So, I never thought the U.S. was a democracy. Nor do I consider the U.K. to be such. We are all governed by political elites. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybaris Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Presidents are bought, the SCOTUS has made sure of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blood Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 The US is a democracy only in the sense that the most insignificant public positions like dog catcher or whatever are pretty free to whoever wants to run. The higher up you go, the more influence the position has, the more money gets involved, and it gets less and less 'democratic.' At the Federal level, it is an oligarchy, and has been for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
par4dcourse Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 A democracy only insures that 51% of the population can impose their will on the other 49%. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwc Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 "I don't care who does the election, so long as I get to do the nominating." -- (Attributed to) Boss Tweed mwc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Well of course we don't have to vote A or B, we could vote C or D or E, if one appeals to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
older Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 In my small city, the election for city council was cancelled because no one signed up to challenge the incumbents. They were just re-appointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarflungWanderer Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 It's sad, the way that things have gotten. I wonder if anything will change. I hope it will, but I somewhat doubt it. It'd take something really radical to shake up the status quo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castiel233 Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 So, I never thought the U.S. was a democracy. Nor do I consider the U.K. to be such. We are all governed by political elites. I have it on good authority (The Guardian) that we are governed by Lizards. David Cameron has been spotted curled up under a radiator to keep warm. We are doomed, doomed I tell you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Furball Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I didn't realise there was another one (bush). My non-existant god, how many are there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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