US Government is Closed!

[Colpy]

You might not know this, but in America people vote for both the leader and the party on separate ballots.

Oh Good Lord......

The United States has a bicameral legislature, a 435 member House of Representatives, which is elected every two years, a 100 member Senate (two from each state) with a term of 6 years for the Senator, 1/3 of the Senate is elected every two years. The President is elected every 4 years, maximum two terms.

ALL these people are NOT elected by party, but as individuals, although their party affiliation is listed on the ballot.

I have a degree in history and political science.

 

[PoliticalNick]

I have a degree in history and political science.

That and a buck seventy-five gets you a large double/double.

 

[tober]

I have a degree in history and political science.

I would not have guessed. Sorry.

ALL these people are NOT elected by party, but as individuals, although their party affiliation is listed on the ballot.

Can you think of any place where they are elected by party, where only the name of the party is on the ballot?

 

[Goober]

I would not have guessed. Sorry.



Can you think of any place where they are elected by party, where only the name of the party is on the ballot?

China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Germany
Voting system
Example: Ballot of constituency 252 for the election of the 16th Bundestag

The voter has two votes. The Federal Election System distinguishes between 'First' and 'Second' vote. However, these terms do neither refer to a hierarchical order (of importance) of the votes, nor do they refer to a logical (chronological) sequence in a valid election process. According to public polls, about 70% (2002) to 63% (2005) of the voters mistakenly thought the first vote to be more important than the second. In some State Election Systems that have two voting systems which are modelled after the Federal Election setup, the votes are called 'vote for person' and 'vote for list'. It is important that both votes have distinct functions.

 

[tober]

China.
Electoral system of Germany - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Voting system
Example: Ballot of constituency 252 for the election of the 16th Bundestag

The voter has two votes. The Federal Election System distinguishes between 'First' and 'Second' vote. However, these terms do neither refer to a hierarchical order (of importance) of the votes, nor do they refer to a logical (chronological) sequence in a valid election process. According to public polls, about 70% (2002) to 63% (2005) of the voters mistakenly thought the first vote to be more important than the second. In some State Election Systems that have two voting systems which are modelled after the Federal Election setup, the votes are called 'vote for person' and 'vote for list'. It is important that both votes have distinct functions.

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[Goober]

Interesting. Thanks.

I believe it falls under their proportional rep system. Min 5 % of the popular vote to gain seats.

 

[Locutus]

via bcf:

Los Veteranos NO - Inmigrantes Ilegales Sí! - Park Service OKs immigration reform rally on 'closed' National Mall



Park Service OKs immigration reform rally on 'closed' National Mall | WashingtonExaminer.com

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

You might not know this, but in America people vote for both the leader and the party on separate ballots.

OK, ignorance and insanity have now merged.

Oh Good Lord......

The United States has a bicameral legislature, a 435 member House of Representatives, which is elected every two years, a 100 member Senate (two from each state) with a term of 6 years for the Senator, 1/3 of the Senate is elected every two years. The President is elected every 4 years, maximum two terms.

ALL these people are NOT elected by party, but as individuals, although their party affiliation is listed on the ballot.

I have a degree in history and political science.

I have a couple of degrees in law, and you're correct.

Half a point off for missing the non-voting delegates from the territories in the House.

Another half point off for oversimplifying the President thing. The President can only be elected twice, or only once if he serves over half of his predecessor's term. In theory, a President could serve for nine years and 182 days, assuming he succeeded to the Presidency when his predecessor died two years and one day into his term.

Extra credit question. . . why are there no term limits for Representatives and Senators?

 

[PoliticalNick]

I have a couple of degrees in law, and you're correct.

You have mentioned that a couple of times. Are you intentionally trying to make us dislike you? ;-)

 

[captain morgan]

When the previous program for the working poor was equal to 'let them eat cake' anything is a step in the right direction. Would it be better to just figure out a way to completely fund universal healthcare and equal access to everyone? You bet it would, but you have to start somewhere and if the Republicans (well any of the legislators) really cared about the people they would be looking for a way to close holes in the law and ensure everyone got healthcare instead of trying to repeal it and leave millions without a way to afford it.

In my eyes, it forces 'someone' to buy insurance be that the individual or their employer.

With the economy in the crapper at present, I wonder how many employers have modified their hiring practices to either bring on fewer personnel or cut the full-time spots such that the employer is not on the hook for medical costs.

Timing is the sh*ts on this program

 

[B00Mer]

stay classy mooch.

Oh thanks for that image.... I just created a newer one..

BTW, I heard one guy a family of 4 was paying $800/mo for health care, now they increased his insurance to $1,500 a month..

WTF, $1,500 A MONTH!! If you were not sick before, you will be, just worrying about paying that Premium per month..

 

[hunboldt]

This could be a Social Engineering event. The nation may just run better without the government interference. Now wouldn't that be a hoot?

Hmmm-possible. The Canadian federal government was effect dysfunctional in 1925-26, and the country was prosperous.

In my eyes, it forces 'someone' to buy insurance be that the individual or their employer.

With the economy in the crapper at present, I wonder how many employers have modified their hiring practices to either bring on fewer personnel or cut the full-time spots such that the employer is not on the hook for medical costs.

Timing is the sh*ts on this program

Actually, you are wrong. ( first tiem for everything, CM).
Obamacare is not a single pay system, it requires insurance companies to 'pool ' accounts pro rata so that the uninsured can purchase subsidised coverage, re-imbursed by the Us federal government.
It resembles the Swiss system, which works rather well.

 

[PoliticalNick]

Oh thanks for that image.... I just created a newer one..

BTW, I heard one guy a family of 4 was paying $800/mo for health care, now they increased his insurance to $1,500 a month..

WTF, $1,500 A MONTH!! If you were not sick before, you will be, just worrying about paying that Premium per month..

But it's the good old US of A. He can go to the competition. Worst case he can go to the ranks of those without health insurance and maybe he will start bugging his representative to figure out a way to provide insurance to everyone a t a reasonable cost.

I am continually stunned by those bleating on about how unfair the ACA is when the only solution they present to providing all citizens with health insurance is....nothing! Zip, zero, nada, squat and diddly!

Now the ACA might not be perfect and it might not work in the end but nobody is offering anything else other than I'm ok so I don't care. The sentiment behind the act is wonderful even if the law itself lacks. I would think a great country like America with a civilized society would by now recognize that there will never be a fair and decent healthcare system until everyone is covered and that has to be done through regulation and removing the 'for profit' system.

 

[tober]

The American people elected the House of Representatives, and they control the purse strings, as is traditional for the peoples' legislature. It is how modern democracy came to be.....

"Modern"? It's largely unchanged since the 1700's.

 

[PoliticalNick]

"Modern"? It's largely unchanged since the 1700's.

Thats pretty modern in the relative age of democracies.

Range voting appeared in Sparta as early as 700 BCE

Athenians established what is generally held as the first democracy in 508-507 BCE.

 

[tober]

You have mentioned that a couple of times. Are you intentionally trying to make us dislike you? ;-)

It's effective.

Thats pretty modern in the relative age of democracies.

Western democracies can be described as new by your terms. Mediterranean democracies go back much further. For whatever its worth.

One of the problems with the US model of government is that it has changed so little since coming into force. The office of the presidency is modeled after George III of England. England's concept of what the king should do has changed considerably since 1776. America's version of what it's POTUS should do has moved hardly at all. Now look at the US. Fresh out of an illegal war that made it a world pariah. Approximately 330,000,000 people held hostage by a handful of extremists. Various constitutional crisis in Germany between the 1920's and 1933 eventually brought the Nazis to power. What's going to happen as the calendar approaches 2024 when, some say, the Hispanic demographic bulge could destroy US republicans forever? Might extremists within an unchangeable government seize power? I know it seems preposterous, but follow it through logically. A major power structure such as the US right, known for its willingness to use violence, faces possible political extinction. What limits can be placed on possible extremist ideas to cope with their "problem"? Is "a temporary seizure of power" more than they would consider "to protect America from liberals, progressives, communists and other enemies of the state," if they thought they could get away with it? I think its a possibility if nothing else.

 

[hunboldt]

Oh thanks for that image.... I just created a newer one..

BTW, I heard one guy a family of 4 was paying $800/mo for health care, now they increased his insurance to $1,500 a month..

WTF, $1,500 A MONTH!! If you were not sick before, you will be, just worrying about paying that Premium per month..

Nick is very right. Time for r the dude to shop around.

It's effective.



Western democracies can be described as new by your terms. Mediterranean democracies go back much further. For whatever its worth.

One of the problems with the US model of government is that it has changed so little since coming into force. The office of the presidency is modeled after George III of England. England's concept of what the king should do has changed considerably since 1776. America's version of what it's POTUS should do has moved hardly at all. Now look at the US. Fresh out of an illegal war that made it a world pariah. Approximately 330,000,000 people held hostage by a handful of extremists. Various constitutional crisis in Germany between the 1920's and 1933 eventually brought the Nazis to power. What's going to happen as the calendar approaches 2024 when, some say, the Hispanic demographic bulge could destroy US republicans forever? Might extremists within an unchangeable government seize power? I know it seems preposterous, but follow it through logically. A major power structure such as the US right, known for its willingness to use violence, faces possible political extinction. What limits can be placed on possible extremist ideas to cope with their "problem"? Is "a temporary seizure of power" more than they would consider "to protect America from liberals, progressives, communists and other enemies of the state," if they thought they could get away with it? I think its a possibility if nothing else.

The Hispanics will probably kick out th e Tom Delays and go back to a logical, computer generated 'constituency'. the Texas boundaries are the laughingstock of the USA.

Or the Republicans become customer friendly.

 

[Locutus]

FLASHBACK: Senator Obama Critiques President Obama

President Barack Obama is a man of many faces and Senator Obama is just one of them. Here is a letter written by Senator Obama on the subject of raising America’s debt limit in 2006 signed by his hand and entered into the Congressional Record.

Here is Senator Obama talking about President Obama again in 2008. This time, he’s even madder.

Obama on raising the Debt Ceiling during his 2008 Campaign - YouTube

Here is President Obama talking about raising the debt ceiling

Obama Economics - Raising the Debt Ceiling Does Not Increase Our Debt! - YouTube

Help us Senator Obama, you’re our only hope!
- See more at: FLASHBACK: Senator Obama Critiques President Obama | Weasel Zippers

 

[hunboldt]

Sure Wall-nut. Thats from a group that makes the Fraser Institute look like some far left liberals. :roll:

I actually saw Ted Cruz as a fresh voice and a possible presidential contender.

Now he looks like another Texas monkey poo flinger in the Ton DeLay cast.

Man o Man I'm glad he disavowed his dual citizenship.

 

[hunboldt]

GOP Congressman on Government shutdown: “This is my idea of fun”.

sorry, Goph. meant to green mark you on this, hit the red prompt.
Must have been a ' walt moment'.