Scantlings

Could someone please explain to me what happening in Merica? Government shut down? Shootings on Parliament Hill (?)

I've only caught snippets of the local news and I really have no idea of what's going on, Sounds bad.

Simple terms please.

Jeroen

In the interest of keeping things friendly here, I strongly suggest we respond to Jeroen offline with our views of the history.

Jeroen, not all of us agree on this and feelings are pretty raw. This place is a refuge from the pervasive ugliness of so much of US life and I, for one, would like to keep it that way. I have deeply held opinions on this subject, but I value and respect my friends more than I care about politics.

Excellent suggestion OM. The good things about separation of powers get masked when party politics and endless campaigning overrides reasoned debate and independent thinking. If there was ever an argument for term limits, this is it.

Jeroen - Let's just say the differences between a parliamentary system and a representative republic are on full display. By design, failure to agree can lead to gridlock and was intended to force debate and compromise. With no regard for consequences, partisan politics from both sides creates chaos rather instead of progress.

Despite the headlines, this isn't about the Affordable Care Act.

TMI, Larry.

Yea hey, I'm not trying to stir or troll in any way, If America has big issues it affects the rest of the world, and because if this site and CA I have folk that I care about that this is going to effect.

I don't understand what’s going, why or how it all works, The American political system has always baffled me, never had to understand American politics so never learned.

Simple break down of what's happening?

Jeroen

Larry, you posted the same time as me, thanks, helps a little.

Orestes Munn wrote:TMI, Larry.

My dad told me there are three things you should never talk about in a bar:

Politics
Religion
and I forget what the third thing is

No problem if we want to throw down on politics, but if we do go down that road I propose we create a separate forum for it. On every board I've ever been on, when the political banter infiltrates the 'Off Topic' areas, it spreads like a cancer and the vitriol is really not appealing.

Politics in this country is extremely polarizing.

Soñadora wrote:My dad told me there are three things you should never talk about in a bar:

Politics
Religion
and I forget what the third thing is.

Anchoring...

DDWFTW

Rick,

OM has it right. Too many polarizing views. As much as I appreciate the desire of our international friends to seek understanding, it does tend to spiral far too quickly. I'd prefer we not go there in this forum.

Soñadora wrote:My dad told me there are three things you should never talk about in a bar:

Politics
Religion
and I forget what the third thing is

Politics in this country is extremely polarizing.

Rick, according to Sammy Kershaw, you can talk about anythng in this world except politics, religion and her .... old song and haven't heard it in years.
Cavelamb, good one!

Eric, (OM) wise response. Well stated and I agree.

Here's another vote for keeping politics off this forum. I know some us here disagree with each other quite strongly, yet we've been able to talk to each other as friends here. This forum is like a little club where we have certain rules of decorum that we all observe religiously because we value the place so highly... and don't want to wreck it.

When my wife and I first started going out we decided there were three places we didn't discuss our troubles or unpleasant subjects: at the dinner table, on the way home from a night out, or aboard the boat.

Blackbird wrote:Here's another vote for keeping politics off this forum. I know some us here disagree with each other quite strongly, yet we've been able to talk to each other as friends here. This forum is like a little club where we have certain rules of decorum that we all observe religiously because we value the place so highly... and don't want to wreck it.

When my wife and I first started going out we decided there were three places we didn't discuss our troubles or unpleasant subjects: at the dinner table, on the way home from a night out, or aboard the boat.

or in the can.

"really? You just walked right in here while duty calls and you think you're going to have my full attention? This takes concentration!"

Didn't LBJ make staff accompany him so he could keep talking while he crapped? Too political? Sorry.

While you're pondering all this, exactly what are you going to do about Australia moving to the mid-Atlantic? That sounds way more pressing.

http://www.satirewire.com/content1/?p=173

Cool. Now we can race to somewhere besides Bermuda. I hope it's a little cheaper.

Sorry guys, I'll drop it.

Ish wrote:While you're pondering all this, exactly what are you going to do about Australia moving to the mid-Atlantic? That sounds way more pressing.

http://www.satirewire.com/content1/?p=173

Those canucks are going to have to move to squeeze Tasmania in.

On second thought, we could just forget it, no one is going to notice the difference anyway.

Just slide Tasmania closer to Newfoundland- that would make a nice country.