Smile America, the world smiles with you

[jojo22]

Well, I've been riveted to the mid-term election results on CNN all day!

Go America! You have spoken loud and clear and the result is - Bush sucks.

Bush - It's a shame that a whole lot of Republicans had to take the fall for you - it wasn't about them as people or their competence to do their job - it was about the Bush Administration. I feel particularly sorry for Chafee, who lost Rhode Island - he was a sacraficial lamb but seemed like a decent guy.

Well, well, well - the first female leader of the house ever! Nice to see things progressing. It was also fantastic to see a strong female turnout at the polling booths and the women gunning for the democrats.

Now if they can just clinch the senator seats in Virginia and Montana then the Demos will have control of both the house of representatives and the senate. Fingers crossed - it's an unbelievably tight race - particularly in Montana. Only 1735 votes separate Tester (leading) and Burns - however, it seems that 100% of the precincts are in now - so based on that Tester is the winner. Though I'm not entirely sure what is still to come - have they counted absentee votes yet? I would imagine a lot of absentee votes would favour the democrats, as younger people tend to be highly mobile (i.e. in another state for college) and also tend to vote democractic. Based on that I would project that absentee votes would solidify the win rather than swing it in the other direction.

How come politics in my own country aren't as interesting?

[elliott20]

because you guys actually have a slightly more competent people working for you. And competent are rarely entertaining.

[jojo22]

Possibly - but it could just be that they are a lot more simple - the way they approach things and also the structure. The way that states are set up and the sheer size of it and it's diversity, the push to always be doing 'the newest bestest next thing' can certainly add much to the complexity - and when it gets too complex then even competent people struggle.

[Kalith]

JOJO where you from?

And I hope you didn't imply bush was competent there.

[jojo22]

JOJO where you from?

And I hope you didn't imply bush was competent there.

Moi? Imply Bush is competent? Let's just say that would be a turnaround of gobsmacking proportions.

No - I was talking about the American voting system and more generally about what it must be like to try and govern such a huge country - for anyone.

I come from New Zealand - population just over 4 million. I reckon it's a safe bet that things are a lot more simple here

[elliott20]

well, lemme just say that there's a reason federal employers in the US is the biggest employer in the nation. Beauracracy and red tape processing rules this nation.

[Guest]

well, lemme just say that there's a reason federal employers in the US is the biggest employer in the nation. Beauracracy and red tape processing rules this nation.

Minor and major corruption caused by the Government thinking we work for them, instead of them working for us rules this country.

[elliott20]

well, that too.

[Guest]

well, that too.

Red tape is caused by stuffing every nook and cranny of the government with useless people to fulfill the grandious dreams of corrupted managers of a corrupt system that feeds on the fears, anxiety and greed of the populace.

At it's best the Federal Government is an overweight drunken elephant with ballet shoes painted on it's feet. At it's worst, a sadistic monster that knows what's best for itself.

There have been 6 presidents in my lifetime that had the real power to change the government. None chose to.

[elliott20]

Red tape is caused by stuffing every nook and cranny of the government with useless people to fulfill the grandious dreams of corrupted managers of a corrupt system that feeds on the fears, anxiety and greed of the populace.

*raises hand*
honestly, if about 7-8 people were willing to put in an extra 10-30 minutes of work a day, my job would become obsolete.

[Guest]

Whenever I see someone with a neckbrace, my first thought is "Must be a government worker on medical holiday."

Corruption runs very deep in organizations that aren't accountable.

[elliott20]

well, in many ways, that is true. But not necessarily in the manner you'd think. The thing is, government facilities are not ruled by the bottom line margin. They aren't profit driven because they're not there to generate revenue. Consequentially, waste is not as deadly a sin as it is compared to private industry.

What is paramount to the government work, is schedules and regulations. Can you still keep your schedule? Can you do things according to regulations? If you can do both of those, then you'll do well as a government contractor.

[Guest]

Government waste doesn't bother me. Government spending is an integral part of managing the economy and in aggregate the expenditure is managed by fairly bright economists. Waste per. se. isn't the problem, although I find it personally offensive.

Corruption is a problem. For every 100 employees that sue the government for some faked medical problem, or open personal mail looking for cheques, or go drinking at the pub while on the time clock, it breeds a person that will develop an . in government that is not accountable to the will of the people.

I am a republican, in the old sense found in the Oxford Dictionary. The will of the people is what makes a country vibrant and flexiable. Every small corruption lessens the power of the will of the people. "We the People of the United States" THAT will of the people.

[Guest]

... wonders why the word e.mpire is banned on FF.

[elliott20]

ahh I see.

Well, corruption is more of a result of well... social moral culture as well as just good ol' human nature.

In fact, except in the most dictorial and minimalist of governing structures, I fully expect a certain level of corruption to exist especially in the absence of idealistic political fervor.

Though reprehensible, I do believe that political corruption is an unavoidable part of having human beings at a job.