Advantages and Disadvantages of Democracy

[reedak]

To my surprise, I have found many netizens launching vitriolic attacks on Obama who has been elected democratically by the majority of the American voters for two terms. So why do those disgruntled voters criticise their president who won power not through the barrel of a gun but the ballot box?

What has gone wrong with democracy? Netizens are welcome to analyse and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of America's democratic system.

Meanwhile, to show my fairness and neutrality, I have also posted another topic entitled "Advantages and Disadvantages of Totalitarianism". All netizens are welcome to give their opinions on both the opposing political systems.

[Nukeman]

To my surprise, I have found many netizens launching vitriolic attacks on Obama who has been elected democratically by the majority of the American voters for two terms. So why do those disgruntled voters criticise their president who won power not through the barrel of a gun but the ballot box?

What has gone wrong with democracy? Netizens are welcome to analyse and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of America's democratic system.

Meanwhile, to show my fairness and neutrality, I have also posted another topic entitled "Advantages and Disadvantages of Totalitarianism". All netizens are welcome to give their opinions on both the opposing political systems.Didn't realize that in a democracy we gave up our right to disagree with the person we didn't vote for.

There is nothing wrong with a democracy in theory, you have to remember
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy. we are seeing major steps in that direction currently and it has been in the making for the past 8 decades.. If you don't see that or fail to recognize this than you are living in a fantasy land.

Now you need to remember that we are NOT a democracy but a REPUBLIC.. Our forefathers saw the issues with a true democracy and set up accordingly, unfortunately we are falling into the same traps by migrating to a more democratic help belief system.... Spin how you will we can not keep up our current nanny state system and expect to be a great country.

[jimnyc]

To my surprise, I have found many netizens launching vitriolic attacks on Obama who has been elected democratically by the majority of the American voters for two terms. So why do those disgruntled voters criticise their president who won power not through the barrel of a gun but the ballot box?

Just because he was elected democratically, that doesn't mean people can't point out and complain about the shit job he has done, and point out how incompetent this administration has been, all under Obama's wing. He's failed this country, BIG TIME. He was also going to fix relations around the world, and has made things worse. He's been a failure at every step of his presidency.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Didn't realize that in a democracy we gave up our right to disagree with the person we didn't vote for.

There is nothing wrong with a democracy in theory, you have to remember we are seeing major steps in that direction currently and it has been in the making for the past 8 decades.. If you don't see that or fail to recognize this than you are living in a fantasy land.

Now you need to remember that we are NOT a democracy but a REPUBLIC.. Our forefathers saw the issues with a true democracy and set up accordingly, unfortunately we are falling into the same traps by migrating to a more democratic help belief system.... Spin how you will we can not keep up our current nanny state system and expect to be a great country. Reedak seems to think we elected a King not a President. I strongly suspect Reedak is from one of the strong-arm Asian countries where the high authorities exist as an unassailable feature of life not to be challenged. I asked him if he would at least tell us something about himself since he didn't care to post in the Introduction thread here. Will be interesting to see if I am right about him. -Tyr

[DragonStryk72]

To my surprise, I have found many netizens launching vitriolic attacks on Obama who has been elected democratically by the majority of the American voters for two terms. So why do those disgruntled voters criticise their president who won power not through the barrel of a gun but the ballot box?

What has gone wrong with democracy? Netizens are welcome to analyse and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of America's democratic system.

Meanwhile, to show my fairness and neutrality, I have also posted another topic entitled "Advantages and Disadvantages of Totalitarianism". All netizens are welcome to give their opinions on both the opposing political systems.

A majority, but not a landslide majority, and he has lost a number of those supporters since then. This is one of the key issues of a democracy. Public opinion becomes so very much more important, especially in hard times.

I think the main upswing of democratic rule is checks and balances. Unlike with the totalitarian government, a single elected official cannot completely wreck the country, as other elected with the same amount, or greater, power are there to stop them.

However, those same elected officials can use the court of public opinion to spin pretty much anything they can get the people to swallow, and large-scale changes take far longer to implement due to the need to get consensus.

[fj1200]

What has gone wrong with democracy?

We don't live in a democracy, we live in a Constitutional Federalist Republic.

[aboutime]

To my surprise, I have found many netizens launching vitriolic attacks on Obama who has been elected democratically by the majority of the American voters for two terms. So why do those disgruntled voters criticise their president who won power not through the barrel of a gun but the ballot box?

What has gone wrong with democracy? Netizens are welcome to analyse and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of America's democratic system.

Meanwhile, to show my fairness and neutrality, I have also posted another topic entitled "Advantages and Disadvantages of Totalitarianism". All netizens are welcome to give their opinions on both the opposing political systems.


Perhaps you need to read some History about the United States before you declare it a Democracy. A Democracy is...pure and simply...MOB RULE.
But then. Your anger, and lack of knowledge doesn't allow for being aware of such trivial things.

[logroller]

We don't live in a democracy, we live in a Constitutional Federalist Republic.
Quite right. Plus the president is actually voted in by an electoral college, not the public majority. By why quibble over facts details when there's points to be made? When in Rome...

[tailfins]

Has anyone noticed that CAIR's slogan is: "Making DEMOCRACY work for everyone"?

See for yourself:
http://www.cair.com/

[aboutime]

Has anyone noticed that CAIR's slogan is: "Making DEMOCRACY work for everyone"?

See for yourself:
http://www.cair.com/


tailfins. That's the published American version. The actual, Muslim version is:

"Making DEMOCRACY work for everyone as long as you obey, and agree with Us!"

[reedak]

Reedak seems to think we elected a King not a President......

You are wrong. I have no illusion that you people regard yourselves as having elected not a President but a clown or something worse....

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Obama rodeo clown incident illustrates nation’s continued racial divide" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-rodeo-clown-incident-illustrates-nations-continued-racial-divide/2013/08/15/8da23cf0-05b8-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

(Begin excerpts)
.....The rodeo incident and the clown at the center of it have become the latest illustration of racial divisions that continue to surface nearly five years into Obama’s presidency....

There is a long history of mocking politicians at rodeos, and clowns have donned masks of other presidents as part of their acts. But James Staab, a political science professor at the University of Central Missouri, said last week’s incident “goes beyond the pale — they’re talking about physical injury and racial stereotypes.”

Whether the scene at the state fair was meant merely as mockery or something more sinister, there was no room for nuance among a dozen fairgoers interviewed Wednesday. There was near universal agreement that the incident was all in good fun, and disapproval of the president crossed into a deep, personal hatred, often tinted in racial terms.

“I was raised to think the blacks were bad; I’m not gonna lie. We lived on one side of the tracks, and they lived on the other,” said Margaret Abercrombie, 68, who is white and grew up along the Mississippi River in Sikeston, Mo.

.....Abercrombie said the anti-Obama sentiments she encounters are based on race.

“You hear the farmers here, they just don’t like him because he’s black,” Abercrombie said. Pointing across the fairgrounds to the cattle barns, she added, “I’m surprised they ain’t got a cow over there named Obama.”

The Wednesday crowd at the fair, which lasts 11 days in remote Sedalia, was overwhelmingly white. Some vendors played right-wing talk radio from boom boxes at their tents. One vendor sold “rebel pride” hats emblazoned with Confederate flags for $8 each. Another, who would only be identified as “Dennis the Sticker Dude” because he was afraid of government retaliation, hawked car decal stickers featuring a cartoon boy urinating on Obama...

Henke said he sometimes surfs the Internet for Web sites making fun of Obama and his family. For instance, he said, one site he looks at compares “Obama’s wife to a monkey — they have the same expression....

At the rodeo here last Saturday night, a clown wearing an Obama mask stood on the arena’s dirt floor, propped up like a straw man with the appearance that a broom stick was going up his backside. A second clown called him “ya big goober.” Before letting the bull loose to charge at the clown with the Obama mask, the second clown provided live narration over the loudspeakers:

“Obama, they’re coming for you this time.”

“He’s going to getcha, getcha, getcha.”

“Yahoo! We’re gonna smoke Obama.”

In the stands, Perry Beam was so sickened by the scene he began recording it.

“It reminded me of a [Ku Klux] Klan rally,” Beam said. “It had that hateful aspect. It was the way they cheered, the anger in it. . . . You can disagree with a government policy, but that doesn’t prompt you to put a stick up his and incite the crowd to say how many of you want to see him be trampled by a bull. To wish that on somebody is hateful.”...

To Beam, the racist element of the rodeo act was obvious. “If you’re a white man in a black mask in a former slaveholding state with [B]a broom lodged in your rectum and you’re playing with your lips, you will be confused with a racist,” Beam said. “Had I been black, I would’ve been scared for my life.”.... (End excerpts)

Michelle Obama Is A Monkey And Other Offensive Google Images
http://www.anorak.co.uk/231807/politicians/michelle-obama-is-a-monkey-and-other-offensive-google-images.html/

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

You are wrong. I have no illusion that you people regard yourselves as having elected not a President but a clown or something worse....

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Obama rodeo clown incident illustrates nation’s continued racial divide" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-rodeo-clown-incident-illustrates-nations-continued-racial-divide/2013/08/15/8da23cf0-05b8-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

(Begin excerpts)
.....The rodeo incident and the clown at the center of it have become the latest illustration of racial divisions that continue to surface nearly five years into Obama’s presidency....

There is a long history of mocking politicians at rodeos, and clowns have donned masks of other presidents as part of their acts. But James Staab, a political science professor at the University of Central Missouri, said last week’s incident “goes beyond the pale — they’re talking about physical injury and racial stereotypes.”

Whether the scene at the state fair was meant merely as mockery or something more sinister, there was no room for nuance among a dozen fairgoers interviewed Wednesday. There was near universal agreement that the incident was all in good fun, and disapproval of the president crossed into a deep, personal hatred, often tinted in racial terms.

“I was raised to think the blacks were bad; I’m not gonna lie. We lived on one side of the tracks, and they lived on the other,” said Margaret Abercrombie, 68, who is white and grew up along the Mississippi River in Sikeston, Mo.

.....Abercrombie said the anti-Obama sentiments she encounters are based on race.

“You hear the farmers here, they just don’t like him because he’s black,” Abercrombie said. Pointing across the fairgrounds to the cattle barns, she added, “I’m surprised they ain’t got a cow over there named Obama.”

The Wednesday crowd at the fair, which lasts 11 days in remote Sedalia, was overwhelmingly white. Some vendors played right-wing talk radio from boom boxes at their tents. One vendor sold “rebel pride” hats emblazoned with Confederate flags for $8 each. Another, who would only be identified as “Dennis the Sticker Dude” because he was afraid of government retaliation, hawked car decal stickers featuring a cartoon boy urinating on Obama...

Henke said he sometimes surfs the Internet for Web sites making fun of Obama and his family. For instance, he said, one site he looks at compares “Obama’s wife to a monkey — they have the same expression....

At the rodeo here last Saturday night, a clown wearing an Obama mask stood on the arena’s dirt floor, propped up like a straw man with the appearance that a broom stick was going up his backside. A second clown called him “ya big goober.” Before letting the bull loose to charge at the clown with the Obama mask, the second clown provided live narration over the loudspeakers:

“Obama, they’re coming for you this time.”

“He’s going to getcha, getcha, getcha.”

“Yahoo! We’re gonna smoke Obama.”

In the stands, Perry Beam was so sickened by the scene he began recording it.

“It reminded me of a [Ku Klux] Klan rally,” Beam said. “It had that hateful aspect. It was the way they cheered, the anger in it. . . . You can disagree with a government policy, but that doesn’t prompt you to put a stick up his [backside] and incite the crowd to say how many of you want to see him be trampled by a bull. To wish that on somebody is hateful.”...

To Beam, the racist element of the rodeo act was obvious. “If you’re a white man in a black mask in a former slaveholding state with a broom lodged in your rectum and you’re playing with your lips, you will be confused with a racist,” Beam said. “Had I been black, I would’ve been scared for my life.”.... (End excerpts)

Michelle Obama Is A Monkey And Other Offensive Google Images
http://www.anorak.co.uk/231807/politicians/michelle-obama-is-a-monkey-and-other-offensive-google-images.html/

MICHELLE OBAMA MONKEY
http://profarb.com.pl/pl/michelle-obama-monkey Actually he is not a clown. He is a damn traitor and a lying , lazy bastard that serves himself and a globalist, socialist muslim loving agenda.. Other than that he is a fine fellow. :puke3:----Tyr

[reedak]

.....I strongly suspect Reedak is from one of the strong-arm Asian countries where the high authorities exist as an unassailable feature of life not to be challenged. I asked him if he would at least tell us something about himself since he didn't care to post in the Introduction thread here. Will be interesting to see if I am right about him. -Tyr

I am an overseas Chinese, currently on a business trip as a salesman in Thailand where I witness a seemingly never-ending political mess and chaos.

Thailand: A Democratic Failure and Its Lessons for the Middle East
http://www.cfr.org/thailand/thailand-democratic-failure-its-lessons-middle-east/p24485

Democracy Is Inherently Broken
http://dailyreckoning.com/democracy-is-inherently-broken/

Broken Democracy
http://mariopiperni.com/politics/broken-democracy.php

[DragonStryk72]

You are wrong. I have no illusion that you people regard yourselves as having elected not a President but a clown or something worse....

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Obama rodeo clown incident illustrates nation’s continued racial divide" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-rodeo-clown-incident-illustrates-nations-continued-racial-divide/2013/08/15/8da23cf0-05b8-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

(Begin excerpts)
.....The rodeo incident and the clown at the center of it have become the latest illustration of racial divisions that continue to surface nearly five years into Obama’s presidency....

There is a long history of mocking politicians at rodeos, and clowns have donned masks of other presidents as part of their acts. But James Staab, a political science professor at the University of Central Missouri, said last week’s incident “goes beyond the pale — they’re talking about physical injury and racial stereotypes.”

Whether the scene at the state fair was meant merely as mockery or something more sinister, there was no room for nuance among a dozen fairgoers interviewed Wednesday. There was near universal agreement that the incident was all in good fun, and disapproval of the president crossed into a deep, personal hatred, often tinted in racial terms.

“I was raised to think the blacks were bad; I’m not gonna lie. We lived on one side of the tracks, and they lived on the other,” said Margaret Abercrombie, 68, who is white and grew up along the Mississippi River in Sikeston, Mo.

.....Abercrombie said the anti-Obama sentiments she encounters are based on race.

“You hear the farmers here, they just don’t like him because he’s black,” Abercrombie said. Pointing across the fairgrounds to the cattle barns, she added, “I’m surprised they ain’t got a cow over there named Obama.”

The Wednesday crowd at the fair, which lasts 11 days in remote Sedalia, was overwhelmingly white. Some vendors played right-wing talk radio from boom boxes at their tents. One vendor sold “rebel pride” hats emblazoned with Confederate flags for $8 each. Another, who would only be identified as “Dennis the Sticker Dude” because he was afraid of government retaliation, hawked car decal stickers featuring a cartoon boy urinating on Obama...

Henke said he sometimes surfs the Internet for Web sites making fun of Obama and his family. For instance, he said, one site he looks at compares “Obama’s wife to a monkey — they have the same expression....

At the rodeo here last Saturday night, a clown wearing an Obama mask stood on the arena’s dirt floor, propped up like a straw man with the appearance that a broom stick was going up his backside. A second clown called him “ya big goober.” Before letting the bull loose to charge at the clown with the Obama mask, the second clown provided live narration over the loudspeakers:

“Obama, they’re coming for you this time.”

“He’s going to getcha, getcha, getcha.”

“Yahoo! We’re gonna smoke Obama.”

In the stands, Perry Beam was so sickened by the scene he began recording it.

“It reminded me of a [Ku Klux] Klan rally,” Beam said. “It had that hateful aspect. It was the way they cheered, the anger in it. . . . You can disagree with a government policy, but that doesn’t prompt you to put a stick up his and incite the crowd to say how many of you want to see him be trampled by a bull. To wish that on somebody is hateful.”...

To Beam, the racist element of the rodeo act was obvious. “If you’re a white man in a black mask in a former slaveholding state with [B]a broom lodged in your rectum and you’re playing with your lips, you will be confused with a racist,” Beam said. “Had I been black, I would’ve been scared for my life.”.... (End excerpts)

Michelle Obama Is A Monkey And Other Offensive Google Images
http://www.anorak.co.uk/231807/politicians/michelle-obama-is-a-monkey-and-other-offensive-google-images.html/

reedak, the only ones going after a racial angle are the liberal media, and that's been true since the founding of the TEA party. Seriously, they actually went to a Tea Party rally where a man in a white office shirt had an assault rifle holstered, and you never got to see the man's hands or face, though we get 30 seconds of showing off the rifle. Reason? Well, as it turns out, the man in the office shirt was black, and apparently, they also cut all the questions they asked him as well. Huh, funny that. In fact, all races are represented in the Tea Party. Gee, it's almost like they're not actually racist, and were just painted that way for political gain.

Meanwhile, at the Republican National Debates, MSNBC talked over, or cut away from every single minority speaker, both the women, a black man, and a hispanic man.

Yeah, they hate Obama, a lot of people do, but it isn't cause of his race. They hate him for his political stances. Yeah, they used the imagery of a monkey to depict him, cause it's an evolutionary step backwards, you know, to portray that he's stupid. We're all former monkeys, again, not a racial issue, just straight up hate, and so they say whatever they figure is hurtful.

Now, if we could talk for a moment about the point of the racism involved in deciding that an insult must be racist simply because of the skin tone of the person who uttered it, that could be interesting.

[fj1200]

I am an overseas Chinese, currently on a business trip as a salesman in Thailand where I witness a seemingly never-ending political mess and chaos.

Thailand: A Democratic Failure and Its Lessons for the Middle East
http://www.cfr.org/thailand/thailand-democratic-failure-its-lessons-middle-east/p24485

Democracy Is Inherently Broken
http://dailyreckoning.com/democracy-is-inherently-broken/

Broken Democracy
http://mariopiperni.com/politics/broken-democracy.php

I think what you're missing/avoiding/I don't know is the inherent problems in anything are an abuse of power. A majority in a democracy can abuse their power over the minority just as an authoritarian can abuse their power over their subjects. In any system one can argue that there are advantages and disadvantages but any advantages rely on those in charge having restraint over their power. Can an authoritarian restrain themselves from abusing those not in power? I suppose but unlikely especially in the long term. Can a majority in a democracy restrain their power? I suppose but unlikely in the long term even if they have the best of intentions. Any system that is put in place needs to have some guidelines by which those in charge are restrained from absolute power. I think the best example of that is our Constitution but other countries have put in place documents that govern behavior.

What say you?

[tailfins]

I am an overseas Chinese, currently on a business trip as a salesman in Thailand where I witness a seemingly never-ending political mess and chaos.

Thailand: A Democratic Failure and Its Lessons for the Middle East
http://www.cfr.org/thailand/thailand-democratic-failure-its-lessons-middle-east/p24485

Democracy Is Inherently Broken
http://dailyreckoning.com/democracy-is-inherently-broken/

Broken Democracy
http://mariopiperni.com/politics/broken-democracy.php


Until you thoroughly understand the concept of inalienable rights, you won't understand. Even a majority cannot infringe on a inalienable right.

[jimnyc]

You are wrong. I have no illusion that you people regard yourselves as having elected not a President but a clown or something worse....

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Obama rodeo clown incident illustrates nation’s continued racial divide" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-rodeo-clown-incident-illustrates-nations-continued-racial-divide/2013/08/15/8da23cf0-05b8-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

We saw more of the monkey crap - MUCH more, when George Bush was president. And that's odd, as Michelle looks MUCH more like a monkey or an ape than GWB. Also odd that it seemed fine for the most part when done to GWB, but out comes the KKK references if the very same is done about Obama or his ape lookalike wife. The only mockery I see is from the many hypocrites who thought it was funny to do something to GWB and then cry foul when it's the Obama's. I say tough shit on them.

http://i.imgur.com/6tbIThw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5dyW27q.jpg

[Abbey Marie]

Reedak, Democracy, despite all of it's inherent fairness, is no match for stupidity or greed. Add an intelligence test to voting, and remove the potential handouts, and you will see a vast improvement in who is elected.

[fj1200]

The landed gentry, now they know whassup.

[aboutime]

You are wrong. I have no illusion that you people regard yourselves as having elected not a President but a clown or something worse....

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Obama rodeo clown incident illustrates nation’s continued racial divide" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-rodeo-clown-incident-illustrates-nations-continued-racial-divide/2013/08/15/8da23cf0-05b8-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

(Begin excerpts)
.....The rodeo incident and the clown at the center of it have become the latest illustration of racial divisions that continue to surface nearly five years into Obama’s presidency....

There is a long history of mocking politicians at rodeos, and clowns have donned masks of other presidents as part of their acts. But James Staab, a political science professor at the University of Central Missouri, said last week’s incident “goes beyond the pale — they’re talking about physical injury and racial stereotypes.”

Whether the scene at the state fair was meant merely as mockery or something more sinister, there was no room for nuance among a dozen fairgoers interviewed Wednesday. There was near universal agreement that the incident was all in good fun, and disapproval of the president crossed into a deep, personal hatred, often tinted in racial terms.

“I was raised to think the blacks were bad; I’m not gonna lie. We lived on one side of the tracks, and they lived on the other,” said Margaret Abercrombie, 68, who is white and grew up along the Mississippi River in Sikeston, Mo.

.....Abercrombie said the anti-Obama sentiments she encounters are based on race.

“You hear the farmers here, they just don’t like him because he’s black,” Abercrombie said. Pointing across the fairgrounds to the cattle barns, she added, “I’m surprised they ain’t got a cow over there named Obama.”

The Wednesday crowd at the fair, which lasts 11 days in remote Sedalia, was overwhelmingly white. Some vendors played right-wing talk radio from boom boxes at their tents. One vendor sold “rebel pride” hats emblazoned with Confederate flags for $8 each. Another, who would only be identified as “Dennis the Sticker Dude” because he was afraid of government retaliation, hawked car decal stickers featuring a cartoon boy urinating on Obama...

Henke said he sometimes surfs the Internet for Web sites making fun of Obama and his family. For instance, he said, one site he looks at compares “Obama’s wife to a monkey — they have the same expression....

At the rodeo here last Saturday night, a clown wearing an Obama mask stood on the arena’s dirt floor, propped up like a straw man with the appearance that a broom stick was going up his backside. A second clown called him “ya big goober.” Before letting the bull loose to charge at the clown with the Obama mask, the second clown provided live narration over the loudspeakers:

“Obama, they’re coming for you this time.”

“He’s going to getcha, getcha, getcha.”

“Yahoo! We’re gonna smoke Obama.”

In the stands, Perry Beam was so sickened by the scene he began recording it.

“It reminded me of a [Ku Klux] Klan rally,” Beam said. “It had that hateful aspect. It was the way they cheered, the anger in it. . . . You can disagree with a government policy, but that doesn’t prompt you to put a stick up his and incite the crowd to say how many of you want to see him be trampled by a bull. To wish that on somebody is hateful.”...

To Beam, the racist element of the rodeo act was obvious. “If you’re a white man in a black mask in a former slaveholding state with [B]a broom lodged in your rectum and you’re playing with your lips, you will be confused with a racist,” Beam said. “Had I been black, I would’ve been scared for my life.”.... (End excerpts)

Michelle Obama Is A Monkey And Other Offensive Google Images
http://www.anorak.co.uk/231807/politicians/michelle-obama-is-a-monkey-and-other-offensive-google-images.html/



reedak. So, tell us all. What year were you appointed as the ROVING, Chinese Propaganda troll?
You may be a Chinese businessman. But, you really could do all of us a huge favor, and NEVER try to come to our nation for any reason. Unless you wish to register as a Communist, intent on joining the Obama/Muslim Brotherhood Clatch for a destructive American future.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Reedak, Democracy, despite all of it's inherent fairness, is no match for stupidity or greed. Add an intelligence test to voting, and remove the potential handouts, and you will see a vast improvement in who is elected. Should happen but never will. Dems would never win another election if that was the law. .--Tyr

[tailfins]

reedak. So, tell us all. What year were you appointed as the ROVING, Chinese Propaganda troll?
You may be a Chinese businessman. But, you really could do all of us a huge favor, and NEVER try to come to our nation for any reason. Unless you wish to register as a Communist, intent on joining the Obama/Muslim Brotherhood Clatch for a destructive American future.

He doesn't have the tone of a Communist. I will take a Chinese, Indian or Pakistani technical person any day of the week over what our government schools have been turning out lately. I'm grateful to work with and learn from all of these. Sometimes the job actually needs to get done properly.

[Voted4Reagan]

Reedak

When China cleans up it's record on human rights and conducts an election that is open and fair and doesn't crush protesters beneath the tracks of Tanks... Then you can lecture us on our deficiencies in electoral fairness.

We dont conduct our elections staring down the barrel of an SKS Assault Rifle or Tank.

Get back to us when you correct those things...

[fj1200]

Reedak

...

Get back to us when you correct those things...

:rolleyes: Heaven forbid the man have an opinion

[tailfins]

Reedak

When China cleans up it's record on human rights and conducts an election that is open and fair and doesn't crush protesters beneath the tracks of Tanks... Then you can lecture us on our deficiencies in electoral fairness.

We dont conduct our elections staring down the barrel of an SKS Assault Rifle or Tank.

Get back to us when you correct those things...


That's pretty bigoted on your part. How do you know he's not a US citizen? He never said he supported the regime in Red China. I know a number of Chinese that think only in terms of functioning in China, but don't support the regime. If you want to lay blame for Communist repression in China, blame Washington. You should read the book "Again, May God Forgive Us" by Robert Welch, Founder of the John Birch Society . It details our betrayal of Chiang Kai-shek and how we caused free China to be reduced to a small island.

http://www.amazon.com/Again-may-God-forgive-us/dp/B0006COUZI

[reedak]

reedak. So, tell us all. What year were you appointed as the ROVING, Chinese Propaganda troll?.....

I appointed myself as a knight-errant or roving knight since young when I was fascinated with the chivalrous deeds of the ancient knights-errant of Europe, China and Japan. As an overseas Chinese, I don't support any government in China but just wish the people of China well. Political forums have become the cyberworld for a "knight in cyber armour" like me to battle cyber villains like you.


.....Unless you wish to register as a Communist, intent on joining the Obama/Muslim Brotherhood Clatch for a destructive American future.

Obama won 52.9% of the popular vote to McCain's 45.7% in 2008.

With more than 51% of the popular vote in 2012, Obama became the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to twice win the majority of the popular vote.

Barack Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

You must be kidding. Do I have to do anything when more than half of the American population twice voted for Obama for (what you alleged) a destructive American future?

[reedak]

.....He never said he supported the regime in Red China. I know a number of Chinese that think only in terms of functioning in China, but don't support the regime.....

Well said. As a patriotic overseas Chinese, I wish the best for the people in China even though I support no government on the Chinese mainland or in Taiwan.

[reedak]

:rolleyes: Heaven forbid the man have an opinion

Well said. Everyone has his own opinion.

[DragonStryk72]

I think what you're missing/avoiding/I don't know is the inherent problems in anything are an abuse of power. A majority in a democracy can abuse their power over the minority just as an authoritarian can abuse their power over their subjects. In any system one can argue that there are advantages and disadvantages but any advantages rely on those in charge having restraint over their power. Can an authoritarian restrain themselves from abusing those not in power? I suppose but unlikely especially in the long term. Can a majority in a democracy restrain their power? I suppose but unlikely in the long term even if they have the best of intentions. Any system that is put in place needs to have some guidelines by which those in charge are restrained from absolute power. I think the best example of that is our Constitution but other countries have put in place documents that govern behavior.

What say you?

This is sort of the main reason why the Founders put in the concept of individual rights that are not granted by the government. Anything that is granted by the government, could be voted away by the government. Then they went ahead and did it as a republic, instead of a straight democracy, because of the inherent issue of tyranny of the majority. Mob rule was something they simply weren't willing to entertain.

[jimnyc]

Obama won 52.9% of the popular vote to McCain's 45.7% in 2008.

With more than 51% of the popular vote in 2012, Obama became the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to twice win the majority of the popular vote.

Barack Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

You must be kidding. Do I have to do anything when more than half of the American population twice voted for Obama for (what you alleged) a destructive American future?

First off, don't confuse total votes with total population. "half the American population" did not vote twice for Obama. I think you are referring to him getting more than 50% of the popular vote in both elections, which would be the first for a Democrat since Roosevelt. Ronald Reagan did the same, as did Eisenhower before him.

The bottom line? Yes, America DOES have at least 65,915,796 idiots living here. :)

[avatar4321]

Disadvantagees of Democracy - it quickly leads to despotism. Which is why I'm glad our Founders had the foresight to establish a Republic.

[Voted4Reagan]

Disadvantagees of Democracy - it quickly leads to despotism. Which is why I'm glad our Founders had the foresight to establish a Republic.

Last I checked China was still ruled by a dictator.... right?

I find it funny that Reedak is trying to poke at our demoratic system while saying nothing at all about the lack of free choice in his native China.

Perhaps he should work to fix his own country before telling us what he thinks is wrong with ours?

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Last I checked China was still ruled by a dictator.... right?

I find it funny that Reedak is trying to poke at our demoratic system while saying nothing at all about the lack of free choice in his native China.

Perhaps he should work to fix his own country before telling us what he thinks is wrong with ours? I believe he to umbrage at my posts about the evils of China and how China is truly our enemy. So to retaliate he starts attacking USA. I NOTICED THAT HE LIKE A FOOL CHOSE NOT THE ATTACK AND POINT OUT THE UTTER BARRAGE OF BULLSHAT AND IDIOTCY COMING FROM OBAMA FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. Had he done so I would have thought him to be at least somewhat honest. As it stands I do not.--Tyr

[aboutime]

I believe he to umbrage at my posts about the evils of China and how China is truly our enemy. So to retaliate he starts attacking USA. I NOTICED THAT HE LIKE A FOOL CHOSE NOT THE ATTACK AND POINT OUT THE UTTER BARRAGE OF BULLSHAT AND IDIOTCY COMING FROM OBAMA FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. Had he done so I would have thought him to be at least somewhat honest. As it stands I do not.--Tyr



Tyr. After reading several of reedak...the apologist, and propagandist posts here. I am convinced. He, or She is nothing but a PLANTED pawn, designated to create turmoil, unrest, and demonstrate the Ironic Ignorance, and Stupidity of government controlled drones in China.

Nothing more, nothing less. Just watch how...if he/she responds...the defensive tactics, and typically socialistic, liberal name calling, and accusations begin in earnest.
The LAST WORD...like many here. Must always be reedak's.

[reedak]

Tyr. After reading several of reedak...the apologist, and propagandist posts here.....

I am the apologist for logic and common sense.


....I am convinced. He, or She is nothing but a PLANTED pawn, designated to create turmoil, unrest,....

Tell me, which is the best place on the chessboard for planting a pawn? If you can't answer, you better go and plant some vegetables instead of a pawn.


... and demonstrate the Ironic Ignorance, and Stupidity of government controlled drones in China....

You may be a controlled drone of Uncle Sam. As for me, I compare myself to the knight-errant of Medieval Europe, China and Japan, or the bounty hunter of the Wild West. In other words, I am working for nobody but myself.

For a Few Dollars More 1965 Full Movie HD 720p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4xR4Ck2CAc


... Nothing more, nothing less. Just watch how...if he/she responds...the defensive tactics, and typically socialistic, liberal name calling, and accusations begin in earnest.
The LAST WORD...like many here. Must always be reedak's.

I have the last laugh at all your gibberish.

[reedak]

I believe he to umbrage at my posts about the evils of China and how China is truly our enemy...

Just close your eyes and throw a pebble in front of you, and you will sure to hit your enemy. In other words, everybody is truly your enemy, and you are the enemy of all people.


.....So to retaliate he starts attacking USA. I NOTICED THAT HE LIKE A FOOL CHOSE NOT THE ATTACK AND POINT OUT THE UTTER BARRAGE OF BULLSHAT AND IDIOTCY COMING FROM OBAMA FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. Had he done so I would have thought him to be at least somewhat honest. As it stands I do not.--Tyr

Poor Obama! He is being treated by some of his people like a monkey with a stick sticking out from his bottom. Should I add to his agony by joining those bullies?

[jimnyc]

I gotta wonder why someone would create a thread and ignore the majority of responses from people who took the time to reply?

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Just close your eyes and throw a pebble in front of you, and you will sure to hit your enemy. In other words, everybody is truly your enemy, and you are the enemy of all people. No, I would hit a friend or family member as I do not hang around or visit my enemies. You are Chinese just as I suspected right away. You defend China's aggression while you attack the history of this nation's so-called aggressions. Wars in which we sacrificed so much to save so many. I think you need real history lessons not whatever propaganda you apparently were fed during your education.--Tyr

[Voted4Reagan]

I gotta wonder why someone would create a thread and ignore the majority of responses from people who took the time to reply?

He hasn't addressed any of my positions on the matter. I did not take a confrontational position and he ignored everything I said and everything that others said as well.

By ignoring us and our questions he failed in his "Pas D'armes"..

You also realize that the Character of the Knight Errant is a product of literary fantasy and not based in much fact at all. It is a product of authors, poets and Literary romanticists. A knight did not ride around evoking these flights of fancy. Asian knights in China/Korea/Japan cared not for the people or chivalry. They were enforcers for their Liege Lord called upon to fight for one mans ideas and not love of a fair maiden. A Samurai would kill a common peasant for just looking at him wrong.

Your definition of Knight Errant is a bastardized interpretation based in Fiction... not Fact.

You are hardly Knightly...

[aboutime]

I gotta wonder why someone would create a thread and ignore the majority of responses from people who took the time to reply?


jimnyc. No need to wonder. That's what bullies, troublemakers, and propagandists are trained to do. Somehow. They feel they succeed, and Impress themselves by doing such things. Like making Mud balls, throwing them, then pretending SOMEBODY else did it as they feel secure in their Ignorance.

Call it a 'reedak creed'.

[reedak]

....you attack the history of this nation's so-called aggressions. Wars in which we sacrificed so much to save so many.....--Tyr

Wars in which you "sacrificed so much to save so many"? My foot!

"888FALLUJAH (IPS) - Babies born in Fallujah are showing illnesses and deformities on a scale never seen before, doctors and residents say.

The new cases, and the number of deaths among children, have risen after "special weaponry" was used in the two massive bombing campaigns in Fallujah in 2004.

After denying it at first, the Pentagon admitted in November 2005 that white phosphorous, a restricted incendiary weapon, was used a year earlier in Fallujah.

In addition, depleted uranium (DU) munitions, which contain low-level radioactive waste, were used heavily in Fallujah. The Pentagon admits to having used 1,200 tonnes of DU in Iraq thus far..."

Iraq: 'Special weapons' have fallout on babies
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_1202

[reedak]

....A knight did not ride around evoking these flights of fancy. Asian knights in China/Korea/Japan cared not for the people or chivalry. They were enforcers for their Liege Lord called upon to fight for one mans ideas and not love of a fair maiden....

Ancient Chinese knight-errants did not have the tradition of fighting for the love of a fair maiden, marrying her and living happily ever after. They pursued greater goals and moral values.

[Kung Fu] Dragon Gate Inn (1967) PT. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCdZpjfIaj0

[reedak]

Reedak, Democracy, despite all of it's inherent fairness, is no match for stupidity or greed. Add an intelligence test to voting, and remove the potential handouts, and you will see a vast improvement in who is elected.

It is easier said than done.

1. Do you mean that those who fail the intelligence test (in other words, stupid people) are not qualified to vote?

2. Do you think the inclusion of intelligence test is practical? It will definitely be a laborious and time-consuming process.

3. How are you going to carry out your plan?

4. Potential handouts are unavoidable as they are attractive to voters. Besides that, politicians are tempted to give handouts to win an election.

[reedak]

jimnyc. No need to wonder. That's what bullies, troublemakers, and propagandists are trained to do. Somehow. They feel they succeed, and Impress themselves by doing such things. Like making Mud balls, throwing them, then pretending SOMEBODY else did it as they feel secure in their Ignorance.

Call it a 'reedak creed'.

You and your company seem to enjoy making a monkey out of your president.

Call it a 'monkey creed'. :salute:

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Wars in which you "sacrificed so much to save so many"? My foot!

"888FALLUJAH (IPS) - Babies born in Fallujah are showing illnesses and deformities on a scale never seen before, doctors and residents say.

The new cases, and the number of deaths among children, have risen after "special weaponry" was used in the two massive bombing campaigns in Fallujah in 2004.

After denying it at first, the Pentagon admitted in November 2005 that white phosphorous, a restricted incendiary weapon, was used a year earlier in Fallujah.

In addition, depleted uranium (DU) munitions, which contain low-level radioactive waste, were used heavily in Fallujah. The Pentagon admits to having used 1,200 tonnes of DU in Iraq thus far..."

Iraq: 'Special weapons' have fallout on babies
http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_1202

Wars in which you "sacrificed so much to save so many"? My foot! A VERY AMERICAN SAYING THAT IS ! STRANGE HOW YOU A CHINESE BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION USE IT... HMMMMM.... And you rant on about the Iraq war like an American liberal. Then you pretend to be concerned about lives. Human life in China is worth spit that's the prevailing attitude. You talk like a liberal American and appear to think like one. --Tyr

[reedak]

He doesn't have the tone of a Communist. I will take a Chinese, Indian or Pakistani technical person any day of the week over what our government schools have been turning out lately. I'm grateful to work with and learn from all of these. Sometimes the job actually needs to get done properly.

Well said. It's high time for people with prejudiced attitude like Tyr and aboutime to think like you.

[Voted4Reagan]

Ancient Chinese knight-errants did not have the tradition of fighting for the love of a fair maiden, marrying her and living happily ever after. They pursued greater goals and moral values.

[Kung Fu] Dragon Gate Inn (1967) PT. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCdZpjfIaj0

in what time period did these so called KNIGHTS exist in China...

[DragonStryk72]

in what time period did these so called KNIGHTS exist in China...

They're called Youxia, actually. It literally means "wandering force", but actually is used to refer to knight-errants, just as Samurai means "to serve" in Japanese, or that katana just means "sword". They date back at least as far as the Han Dynasty, which existed from 206 BC-220 AD. Youxia were not from any particular walk of life, but were known for how they right wrongs for both commoners, and at times, the monarchy.

Christ I play too much Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

[reedak]

I think what you're missing/avoiding/I don't know is the inherent problems in anything are an abuse of power. A majority in a democracy can abuse their power over the minority just as an authoritarian can abuse their power over their subjects. In any system one can argue that there are advantages and disadvantages but any advantages rely on those in charge having restraint over their power. Can an authoritarian restrain themselves from abusing those not in power? I suppose but unlikely especially in the long term. Can a majority in a democracy restrain their power? I suppose but unlikely in the long term even if they have the best of intentions. Any system that is put in place needs to have some guidelines by which those in charge are restrained from absolute power.....

Thanks, I am impressed by your serious attitude towards the discussion about restraining absolute power.

I agree with you that "any system that is put in place needs to have some guidelines by which those in charge are restrained from absolute power". However, if those in charge intend to abuse their power, whether they are an authoritarian over their subjects or a majority over the minority in a democracy, they will try their best to find whatever loopholes in the guidelines that are supposed to restrain them from absolute power.


.....I think the best example of that is our Constitution but other countries have put in place documents that govern behavior.

What say you?

I don't think the US Constitution is the best example with guidelines that can restrain absolute power.

Professor Sanford Levinson at the University of Texas Law School has pointed out the flaws in the US Constitution. He called it "a human creation open to criticism and even to rejection".

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "It Is Time to Repair the Constitution's Flaws" at http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2006/100906_che.html

(Begin excerpts)
....But we are deluding ourselves if we believe that winning elections is enough to overcome the deficiencies of the American political system.

We must recognize that substantial responsibility for the defects of our polity lies in the Constitution itself. A number of wrong turns were taken at the time of the initial drafting of the Constitution, even if for the best of reasons given the political realities of 1787. Even the most skilled and admirable leaders may not be able to overcome the barriers to effective government constructed by the Constitution. In many ways, we are like the police officer in Edgar Allen Poe's classic The Purloined Letter, unable to comprehend the true importance of what is clearly in front of us.

If I am correct that the Constitution is both insufficiently democratic, in a country that professes to believe in democracy, and significantly dysfunctional, in terms of the quality of government that we receive, then it follows that we should no longer express our blind devotion to it. It is not, as Thomas Jefferson properly suggested, the equivalent of the Ark of the Covenant. It is a human creation open to criticism and even to rejection. You should join me in supporting the call for a new constitutional convention. (End excerpts)

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Well said. It's high time for people with prejudiced attitude like Tyr and aboutime to think like you. You mean people that study history and seek the truth . I pointed out your using a very American saying and exposing that you are likely not truly a Chinese citizen. A little slip on your part which you ignored in my post when I pointed it out. Question is why?


Wars in which you "sacrificed so much to save so many"? My foot!

A VERY AMERICAN SAYING THAT IS ! STRANGE HOW YOU A CHINESE BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION USE IT... HMMMMM.... --Tyr

[fj1200]

Thanks, I am impressed by your serious attitude towards the discussion about restraining absolute power.

I agree with you that "any system that is put in place needs to have some guidelines by which those in charge are restrained from absolute power". However, if those in charge intend to abuse their power, whether they are an authoritarian over their subjects or a majority over the minority in a democracy, they will try their best to find whatever loopholes in the guidelines that are supposed to restrain them from absolute power.

They may try to utilize loopholes but a robust founding document is critical in limiting those loopholes. Chief among those loopholes is separation of powers where each branch of government is (should) work to protect its own interest. I'll argue that we are currently experiencing a breakdown of that competition in government where the POTUS is going beyond what's legislatively authorized but more importantly we have a Congress that cares not a whit about its own role. Add in a judicial branch that has largely been coopted by those who would like to read the Constitution in an expansive manner. I'll point to the ratification of the 17th Amendment as a source of the breakdown historically (more below).

Granted any of those points I've made is arguable about the why of where we are now but it doesn't downplay the significance of the document in remaining relevant 200+ years later.


I don't think the US Constitution is the best example with guidelines that can restrain absolute power.

Professor Sanford Levinson at the University of Texas Law School has pointed out the flaws in the US Constitution. He called it "a human creation open to criticism and even to rejection".

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "It Is Time to Repair the Constitution's Flaws" at http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2006/100906_che.html

(Begin excerpts)
...

If I am correct that the Constitution is both insufficiently democratic...(End excerpts)

If you have an example of a superior document I'd love to hear it. I also won't deny that they didn't achieve perfection when it was written, it certainly didn't take them long to realize that they needed some amendments to cure some ills, but they were smart enough to create the document in the first place along with an amendment process.

As to the good professor, he is not correct in my opinion. The document was sufficiently democratic but our current version is overly democratic. The confusion many have is that the US is a democracy, we are far from it. We are a collection of 50 states that choose representatives to represent the people (via the House) and the States (via the Senate). The States are no longer represented directly rather the people are represented twice, and in unequal numbers as pointed out by Levinson, which upsets another check/balance that was inherent in the document; the States and people each represented equally in Congress. The latter is why I repeatedly call for a repeal of the 17th and require the State's legislatures to again appoint their Senators.

[reedak]

You mean people that study history and seek the truth . I pointed out your using a very American saying and exposing that you are likely not truly a Chinese citizen. A little slip on your part which you ignored in my post when I pointed it out. Question is why?

Once again I have to stress that I am not truly a Chinese citizen born in China but an overseas Chinese born outside China.

It is strange that you find it strange for a person of Chinese descent to use "a very American saying".

Talking about Chinese using American sayings, it is very common now to find Chinese students in American and European universities saying something like "Oh my God!" or "My foot!"

Do you mean that foreigners, especially Chinese, are not allowed to use American sayings or buy American products such as American cars and fast food?

Your government and American companies certainly won't agree with you.

I know your government has all the while banned the sale of weapons and advanced technology to China. But I am sure they want the Chinese to buy a lot of American goods such as apples, maize, pork and other low-tech products. Surely your government would like to introduce American culture to all foreigners, including the Chinese, and welcome them to speak like Americans.

If you read my fairy tale about the hellhound carefully, you would discover that I have used a mixture of sayings from Confucius, Sun Zi, William Shakespeare, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Benjamin Disraeli, Ambrose Bierce and Mark Twain besides some Chinese proverbs and my own invented quotes.

Don't tell me if I post my fairy tale about the hellhound in a UK political forum, somebody in the UK may ask me whether I am an Englishman. :)

[jimnyc]

I like twinkies, and of course my vitamin water. the US won 3 medals today so far. I hate snow.

[Abbey Marie]

I like twinkies, and of course my vitamin water. the US won 3 medals today so far. I hate snow.

I like Hostess cupcakes, and seltzer. I don't care who won medals today, and I love snow. And my favorite color is purply-blue.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

I like blackberry cobbler and RC cola. I do not care who won medals unless they are American. We didn't get snow my son is unhappy but secretly I am happy about that. I just don't dare let him know .-;) . Ok, so I would have loved it for his sake but who am I to wish so much hardship on others ?-Tyr

[reedak]

in what time period did these so called KNIGHTS exist in China...

1. Albert A. Dalia, who adopted the "wuxia" (Chinese knights-errant) genre as his writing form, not only wrote about the period in which the so-called knights-errant appeared in ancient China but also compared them with their counterparts in Medieval Europe and Japan.

Following are excerpts from his article headlined "A Genre Writer's Notebook" at http://www.wanderingblade.com/the-dragon-gate-inn/

(Begin excerpts)
....Since I am approaching this genre writer’s notebook as a novelist and adopting the wuxia genre as my writing form, I’d like to continue my focus on the development of this genre in the Chinese literary tradition. I would like to trace some of the images of the xia as recorded by their literary contemporaries medieval Chinese poetry.

Once again, I’m enlisting Professor James Liu’s wonderful book, The Chinese Knight-Errant, since he focuses his research on the xia – I prefer the Chinese term, xia rather than the inaccurate translation “knights-errant,” which Liu also admits is not an accurate rendering of the Chinese term, xia. After a look at xia historical biographies scattered across the history of traditional China, Liu concludes:

The examples of knights-errant given above show clearly that they included men from all walks of life and social classes: professional soldiers and officials as well as poets, musicians, physicians, merchants, butchers, and vagabonds. This should be sufficient evidence that they were not a particular social class or professional group.....

According to Professor Liu, the xia make their appearance during the Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.E.) in ancient China. As the period name denotes, this was an era of weak central government when the center broke down, and states, arising from the lords once beholding to the central royal house of Zhou, contended for domination of the Chinese world – it was a period of civil war – a Game of Thrones era!

....Not only did the knights manifest their rebellious nature in openly defying the law while attempting to see justice done, but they also showed their non-conformity in daily life by living in what would nowadays bee called a Bohemian manner and paying little attention to social conventions.

......The knights-errant had certain affinities with various schools of thinkers, but no actual affiliations with any. They were neither intellectuals nor politicians, but men of strong will and simple faith, who lived and died the way they wanted.....

There are two other aspects of this attempt to present as clear picture as possible of China’s xia at the time of their rise into the historical record: their relationship to the European knights-errant and the Japanese samurai.

The Japanese samurai are the easiest to deal with. They were a formal military and social class. As such, they were quite unlike the xia, who for the most part didn’t belong to a government military organization. Such organizations would be an anathema to the xia spirit of individualism.

Later on in Japanese history, when the samurai are in decline and become ronin (masterless warriors, thus free from military service), they still form a distinct social class – something that was never the case in the Chinese experience.

As for the European knight-errant, there are closer similarities with the Japanese samurai in the sense that both groups were professional warriors who held a definite social status. In China, if you could fight well, even if you couldn’t, and had the courage of your convictions, you could make a name for yourself as a xia or “wandering blade/fist.” Social status or warrior training was not required. Probably a closer fit to the xia, outside of China, would be the American cowboy and the classic crime detective. For these reasons, I strongly object to the use of the term “knight-errant” as a translation of the Chinese xia.

Although Professor Liu is constantly referring to the xia as “knights-errant,” he writes of their two basic differences, social class and religion:

The Western knights were the backbone of the feudal system; the Chinese ones represented a disruptive force in feudal society. The former extended courtesy only to their social equals and a strong sense of class solidarity; the latter made a point of breaking down social barriers and were entirely free from class consciousness and social snobbery…

Another basic difference between the European and Chinese knights is that the former had religious sanction and the latter had no religious affiliation.

While Liu’s statement regarding the xia’s religious affiliation is too absolute, neglecting the appearance in China of the Buddhist fighting monks, he does shed light on the religious differences when he continues:

Being a social class, the former [European knights] naturally confined chivalry to members of their own class and applied strict rules for admission. When Christian moral standards were superimposed on these, they formed the rule of the various orders of knighthood..... (End excerpts)

2. Following is a poem by Ts’ao Chih (192-232 CE) about the "xia" (Chinese knights-errant) at the same link http://www.wanderingblade.com/the-dragon-gate-inn/

A white steed decked with a golden halter
Galloped past towards the north-west.
‘May I enquire who the rider is?’
‘A knight-errant from Yu or Ping in the north.
He left his native district in his youth
And spread his fame across the distant desert.
He always carries a find sturdy bow
With jagged arrows made of bramble wood.
Pulling the string, he hits the target to the left;
Shooting from the right, he hits it again.
Looking up, he shoots an ape in flight;
Bending down, he hits the bull’s-eye once more.
He is more agile than a monkey
And as fierce as a leopard or dragon.
When alarms came from the frontier
That barbarian troops had made repeated raids,
And when a call to arms came from the north,
He mounted his steed and reached the frontier fort.
He rode on right into the land of the Huns,
Holding the Tartar tribes in high disdain.
He threw himself before the pointed swords
Without giving a thought to his own life.
He did not even worry about his parents,
Let alone his children and his wife.
His name entered the register of heroes;
His heart had no room for personal feelings.
He risked his life at a time of national disaster,
And regarded death merely as returning home.


Wandering Blade
http://www.wanderingblade.com/home/

Strange Tales from The Dragon Gate Inn
http://www.wanderingblade.com/new-page/

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

:rolleyes: Heaven forbid the man have an opinion Who forbid him having an opinion? We are allowed to agree or disagree with his opinion. I disagree vehemently with this one he expressed ...

Well said. It's high time for people with prejudiced attitude like Tyr and aboutime to think like you. A great many have disagreed with him on many of his posts , shall I list them for you? Do you care to blanket that quote to all of them as well? Of course his flattering --"think like you" was talking about you! Do try not to sell your soul for mere breadcrumbs of flattery amigo. I have much higher expectations of you and that's not false flattery. --Tyr

[fj1200]

Who forbid him having an opinion? We are allowed to agree or disagree with his opinion. I disagree vehemently with this one he expressed ...
A great many have disagreed with him on many of his posts , shall I list them for you? Do you care to blanket that quote to all of them as well? Of course his flattering --"think like you" was talking about you! Do try not to sell your soul for mere breadcrumbs of flattery amigo. I have much higher expectations of you and that's not false flattery. --Tyr

The one to whom I replied of course. Who apparently wants him to justify any action taken by the Chi-coms before commenting on other subjects.

BTW, don't be upset when someone recognizes my awesomeness. ;) Although he didn't quote me when he posted that. :poke:

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

The one to whom I replied of course. Who apparently wants him to justify any action taken by the Chi-coms before commenting on other subjects.

BTW, don't be upset when someone recognizes my awesomeness. ;) Although he didn't quote me when he posted that. :poke: Ahhh, but isn't it better when one can safely assume it is sincere. I decry no man for well deserved praise. I think great ideas and great posts that deserve admiration should get it. And I give such even to my opposition here. Tis one of the reasons I adopted recently a less antagonistic method of replying to those people. Not that doing such has curbed my usual rants much. ;) As those often are not directed at members here but rather the sheer stupidity of the American people thanks to liberal/leftist/dem influences and our Socialistic Education System.-Tyr

[reedak]

A VERY AMERICAN SAYING THAT IS ! STRANGE HOW YOU A CHINESE BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION USE IT... HMMMMM.... And you rant on about the Iraq war like an American liberal.....You talk like a liberal American and appear to think like one. --Tyr

I should have used the less polite Chinese way of calling you "My fool" instead of "My foot".


....Then you pretend to be concerned about lives. Human life in China is worth spit that's the prevailing attitude......

Unlike in the US, people in China won't have to be worried about being shot for no rhyme or reason. In Europe and China, travellers can knock at a door in a village, asking the owner for night lodging. But this is risky in the US, as anyone can be shot by the owner for "trespassing" once he approaches a house.

Sumter, South Carolina, Boy Shot and Killed Halloween Night While Trick or Treating
http://voices.yahoo.com/sumter-south-carolina-boy-shot-killed-halloween-2141556.html

[DragonStryk72]

I should have used the less polite Chinese way of calling you "My fool" instead of "My foot".



Unlike in the US, people in China won't have to be worried about being shot for no rhyme or reason. In Europe and China, travellers can knock at a door in a village, asking the owner for night lodging. But this is risky in the US, as anyone can be shot by the owner for "trespassing" once he approaches a house.

Sumter, South Carolina, Boy Shot and Killed Halloween Night While Trick or Treating
http://voices.yahoo.com/sumter-south-carolina-boy-shot-killed-halloween-2141556.html

Oh, god, did you have to make me defend Tyr? Actually, that's an inaccurate, and woefully hyperbolized statement. Generally, we don't ask strangers for nightly lodging, we just don't. I can't think of a time before the Civil War that we might have, but generally, yeah that's never been a thing here in America. You might've lucked out in the old days if you happened across a farm, or someone asked if you needed a place to stay, but otherwise, that's it.

And the article you're quoting is an aberration, not the norm. Yes, we have crime, and it can involve guns, because they're an efficient means of carrying out said crimes, but we have plenty of stories of people rescuing strangers with same said guns.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Oh, god, did you have to make me defend Tyr? Actually, that's an inaccurate, and woefully hyperbolized statement. Generally, we don't ask strangers for nightly lodging, we just don't. I can't think of a time before the Civil War that we might have, but generally, yeah that's never been a thing here in America. You might've lucked out in the old days if you happened across a farm, or someone asked if you needed a place to stay, but otherwise, that's it.

And the article you're quoting is an aberration, not the norm. Yes, we have crime, and it can involve guns, because they're an efficient means of carrying out said crimes, but we have plenty of stories of people rescuing strangers with same said guns. I suspect you ,
"The man doth protest too much, methinks". While I appreciate your insight and begrudgingly offered defense please never feel that you have to defend me amigo. I've done a damn fine job of that my entire life and I'll be 60 years old next month. So the experience has been long and a very busy one since I damn sure speak my mind regardless of any action it may bring. Always have and never complained because it brought vicious attacks. I just smiled will dealing with them. As young man absolutely enjoyed dealing with a great many of them. You might say that kickin' ass became an addiction back then. One I've slowly conquered but still have the knowledge and ability to do in various ways. -Tyr

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

I should have used the less polite Chinese way of calling you "My fool" instead of "My foot".



Unlike in the US, people in China won't have to be worried about being shot for no rhyme or reason. In Europe and China, travellers can knock at a door in a village, asking the owner for night lodging. But this is risky in the US, as anyone can be shot by the owner for "trespassing" once he approaches a house.

Sumter, South Carolina, Boy Shot and Killed Halloween Night While Trick or Treating
http://voices.yahoo.com/sumter-south-carolina-boy-shot-killed-halloween-2141556.html Dude the day you own any part of me will be the day hell freezes over! I am nobody's fool and I've tangled with dozens far smarter, and much tougher than you without ever breaking a sweat. Do try to curb that rather massive ego will ya? It made me ashamed for you when you presented such a ridiculous and stupid boast .... We in America have no NEED for some of the Chinese customs so that offering was an error and not a very bright one at that even. -Tyr

[aboutime]

Dude the day you own any part of me will be the day hell freezes over! I am nobody's fool and I've tangled with dozens far smarter, and much tougher than you without ever breaking a sweat. Do try to curb that rather massive ego will ya? It made me ashamed for you when you presented such a ridiculous and stupid boast .... We in America have no NEED for some of the Chinese customs so that offering was an error and not a very bright one at that even. -Tyr


Tyr. Take note how reedak continues his quest as the resident propaganda guru from China, here on DP.

Using old examples to stiffin his desperate, growing hatred for America, and Americans by posing such lame examples....ALL THE WHILE...never mentioning how the Chinese abuse, mistreat, and even destroy their own people, and mostly their children.
It's like reedak is China's version of Russia's Putin...pretending to be such a wonderful, admirable man..on the outside. While his KGB murderous traits lay waiting to pounce on the next victim.

Reedak is just proving...he needs to Improve his ability to EMBELLISH horrible examples of stories he repeats here in America...to hide his endless desires for propaganda.

[tailfins]

Unlike in the US, people in China won't have to be worried about being shot for no rhyme or reason.

That's because dead men tell no tales. Otherwise you could have asked supporters of Chang Kai-Shek. However you could ask some of the older residents on that island that has Taipei as it's capital where the LEGITIMATE Chinese government is seated.

[reedak]

......Yes, we have crime, and it can involve guns, because they're an efficient means of carrying out said crimes, but we have plenty of stories of people rescuing strangers with same said guns.

America would be a better place "if only there had been more Good Guys than Bad Guys With Guns".

‘If Only There Had Been a Good Guy With a Gun’: Paper Defends Publishing Cartoon About Chris Kyle’s Death
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/14/if-only-there-had-been-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-paper-publishes-and-defends-controversial-cartoon-about-chris-kyles-death/

[reedak]

Dude the day you own any part of me will be the day hell freezes over! I am nobody's fool and I've tangled with dozens far smarter, and much tougher than you without ever breaking a sweat. Do try to curb that rather massive ego will ya? It made me ashamed for you when you presented such a ridiculous and stupid boast .... We in America have no NEED for some of the Chinese customs so that offering was an error and not a very bright one at that even. -Tyr

It looks like I have to stick to the American instead of the Chinese way of saying. My foot! :)

[reedak]

Tyr. Take note how reedak continues his quest as the resident propaganda guru from China, here on DP.

Using old examples to stiffin his desperate, growing hatred for America, and Americans by posing such lame examples....ALL THE WHILE...never mentioning how the Chinese abuse, mistreat, and even destroy their own people, and mostly their children.
It's like reedak is China's version of Russia's Putin...pretending to be such a wonderful, admirable man..on the outside. While his KGB murderous traits lay waiting to pounce on the next victim.

Reedak is just proving...he needs to Improve his ability to EMBELLISH horrible examples of stories he repeats here in America...to hide his endless desires for propaganda.

All the while you have no other ways to continue with your argument than to give all sorts of labels to all your opponents. Typically aboutime! :)

[reedak]

Should happen but never will. Dems would never win another election if that was the law. .--Tyr

When a monkey is fed with bananas every day, it will get tired of the fruit. Hence, one day when it is given the choice of bananas and apples, it will pick the latter.

Similarly, the Republicans may win the election in the next or more terms, but after sometime the voters will get tired of them, then the votes will swing back to the Democrats whether the law is passed or not.

[tailfins]

When a monkey is fed with bananas every day, it will get tired of the fruit. Hence, one day when it is given the choice of bananas and apples, it will pick the latter.

Similarly, the Republicans may win the election in the next or more terms, but after sometime the voters will get tired of them, then the votes will swing back to the Democrats whether the law is passed or not.

How many monkeys are there in Chicago or Detroit?

[DragonStryk72]

America would be a better place "if only there had been more Good Guys than Bad Guys With Guns".

‘If Only There Had Been a Good Guy With a Gun’: Paper Defends Publishing Cartoon About Chris Kyle’s Death
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/14/if-only-there-had-been-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-paper-publishes-and-defends-controversial-cartoon-about-chris-kyles-death/

Another hyperbolized statement, and none of your own opinion. You don't even seem to have read what I actually wrote. I mean, I really just got through saying the problem isn't as bad as the press makes it out, and we're right back where we were. Reedak, guns are not the issue, they just aren't. We've had guns for all of American history, and we thrived, so clearly that's not the actual problem. Criminals have had guns, police have had guns, ordinary citizens have had them too.

(this is a bit of a tangent, but it will come back in to the OP) Do we generally need them? No, of course not, that's just silly. I've lived in multiple places for more than a decade, and I've never felt the need to own a gun for fear of my life or valuables. Despite living in NYC, Jersey City, Albany, and other areas that have high crime, I've never been robbed. In fact, the only time I did almost get mugged was in Dover, DE of all places. I say almost, because he didn't actually draw the gun, though he did show it. Unfortunately for him, I've seen far bigger guns thanks to the Navy.

So if guns aren't the actual problem, then why are the politicians so focused on them over here that it sounds like half the US is in a gun fight right now? Well, it's simple: Votes. (See, said I'd bring it back to the OP) I admit, that's a cynical line of thought, but bear with me. After the Sandy Hook shooting, everyone focused on the guns, and tons of states went for assault weapons bans, with many politicians leading the charge. Only one problem: The killer didn't use an assault rifle, since it jammed before he went in, and instead used two handguns. He obtained all of his guns illegally after the gun control laws here did their job and kept him from purchasing them. So instead, he went to a place where he knew guns were at, killed the owner, and took what was there, in this case, his mother.

Now, no law is going to stop a guy who is so far gone that he'd murder his own mother to get the guns to be able to murder children en masse, then kill himself. But here's the question that didn't get brought up with much attention: How did we miss this guy? How did he slip through the cracks for so long that he got to this point, and no one noticed it?

To talk about the real cause of Sandy Hook would essentially have meant dealing with a part of ourselves that we don't like to think about too much. Now, good politicians would have done so with as much care and respect as possible, but instead, in order to pander for votes and push legislation forward, they drew on the panic of the crowd. Much the same occurred with the Trayvon Martin shooting, without politicians only too happy to claim him as "their son", which is really just a slap in the face to the actual parents who just lost their actual son, but they didn't bother fussing over that part.

And this is why there are supposed to be checks and balances in place to stop these sorts of excesses. Pure democracy would never work, and we're only starting to lean in that direction, and it's factionalizing the country.

[reedak]

That's because dead men tell no tales. Otherwise you could have asked supporters of Chang Kai-Shek. However you could ask some of the older residents on that island that has Taipei as it's capital where the LEGITIMATE Chinese government is seated.

The Chinese civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists began after the Nationalists, led by Kai-shek, marched into Shanghai and killed 5,000 to 6,000 people in 1927 in what was called the "Shanghai Massacre".

As shown by past civil wars and currently the Syrian civil war in which the death toll has exceeded 136,000, civil wars are marked by tragedy and brutality, and the real losers are the country and its people.

The leaders of mainland China and Taiwan may meet each other this year. Let them resolve the question of legitimacy either at the negotiation table or in the boxing ring.

"Countless participants of the conflict fall by the wayside in their race up the apex of power, with their dead bodies piling up like a mountain, atop which stands the victor of a brutal, long-drawn-out, free-for-all, civil war." -- reedak

SHANGHAI MASSACRE
http://hwcahuffman.weebly.com/shanghai-massacre.html

Shanghai Massacre by Chiang Kai-Shek 1927
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKX49s9tBk

Shanghai massacre of 1927: Wikis
http://www.thefullwiki.org/Shanghai_massacre_of_1927

Syrian civil war death toll tops 136,000
http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/syrian-civil-war-death-toll-tops-136000

[reedak]

How many monkeys are there in Chicago or Detroit?

Go there and count the monkeys yourself.

[aboutime]

All the while you have no other ways to continue with your argument than to give all sorts of labels to all your opponents. Typically aboutime! :)


Whatever you say reedak. So now. Do me a favor, and use Chinese to interpret "EAT MY SHORTS!"

No labels involved for you at all. You are what you EAT.

[reedak]

Whatever you say reedak. So now. Do me a favor, and use Chinese to interpret "EAT MY SHORTS!"

No labels involved for you at all. You are what you EAT.

Since you pull down your shorts to show that you have nothing to hide, I shall do you a favour by taking the film that will never leave my house.

You are what you ARE, nothing more, nothing less. :)

[aboutime]

Since you pull down your shorts to show that you have nothing to hide, I shall do you a favour by taking the film that will never leave my house.

You are what you ARE, nothing more, nothing less. :)


Please pull them up again before you leave.

[reedak]

Please pull them up again before you leave.

So you want me to pull your shorts up for you? But I am no gay. :)

[reedak]

......Despite living in NYC, Jersey City, Albany, and other areas that have high crime, I've never been robbed. In fact, the only time I did almost get mugged was in Dover, DE of all places. I say almost, because he didn't actually draw the gun, though he did show it. Unfortunately for him, I've seen far bigger guns thanks to the Navy......

Thanks for your long message in which I can see that you are taking great pains to explain your point of view. What would happen had he actually drawn his gun and fired at you for the fun of it because he was as bored as the three teenagers in the Christopher Lane shooting case?

It made no difference whether he used a small gun or a bigger gun as long as he suceeded to shoot at one of your vital organs.

The problem of staying in a society of gun ownership is the uncertainly and fear of not knowing when and where some mad guy may draw his gun to shoot at everybody around him for no rhyme or reason. So far you can consider yourself quite lucky for not having met a lunatic or some bored individual who wants to shoot you for the fun of it. Of course, if you have the misfortune to experience it like Christopher Lane, you won't have the chance to tell us your change of mind about American gun ownership.

Police: 'Bored' Oklahoma teens randomly kill Australian student
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-oklahoma-australia-20130820,0,1628182.story#axzz2tQXYsNcx

Basketball Student Chris Lane Killed While Jogging Was Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knouUE-b5c

US teen in Christopher Lane shooting case has charges upgraded
http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-teen-in-christopher-lane-shooting-case-has-charges-upgraded-20131107-2x2c1.html


......Now, no law is going to stop a guy who is so far gone that he'd murder his own mother to get the guns to be able to murder children en masse, then kill himself. But here's the question that didn't get brought up with much attention: How did we miss this guy? How did he slip through the cracks for so long that he got to this point, and no one noticed it?.......

If the guy happened to live in a country where the possession of all firearms was illegal and punishable by law, his mother and all other people would not be allowed to keep firearms. Then his mother would not be killed by him when he took the guns from her, and the tragedy of the Sandy Hook shooting would not have occurred.


....To talk about the real cause of Sandy Hook would essentially have meant dealing with a part of ourselves that we don't like to think about too much......

Very interesting comment. Please elaborate on what you mean by "dealing with a part of ourselves that we don't like to think about too much"


......And this is why there are supposed to be checks and balances in place to stop these sorts of excesses......

If you were the US president, please tell us how you keep checks and balances in place to stop these sorts of excesses.


......Pure democracy would never work......

Why? Please elaborate on your statement. Foreign activists and dreamers who look to the US as their "beacon of democracy" will feel like getting a big bang on their heads when they read your remark.

[fj1200]

Why? Please elaborate on your statement. Foreign activists and dreamers who look to the US as their "beacon of democracy" will feel like getting a big bang on their heads when they read your remark.

Then they don't understand the reason for the beacon. We are not a pure democracy and we weren't set up that way. A "pure democracy" won't work for reasons as stated previously by many here.

[jimnyc]

Sure, take away all the guns and let the government run everything. Mao Zedang showed us all how great this can be! What was the last tally, anywhere from 40-70 million? And then another million "peasants" would have to be killed he said, to make room for "reform". I wonder how many years it would take of gun deaths to equal what countries with NO freedom at all add up to. I think last numbers I read were like 10k per year, but lets go nutty and make it 15k per year. It would only take like 4,100 years to catch up.

[tailfins]

The Chinese civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists began after the Nationalists, led by Kai-shek, marched into Shanghai and killed 5,000 to 6,000 people in 1927 in what was called the "Shanghai Massacre".

As shown by past civil wars and currently the Syrian civil war in which the death toll has exceeded 136,000, civil wars are marked by tragedy and brutality, and the real losers are the country and its people.

The leaders of mainland China and Taiwan may meet each other this year. Let them resolve the question of legitimacy either at the negotiation table or in the boxing ring.

"Countless participants of the conflict fall by the wayside in their race up the apex of power, with their dead bodies piling up like a mountain, atop which stands the victor of a brutal, long-drawn-out, free-for-all, civil war." -- reedak

SHANGHAI MASSACRE
http://hwcahuffman.weebly.com/shanghai-massacre.html

Shanghai Massacre by Chiang Kai-Shek 1927
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKX49s9tBk

Shanghai massacre of 1927: Wikis
http://www.thefullwiki.org/Shanghai_massacre_of_1927

Syrian civil war death toll tops 136,000
http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/syrian-civil-war-death-toll-tops-136000


Better dead than red.

[DragonStryk72]

Thanks for your long message in which I can see that you are taking great pains to explain your point of view. What would happen had he actually drawn his gun and fired at you for the fun of it because he was as bored as the three teenagers in the Christopher Lane shooting case?

Generally that doesn't happen, and I outright refuse to start doing legislation based around what crazy people do. By that measure, we might as well ask why Canadians and Englanders are still allowed knives, as stabbings skyrocketed after guns were banned. Again, the guns aren't the problem, so blaming them works directly against an actual solution, like a golfer constantly blaming his clubs when he hasn't been practicing, and is too angry to think straight.

It made no difference whether he used a small gun or a bigger gun as long as he suceeded to shoot at one of your vital organs.

Generally, over here at least, if they're showing off their gun, they don't actually intend to draw it. It's an attempt at intimidation, but that only really works if you're not used to guns.

The problem of staying in a society of gun ownership is the uncertainly and fear of not knowing when and where some mad guy may draw his gun to shoot at everybody around him for no rhyme or reason. So far you can consider yourself quite lucky for not having met a lunatic or some bored individual who wants to shoot you for the fun of it. Of course, if you have the misfortune to experience it like Christopher Lane, you won't have the chance to tell us your change of mind about American gun ownership.

And what of the mass stabbings in China and Japan? Or the skyrocketing stabbings that I mentioned previously? Then of course there's the fact that gun crimes still occur in every country where guns have been taken away, because the simple point is this: A guy who is up to murder does not care any longer about an illegal firearms rap. They just don't, just like the Sandy Hook killer didn't.

Now, for another angle: Why are perfectly law-abiding citizens to be severely punished for the crimes of people they don't know, and have never met? As I said before, guns aren't really the issue, so taking them away won't really change the crime statistics, or the crazies.

Police: 'Bored' Oklahoma teens randomly kill Australian student
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-oklahoma-australia-20130820,0,1628182.story#axzz2tQXYsNcx

Basketball Student Chris Lane Killed While Jogging Was Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knouUE-b5c

US teen in Christopher Lane shooting case has charges upgraded
http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-teen-in-christopher-lane-shooting-case-has-charges-upgraded-20131107-2x2c1.html

Again, there are crazy people here who want to kill people, just as there are in every nation on Earth. It's a sad fact, but still a fact. Passing laws about guns will do nothing to stop those crimes. They could've killed the kid with a brick, baseball bat, or knife, and it still would've gone down just the same. Murder is murder, and it really doesn't matter that much which method is used, guns are just efficient.

If the guy happened to live in a country where the possession of all firearms was illegal and punishable by law, his mother and all other people would not be allowed to keep firearms. Then his mother would not be killed by him when he took the guns from her, and the tragedy of the Sandy Hook shooting would not have occurred.

Like Australia? Still has gun crime, including shooting deaths. Same with China, too. Okay, so he murders some cops, takes their shotguns, ammo, flashbangs, and vest, and is now even more dangerous, because he has a police car, complete with police band.

Very interesting comment. Please elaborate on what you mean by "dealing with a part of ourselves that we don't like to think about too much"

There's a part of anyone that can be pushed over the edge, and no one knows how a person will react when pushed. Admitting that the Sandy Hook killer was a human being would be to admit that it's possible that sort of darkness resides in others, even themselves.

It's a truth that is hard to swallow, but needs to be. Instead of facing it, and creating a solution, politicians and news media here instead focus on the tool, instead of the person wielding it. Sandy Hook has become entirely about the guns, and not about the obviously insane person who was so desperate to murder children, that he murdered his own mother to get some tools to do so with, with the direct intent of killing himself rather than be captured. This means that we're doing no research into how he slipped through the system, or what might have helped him get over his mental disease before killing people, so that we can use that knowledge to help others. We don't get that because we're too busy blaming the inanimate objects for the deeds carried about by human beings.

If you were the US president, please tell us how you keep checks and balances in place to stop these sorts of excesses.

Actually, I would need the help of Congress to really get anything done. But assuming I've got the votes in the House and Senate, then first, I'm putting the Senate back to appointment as opposed to being a popular vote. See, the House of Representatives is supposed to represent the people, while the Senate represents the states, so that they weren't tied to voting, but to the good of their state as a whole.

Next, of course, is campaign financing. That crap is just a giant mess, and needs shaping up. My thought, and I admit it's a rough one, is stop campaign financing all together, and instead give the candidates specific times and places for their speeches and interviews, so that someone can't just drop $200,000,000 to basically buy the election out from under Third Parties who just can't get that many backers.

Then of course, comes the items I would have bring before the Supreme Court, as they have the duty of interpreting the Constitutionality of various laws. Mostly though, I want it to be law that anyone proposing a bill must get up before Congress to explain the entire bill, not simply keep reiterating the buzzwords points. They do this in England, and anyone who adds something to the bill must personally get in front of Parliament and explain not only what it does, but how it works with the current bill. A ton of faulty legislation keeps getting through because it's piggy-backed on other, better legislation.

Why? Please elaborate on your statement. Foreign activists and dreamers who look to the US as their "beacon of democracy" will feel like getting a big bang on their heads when they read your remark.

Because pure democracy is mob rule, a tyranny run by the majority. I believe it was put another way, "Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner."

This is why the US is a Republic, and not a democracy (Hence "to the Republic for which it stands" in the Pledge of Allegiance). Most people don't actually understand this, and unfortunately, a number of them are in office here. The whole reason the Electoral College exists here is to maintain a level between the populace, and the greater election of the President. Now, here I think we should go back to an older way of doing things. Instead of the future President just choosing someone, have it so that the candidate that came in 2nd becomes VP. This way, the largest number of people have representation, and it would more pointedly force cooperation between the two big parties. If the Senate went back to appointment, that would also give us a group of calmer, clearer heads that aren't worrying about the next election cycle for them.

Mostly, what they need to look at is prioritizing individual liberty, as opposed to government power. That's actually how we started off, with a very small federal government, but with the states carrying a good deal of power, with limitations. By prioritizing individual liberty, and making certain that the restrictions on government are placed with that in mind, you can head off a great deal of the troubles found in most fledgling democracies.

[Abbey Marie]

DS, I don't think making the guy who lost VP, will force cooperation, unless the Veep is given power. What it may cause, though, are more Presidential assassinations.

[Kathianne]

DS, I don't think making the guy who lost VP, will force cooperation, unless the Veep is given power. What it may cause, though, are more Presidential assassinations.

Yep, there were reasons that system of #2 vote getter being VP was repealed; unfair to both and the people. The system is difficult enough by design with 3 branches; no need to put political opposites at the head of one of those branches.

[Voted4Reagan]

DS, I don't think making the guy who lost VP, will force cooperation, unless the Veep is given power. What it may cause, though, are more Presidential assassinations.

Four words...

Abraham Lincoln

Andrew Johnson

[reedak]

Better dead than red.

1. If you are of Chinese descent, I hope God (if God really exists) can send you through the "Time Tunnel" to experience life in the bloody China of the 19th century.

Boxer Rebellion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_Rebellion

Qing China's Internal Crisis:
Land Shortage, Famine, Rural Poverty
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1750_demographic.htm

2. You sound like a Rip Van Winkle living in the Mao era. The Chinese people of today are more capitalist than you and other Americans. If you go to China, all your money may end up in the pockets of unscrupulous businessmen before you go red or drop dead.

Following are excerpts from the article headlined "The Death of Communism in China" at http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/death-communism-china

(Begin excerpts)
Although China will commemorate 50 years of Communist Party rule this year, communism is dead in the hearts and minds of its people.

Like their former comrades in Russia and Eastern Europe, the Chinese people prefer market riches to Marxist dogma. Now even the Communist Party leaders are conceding that private enterprise is here to stay.

At its annual meeting, scheduled to begin today, the National People’s Congress, China’s parliament, is expected to amend article 11 of the constitution and officially recognize that privately owned enterprises are an “important part of the socialist, market economy.”....

Despite continuing human rights’ violations, the China of 1999 is not the China of the Cultural Revolution. Although the pace of progress has been slow, China is creeping along in the right direction.

The torch of liberty will burn brighter only if China continues to open to the outside world. It is in the interest of world peace and prosperity that the West not lose the opportunity to engage China and let communism die a natural death. (End excerpts)

[reedak]

Reedak

When China cleans up it's record on human rights and conducts an election that is open and fair and doesn't crush protesters beneath the tracks of Tanks... Then you can lecture us on our deficiencies in electoral fairness.

We dont conduct our elections staring down the barrel of an SKS Assault Rifle or Tank.

Get back to us when you correct those things...

1. If you don't conduct your elections "staring down the barrel of an SKS Assault Rifle or Tank", please don't cry over spilled milk and treat your president like a monkey with a stick sticking out from the bottom. Anyway, go and vote for Reagan. Sure you know where to find him and vote for him?

Like author Ann Lee, I am fully aware of China's shortcomings, such as corruption, environmental pollution, the widening gap between rich and poor, illegal land appropriation, lack of judicial independence, etc. I hope the Chinese leadership can solve the problems while they still have the time.

2. Ann Lee is an adjunct professor of finance and economics at New York University and a senior fellow at Demos. She is a former visiting professor at Peking University. During her time teaching in Beijing, Lee acted as an economic advisor to Chinese officials, as well as several large Chinese asset management firms.

Before that, she was an investment banker and partner at multi-billion dollar hedge fund firms. She has served as a consultant to the Committee of Economic Development and the McKinsey Global Institute. She has appeared on Bloomberg, ABC, CBS, CNN, and NPR. Her writing has been published in such publications as the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Businessweek, Forbes, and Worth. A Woodrow Wilson National Fellow, Lee received her B.A. from the University of California-Berkeley and her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

As a Chinese-American who emigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong at the age of seven, Lee is uniquely situated to help Americans understand how China sees its own society and how to adapt some Chinese practices to benefit the US. For example, aspiring Chinese politicians have to pass tests to prove their competency to govern. While not blind to China’s shortcomings, Lee argues that rather than demonizing China, a more productive use of time and resources is to learn from this rising power in order to maximize the talent of millions of people.

Suggesting that the US should treat its Greatest Competitor as its Greatest Teacher, she lists the following 10 lessons the US can learn from China:

a) Invest in education
b) Introduce Confucian values and work ethic into every day lives
c) Make aspiring politicians pass competency tests and require a track record of helping the public unselfishly
d) Incorporate the Special Economic Zone model
e) Encourage capitalism in the real economy instead of the financial markets
f) Restrict banks to traditional banking activities
g) Make innovation lucrative for businesses
h) Support technology entrepreneurs
i) Embrace soft power
j) Adopt an attitude of goodwill towards China and other rising countries instead of seeing them as a threat

10 Lessons the U.S. Can Learn From China
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-lee/10-lessons-the-us-can-lea_b_1143462.html

Authors@Google: Ann Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXunISvhddw

[avatar4321]

I am the apologist for logic and common sense.

And yet you don't know the difference between a Democracy and a Republic?




Tell me, which is the best place on the chessboard for planting a pawn? If you can't answer, you better go and plant some vegetables instead of a pawn.

Where ever you need it at the time.




You may be a controlled drone of Uncle Sam. As for me, I compare myself to the knight-errant of Medieval Europe, China and Japan, or the bounty hunter of the Wild West. In other words, I am working for nobody but myself.


knight errant of China or Japan? Really?


I have the last laugh at all your gibberish.

Laugh all you want, it doesn't make what your saying any more credible.

[DragonStryk72]

DS, I don't think making the guy who lost VP, will force cooperation, unless the Veep is given power. What it may cause, though, are more Presidential assassinations.

Actually, the VP does have power, both with his positioning in the Senate, as well as by the backing of his party, it just hasn't mattered for a long time since the parties of the two are the same. Your assumption is that the election would still hold the same level of vitriol as it does currently, but really, that's not going to happen. Right now, candidates don't have to worry about seeing their opponent after the election, or having to work with them after the fact. Instead, they would have to learn to work better together on a regular basis, to be able to get things done. One the one hand, the VP can stall the Senate, but on the other, the President can veto legislation that is a sizable majority. They can stalemate one another with ease, and that creates a need to be able to work with them after the election.

Think about how different Obama's campaign would have been if he knew he had to work with Romney after the fact.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Where ever you need it at the time. A very good answer but the correct answer is the eight rank where it can be promoted to any piece except a king or another pawn. The most powerful piece is the Queen and over 99% of the time its promoted to the Queen.--Tyr

[reedak]

And yet you don't know the difference between a Democracy and a Republic?

If you want to make a clear distinction between the two, why do you mix the two together in your country, like mixing sugar and salt in your coffee? Choose only one and stop complaining.


knight errant of China or Japan? Really?

You can see that the hero in white in the movie "Dragon Gate Inn" did not wear an armour or ride a white horse. But he was what the Chinese consider "xia" or "knight-errant".

You may think that "knights-errant" had become extinct species in the world like the dinosaurs. We don't need to go back to the Middle Ages to find "knights-errant". Take for example, if you bully a handicapped person on the street, and a passerby tells you to stop bullying that man, he could be considered as an "knight-errant" even though he does not carry a sword or wear an armour.

That guy needs no approval or certification from you or anybody else to be a "knight-errant" as long as he does something he considers right or good for the society.

[Kung Fu] Dragon Gate Inn (1967) PT. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCdZpjfIaj0

[Voted4Reagan]

1. If you don't conduct your elections "staring down the barrel of an SKS Assault Rifle or Tank", please don't cry over spilled milk and treat your president like a monkey with a stick sticking out from the bottom. Anyway, go and vote for Reagan. Sure you know where to find him and vote for him?



Failure in your argument right there in the first paragraph. We are allowed to criticize our leaders and say or write about them almost anything we wish. China does not have this right and freedom of speech.

When you allow your people the right to do the same get back to me and tell me our system is flawed.

China is a repressive, despotic, dictatorial state where the people are allowed no criticism of their leaders. To do so invites Prison, torture and even death.

All you are is a mouthpiece for the communists in charge. No matter what you proclaim yourself to be.

You're a "KNIGHT-ERROR" not a Knight-Errant...

[reedak]

A very good answer but the correct answer is the eight rank where it can be promoted to any piece except a king or another pawn. The most powerful piece is the Queen and over 99% of the time its promoted to the Queen.--Tyr

At least I know you know how to play the chess, but the Seeker of virtue does not.

[reedak]

Failure in your argument right there in the first paragraph. We are allowed to criticize our leaders and say or write about them almost anything we wish. China does not have this right and freedom of speech.

When you allow your people the right to do the same get back to me and tell me our system is flawed.

China is a repressive, despotic, dictatorial state where the people are allowed no criticism of their leaders. To do so invites Prison, torture and even death.

All you are is a mouthpiece for the communists in charge. No matter what you proclaim yourself to be.

You're a "KNIGHT-ERROR" not a Knight-Errant...

Take this analogy, suppose you were a woman and you were married to somebody who was given the right and freedom to choose and love after a long period of free dating, and yet you were being scolded day and night by your husband after marriage.


Do you still consider this as the right and freedom of your husband to criticize you and say almost anything he wish about you?


Don't you find yourself in a repressive and dictatorial state after marriage?


In this analogy, you have married to "MR TERROR".

[Voted4Reagan]

Take this analogy, suppose you were a woman and you were married to somebody who was given the right and freedom to choose and love after a long period of free dating, and yet you were being scolded day and night by your husband after marriage.


Do you still consider this as the right and freedom of your husband to criticize you and say almost anything he wish about you?


Don't you find yourself in a repressive and dictatorial state after marriage?


In this analogy, you have married to "MR TERROR".

We have the Right to say almost anything we like in this country.

Your analogy is pointless until China allows it's people the same opportunity.

go away kid.. Your propaganda doesn't fly here.

Go listen to the messages of the Faulun Gong or the messages of the Dalai Lama.

Oh wait... if you do you end up in a RTL Camp.

(RTL=Re-Education Through Labor)...

"Arbeit Mact Frei" .... Comrade

Look up what that means in German and where it was located.

[Voted4Reagan]

How 21st Century China deals with dissident speech.

Circa 1937 Germany


RE-Education Through Labor Camps are CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

Arbeit Mact Frei... The slogan that millions died under in Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Dachau..


http://furtherglory.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/arbeit_macht_frei.jpg

[jimnyc]

1. If you don't conduct your elections "staring down the barrel of an SKS Assault Rifle or Tank", please don't cry over spilled milk and treat your president like a monkey with a stick sticking out from the bottom. Anyway, go and vote for Reagan. Sure you know where to find him and vote for him?

The same place as the many murderers that occupied the Chinese government? :dunno:

Funny that you speak about Obama being a monkey. I too noticed the many similarities. But you should put a picture of Michelle and an ape side by side, the similarities are uncanny! :) But I suppose I would rather look like an ape than be responsible for killing millions and millions and millions of my own citizens. No wonder so many end up on our shores!

[aboutime]

reedak is our local DP, self-appointed Communist, Propaganda announcer.

Thankfully. Even our idiots here in America know they have the protections of the 1st amendment, and freedom of speech. Unlike reedak...who's only freedom is granted by coming to a FORUM like this...with one intention. To make everyone else feel as miserable, stupid, and under the rule of less Freedoms in order to MAKE reedak feel better, and important to 'REEDAK'.

Everything reedak brings here in the name of hatred for America, and Freedom is slanted at a form of jealousy...he can't enjoy his miserable life...LIKE MOST ALL OF US DO.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

At least I know you know how to play the chess, but the Seeker of virtue does not. Seeker may not but chess is a virtue all to itself. It is like a fine wine, a great song and dancing to a favorite tune all rolled into one! It is like a beautiful and faithful woman that reserves all her love for that one soul that can make her pure heart sing. -Tyr

[reedak]

A majority, but not a landslide majority, and he has lost a number of those supporters since then. This is one of the key issues of a democracy. Public opinion becomes so very much more important, especially in hard times.

I think the main upswing of democratic rule is checks and balances. Unlike with the totalitarian government, a single elected official cannot completely wreck the country, as other elected with the same amount, or greater, power are there to stop them.

However, those same elected officials can use the court of public opinion to spin pretty much anything they can get the people to swallow, and large-scale changes take far longer to implement due to the need to get consensus.

1. Thanks, I am impressed by your instructive argument and your serious attitude towards all debates.

I agree with you that the "main upswing of democratic rule is checks and balances". However, excessive checks and balances can easily create gridlock in the political system. There is a striking parallel in science, that is, without friction between the surface of the road and our shoes, we can't even make a single step forward but too much friction will slow down the pace of our walking. I wish there would be effective checks and balances in all countries, including China.

2. Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Why is the US Political System So Gridlocked?" at http://pennspectrum.org/2013/11/20/why-is-the-us-political-system-so-gridlocked/

(Begin excerpts)
One review of the newspaper reveals to us a political system that has clearly become enormously dysfunctional. Most Congressional legislation is blocked by a Republican majority in the House of Representatives. At the same time, much of the political proposals of the Democrats have been fairly limited in scope. Yet, the problems, which we have in our country are tremendously huge. A laundry list of problems was provided by Matt Miller, columnist for the Washington Post: 20 million Americans desiring full-time work, won’t be able to attain it; the wealthiest 400 Americans own more wealth than the bottom half of the population combined; half of all jobs pay less than $35,000 a year; 12,000 Americans die every year from gun violence; 1 in 5 children live in poverty; social mobility is declining; the biggest banks, which have contributed to the economic crisis, have become bigger than before after receiving their government handout in the form of bailouts and Fed low-interest loans; 50 million people lack health insurance (after the implementation of Obamacare, it will be half of that), while the health care system continues to be the most expensive in the world; carbon emissions continue to rise, which accelerates global warming and climate change; most Americans do not have enough retirement savings; and politicians in Washington are busy raising cash from the wealthy rather than address the political problems that affect us all.1 And despite all these problems, members of Congress are incapable to alleviate any of these problems, so that even the business community begins to complain about the political incapacity of Congress...

On a final note, I will argue that some powerful interests in this country might even prefer a stymied Congress. A stymied Congress is conservative by necessity. A bickering Congress won’t pass sweeping social legislation. This generally benefits businesses. It is not that Congress does absolutely nothing. Some spending programs for important political clientele will continue to receive federal funding, such as the military or agriculture. Companies will still benefit from very favorable tax policies, and the way that happens is through lobbying, which is a legalized form of corruption. It would be simply called ‘corruption’ in other countries. But that is the only effective way to secure resources from Washington. On the other hand, popular interests become ruefully neglected. It does not seem to matter how many children are drifting into poverty or how many workers have to remain unemployed under the current government, the political gridlock will continue to prevent any significant social reform from happening. Food stamps and Medicaid are on the chopping block, not really the tax breaks for the wealthy. That is really good for conservative interests. This strategy might backfire for conservatives, because Tea Party Republicans are pushing for no compromise on the debt ceiling. But historically we know that over the last few years, the Republicans have always voted for an increase in the debt ceiling even if it was in the last minute. So far, conservatives do not have to fear much of anything. The political gridlock still benefits that clientele, even if the whole economy is harmed by government shutdowns and more poverty, inequality and unemployment. The focus of change will not come from grand political speeches by presidential candidates, but from the actions of a determined public. (End excerpts)

3. Following are excerpts from the article headlined "The curse of gridlock on US politics" at http://www.cherwell.org/comment/opinion/2011/08/03/the-curse-of-gridlock-on-us-politics

(Begin excerpts)
The spotlight has been thrown on the workings of America’s political system in recent weeks, as politicians attempted to strike a deal to get the nation’s legally allowed debt ceiling to be raised....

The fault - as President Obama recently alluded to when he stated that America was in danger of losing its AAA economic rating because it did not have a political system to match - lies in the political system set out by, that most revered of documents, the American constitution. Strange as it may appear considering America’s current position as the world’s pre-eminent democracy, the Founding Fathers were deeply fearful of the consequences of mob rule. Many of the constitution’s provisions, such as the federalist system, the bicameral legislature and the relationship between the president and congress stem largely from this fear.

In many ways this produced a workable and balanced political settlement. However, the decision to introduce staggered elections in order to counteract the likelihood that a political group would control all the institutions of government has had grave consequences: especially when coupled with a system that gives numerous ways and opportunities for potential pieces of legislation to be defeated....

Instead the American system often leads to endless torturous negotiations over minutiae of policy and fossilises the political landscape. With the constitution regarded by most Americans as sacrosanct and the mechanisms for altering it extremely hard to fulfil, this is a situation that is both hard and unlikely to change. The American government, in what looks like an age of increasing partisanship, may be unable to carry out radical changes it might need to remain the world’s leading economy. Gridlock at the heart of the American political system may well lead to a broader stagnation. (End excerpts)

[reedak]

Seeker may not but chess is a virtue all to itself. It is like a fine wine, a great song and dancing to a favorite tune all rolled into one! It is like a beautiful and faithful woman that reserves all her love for that one soul that can make her pure heart sing. -Tyr

Well said. It's a poetic, romantic and worthy praise for chess. I am a chess addict myself. I like brilliant, complicated chess combinations, particularly the queen sacrifice.

Which chess players, past or present, are your idols?

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Well said. It's a poetic, romantic and worthy praise for chess. I am a chess addict myself. I like brilliant, complicated chess combinations, particularly the queen sacrifice.

Which chess players, past or present, are your idols? Akiba Rubinstein, Charousek, Pillsbury, Spielmann, Blackburn, Carl Schlector, Frank Marshall, Capa, Alekhine, Lasker, Fine, Paul Keres, David Bronstien, Larsen, Fischer, Tal , Kramnik, Anand , Carlson and over a dozen more. Do you mind giving me your chess rating? Perhaps you would care to play a game? I am still a member at three different good chess sites. I am always interested in playing strong opposition.--Tyr

[reedak]

reedak is our local DP, self-appointed Communist, Propaganda announcer.

Thankfully. Even our idiots here in America know they have the protections of the 1st amendment, and freedom of speech. Unlike reedak...who's only freedom is granted by coming to a FORUM like this...with one intention. To make everyone else feel as miserable, stupid, and under the rule of less Freedoms in order to MAKE reedak feel better, and important to 'REEDAK'.

Everything reedak brings here in the name of hatred for America, and Freedom is slanted at a form of jealousy...he can't enjoy his miserable life...LIKE MOST ALL OF US DO.

Running out of ways to continue with the debate, you resort to your usual way of name calling and giving all sorts of labels to all your opponent. Typically aboutime!

Yes, continue enjoying your miserable life.

It's about time you rid the hatred in your heart, and stop all your complaints and grumbling.


“And the muttering grew to a grumbling; / And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling;/ And out of the houses the rats came tumbling.” -- Robert Browning

Robert Browning quotes
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/and_the_muttering_grew_to_a_grumbling--and_the/259520.html


“It is no use to grumble and complain; It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice; When God sorts out the weather and sends rain - Why, rain's my choice.” -- James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley quotes
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/it_is_no_use_to_grumble_and_complain-it-s_just_as/328356.html


"Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Brainy Quote
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johannwolf150550.html


"The world perishes not from bandits and fires, but from hatred, hostility, and all these petty squabbles." -- Anton Chekhov

Brainy Quote
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/antonchekh392140.html

[reedak]

Akiba Rubinstein, Charousek, Pillsbury, Spielmann, Blackburn, Carl Schlector, Frank Marshall, Capa, Alekhine, Lasker, Fine, Paul Keres, David Bronstien, Larsen, Fischer, Tal , Kramnik, Anand , Carlson and over a dozen more. Do you mind giving me your chess rating? Perhaps you would care to play a game? I am still a member at three different good chess sites. I am always interested in playing strong opposition.--Tyr

You have left out Paul Morphy, America's unofficial world chess champion, from your list.

My idols are Alekhine, Capablanca and Morphy.

I am sorry to tell you I may be a strong opposition in debate but not in chess. I am shy to tell you that I am not a chess master or an international grandmaster. The highest standard I have ever achieved in chess was to represent my school team when I was a secondary school student. Hence I do not have any chess rating. My chess standard may be lower than the Duke of Brunswick. You are quite likely to demolish me in a few moves. Well, that may be the only time you can enjoy defeating me.

However, I would like to have a chess game with you at any chess site provided the membership is free and I do not have to pay anything for my loss except my ego. Chess games are tedious and time-consuming. Just losing a game or two at a chosen time on a Saturday is alright with me.


Morphy versus the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_game

Paul Morphy
http://chess.about.com/od/famouschessplayers/p/Morphy.htm

[DragonStryk72]

1. Thanks, I am impressed by your instructive argument and your serious attitude towards all debates.

Thank you, I do try.




I agree with you that the "main upswing of democratic rule is checks and balances". However, excessive checks and balances can easily create gridlock in the political system. There is a striking parallel in science, that is, without friction between the surface of the road and our shoes, we can't even make a single step forward but too much friction will slow down the pace of our walking. I wish there would be effective checks and balances in all countries, including China.

I wholly agree with your point here. We hit gridlock a number of times, not only due to popular opinion, but the personal opinions and party affiliations of our representatives.



2. Following are excerpts from the article headlined "Why is the US Political System So Gridlocked?" at http://pennspectrum.org/2013/11/20/why-is-the-us-political-system-so-gridlocked/

(Begin excerpts)
One review of the newspaper reveals to us a political system that has clearly become enormously dysfunctional. Most Congressional legislation is blocked by a Republican majority in the House of Representatives. At the same time, much of the political proposals of the Democrats have been fairly limited in scope. Yet, the problems, which we have in our country are tremendously huge. A laundry list of problems was provided by Matt Miller, columnist for the Washington Post: 20 million Americans desiring full-time work, won’t be able to attain it; the wealthiest 400 Americans own more wealth than the bottom half of the population combined; half of all jobs pay less than $35,000 a year; 12,000 Americans die every year from gun violence; 1 in 5 children live in poverty; social mobility is declining; the biggest banks, which have contributed to the economic crisis, have become bigger than before after receiving their government handout in the form of bailouts and Fed low-interest loans; 50 million people lack health insurance (after the implementation of Obamacare, it will be half of that), while the health care system continues to be the most expensive in the world; carbon emissions continue to rise, which accelerates global warming and climate change; most Americans do not have enough retirement savings; and politicians in Washington are busy raising cash from the wealthy rather than address the political problems that affect us all.1 And despite all these problems, members of Congress are incapable to alleviate any of these problems, so that even the business community begins to complain about the political incapacity of Congress...

Well, a few points here, our social mobility is about on par for back in the 60s and 70s, so that really isn't much outside of normal margins. The reason for a lot of the Republican intransigence is really the way Democrats interact with Republicans, insulting them and treating them like insane morons and racists, but then want the Republicans to bend over backwards to work with them. I'm sorry, but that just isn't realistic, and the Democrats need to learn how to actually make concessions instead of just talking about it, but then returning to slapping them in the face.

The biggest run of this was the Affordable Care Act (purposely named so that Republicans voting against it would look like complete assholes.), which was passed illegally. First, the Dems tried to get it passed without letting anyone see the bill, which told Republicans that there was something in there that was really bad. Then, when the Dems "conceded" letting people read the bill, Republicans realized they were right to lean against it. So the Dems went about listing off only the good things in the bill, while continuing to duck any sort of questions about the obvious bad points, and flatly lying about the realities of what they were proposing. From there, they finally reduced the ACA to something more manageable, removed the unconstitutional mandate to buy health insurance, and sent it through the house, where the Republicans approved it.... and then the Senate decided to tack the mandate right back on there, and used a loophole by declaring the bill to not be materially different, knowing full well that the mandate was materially different. Follow that up with lying/playing word games with the Supreme Court to get it pushed through, and you have a pretty good set up for what the Republican problem with the Dems is.

Most of the legislation that is dead-ending isn't actually all that limited in scope, and that's another issue we're having. Everyone keeps trying to create the next game-changing piece of legislation, but the fact is, that is counter to what we need right now. What we need are smaller corrective moves, and to let things stabilize without government interference, but instead, we continue to create a more and more unstable economy.



On a final note, I will argue that some powerful interests in this country might even prefer a stymied Congress. A stymied Congress is conservative by necessity. A bickering Congress won’t pass sweeping social legislation. This generally benefits businesses. It is not that Congress does absolutely nothing. Some spending programs for important political clientele will continue to receive federal funding, such as the military or agriculture.

Well, yes, the military and agriculture are kind of necessary for food and defense.



Companies will still benefit from very favorable tax policies, and the way that happens is through lobbying, which is a legalized form of corruption. It would be simply called ‘corruption’ in other countries. But that is the only effective way to secure resources from Washington.

Actually, we have horrible tax policies for businesses. In fact, the US has the second highest business taxes in the entire world, with only Turkey exceeding us. Yes, we are more taxed than all of the communist countries, and that's just wrong.



On the other hand, popular interests become ruefully neglected. It does not seem to matter how many children are drifting into poverty or how many workers have to remain unemployed under the current government, the political gridlock will continue to prevent any significant social reform from happening. Food stamps and Medicaid are on the chopping block, not really the tax breaks for the wealthy. That is really good for conservative interests. This strategy might backfire for conservatives, because Tea Party Republicans are pushing for no compromise on the debt ceiling. But historically we know that over the last few years, the Republicans have always voted for an increase in the debt ceiling even if it was in the last minute. So far, conservatives do not have to fear much of anything. The political gridlock still benefits that clientele, even if the whole economy is harmed by government shutdowns and more poverty, inequality and unemployment. The focus of change will not come from grand political speeches by presidential candidates, but from the actions of a determined public. (End excerpts)

Part of the problem, though, has been the government stepping in. I know that runs counter to the excerpts, but every year, we get some new set of regulations, laws, minimum wages increases, and taxes for businesses that they have to redo their planning around. You can't just expect businesses to constantly expand in a market that is made so unstable by the government's interaction with it. Basically, if the government would back off for a few years, and let things flow naturally, the American people themselves would be able to fix things... but that doesn't really inspire people to vote for you, now does it?



3. Following are excerpts from the article headlined "The curse of gridlock on US politics" at http://www.cherwell.org/comment/opinion/2011/08/03/the-curse-of-gridlock-on-us-politics

(Begin excerpts)
The spotlight has been thrown on the workings of America’s political system in recent weeks, as politicians attempted to strike a deal to get the nation’s legally allowed debt ceiling to be raised....

The fault - as President Obama recently alluded to when he stated that America was in danger of losing its AAA economic rating because it did not have a political system to match - lies in the political system set out by, that most revered of documents, the American constitution. Strange as it may appear considering America’s current position as the world’s pre-eminent democracy, the Founding Fathers were deeply fearful of the consequences of mob rule. Many of the constitution’s provisions, such as the federalist system, the bicameral legislature and the relationship between the president and congress stem largely from this fear.

We're a republic, but that's a pretty regularly made mistake, but the article is right about the Founders' fears of mob rule. That's why they set up a republic instead of a democracy.



In many ways this produced a workable and balanced political settlement. However, the decision to introduce staggered elections in order to counteract the likelihood that a political group would control all the institutions of government has had grave consequences: especially when coupled with a system that gives numerous ways and opportunities for potential pieces of legislation to be defeated....

Actually, that was a part of the plan. It's a feature, not a side effect. The entire idea was to keep the government from amassing too much size and power, and that meant building in things to stymy the flow of legislation. The Constitution itself is one example of this, being a document that does not grant a single solitary right, but instead restricts the government from action, even including an amendment to cover inherent rights not specifically spell out in the Constitution.



Instead the American system often leads to endless torturous negotiations over minutiae of policy and fossilises the political landscape. With the constitution regarded by most Americans as sacrosanct and the mechanisms for altering it extremely hard to fulfil, this is a situation that is both hard and unlikely to change. The American government, in what looks like an age of increasing partisanship, may be unable to carry out radical changes it might need to remain the world’s leading economy. Gridlock at the heart of the American political system may well lead to a broader stagnation. (End excerpts)

It could lead to stagnation, but then, it may be such that we need it to happen to get over the problem. Many of the problems we're having though, are that we have hit a point where the size of the federal has become too great given how the system is built. It's like putting a Jet engine on a go-kart. Yeah, sure, it'll go fast, but you're going to die, either from the wind shear, or the kart ripping away from the propulsion and you hitting the pavement at 100+ mph.

The system of America is built around United purpose, so again, it falling apart to partisanship is not a side effect, it's a feature.