Forums > Social Discussion > The Massachusetts Election: why it's not the end of the world.
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HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
So recently, the unthinkable happened: a Republican won a senate seat in Massachusetts, replacing the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
The reaction from both DNC and GOP leaders was curious. They called it "monumental," and said that this would derail all sorts of legislation.
Wait a sec... there are 100 seats in the Senate. So this is 1% of the Senate. Which is 1/2 of 1/3 of the government. So we're dealing now with ~0.16% of the power in the government going to the GOP. And yet, somehow, just because the DNC loses its filibuster-proof majority, the GOP have become Grand High Poobahs For Life?
The concern, of course, is that the GOP will start to filibuster EVERYTHING to make the Democrats look completely ineffective. The problem is that even without the help of the GOP, the Democrats have already been doing a wonderful job of looking completely ineffective.
It's a lovely situation we have in this country. On one side of the aisle we have the well-meaning incompetents and on the other side of the aisle we have the shrewd evil-doers. *Sigh*
So recently, the unthinkable happened: a Republican won a senate seat in Massachusetts, replacing the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
The reaction from both DNC and GOP leaders was curious. They called it "monumental," and said that this would derail all sorts of legislation.
Wait a sec... there are 100 seats in the Senate. So this is 1% of the Senate. Which is 1/2 of 1/3 of the government. So we're dealing now with ~0.16% of the power in the government going to the GOP. And yet, somehow, just because the DNC loses its filibuster-proof majority, the GOP have become Grand High Poobahs For Life?
The concern, of course, is that the GOP will start to filibuster EVERYTHING to make the Democrats look completely ineffective. The problem is that even without the help of the GOP, the Democrats have already been doing a wonderful job of looking completely ineffective.
It's a lovely situation we have in this country. On one side of the aisle we have the well-meaning incompetents and on the other side of the aisle we have the shrewd evil-doers. *Sigh*
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
GOLD Member
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Posted:
That is a pretty accurate description of the situation alright.
That is a pretty accurate description of the situation alright.
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
GOLD Member
All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
2,280 posts
Location: Trenton, MI, USA
All High Dude, Ruler of What You Want
2,280 posts
Location: Trenton, MI, USA
Posted:
^^ditto
^^ditto
The only luck is bad luck.
Shut up before I stall my poi up your ass 
SILVER Member
Fire Spinner Exarch
514 posts
Location: New Orleans, LA United States, USA
Fire Spinner Exarch
514 posts
Location: New Orleans, LA United States, USA
Posted:
This country and the world survived eight years of Emperor Bush, it will survive an upswing in Republican power in government. The Democratic party has been mewling kittens for quite some time now and that is unlikely to change either. And after a long enough time, the rest of the country will get tired of the GOP's excess and go back to Democrats and the cycle repeats.
This country and the world survived eight years of Emperor Bush, it will survive an upswing in Republican power in government. The Democratic party has been mewling kittens for quite some time now and that is unlikely to change either. And after a long enough time, the rest of the country will get tired of the GOP's excess and go back to Democrats and the cycle repeats.
"Are you sure it's safe to drink bleach?"
"Yes, bleach is 90% water, we are 90% water, therefore: we are bleach."
-Nathan Explosion, Metalocalypse
GOLD Member
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Putting the "FUN" in fundamental since 1981
787 posts
Location: Dover, Delaware USA
Posted:
I want a Libertarian in office or at least more serving past the local and state level...
I want a Libertarian in office or at least more serving past the local and state level...
~Rock on!~
"As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough"-Waking Life
(All you RLers this is epitome_of_lame *waves hello*)
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
Originally Posted By: brenonfire413This country and the world survived eight years of Emperor Bush,
Did it? The U.S. still exists, but now we have so many crises that I'm not sure we will survive.
Originally Posted By: brenonfire413This country and the world survived eight years of Emperor Bush,
Did it? The U.S. still exists, but now we have so many crises that I'm not sure we will survive.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
BRONZE Member
addict
474 posts
Location: Australia
addict
474 posts
Location: Australia
Posted:
As a non American it is hard to identify the cmplexities involved with other styles of governement, I found the following explaination helped me understund different leadership philosophies:
GOVERNMENTS EXPLAINED:
FEUDALISM
You have two cows.
Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM
You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with
everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all the
cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM
You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with
everyone else's cows. The cows are cared for by ex-chicken
farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the
government took from the chicken farmers. The government
gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you
should need.
FACISM
You have two cows.
The government takes both, hires you to take care of them,
and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM
You have two cows.
Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all
share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM
You have two cows.
You have to take care of them, but the government takes
all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM
You have two cows.
The government takes both cows and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP
You have two cows.
The government takes both cows and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY
You have two cows.
Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
You have two cows.
Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY
You have two cows.
At first the government regulates what you can feed them
and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk
them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and
pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill
out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY
You have two cows.
Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors
try to take the cows and kill you.
CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
AMERICAN CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull; take out huge
loan on the cow, and ignore both the cow
and the loan from that point on; then you
try to milk the bull, and blame the
Japanese for its lack of production.
SURREALISM
You have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
As a non American it is hard to identify the cmplexities involved with other styles of governement, I found the following explaination helped me understund different leadership philosophies:
GOVERNMENTS EXPLAINED:
FEUDALISM
You have two cows.
Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM
You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with
everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all the
cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM
You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with
everyone else's cows. The cows are cared for by ex-chicken
farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the
government took from the chicken farmers. The government
gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you
should need.
FACISM
You have two cows.
The government takes both, hires you to take care of them,
and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM
You have two cows.
Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all
share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM
You have two cows.
You have to take care of them, but the government takes
all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM
You have two cows.
The government takes both cows and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP
You have two cows.
The government takes both cows and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY
You have two cows.
Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
You have two cows.
Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY
You have two cows.
At first the government regulates what you can feed them
and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk
them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and
pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill
out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY
You have two cows.
Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors
try to take the cows and kill you.
CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
AMERICAN CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull; take out huge
loan on the cow, and ignore both the cow
and the loan from that point on; then you
try to milk the bull, and blame the
Japanese for its lack of production.
SURREALISM
You have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
sticks and stones my break my bones, but ski patrol will save me.
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