US Politics

[Tumbling Dice]

Given that we have already crossed the finishing line of the 2012 race for president, and that the next presidential election is four years away, this is a new thread for the general discussion of any aspects of US politics.

Take it away.

[briscoetheque]

Politicians don't belong in people's bedrooms, nor in women's bodies, nor should religion belong in politics.

One side of US politics could consider that for the future.

As could one side of Australian politics for that matter.

Politics, particularly in the US needs to move the focus back on to governing rather than simply winning elections

[mdmomof7]

Politicians don't belong in people's bedrooms, nor in women's bodies, nor should religion belong in politics.

One side of US politics could consider that for the future.

As could one side of Australian politics for that matter.

Politics, particularly in the US needs to move the focus back on to governing rather than simply winning elections

No need to since you don't have to govern to win an election.

[Tumbling Dice]

Politicians don't belong in people's bedrooms

I agree.

nor in women's bodies,

I disagree.  Women should be able to be politicians if they so choose.  And what if a male politician wants to start a family?

nor should religion belong in politics.

Try keeping Anglican clergy out of politics.

Politics, particularly in the US needs to move the focus back on to governing rather than simply winning elections

Both parties in the US have that opportunity in the coming months.  How well they do could determine the number of elections they win.

[briscoetheque]

nor in women's bodies,

I disagree.  Women should be able to be politicians if they so choose.  And what if a male politician wants to start a family?

Very very nice TD. 

[imaginary friend]

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/11/georgia-senate-gets-52-minute-briefing-united-nations-takeover

[imaginary friend]

http://jezebel.com/5961192/thanks-to-team-rape-most-americans-consider-themselves-pro+choice-again


...well, looks like Todd Akin & Co. were good for something.

[Maximus]

http://jezebel.com/5961192/thanks-to-team-rape-most-americans-consider-themselves-pro+choice-again


...well, looks like Todd Akin & Co. were good for something.

I would bet you, right now if a national referendum was put forward outlawing abortion except in the case of Rape, Incest, Helath or mental health of the mother it would pass. (the same law that Ireland has)

[Tumbling Dice]

Reducing the budget deficit is the most important issue facing America right now.  I think the government needs to increase its revenues, AND it needs to cut its expenses if they want to make a big dent in the deficit.  However, according to the CBO, if the White House and Congress can reach a budget deal that extends the tax cuts and avoids reductions in spending, the deficit will be about $1 trillion for this budget year, which would be only $100 billion less than the deficit in the last fiscal year ending September 2012.  The UK coalition government has managed to cut the UK budget deficit by a quarter since 2010, while at the same time one million new jobs were created.

[The Unknown Caller]

I would bet you, right now if a national referendum was put forward outlawing abortion except in the case of Rape, Incest, Helath or mental health of the mother it would pass.

Given that that's a view which has never once commanded a majority of support in a major poll of what people think should be legal, that's a bet I'd take you up on!

Hey, here's one; how do you think a national referendum raising the top rate of tax would do? Or increasing education funding? Or re-instating the Assault Weapons ban? Or importing drugs from Canada? Hell, at this rate, gay marriage is getting near a national majority. We already know that support for repealing Obamacare has collapsed since the election, so liberals would probably win that one now too...

[Maximus]

I would bet you, right now if a national referendum was put forward outlawing abortion except in the case of Rape, Incest, Helath or mental health of the mother it would pass.

Given that that's a view which has never once commanded a majority of support in a major poll of what people think should be legal, that's a bet I'd take you up on!

Hey, here's one; how do you think a national referendum raising the top rate of tax would do? Or increasing education funding? Or re-instating the Assault Weapons ban? Or importing drugs from Canada? Hell, at this rate, gay marriage is getting near a national majority. We already know that support for repealing Obamacare has collapsed since the election, so liberals would probably win that one now too...

So Gallup isn't a major poll now???

Further I wish we would have a national ref on gay marriage, leaglazation of MJ

For one, even though I would vote for a gay marriage it would never pass, it can't pass in CA it won't pass nationally.

Further you keep on standing up for Obama care--what a horrible law--read the news today proces have all ready started to up becuase of it.

[Maximus]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx

52% of Americans say abortion should only be legal in the case of R/I/Health (which means all other illegal)

25% of Americans say it shuld be legal no matter what.

51% of Americans say abortion is morally wrong


A law requiring women seeking abortions to wait 24 hours before having the procedure done  69% favor it

A law requiring women under 18 to get parental consent for any abortion 71% favor it

A law which would make it illegal to perform a specific abortion procedure conducted in the last six months of pregnancy known as a "partial birth abortion," except in cases necessary to save the life of the mother  64% favor it

A law requiring women seeking an abortion to be shown an ultrasound image of her fetus at least 24 hours before the procedure 50% favor it

So based on this --one you are wrong, two you are wrong and three I would take that bet becuase you will lose.

Further I don't know who anyone who calls themselves aChristian much less a Catholic can support the murder of children.
 

[Starman]

^They're not children yet if they're an embryo.

[mdmomof7]

Reducing the budget deficit is the most important issue facing America right now.  I think the government needs to increase its revenues, AND it needs to cut its expenses if they want to make a big dent in the deficit.  However, according to the CBO, if the White House and Congress can reach a budget deal that extends the tax cuts and avoids reductions in spending, the deficit will be about $1 trillion for this budget year, which would be only $100 billion less than the deficit in the last fiscal year ending September 2012.  The UK coalition government has managed to cut the UK budget deficit by a quarter since 2010, while at the same time one million new jobs were created.

That's impressive! And here I thought you all were much more socialist than we. Guess I was wrong! Go UK!! Do they detail where/what those 1 million new jobs are? That's the tricky thing here w/ our unemployment numbers. They don't readily tell where the new jobs are and what they are. Hence, one has no idea if they are the same level/quality of jobs that were lost. I suspect not.

[The Unknown Caller]

That's impressive! And here I thought you all were much more socialist than we. Guess I was wrong! Go UK!!

Unfortunately, it's an awful lot worse than it looks. TD has cited a few selective facts without placing them in context.

The UK's GDP growth has been slower and worse than Japan, the USA or even the Eurozone over the past two years. We have also created less jobs than the USA over that period. Plans to reduce the deficit are also very badly behind schedule; TD notes that it has fallen by a quarter, however it was meant to have fallen by over a half under the government's plans, and they have badly lagged. They projected it would be gone under their plan by 2015; it will not be gone until 2019 at the very earliest. For half of 2012, we were actually back in recession again, with a net negative of growth.

This graph summarises it quite well;



As you can see, the UK's growth was about on pace with the EU's or the USA's until 2010, when we embarked on our current poorly concieved deficit reduction program and veered into a holding pattern scarcely better than the EU's but at a lower rate to begin with. Growth lower than expected, job creation lower than expected, and the deficit much higher than expected; a pretty clear story of failure, unfortunately for us. :/