Politics. The feel in your country.
Just a general testing of the water here. In Australia we have a violent, bigoted, racist, mindless old fool for a prime minister at the moment. Although you might say for a politician, "That sounds a bit over qualified" most Australians seem to be growing tired of him rather rapidly.
Every now and again in my country, usually it seems to be once every 12 or so years, having forgotten what it was like last time, we vote in the Liberal Party. We then proceed to remember why we stopped voting for them the last time. Because it's awful and in a few short months sends the country spiraling back into the dark ages with such memorable golden quotes:
‘I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons’
And lets never forget!
‘Climate change is absolute crap’
So, what are some opinions of politics and politicians in general where you're from?
I doubt this will be everyone's cup of tea but I do enjoy insights into other countries!
If you took the time to read this I thank you!
Every now and again in my country, usually it seems to be once every 12 or so years, having forgotten what it was like last time, we vote in the Liberal Party. We then proceed to remember why we stopped voting for them the last time. Because it's awful and in a few short months sends the country spiraling back into the dark ages with such memorable golden quotes:
‘I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons’
And lets never forget!
‘Climate change is absolute crap’
So, what are some opinions of politics and politicians in general where you're from?
I doubt this will be everyone's cup of tea but I do enjoy insights into other countries!
If you took the time to read this I thank you!
Post edited by Tresset on
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Comments
Many people in Russia call our president "Vor v zakone"
It's is a phenomenon purely Russian. "Vor v zakone" means the highest caste in a highly organised criminal hierarchy, something to the tune of medieval knighthood to get into – only the «worthy» will ever qualify.
Broadly, the terminology applies both to the organisation with its detailed and strict code regulating the thief’s behaviour and inter-inmate relations both in prison («law of the jail») as well as at liberty («law of the thief»).
The corruption in our country is behond your imagination.
I fully share the idea that in Georgia, Russia broke the rules, but did not contest them while in Ukraine, Russia never even bothered about the context.
We have a poor economics that becomes worse and worse with every passing day. We have human rights violations on every possible stage. The only one thing I see is a long and inevitable fall.
The opinion of Putin abroad is much the same. He's a strong man, former KGB who seems to miss the "Glory Days" of the Soviet Union. Granted the Soviet Union had it's successes, namely World War 2. Without Russia's involvement in that the west would be German and Japanese now. The west owes Russia a debt in that respect that can never be paid, and sadly probably never will. It also had a great many not so glorious achievements. Russia has a long history of rough leadership but has had a few extraordinary ones as well. Sadly they seem to be few and far between and are never around when you need them.
Georgia and the Ukraine I fully agree on. Russia has no business and no justifiable reason to annex the Crimea and arm, organize and train "Separatists". To be honest I think, from a military and political point of view he was looking for a chance to flex his muscles and rattle the saber a little bit. Although it may have blown up in his face a little bit. He doesn't seem like the type to admit a failure.
I feel rather sorry for the Russian people to be honest, it looked like it might be beginning to improve a little there after the fall of the Soviet Union but seems to be heading down hill again. Another arm's race with the U.S. or E.U. is certainly NOT what Russia needs.
We hear he plans to build several large nuclear aircraft carriers by around 2020ish. On top of a fairly large blue water navy. Which is a total waste of resources and money.
http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/05/newly-signed-law-could-give-putin-total-control-of-russias-internet/361819/
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-24/russia-gets-ready-for-life-without-visa-and-mastercard
The headlines speak for themselves.
This is like going back to the 1950's under Stalin. What I find curious, doesn't this cause an uproar among the people? Or are Russian people just used to this kind of firm hand from their government?
If he tried that here he'd get lynched in the streets by outraged hordes of Australian's who don't want their porn interfered with...
Here, if you set foot in the prime ministers office you get a pension when you leave. Regardless of age or how long you stay there. Could be a day and you'll still get it. Plus all the benefits...
Okay how in the hell did that happen? More importantly who thought it was a good idea? "Bring peace to the Middle East. Obviously if we invade here... and... here... we can give them a healthy dose of democracy." Well, your obviously qualified. You can drive... so... :P
@NaturalBornKieler Boring is great! Germany runs with the well oiled efficiency one would expect of Germans I expect :P Isn't your Chancellor an ex-scientist? That might indicate the presence of a brain...
Oh yea, there is tons of those, even I run one from time to time....
https://www.facebook.com/KickTonyAbbott?ref=br_tf
Ahahaha
She reminds me of the voice over from Fallout if I recall "All is well. All is well. Return to your rooms. All is well."
For decades politicians here have concentrated power toward central government and made local politics a bit of an unimportant sideshow. Entrenched local loyalties mean that individual areas will often vote for one party over another despite obvious incompetence or corruption. The only real changes in UK politics recently have been knee-jerk anti-immigration rhetoric and anti-Europeanism (due to right-wing gains in some elections), and the some ministers calling for wider surveillence powers despite the Snowden leaks showing that they already have access to pretty much everything without a warrant. It doesn't seem that crazy that the Scots want their independence, but I guess I'm lucky not to live somewhere crazier.
*Edit* Respect to @CaloNord for the Blackadder references. A rotten candidate for a rotten borough!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Ford
However, what I did want to point out is that technically as of a poll released today he is still polling in 2nd place in our mayoral race. This is despite him spending almost two months away from the campaign while in rehab. While its entirely possible that these polls mean nothing (Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker once said "polls are for dogs") they do likely mean that there is still a solid number of people in Toronto (20% or so) that will still vote for Rob Ford despite his record.
Which is what I was really getting at. If you want better politicians, or at least less controversial ones, you kind of have to vote them in
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/us/politics/eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary.html?_r=0
The thing everybody keeps repeating is that cantors campaign spent more at steakhouses than brat spent. At all. Gives me hope about winning a general assembly seat with the $17 I found in my sock drawer. Time to break out the charm spells!
Argentinian politics.
Thread = over.
I'm not advocating violent revolution or even radical change, but why in the age of instant mass communication do we permit these idiots to run our countries and get paid by our taxes?
Maybe we should form some sort of international grassroots party advocating gradual change toward more competent governance. No real left/right political leaning, just making sure that anyone wanting to be in charge of the Department for Justice has a law degree or legal experience, Health Department has some medical or nursing background etc. Perhaps encouraging people to transfer from relevant jobs into politics would inject a bit of pragmatic common sense instead of the moronic career politicians that seem to be everywhere.
In August 1939, at Stalin's direction, the Soviet Union entered into a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, containing a secret protocol, dividing the whole of eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence. Thereafter, Germany and the Soviet Union invaded their apportioned sections of Poland. cough... starting WW2... cough as the bad guys... cough cough The Soviet Union later invaded Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and part of Romania, along with an attempted invasion of Finland. cough... Finland kicked russia's ass cough cough Stalin and Hitler later traded proposals for a Soviet entry into the Axis Pact.
And... back to non-wiki...
Germany failed to even come close to taking Britain due to losing the Battle of Britain in the air. The blitzkrieg, the only advantage Germany ever had really, because they were not the superior race, they were far weaker because they could not see the talents in others... Were never ever going to win. As for Japan? They were going to defeat the entire Chinese sub continent and America? I haven't enough time to look up reasons why Japan stretched itself to idiotic limits by attacking the USA. But I can call you an idiot for making crass opinions stating we owe russia, who sent its soldiers to war without even rifles...
Most people with access to higher education think Putin is a bully. Most people call him worse. But then a country like russia may need dictator or it would collapse. Multi billion dollar industries would be destroyed and the only people who would benefit would be the people. All 143 million of them. But dictators don't like people so he won't let thar happen without a few thousand deaths...
And lastly. You must be a New Zealander to actually say Australia is not a militaristic nation. Look up your own history and give your own people the damn recognition to allow you to vote for the stupid arsed politicians you have today. If you feel you can do better sign up and get yourself elected. Although to get elected you will have to convince others your not a twat.
The game progresses and what ends up happening in it though is the exact opposite of what you'd think. Instead of me becoming this great naval power Soviet, French, and British forces put so much effort into attacking germany and italy that as Japan I start moving my way through China/India/eastern Russia. I eventually reach the point where I literally am stretched to my limits because the game has no more land unit pieces available for me (Japan apparently is given less because its assumed you'll be a naval power).
Meanwhile over in Germany that player spent a lot of resources/turns building up this huge navy themselves. When it basically turned out to be useless! (the big threat for Germany at the start of the game is Russia invading from the east).
Anyways, we (Axis) did eventually end up losing (partly due to a strategic mistake on my part but mostly due to Germany succumbing) but it was funny to see how it turned out
...
Angry isn't me... And I suppose not everyone has to teach history, or had to grow up strong and proud under the shadow and threat of the mushroom cloud...
...
Can't we make a technocracy. People give a problem and post it on the net. People give a range of solutions to it and post them . The people then all get a vote via the Internet... It will completely disfranchise those without an internet connection... but first law is...Give everyone the internet. End of politicians. Everyone becomes a politician. Amen (actually better keep religion out of it) Sorted.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced "bold, persistent experimentation" as part of his presidency. They tried new things, kept them if they worked and admitted and cancelled them if they didn't. There's a reason he's the second most popular US President of all time.
Because he is smarter and better at explaining things than I am, I suggest reading some of Ben Goldacre's articles on it.