Hi,

Our forefathers set up things for citizen representation. It's the professional politician that remains in office far to long that has morphed the system to their advantage. Term limits for all. Not just for certain type, ALL. That way no one will be able to remain in politics long enough to cause undue problems. Lobbyists, all should be restricted from any communications with representatives or senators. Stop the salesman from controlling the way things are done within our representative system. True representation for the people by the people instead of the well lined or versed persons for their own gain.

People here should stand-up for their rights and voice concern when they see things that are not proper or illegal. Don't bend to the whims of some person who is just wanting for their own gain. You should not be able to buy your way into any form of representation; President, Senator,Congressman or whatever position that serves the public. I'm sure if the person is given just enough to sustain themselves then there would not be very many people in politics. Only those that truly wish to serve the people.

Sorry my friend- but I don't quite "get" that. The only way anyone remains in office for many terms, is because people vote for them. So even with term limits, what is stop our neighbors from voting for the cronie/carbon-copy of the guy who is in now but can not be re-elected due to term limits?

I mean, Bush was prevented from running again through term limits....so instead, had people wanted more of him, they could have just voted for McCain- right? Instead, to show their disapproval, they voted for someone even worse......

It's like I say- there's no escaping it- regardless of term limits or anything else- the politicians are just going to reflect the characxter of the people who elect them. [We're screwed]

I wish that didn't ring depressingly true.

Not necessarily, in that people often vote for parties, for policies, or essentially vote against the other candidate. All these things seem more likely in a country with an entrenched two-party system, like the USA. You're Republican or Democrat, and you oppose almost everything the other party says because They Are The Enemy. Multi-party systems promote constructive debate and compromise. And while there are fears of such systems producing weak coalition governments, I feel that's far better than a strong government that does the wrong thing. Far more countries have been ruined by strong governments (including dictatorships) than by weak ones.

Not that I think a tecnical forum is the place for polotics but for a long time people that were elected to an office were NOT paid. Take away their incomes and see who really wants to help enough to still be there. Money/power may not be the "root of all evil" but it sure can help aid it. These idiots that are running want a nice paycheck and good retirment. Unfortunantly, I don't believe a change in Presidents really does allot. Change congres and state reps etc.. Then again, most folks "don't vote" so what do you expect? If things are really able to be changed by voting one should at least "try". Still, what is it... I think the number is close to 70-85% of the people are not voting. They just gripe about things afterwords. Again, nothing changes if "Nothing changes".

That's way high. US Presidential elections have had turnouts of 50-65% over the last half-century. And have remained fairly steady, at least compared to the dive in UK General Election turnout in the 90s (from ~80 to ~60%).
That still does mean there are a lot of people who don't vote, but nothing like "70-85%".

Not True at least in my case, I have been using Linux sense the age of fourteen (8 years) and actually prefer it over MS. Windows but due to the fact that I can't seem to get MS Office working under wine I have no choice but to use a Dual booted system until OpenOfiice.org support the newer file extensions used in office 2007 and 2010 I will e Dual Booting.

^ are you subtracting out kids (as well as non-citizins [sic -departed])?

i heard in california they let classrooms combine for a single vote ?

also the electorals vote for president the popular vote has no official bearing on who gets elected president (i understand the argument that it influences the electoral college's vote).

that is why people have much more power and influence in local elections.

by-and-by, i only met one electoral voter in my life; they are supposed to keep their identity secret so they are not put in danger. i can understand that but it feels weird that a group of secret individuals are voting for president much the same way the next pope is canonized.

There is even worste problem in USA. Your electronic voting system is closed source, nobody is allowed to se the source or test the calculations. Only software developer has access to it. So it really does not matter how many people wote for one or the other party, who ever pays the most to the developer will have them to ajust the program to say they won. At least we have voting ballots on paper, so you can recount the votes any time.

But do not worry, if nothing changes, mainly in USA, with largest population and consumption groth in the world, it will be over rather soon. In next 10-20 years most of the oil will be depleted and the price of oil will skyrocket so high that entire economic, political and legal system will collapse. Then the remaints of humanity (not more then 15% of current population)will be reconfigured in productive way and we will be able to use all inventions without patents, to build much better and happier world.

7% in growth of oil consumption means that every 10 years that comsumption is doubled, and 1.7% average growth of population means that in last 60 and next 40 years (1955=2.7billion, 2055~12,2billion) worlds population got 3,4 times larger. Since by the 2035 oil production will be on the level of 1950's with current trends, and population 3.4 times larger. Anybody can do the math.

But after the big crash, no one will prosecute software licencies, nobody will care anymore.

Well electoral fraud is possible with paper ballots. But I would say that the use of any homogenous electronic voting system opens up the possibility of severe fraud. Let each state, or even each district, choose its own voting system and you'll hopefully get a heterogeneity that will mean fraud in any one system has a limited impact. (There could even be legislation, requiring that states use voting systems developed by organisations within their own state, to enforce variation).

As for peak oil - it's not going to result in "the entire economic, political and legal system collapsing". Shortages and high prices of energy and fuel will be problematic, certainly. But there'll be a transition to alternatives; bear in mind stuff that's not competitive nowadays could be competitive when the prices are higher. The situation would cease to be a problem within half a decade, although there would probably be lasting changes in behaviour (air travel would return to being the preserve of the rich, people would move towards smaller cars and travelling less).

Of course, planning ahead now will reduce the impact. That's something governments have to do. They can influence the economy by policy, and they should implement policies that favour alternatives to oil - whether by taxation, subsidy, direct investment, or planning permission.

Patents encourage innovations. Why would I make something only for many to steal it? The USA had all of the combustion engine and automobile patents but sold them all away. Years later, our car manufacturers are getting bailed out while the one we sold our patents to are living the high life. And we have millions of gallons of oil and natural gas in the ANWR and Alaska. While it'll take sometime to get the goods, we aren't as shorthanded as the almighty EPA wants you to think. The Dems have stifled attempts to make use of our natural resources. See: the new drilling moratoriums. Liberal Democrats (AKA Progressives) are selling the can of fear in much the same way you are. Oil is still out there; Just Drill, baby. Drill for the black gold.

You even made the point yourself that us Evil Capitalists have a much, much bigger and better income then many Euro-nanny states do. Our Capitalist health care system is far better then the UK's almighty NHS (of which the people of spoken and elected Conservatives which are deregulating NHS as we speak). So you can paint us as the worst of the worst, we the Capitalists are free. We the Capitalists are richer than the rest of the world. We the Capitalists are the people who provided the grounds for innovation. Intel, AMD, Microsoft, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, IBM, McDonalds and other wonderful companies (well OK Windows sucks but... ) are American. If it weren't for us Americans, the world would look a whole lot more primitive. By no means are we perfect. No system can be and no system ever will. But my make is my take and the Euro-guys can't say that...

Plus the Democrats want the entire world on Ethanol, and guess what the does to our corn and food prices ... $^.

So you're not working or you're evading taxes?

But seriously, I don't think there was anything in that post that couldn't be copied and pasted from writings by Rush Limbaugh and Sara Palin.

They and Glenn Beck are smarter than all the crooks in Washington at the moment. At least they have some common sense. I can't say that about the ones leading us right now.

Spend money because we got to much debt? Yep, it makes sense to Washington but not the rest of us.

I like Rush Limbaugh, and Sarah Palin is even better.

U.S. taxes are not near the Euro-guys. Rich people here are still actually rich ans still can buy multi-million $USD mansions.

The Progressive agenda is behind almost all the problems the U.S. faces. Obama and his cronies misrepresent true America. Can't wait to vote them out (and never would've voted them in in the first place...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian_economics

Given the GFC, how is it that countries like Australia and Canada can have current unemployment rates as low as 5% and 8% respectively?

The way some of you guys are speaking, it seems like hypocracy that you're using Linux.