No wonder you guys (Americans) are at each other's throats

[ZeroAX]

This thread was delicious, next I think I'll make a metric system topic

[Jmustang1968]

This thread was delicious, next I think I'll make a metric system topic

Eh that one isnt a big deal.

[dsheinem]

My statement and criticisms were mutually exclusive.

Or you could make the argument that those with a more liberal mindset are drawn to studying humanities and careers in academia.

Probably so - it would be interesting to see some research on this. It "rings true" to me in part because I think many educators see the act of educating as an activity that is in itself more aligned with liberal values, and I think your larger point about the alignment between professions and political philosophy passes the sniff test.

[samsonlonghair]

Well, the US has tried a few times to build up a viable third- or even fourth-party option, but it generally collapses for a few reasons: if one party does it and fragments, then the other party begins dominating elections. We do have a Green Party(which generally pulls votes from the Democrats), and a Libertarian Party(which generally pulls votes from the Republicans), as well as a Constitutionalist Party(pulls from Republicans) and a Socialist Party(yes, we have one, it pulls from the Democrats), etc. We've also had parties based around racist values(the Know Nothing Party), single issues(the Liberty Party), as well as populist social ideas(the People's Party).

The truth is, to get an effective system where we have multiple parties, both major parties would have to fragment at the same time. Otherwise the dominant surviving party will win elections due to its broad base while the weakened two parties will scrabble for a few votes and likely just end up cannibalizing each other to form a single party again.

And this is the way the American political landscape has been basically since inception, starting with the unorganized Pro-Administration Party against the equally unorganized Anti-Administration Party(which were offshoots of opinions on the Constitution of the United States), into the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties, and solidified in the late 1820s with the formation of the Democrat Party(which faced the National Republican Party, which became the Whig Party) and the 1850s with the formation of the Republican Party from the Whig Party.

In short, we've tried, and in the first century of our country, the political party system was actually pretty fluid. But we've cemented ourselves in the last 150 years(likely due to the Civil War), and while there have been shifts in demographics and philosophies since then in various ways, our party system has remained largely static.

That was a well-written description of U.S. political realities with a keen eye towards history.

Regarding my own political views, I'm fiscally conservative, but socially liberal. I believe in feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless, but only after all the bills are paid. I think the mining industry should be more regulated, and the broadcast industry should be less regulated. I believe that the privatization of certain mismanaged public services can be beneficial. I also think that gay rights (including the right to legally, unequivocally marry the person you love) is one of the most important legal battles of our time. This is the civil rights movement of our generation. Conservatives call me a bleeding heart communist hippie, and Liberals call me a pragmatic heartless conservative.

Another point: I seriously doubt that my college education had any influence at all upon my political views. I studied sociology, psychology, history, and world literature--just like every American who attended a liberal arts university. I don't believe that I have become any more or any less liberal than I was before I attended.

One thing has become perfectly clear: No party adequately represents my political views. I simply vote for the best man or woman for the job.

[MrPopo]

This thread was delicious, next I think I'll make a metric system topic

I'll switch to the metric system if you start using Kelvin.

[mjmjr25]

I believe in feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless, but only after all the bills are paid.

I believe the overwhelming majority agrees with this. This issue is not should we feed or shelter; but rather the divide is how we believe it should happen. There are some who believe it needs to be mandated and run through the government. There are others who prefer to do this on their own, with their family, through their church, their employer and without government intervention / mandates / tax dollars.

[ZeroAX]

This thread was delicious, next I think I'll make a metric system topic

I'll switch to the metric system if you start using Kelvin.

Technically that's also metric

[ZeroAX]

Actually, a lot of people here share the same sentiments. The media was heavily biased. Most notably from BBC politics correspondent Nick Robinson asking the same question over and over to Alex Salmond during an international conference, and Alex answered the questions again and again throughly - with amusement by other foreign journalists in the room. Later on that afternoon, Nick published a report saying that he asked the same question and Alex wouldn't answer / avoided the question. That is just one of the incidents of many from the BBC. Then there was the rest of the British and Scottish press...

Interesting. Do you have a source?

I know media can spread propaganda without people realizing it (just look at how Russians see the Ukraine crisis), and I know a lot of British conservative media were pretty gun-ho against Scotland (and they still are after the referendum from what I understand with all the talk about the West Lothian question), but honestly from all the reports I read on the Scottish referendum the BBC was the most low key when it came to promoting the no campaign. Others took a side (which is their right) and other not only took a side, but decided to use lies to promote their opinion (though you could see that on both sides of the debate)

[ZeroAX]

Holly shit...that isn't photo shopped?

I watched the video, you have quite a point, but imo maybe they said he didn't answer cause no one could understand his thick Scotish accent?

I don't know man, it's complex. If as you say people are not satisfied it will just keep coming back like in Quebec. But do wait for at least a year to see about devolution, this is a slow complex process.

[ZeroAX]

Above: MPs debate 10% pay rise for MPs.

I can't find pictures online, but we've had similar situations here