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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#33901: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:28:27 PM

What? Whaaat? tongue

Anyway, a question: How is government done below the state level?

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#33902: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:28:49 PM

...Honestly, I think we should rewrite our Constitution and redraw our State lines.

[up] Depends on the State, I believe.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:29:20 PM by deathpigeon

tricksterson Never Trust from Behind you with an icepick Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Never Trust
#33903: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:29:20 PM

If anything the tendency is to pull apart. Northern and Southern California are functionally two very different states as are eastern and weastern Massachusetts. Likewise an argument could be made for splitting NYC and Long Island from the rest od New York.

Trump delenda est
Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#33904: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:29:35 PM

[up]x3 Thread

[up]I think, for federal purposes, it would be good for states to pull apart, because it separates the rural and urban areas into distinct groups such that each group can get its own fair representation. It would complicate the reorganization of the inner government, however.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:30:42 PM by Trivialis

Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33905: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:30:30 PM

@Inhopeless: Since you'll probably be shocked about why abortion is a big deal here: the US, despite it's odd political window is one of the few nations in the world where abortions at all stages of pregnancy are considered a fundamental right by the (federal) government. That's why the pro-life movement is rather large here. That's why they can only get trigger laws, parental permission, odd regulations on the place, and can only ban specific procedures. Your country has more restrictions on abortion than we do. Also, your neighbor, Ireland, bans it.

Also, that political map chart is complete bullshit, too.

Also, Senators and Representatives are elected because it makes it more democratic. The Senate give equal weight to each state so the government will not be dominated by urban centers (which the House of Representatives is). They also serve for six years, rather than two.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:34:12 PM by Completion

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#33906: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:32:16 PM

[up][up][up][up]

If we tried to rewrite the constitution, every politician in Washington would try to create there vision of a utopia.

It would get rather messy, and its probably best that we leave it as it is.

[up]

Let's not turn this into a discussion over abortion.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:39:02 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33907: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:34:35 PM

I'm just trying to make sure Europeans don't think we're right-wing everywhere. tongue

@Inhopelessguy: Government at the state level, with exception of Louisiana which is based on the French government, is the same as it's done on the federal level: two elected legislatures, an executive branch, and a judicial branch.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:37:47 PM by Completion

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#33908: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:37:28 PM

... America is big. tongue

Your country has more restrictions on abortion than we do. Also, your neighbor, Ireland, bans it.

We... do? What the fuck.

[up]Well, I mean, (get your damned bases out of here!) you are, though. tongue

edited 20th Oct '12 3:38:12 PM by Inhopelessguy

Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33909: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:38:32 PM

The US, Canada, and Netherlands have the most liberal abortion laws in the world.

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#33910: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:39:58 PM

Well, my mind is blown. It makes the fact that Irish (and Northern Irish; British abortion law doesn't extend there) citizens come over here to get abortions quite humourous. tongue

Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#33911: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:42:31 PM

Rather than right-wing, I would say US is very picky and insistent on its ideals. And its people kind of suffer from not being able to understand how things work in other countries, since it's located in a place with only two immediate neighbors and one of them has a tight border.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:44:26 PM by Trivialis

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#33912: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:49:54 PM

It's not just that they don't understand how things work. Many seem to feel we shouldn't even bother since America is obviously the best therefore we don't have anything to learn from them.

Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#33913: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:51:11 PM

But I do think average Americans are not sufficiently aware of government/culture of other countries. It's a big country here and many are just content to stay here.

BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#33914: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:51:28 PM

I think it's time to take this back on-topic.

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#33915: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:53:27 PM

[up][up]

We are, we just don't care.

But [up] has a point.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33916: Oct 20th 2012 at 3:54:29 PM

Obama can lose every swing state but Ohio and Iowa and still win the election with 271 (the amount needed to win is 270) electoral votes. Colorado, Virginia, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada, and Ohio are swing states.

I believe he will win Ohio, N. Hampshire, and Iowa. This will be an extremely close victory, less than the Kerry/Bush election but more than Gore/Bush.

Electoral math is fun.

edited 20th Oct '12 3:57:34 PM by Completion

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#33917: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:04:40 PM

[up]

I think Obama will win Michigan (is this still a swing state?), Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Ohio and New Hampshire

Romney will win Florida and North Carolina

Colorado and Virginia are too close for me to tell.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:07:19 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#33918: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:05:17 PM

Which map do you use, Completion?

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#33919: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:06:40 PM

[up][up]About what I thought before. Really the only positive for Romney that came from the debate win is that he made some regions more contested. He's risen up a lot but that's not saying much since he was pretty much dead in the water for the longest time.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:06:46 PM by Kostya

Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33920: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:07:48 PM

Here. Obama has won every poll in Wisconsin including the margin of error with exception to outliers (which is why it's listed as a toss-up), so give him that. Then you have all the true battlegrounds.

[up] Before the debate, Obama was projected to win all swing-states, which would have resulted in a landslide election of over 330. He fell a lot, but Obama is still projected a (admittedly very slim) win.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:11:38 PM by Completion

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#33921: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:09:31 PM

I've been looking at this. It seems like no electoral map has Romney outright winning so I think there's no cause for concern. The gap is smaller but he still has to fight and another strong showing from Obama at the next debate could just remove his previous bounce entirely.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:09:39 PM by Kostya

Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33922: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:12:14 PM

Obama has already removed half of Romney's gain. With exception to the national popular vote, which is due to Romney convincing more voters in non-swing-states.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:12:55 PM by Completion

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#33923: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:12:58 PM

What is up with Gallup? That doesn't seem normal.

edit: I just averaged it together and I found that if Gallup was a tie Obama would shoot up a whole percentage point. That doesn't seem normal.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:14:23 PM by Kostya

Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#33924: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:13:14 PM

It's just an outlier. Every organization has them from time to time. Even the best, like Gallup, PPP, or Rassmussen.

edited 20th Oct '12 4:14:10 PM by Completion

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#33925: Oct 20th 2012 at 4:15:20 PM

Gallup and Rasmussen seem to have them a lot though. Both of them had Romney winning for much of the summer when almost no other outlet said that.


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