Americans (US) Only: What Kind of Government Would You Prefer?

[gottaB]

Would you rather live in a constitutional democracy, or are you happy with the government you have now?

[PragMantisT]

1. Anarcho-syndicalism n/t

[daveskilt]

6. taking it in turns to act as an executive officer for the week nt

[PragMantisT]

9. simple majority for purely internal matters

two-thirds majority......

Help, help, I'm being repressed!

[No2W2004]

14. Had to do it!

ARTHUR: Please, please good people. I am in haste. Who lives
in that castle?
WOMAN: No one live there.
ARTHUR: Then who is your lord?
WOMAN: We don't have a lord.
ARTHUR: What?
DENNIS: I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take
it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.
ARTHUR: Yes.
DENNIS: But all the decision of that officer have to be ratified
at a special biweekly meeting.
ARTHUR: Yes, I see.
DENNIS: By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,--
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: --but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more--
ARTHUR: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!
WOMAN: Order, eh -- who does he think he is?
ARTHUR: I am your king!
WOMAN: Well, I didn't vote for you.
ARTHUR: You don't vote for kings.
WOMAN: Well, 'ow did you become king then?
ARTHUR: The Lady of the Lake,

her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur
from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I,
Arthur, was to carry Excalibur.

That is why I am your king!
DENNIS: Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords
is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power
derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical
aquatic ceremony.
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: Well you can't expect to wield supreme executive power
just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: I mean, if I went around sayin' I was an empereror just
because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me they'd
put me away!
ARTHUR: Shut up! Will you shut up!
DENNIS: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system!
HELP! HELP! I'm being repressed!
ARTHUR: Bloody peasant!

[PragMantisT]

15. NEE!

[gottaB]

16. Is that parody or satire? n/t

[Ediacara]

2. where's the "other" option?

I would prefer something more akin to the French Fifth Republic.

[gottaB]

10. All I want is some French Fries

Just French Fries.

And She wouldn't give it to me.

All I wanted is some French Fries, and She wouldn't give them to me.

...

What does it matter i'll probably get hit by a car anyway

[redqueen]

17. I'm not crazy!

You're the one that's crazy!

[gottaB]

18. Mad cultural capital, redqueen

:hi:

[pnb]

21. I thought that was supposed to be Pepsi

LOL

[gottaB]

22. genocidal libertine terra-ists....

Sudanese Gum Arabic. Have you ever heard of it?

I can no longer sit back and allow terra-ist infiltration, terra-ist indoctrination, terra-ist perversion and the international terra-ist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.


:crazy:


Have you ever seen a terra-ist drink a Pepsi?

That's why I only eat potatoes. Grown in Idaho or Washington State. All American spuds. Hell, most of America is carbohydrates. French Fried po-ta-toes. With Ketchup, do you understand?

All I want is some French Fries.

[hang a left]

3. "Status Quo?"

I think what the founding fathers envisioned would be nice for a change.


I did not vote in the poll.

[gottaB]

8. You don't think the founders envisioned a constitutional democracy?

:shrug:

[hang a left]

11. Perhaps I misunderstood your poll.

THis is what I would like to see returned.

I. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY?

CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY is the antithesis of arbitrary rule. It is democracy characterized by:

A. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY. The people are the ultimate source of the authority of the government which derives its right to govern from their consent.

B. MAJORITY RULE AND MINORITY RIGHTS. Although "the majority rules," the fundamental rights of individuals in the minority are protected.

C. LIMITED GOVERNMENT. The powers of government are limited by law and a written or unwritten constitution which those in power obey.

D. INSTITUTIONAL AND PROCEDURAL LIMITATIONS ON POWERS. There are certain institutional and procedural devices which limit the powers of government. These may include:

1. SEPARATED AND SHARED POWERS. Powers are separated among different agencies or branches of government. Each agency or branch has primary responsibility for certain functions such as legislative, executive, and judicial functions. However, each branch also shares these functions with the other branches.

2. CHECKS AND BALANCES. Different agencies or branches of government have adequate power to check the powers of other branches. Checks and balances may include the power of judicial reviewÀ"Àthe power of courts to declare actions of other branches of government to be contrary to the constitution and therefore null and void.

3. DUE PROCESS OF LAW. Individual rights to life, liberty, and property are protected by the guarantee of due process of law.

4. LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION THROUGH ELECTIONS. Elections insure that key positions in government will be contested at periodic intervals and that the transfer of governmental authority is accomplished in a peaceful and orderly process.

[gottaB]

12. Looks good to me too, my liberal friend

That's why I chose "constitutional democracy"

[hang a left]

13. Kind of grows on ya after a while, don't it?

n/t

[damnraddem]

4. A democracy would have direct election of the president.

And democracies allow for better proportional representation in legislatures.

[daveskilt]

5. how about proportional representation?

Most seats wins like in britain (yes im british but I am closing in on living in the US as long as I lived in Britain.)

that way nader's 6% counts for something with a few progressive reps in congress that the others have to deal with, the US system was originally meant for a multiparty election but it boils down to 2 for competitions sake which only hurts. In britain it was really meant for 2 parties BUT the libdems who havent been in power for 80+ years STILL have a say and influence policy rather than just influence the election result and then be ignored (nader)

[RoyGBiv]

7. No Vote

I would prefer a parliamentary system of proportional representation.

[terrya]

19. I'd prefer a parlimentary system, like Britain and Canada.

The elections are only a month long, the Prime Minister submits him or herself to questions from the House of Commons and the government is more accountable to the people. IMO.

Terry

[daveskilt]

20. I watched blair on tv this morning...impressive guy really

I mean I disagree with him on iraq but he defends his position as well as he can.

I think he was in the same spot as the dem senators who voted for the war...based on what he was told he had to do something, plus he had to weigh whether it was worth pissing off a president he would have to deal with for 2-6 more years.

Now he is there he is kind of stuck - of course he could be just an arse.

but watching him take questions from the press and not just pre approved press....q's from al jazeera reporters, daily express reprters etc. you know people who really hate him and he deals well....imagine bush taking q's from say al franken...