its not our fault.

[DeadSun]

i was talking to this guy from turkey. tourist. he kept saying that we americans are bullies and want to invade then stay at the country and call it your own. he kept going on about how we are such idiots because we invade a country because another country attacked us.
i told him that most americans dont understand it ether. that it isnt us, its our president and our political system today.

he went on about how our president represents the american people and how he is an idiot and how we are bigger idiots for re-electing him.

i told him that yes he is an idiot, but i didnt vote for him, also that the one running against him was almost as bad.

it isnt the american's people's fault, its the president's. he ignors us and destroys everything in his path. dont blame us. only like 24% or so like him. only reason he hasnt been impeached is because cheney isnt any better.

[UWDarDar17]

First off, it was incredibly rude of that Turkish tourist to bitch about politics. Turkey has it's own problems, and it's considered very rude of a tourist to presume he knows all about us. He is a guest in this country, and just as I would not point out problems in a host's home (there's a lot of dust here, the pipes leak, this carpet is dirty, etc), I would expect a guest to our country not be so arrogant and rude to his hosts. But whatever. Enough Miss Manners.

When it comes down to it, all that he said is our fault. Remember, we are the people. We are, in the end, responsible for what happens in government, because we elect the people who represent us. If we don't like the job they do, we don't reelect them. Clearly enough people thought Bush was doing a fine enough job that they reelected him (they may have been misguided).

So, when it comes right down to it, it is our fault, because we're supposed to actually make our voices heard. What have you done to actually effect change in this country? Simply getting online and bitching about how much Bush suck and how much the war sucks is nothing. You've gotta actually get out there, write to your representatives, start a protest, hold discussions, actually communicate with people to get them to action.

I, for instance, actually work to get people elected who I feel would achieve my wishes in government. I go beyond voting. I volunteer for their campaigns, I actually work for their campaigns, I work for the Democratic Party.

Right now, I'm doing what I can. I work for Obama's campaign, and I mean actual work- not phonebanking or handing out pamphlets.

If you don't do something to try and change your government, it is your fault, and saying it's not your fault is avoiding duty and responsibility.

[DeadSun]

bush wasnt even saposed to win in the first place back in '00. gore got more votes. but because bush's brother was the governor of florida he must have pulled our strings to make him win.

and i do speak up. many do. but the polotics wont listen at all. violent protests seems like the only way for them to listen to us. hopefully it wont come down to that.

the polotics do only what will benefit them now. the american people are not responsible is the polotics dont listen.

[UWDarDar17]

Oh ye of little faith.

Here's a task. Go to the House or Senate website. Or both.

Go and check out the active legislation for this session of Congress (110). Don't focus on Iraq, or gay marriage, or any hot button issues. Just look through, and see what is passed in Congress. Let's take a quick peek, shall we?

H.R. 1252: To protect consumers from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), 125 co-sponsors.

H.R. 2272: To invest in innovation through research and development, and to improve the competitiveness of the United States. Sponsored by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), 21 co-sponsors.

H.R. 1525: To amend title 18, United States Code, to discourage spyware, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), 5 co-sponsors.

S. 284: A bill to provide emergency agricultural disaster assistance. Sponsored by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), 16 co-sponsors.

H.R. 1303: To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve air carrier passenger services. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), 35 co-sponsors.

S. 5: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research. Sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), 41 co-sponsors.

That's merely a fraction of what is going through Congress today. And you say that politicians aren't looking out for you and are only self-concerned...You would likely not be here or able to do most of the things you can do without politicians.

http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/
b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page .htm#laws_current

[Dr-Worm]

At 6/2/07 11:30 PM, UWDarDar17 wrote: S. 5: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research. Sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), 41 co-sponsors.

Waaait. Did they pass this already? If so, YES! Victory!

Limb-regenerating Allied super-soldiers: 1
China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran: 0

[JakeHero]

Well, DeadSun, your first problem was you were this guys bitch and not belligerent enough. You seem to go out of your way to appease him instead of telling him to fuckoff.

[UWDarDar17]

Sorry Dr-Worm, that's a typo on my part. Those aren't passed legislation, they're active and in committee or on the floor now.

[Dr-Worm]

At 6/3/07 01:27 AM, UWDarDar17 wrote: Sorry Dr-Worm, that's a typo on my part. Those aren't passed legislation, they're active and in committee or on the floor now.

Aw :(

Well they better fuckin' pass it. Too bad Bush'd veto it if it was anything significant.

[UWDarDar17]

Oh, and before anyone accuses me of bias in these laws, the reason that all of these bills are sponsored by Dems is because it is usually the perogative of the majority party to sponsor bills.

[SyntheticTacos]

At 6/3/07 01:18 AM, JakeHero wrote: Well, DeadSun, your first problem was you were this guys bitch and not belligerent enough. You seem to go out of your way to appease him instead of telling him to fuckoff.

If he just told him to fuck off he would only be reaffiringthe Turkish guy's prejudices against Americans in his mind. I think it was a good thing he tried to prove that not all Americans think the way their President does.

[Memorize]

At 6/2/07 10:33 PM, DeadSun wrote:

it isnt the american's people's fault, its the president's. he ignors us and destroys everything in his path. dont blame us. only like 24% or so like him.

24%?

try these

Heh, both you and the tourist are idiots.

[Dr-Worm]

Uh, that still clearly makes his approval ratings low, just slightly less low than we thought.

[HighlyIllogical]

At 6/3/07 02:57 AM, Memorize wrote:

At 6/2/07 10:33 PM, DeadSun wrote:

it isnt the american's people's fault, its the president's. he ignors us and destroys everything in his path. dont blame us. only like 24% or so like him.

24%?

try these

Heh, both you and the tourist are idiots.

All three of Mem's comments are important to recognize, but 24% and ~33% are not that different in terms of negative approval.

[JakeHero]

At 6/3/07 01:37 AM, SyntheticTacos wrote: If he just told him to fuck off he would only be reaffiringthe Turkish guy's prejudices against Americans in his mind.

Who gives a shit about what the Turk thinks? He's going to be prejudiced either way. When someone insults your nation you don't take it sitting down.

I think it was a good thing he tried to prove that not all Americans think the way their President does.

He's going to be prejudiced no matter what. It doesn't matter how you act, because in the end nothing changes you let someone walk all over you.