Presidential Debates: America Is The Loser

@Jennifer1984 Said

I'm glad I've prompted a thread that a lot of different people want to contribute to.

It was my intention to mainly concentrate on the debates themselves but other details crept in, viewed of course, from my side of the pond, but thanks to Leon for his detailed comments which have helped to educate this poor foreigner.

It's clear that the whole political spectrum over there is as divided as it is here, obviously though, for different reasons.

I will agree wholeheartedly with Leon's second comment regarding climate change. I myself am a paid up member of the British Green Party and take environmental issues very seriously although for some reason I now notice, I've seldom had anything to say on here about the issue. I'll give it some thought and come up with something on that score that we might be also able to have a constructive discussion about.

Dookie makes a good point, I think but we should put this one to you guys to answer...... What exactly is the situation with the possibility of armed intervention. There are a lot of guns and bullets over there, largely in the hands of people who I would suggest, are not stable and may very well want to take matters into their own heavily-armed hands.

History's lesson of Rome should not be ignored.

@mimierad Said

u ba dbou nigchana

@chaski Said

Is Your Bread Still Kosher?

No. No my bread isn't Kosher... mostly because I don't buy bread... or eat it very often.

@chaski Said

Is Your Bread Still Kosher?

No. No my bread isn't Kosher... mostly because I don't buy bread... or eat it very often.

@Jennifer1984 Said

I'm glad I've prompted a thread that a lot of different people want to contribute to.

@mrmhead Said

.. well "Diapers" is running a close 2nd at the moment ...

@DiscordTiger Said

Wait... you have to pay to be in a party? Or is that just a cultural difference for donations to the cause. Many people here give $ to their party. And in some they give to much giving the impression they buy access to candidates, but it’s not required to give money. You can just belong to a party by saying you do.

(I never took international politics, so forgive my ignorance I focused more on con law and rights classes)

@Jennifer1984 Said

Yes, we do pay membership fees to the Party. It's always been the way here. Actually, I'm surprised to learn that in the land of capitalism, you don't..!! I guess we've both learned something today.

Having said that, membership fees are not high. My party, the Greens, charge £3 a month ($3.86) so it's not huge. This is necessary because although they do also obtain funding from donations, bequests, etc, those things alone wouldn't be enough to sustain a party capable of competing with anybody. In any case, the concept of paid membership has always been with us. it just..... is. You know..?

Membership fees are smaller for other groups. A person on low wages can be a member for a flat one off payment of £12 a year and students / unwaged, £3.

The Liberal Democrats are similar to the Greens.

Labour Party members obtain membership by being part of a Trade Union and a small part of their union dues are deducted for the Labour Party. This is called The "Political Levy"

Quite what the Tories do is up to them. I've never looked into it.