It's not just the USA. The party with most votes in a General Election in the UK hasn't always won. 1951, for example, and I think it may have happened since[.
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US election (merged threads)
- Thread starter The Clown of Pevensey Bay
- Start date
It's not just the USA. The party with most votes in a General Election in the UK hasn't always won. 1951, for example, and I think it may have happened since[.
Democracy doesn't end at the voting booth. Protests can influence policy of those who are in power, and are one of the most powerful ways of letting your opinion be known in between elections. By protesting early and loudly they may be able to shape Trump's approach or the approach of those in Congress he has to work with.
Miximate
Well-known member
Michaelle OBAMA - First Lady President! It will happen!! Watch this space
You choose to cherrypick one voter to somehow try to validate your own prejudices, weak argument as usual.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Grizzling in the streets seems a tad more acceptable than what sometimes seems to happen on the streets of America
Of course it wont and I suspect those out on the streets are fully aware of that. I can understand how the hurt and disappointment in the result can cause an emotional reaction and bring people together though. Pointless from a political point of view for sure, but not pointless in terms of a display of unity with those who may feel discriminated by Trump and not pointless in terms of those people expressing their sadness and getting over that. So long as it's peaceful I see no harm in it.
Yes, the deed is done and they should get on with it - as we should with Brexit (although that is more complicated), but consider this...
The seeds of this discord were laid by Trump himself. By suggesting that he would not accept the result and that it was rigged he has created the very atmosphere that has led to these protests. He let that genie out of the bottle, and now he has to put it back in.
Too many of our politicians are using lies and rely on generating angry sentiment to get elected. They worry about policy later. However, this approach just creates the very divisive society we are now witnessing.
Brexit was not about the truth, it was about how people feel.
Trump did not rely on the truth, he just played on people's feelings.
What's worse is that by the end, everyone knew Trump was lying, so in the absence of truth they went with how they felt. Very dangerous. I sometimes feel like not going to work, but if I didn't show up every time I felt this way, then I'd probably be homeless.
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
You are correct in that it seems ridiculous that Trump could win with fewer votes overall. That possibility exists here with our fptp system as well but I don't think it's ever happened. But, it is still democracy. In my opinion, an inferior form but nonetheless, democracy.
You have a point. I think I would most likely protest against all extremes. I think my point is more against people who think that it's acceptable to like democracy up to the point that democracy doesn't deliver what they want. 'We don't accept that he is our president' blah blah blah. I didn't like Thatcher, or Blair but they were our prime ministers, end of.
On the voting numbers, the poor turnout illustrates that both candidates were unable to motivate high enough numbers of people. I would have found it a very difficult choice had I been American. One can't simply say that the vote lacks authority just because people weren't motivated to vote. Nor can one lump those people into one camp or other. For whatever reason, loads of people rendered their chance to express their democratic choice void.
1974 and 1929 as well.
It is a bit different with us though, isn't it? We are only ever voting on a local scale, we get the MP we want from the party we want. The prime minister and who has overall control of parliament we have never had a say in, and have never been given the impression we have a choice over it.
The US election gives the impression that your vote goes towards electing one person for the job of President. Only each of those votes is not equal. A voter in Florida is worth infinitely more than a voter in California or Texas. How can it be right that it is not worth either candidate visiting these places to try and drum up support, to engage with these peoples issues?
Nope, more pompous bullshit then, your modus operandi.
My argument is best summed up by the Economist article I posted. One day you'll say something relevant on a political thread yourself. I'm not holding my breath for that though.
Really hope it doesn't. That is not really democracy either, the US effectively has a political aristocracy. The democrats would be wise to heed the message about political elites that Trump's victory implies.
Half Time Pies
Well-known member
Dont you get it? These fears and hopes are being dictated by the political elite!
With all this discontentment ask yourself why neither of the candidates ran with any form of structural change to the financial system on the agenda? The world is creaking under this debt based financial system and the constant cycle of boom and bust, and there are alternatives, yet concerns about those damn foreigners across the border in Mexico are somehow higher on the agenda for many people.
Your not saying anything, making random vague statements, its as the piece said, you sneer, thats all you do, sneer, you do it to the Brexiteers and now sneer at those that voted for Trump.
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
Too right. Given a fresh face untainted by past political misdemeanour, and the democrats would have enjoyed a landslide. It shows just how bad Hillary was, to have lost to Trump. I still can't believe it.
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
Where was the suggestion that the stupid woman was used as an assumption that all Trump voters were stupid......or are you making an assumption off of my one quote you've cherrypicked? Seems a weak argument.
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
Like "Make America Great Again" and "I want my country back"?
I sneer at you because you're a fool. You think you're intelligent but you don't ever say anything. You merely spend your time looking out for things you don't agree with, but rather than rebuff them you try and belittle those people. Here it's majona's turn. I honestly don't recall you ever saying anything of note in a political discussion on here. The only person who can rival you for saying so little in so many words is London Irish.
It's "you're" by the way, but I'm sure you knew that. You're a little bit too easy to sneer at in my view, since your vocabulary is so poor.
(I'm sneering at you again)
You quoted it word for word, Trump supporter, you then called it 'your personal favourite' then said this woman was in a 'Swing' state, finishing off with 'AMAZING', what exactly were you not saying ??
Two Professors
Two Mad Professors
Sounds like you might have called her a 'deplorable',or some other negative insult.That's the type of disdain that causes loathing.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
46.9% of the people able to vote, didn't. So, was it apathy?