Thread: Does it really matter?

Not being completely familiar (ok not at all familiar) with how U.S. politics works I was wondering does all this Obama/ McCain fuss matter so much? Is it the leaders or the PARTIES you're voting for? In proper democracies the Party is who you vote for, the leader of the party can't unilaterally do fuck all, he needs the support of the party vote behind him, (and it's not unheard of for members to vote across party lines). It seems the U.S. elections are all about the one individual leader. Does he really have that much power as an individual. Isn't it the whole party that gets things done rather than one person and if it's the whole party (or at least te majority) what does it matter who the figuirehead of the day is. (and is my spellchecker working?)

Originally Posted by cujo

Not being completely familiar (ok not at all familiar) with how U.S. politics works I was wondering does all this Obama/ McCain fuss matter so much? Is it the leaders or the PARTIES you're voting for? In proper democracies the Party is who you vote for, the leader of the party can't unilaterally do fuck all, he needs the support of the party vote behind him, (and it's not unheard of for members to vote across party lines). It seems the U.S. elections are all about the one individual leader. Does he really have that much power as an individual. Isn't it the whole party that gets things done rather than one person and if it's the whole party (or at least te majority) what does it matter who the figuirehead of the day is. (and is my spellchecker working?)

You noted many questions.

The US political system is indeed different than other systems.

The President (in the Executive branch) is now the most powerful arm of the US government, of the 3:

Executive
Congressional
Legislative

branches....the 3 check and balances.

They were meant to be equal but during the 20th Century the President (Executive) is now the most powerful arm of the gov.

The problem with the US system (or some say, a benefit to it) is that an "outsider" can come to Washington be the the "leader of the party."

The parties in Congress usually (almost always) go along with the President.

Does it matter?

Psychologically only, for many.

Like a football game with coaches and mascots. Cheer. Support. Paint your face (like at at the conventions) and wave the stupid signs.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Originally Posted by Milkman

The parties in Congress usually (almost always) go along with the President.

???
OK, sure, if they are all of the same party and the president has NEVER voted against his own party. That's what's coming if Obama is elected. Reid and Pelosi will help him to drain the Treasury and make the US a socialist camp. IMO.

Mmmm... how big is the deficit already? And how big was the deficit when Dubya took offfice?

The new president will be starting the presidency at the beginning of a recession, hardly an enviable position and not one of his making.

I guess helping US citizens to survive when they don't have a job or a roof over their heads is 'Socialist' in your book, well as long as it gets a reaction I suppose you'll keep saying it.

It's highly unlikely that in his term, with the extreme disparity already in wealth, the mountain of legislation that would be required and the limited funds available as well as the more pressing problems of a war and a recession, that Obama will make any significant impact on the differences between the have's and have nots in US society, in fact things will probably get a whole lot worse and he will become the scapegoat for societies ills.

Think about it Jet, you have nothing to fear except fear itself, well that and becoming a victim of soundbite politics.