Lawgoddess
@Lawgoddess
21 Years500+ Posts
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I don't consider myself educated enough on the intricasies of my government to be able to speak on it Lawgoddess, although I'm sure there are others who would answer your post quite intelligently...I guess knowlege of my own government is something I should really work on...I need to educate myself a lot more on it.
Well anyway, excellent topic, I like the way you diplomtaically presented it! 🙂
Well anyway, excellent topic, I like the way you diplomtaically presented it! 🙂
I happened to stumble upon this place quite by acident but your question intrigues me. Perhaps I'm not the best person to answer it since I am far from representing the majority of Americans (and I'm sure a majority would disagree on my with these points). I'm going to assume you know nothing of American government since know nearly nothing of yours.
Positive:
1. We can change our laws through democratic means. Throuhg voting, we can choose who represents us in Congress and therefore choose what laws come into effect.
2. Generally, our country means well. We may pick our fights with other countries with certain inteests at hand (such as oil) but deep down the government means well and wants peace and justice.
3. Our government makes it easy for people to go to college. Now, I know in Canada college and university are two very different things but here in the U.S. they are the same. About half the students that graduate high school go on to college. The governmetn has scholarships it can offer and most students apply for financial aid with help deter the high cost of college (which I know are lower in other countries).\
4. In comparison with the rest of the countries of the world, I think that the U.S. has a pretty good standing when it comes to our civil liberties. We have our freedom of expression and press and, most thankfully, religion. We can protest peaceully and demonstrate against the government (thouhg I believe though I am not sure that we would need a permit to do so). Basically we can voice our opinions with no immediate backlash from the government.
5. I'll have to get back to you on this one. I truthfully cannot think of any more truly positive things however odd that sounds.
Negative: (these were easy)
1. The electoral college has to go. It is the votes of the members of the electoral college that vote who on gets to be president. Our vote, that of the public, is simply a consensus on who we generally want as president but the members of the electoral college have no reason to obey popular opinion.
2. Our goverment's foreign policy is definitely inappropriate at times. We're very pushy and most Americans think we're always doing the right thing and that anyone who doesn't like the U.S. is anti-democratic or, in newer post 9/11 terms, evil. I think our government has done some good, just like the British Empire, but I also belive that we make mistakes...often. I don't think that it is really our business how another country operates unless it infringes upon people's rights (such as the women under the Taliban). Saddly, we rarely go to war for that sake but instead for reasons of national honor or private interests like oil.
3. The treatment of minorities, the poor, and women by the government is rather poor in my opinion. Other people will probably see this and, if they are not a minority, will probably argue with me on that point. Basicall, my problem s that we have civil rights amendments and such but the government doesn't really enfore it and thats also a social problem. A good example of this is how women are still paid a third less than men for the same work even though it is illegal- and its hard to fight it since the court costs are so much.
4. Our laws when it comes to drugs or alcohol are another. Unlike most of the world, we cannot legally drink alcohol until 21. Everyone does anyway and this just ends up making kids rebel and drink more than they know they should, turning it into a forbidden fruit. The drug laws against marijuana. ect. are in violation of our priacy. What does it matter what we do to our own bodies? Anyway, here in New ork we have what are called the Rockerfeller Laws, which put people in prison for life for possession of a small amount of drugs. I could go on and on with this subject but I won't bored you. =)
5. In wartime, the government has the power
Positive:
1. We can change our laws through democratic means. Throuhg voting, we can choose who represents us in Congress and therefore choose what laws come into effect.
2. Generally, our country means well. We may pick our fights with other countries with certain inteests at hand (such as oil) but deep down the government means well and wants peace and justice.
3. Our government makes it easy for people to go to college. Now, I know in Canada college and university are two very different things but here in the U.S. they are the same. About half the students that graduate high school go on to college. The governmetn has scholarships it can offer and most students apply for financial aid with help deter the high cost of college (which I know are lower in other countries).\
4. In comparison with the rest of the countries of the world, I think that the U.S. has a pretty good standing when it comes to our civil liberties. We have our freedom of expression and press and, most thankfully, religion. We can protest peaceully and demonstrate against the government (thouhg I believe though I am not sure that we would need a permit to do so). Basically we can voice our opinions with no immediate backlash from the government.
5. I'll have to get back to you on this one. I truthfully cannot think of any more truly positive things however odd that sounds.
Negative: (these were easy)
1. The electoral college has to go. It is the votes of the members of the electoral college that vote who on gets to be president. Our vote, that of the public, is simply a consensus on who we generally want as president but the members of the electoral college have no reason to obey popular opinion.
2. Our goverment's foreign policy is definitely inappropriate at times. We're very pushy and most Americans think we're always doing the right thing and that anyone who doesn't like the U.S. is anti-democratic or, in newer post 9/11 terms, evil. I think our government has done some good, just like the British Empire, but I also belive that we make mistakes...often. I don't think that it is really our business how another country operates unless it infringes upon people's rights (such as the women under the Taliban). Saddly, we rarely go to war for that sake but instead for reasons of national honor or private interests like oil.
3. The treatment of minorities, the poor, and women by the government is rather poor in my opinion. Other people will probably see this and, if they are not a minority, will probably argue with me on that point. Basicall, my problem s that we have civil rights amendments and such but the government doesn't really enfore it and thats also a social problem. A good example of this is how women are still paid a third less than men for the same work even though it is illegal- and its hard to fight it since the court costs are so much.
4. Our laws when it comes to drugs or alcohol are another. Unlike most of the world, we cannot legally drink alcohol until 21. Everyone does anyway and this just ends up making kids rebel and drink more than they know they should, turning it into a forbidden fruit. The drug laws against marijuana. ect. are in violation of our priacy. What does it matter what we do to our own bodies? Anyway, here in New ork we have what are called the Rockerfeller Laws, which put people in prison for life for possession of a small amount of drugs. I could go on and on with this subject but I won't bored you. =)
5. In wartime, the government has the power
wow, didn't know I wrote so much. How the time goes by hen you're having fun...
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It would be great to compare...not attack.