Main > Everything Else
1000 Reasons not to vote for GW
saint:
Well, I swore to myself I wasn't getting involved unless it got ugly, but this line irritates the heck out of me. Dodger, I'm not singling you out, many people are slinging this line around...
--- Quote ---You live in one of the truly free states, if you don't like it move to France.
--- End quote ---
That is the utter antithesis of what living in a democracy is about. It is the very fact that we are able to stand up and declare that we do not like the direction the country is moving in and that we believe there is a better way that is what makes this country one of the greatest on this planet. I live in one of the truly free states, if I don't like it, *I should work to change it*, not leave it....
I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to death your right to say it. I may try to convince you you're wrong, or that it's not worth my time, but I won't tell you to get the hell out.
--- saint
shmokes:
--- Quote from: Dartful Dodger on August 20, 2004, 02:54:23 pm ---
Sorry by your lack of knowlededge of Americans rights, I thought you were a Canadian.
--- End quote ---
Heh...I think I think it is, perhaps, your lack of understanding of how our electoral system works, rather than my lack of knowledge of American rights that is causing your confusion, Dartful. Utah is the MOST republican state in the nation. Whether I vote for Kerry, Bush, Nader, None of the Above, or simply stay home on voting day, all 5 of Utah's electoral votes will count for Bush. And since popular vote does not affect the outcome of the election (hence Gore is not the president) I truly "can't help [get George Bush out of office] by voting."
The only gun fact you refuted was that M16s are illegal. What does that have to do with Bowling for Columbine? I just assumed that they are illegal because I've never seen them for sale, and it makes sense that they would be illegal.
I don't think handguns and bazookas are the same, but it's the same principle. Freedom to bare arms is not absolute, whether it's cooking knives or tanks that are being banned. If it makes you feel any better freedom of speach is also restricted in many ways. Slander and libel are illegal. It's illegal for me to yell into a bull-horn at 3:00 a.m. in front of a Hospital -- even if I'm on a public sidewalk and think Intermountain Healthcare is evil.
--- Quote ---You live in one of the truly free states, if you don't like it move to France.
--- End quote ---
France is every bit as free as we are. There are differences; they are more free in many ways and less free in others. But those differences are superficial.
shmokes:
--- Quote from: fredster on August 20, 2004, 02:11:59 pm ---
Healthcare:
How do you know the Canadian health system is better than ours? Back that up. It's an opinion, not a fact. There problems with any system. At least we can find a doctor if we need one.
--- End quote ---
Here are some fun statistics. I'll start with cost since the Canadian government spends less, per capita, for healthcare than the U.S. government, in spite of everyone thinking Canada has an evil, socialist healthcare system and the U.S. doesn't:
Public Healthcare Funding, per capita: U.S.=$2,051 Canada=$1,826
Private Healthcare Funding, per capita: U.S.=$2,580 Canada=$709
Total Annual Cost of Healthcare, per capita: U.S.=$4,631 Canada=$2,535
So, Canadians can actually afford healthcare. It must be inferior in quality, right?
Babies born with low Birthweight: U.S.=7.8% Canada=5.6%
Doctors per 1000 people: U.S.=2.8 Canada=2.1 (U.S. actually wins this one)
Child mortality per 1,000: U.S.=16 Canada=11
Life Expectancy (in years): U.S.=77.14 Canada=79.83
Life Expectancy (Healthy Years): U.S.=67.6 Canada=69.9
Probability of not living to 60: U.S.=12.8% Canada=9.5%
Annual Plastic Surgery Proceedures ;D : U.S.= 90,992 Canada= 11,102
--- Quote ---Same thing about Smoking.
--- End quote ---
I don't know if this was directed at me, but I don't smoke and never have (well, I've smoked weed a couple dozen times, but I don't smoke that either and probably never will again except if I'm in Amsterdam)
--- Quote ---We have freed France, Germany, brought down the Wall, and have established democracy all over this planet.
--- End quote ---
That's just narcissistic. We played a tardy, albeit significant role in beating the Nazis. We had relatively nothing to do with bringing the wall down. And rarely, Japan being a notable exception, is democracy ever established except by revolution, usually violent, by the citizens of the state in question. When it is established by a third party without the revolution of the citizens, Japan being a notable exception, it rarely works.
Edit: Those statistics are World Health Organization stats in case you wanted to check my credibility.
hulkster:
boobs are cool
GGKoul:
--- Quote from: fredster on August 20, 2004, 02:11:59 pm ---Censorship:
Yep, there are other media outlets Banned in Canada. As far as Fox, I have to support them over any other news outlet. I think NPR should be shut down myself. I don't think that's censorship, I think that's business.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure what your talking about here... but every major US news outlet can be viewed here in Canada.