how offensive can some US politicians get?

[realthog]

 
I'm not a Dem, I'm not a Rep -- in the great tradition of American Democracy I must pay thousands of dollars a year in income taxes yet I'm not allowed to vote. So I'm the ultimate nonpartisan and I certainly can't belong to any political party beyond the one that is

THE PARTY OF ME

The party that has ethical standards which include neither "rendition" of people so that they can be tortured nor straightforward torture itself.

The party that has ethical standards which include that torture and terror are what barbarians do.

The party which thinks invasion of foreign countries is what Hitler did.

The party which would regard anyone who fills their diapers in horror at the notion of "socialized medicine" as someone upon whom "socialized medicine" should concentrate resources: "You are that stupid?" I've lived through the UK's NHS (efficient, cheap, works) and also through (perhaps) the American equivalent (expensive, is so crippled you can't believe it).

Every time I say anything of this, up pop Bill O'Reilly clones who tell me I'm a Democrat. Oh, and a lefty. Liberal -- that's a Big Bad Wonderword, "Liberal" is. I'm not a Democrat. I cannot be a Democrat, in the same way that the guys who dumped tea into Boston Harbor weren't Democrats: they were guys who weren't allowed to vote. Me, I'd like to align myself with a whole bunch of other people who weren't -- and aren't -- allowed to vote.
 

Comments

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Hey...I'm not a Dem or a Rep either. Neither party represents me.

[carolejo.livejournal.com]

I must admit to similar frustration with paying Dutch taxes, living in Dutch society and also not being allowed to vote. At least under EU rules, I do get a say in local & in European parliament. In many ways though, the Dutch political system is like the polar opposite of the US one - always coalition, there are a dizzying range of different political players, including some parties that appear (barely) to hang in there on the edge of insanity - like the 'Party for Animals' whose manifesto contains the stated aim that all farm animals should be allowed to have regular sex, or the Calvanist SGP who believe that all positions of authority & leadership should be occupied by men only. As there are no electoral districts, these smaller parties are usually able to scrape up sufficient support over the whole country for 1 or 2 seats in the parliament.

Do you still vote back "home"? (I'm guessing that "quotes" will also be instantly understood, as the concept of "home" is a strange one for Expats). I must admit, I don’t. This is more because it feels dishonest to inflict my choice on somebody else when I’m not living there, than because of lack of interest. Plus, there’s the issue of where I would cast my vote in Britain – in the constituency where I grew up? Where I last lived? Where I spent the largest part of my adult life? Where my parents live…?

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Do you still vote back "home"?

I don't, either -- and for more or less exactly the reason you cite: since I wouldn't have to live with the consequences of anything I voted for, it'd feel dishonest and irresponsible to let my views play a part in things. Of course, here in the US I do have to live with the consequences of other people's voting habits -- or, more like, vote-rigging habits -- on top of paying the taxes, so the whole situation's a bit bloody exasperating, really.