Long Live the Queen

[K Oud]

I am Canadian so maybe I missing something, please fill free to let me know if I am. But I find it not only odd but also in fact frightening that the American public seems to want to slip back towards a monarchy. If the good lady Clinton (hail to the queen) successfully makes it to the white house and stays there for 4 years, then the freedom loving democracy touting American public will have been ruled over by either the Bush or the Clinton dynasties for the last 20 years!

You got to love America, where anyone can do anything, except for run the country.

Long live the queen

[Guest American Woman]

I am Canadian so maybe I missing something, please fill free to let me know if I am.

You're missing a few of things. First of all, if Hillary gets elected and stays there for four years, which is pretty much a given since that's how long a term is, then the freedom loving democracy touting American public would have been "ruled over" by either a Clinton or Bush for the last 24 years, not 20. (Bush the elder=4 years, Bill Clinton=8 years, GW=8 years, Hillary Clinton=4 years equals 24). Secondly, looking at that list you can see that it's 4 different people. Which brings me to #3. Four different people who were elected, not born into the role. Now for #4. Our president does not "rule over" us. And last but not least, the monarchy dynasty has been in power for hundreds of years, with one member in power for decades.

Hope that helps clear things up for you.

[K Oud]

First off let me apologize for my mistake with the math. Then 24 years it is, or 28 if she gets elected to a 2nd term right?

So you they are 4 different people? Well that’s a relief because if this had all just been a ploy by Nixon getting a bunch of face-lifts I would have been surprised.

I am aware that your presidents are not born into the job but actually elected, if it was the other way around there would be no need for speculation that "the American public seems to want to slip back towards a monarchy" it would already be one. My point is that it is that name recognition and family ties are playing a disturbing role in America's democracy, in my view a unhealthy role.

Oh and if you don’t think you are" ruled" over by the executive branch how come even when the majority of your nation as well as a overwhelming number of elected officials are strongly opposed the war in Iraq and want to end it . . . NOW, you are still there?

And that’s just one example.

[bush_cheney2004]

...My point is that it is that name recognition and family ties are playing a disturbing role in America's democracy, in my view a unhealthy role.

No more unhealthy than Adams or Roosevelt or Kennedy. But perhaps you think that America's brand of democracy has always been unhealthy. That's just how we roll...not role.

Oh and if you don’t think you are" ruled" over by the executive branch how come even when the majority of your nation as well as a overwhelming number of elected officials are strongly opposed the war in Iraq and want to end it . . . NOW, you are still there?

And that’s just one example.

Probably for the same reason Canada is still in Afghanistan. Please show us how it's done.

[Guest American Woman]

My point is that it is that name recognition and family ties are playing a disturbing role in America's democracy, in my view a unhealthy role.

Unhealthy in what way? Examples, please.

Oh and if you don’t think you are" ruled" over by the executive branch how come even when the majority of your nation as well as a overwhelming number of elected officials are strongly opposed the war in Iraq and want to end it . . . NOW, you are still there?

And that’s just one example.

That overwhelming number of elected officials keep voting to fund the war. So no, we're not "ruled" by the executive branch. The fact that Congress just overrode Bush's veto is proof of that. We have a system of checks and balances preventing the president from "ruling" the country. That's why I get so frustrated with the fact that he's gotten away with all that he has.

Edited November 13, 2007 by American Woman

[K Oud]

American Woman, thank you for pointing out the set of checks and balances in the American system. They are important and would indeed work . . . if they were used. But untill your congressmen and women grow backbones it looks like if one crazy rich guy wants to run around messing up any and all the good will the world had left for the rest of America, no body is going to stop him.

I think it is unhealthy because a huge percentage of your population is completely apathetic to politics (Canadians are as well, witch is also not good) and are very easily swayed by name recognition leading to the same people or grope of people to run the country decade after decade.

bush_cheney2004 your right, things are also not 100% in Canada, if you took a moment to look at the Canadian board you would see a few ideas I have about making Canada better.

I would like to say that I am by no means anti-American. I just think some of the political trends south of the boarder are unhealthy for America.