Change in your country

[Jamala]

Read what I said...didn't say anything about making jokes about the bad things happening now did I, but surely there must also be funny things to laugh at now days. Just look in the mirror and I can find something to laugh about. Bring back the belly laugh!

Ask any comedian now days - they will tell you its hard to make a joke. Its like everyone is so critical of absolutely anything. I can't even say bring back the belly laugh without being attacked. That's exactly what I mean. My friends and family laugh and we do talk about the lack of good universal laughter.

Don't stop laughing because it offends someone else...that is their problem.
Just ignore it!!

 

[JimBob1952]

ive noticed this kind of animosity since covid ......so many angry people with attitudes, opinions and anger ...

This is just me talking. I feel like there was roughly a 50/50 left/right split on SF a couple of years back. Now it's probably 70 left and 30 right. That changes the discussion. The same would be true if the right predominated, of course.

 

[jimintoronto]

This is just me talking. I feel like there was roughly a 50/50 left/right split on SF a couple of years back. Now it's probably 70 left and 30 right. That changes the discussion. The same would be true if the right predominated, of course.

Here in Canada we have 5 Federal Political parties. And more parties that are Provincial specific only. Lots of choices and scope of platforms, too. At the moment our Federal Parliament is a minority situation with the Liberals not having elected a majority in the 341 seat Parliament. That means that the Liberals MUST co-operate with at least one opposition party, in order to get enough votes , to pass new legislation. This co-operation is with the New Democratic Party which is center left party. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers all have to run in a individual ryding someplace in Canada, and be elected by the voters in that ryding to become Members of Parliament. Party leaders are already in place and well known before a Federal election is held, and the election campagins are just 40 to 60 days long, from the date the election is called, to voting day. Ballots are one page, with the names of those who are running in that ryding. Place an X beside your choice, NO additional questions NO other decisions to make. Because we have a full week of advance voting it rarely takes more than 5 minutes to cast your vote. Each Canadian citizen gets a Voter Card in the mail 3 weeks before the voting day, delivered by Canada Post to their home address. Canada maintains a national Voters List, based on the address that you put on your annual tax return, sent to Revenue Canada. If you move, you home address is automatically updated by Revenue Canada and sent to Elections Canada. Your voters card contains your name, address and where and when you should vote. At the poll your produce your Voter's Card and a photo ID that has your address and your name on it. The poll worker checks your name and address against the master roll for that polling station, and crosses out your name, them gives you a ballot. You go and mark your ballot, and put it in the ballot box and leave.

Voila, you have voted. JimB.

 

[JimBob1952]

Here in Canada we have 5 Federal Political parties. And more parties that are Provincial specific only. Lots of choices and scope of platforms, too. At the moment our Federal Parliament is a minority situation with the Liberals not having elected a majority in the 341 seat Parliament. That means that the Liberals MUST co-operate with at least one opposition party, in order to get enough votes , to pass new legislation. This co-operation is with the New Democratic Party which is center left party. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers all have to run in a individual ryding someplace in Canada, and be elected by the voters in that ryding to become Members of Parliament. Party leaders are already in place and well known before a Federal election is held, and the election campagins are just 40 to 60 days long, from the date the election is called, to voting day. Ballots are one page, with the names of those who are running in that ryding. Place an X beside your choice, NO additional questions NO other decisions to make. Because we have a full week of advance voting it rarely takes more than 5 minutes to cast your vote. Each Canadian citizen gets a Voter Card in the mail 3 weeks before the voting day, delivered by Canada Post to their home address. Canada maintains a national Voters List, based on the address that you put on your annual tax return, sent to Revenue Canada. If you move, you home address is automatically updated by Revenue Canada and sent to Elections Canada. Your voters card contains your name, address and where and when you should vote. At the poll your produce your Voter's Card and a photo ID that has your address and your name on it. The poll worker checks your name and address against the master roll for that polling station, and crosses out your name, them gives you a ballot. You go and mark your ballot, and put it in the ballot box and leave.

Voila, you have voted. JimB.

Er, I don't really care how Canadians vote. I was talking about the political split on Senior Forums.

 

[Victoria]

Oh, this was difficult for me to read on so many counts, but I will only address a small portion. I was a street kid, ran away from home to live on the streets of Vancouver. Why? Better to live there than be further exploited by my family. A “client” had informed me I would soon be trafficked to the

Middle East after my virginity was restored. I escaped, several of my stablemates did not. I was seventeen. I did not do drugs, nor was I mentally ill. I certainly did not deserve to be committed. I also work with vets suffering from PTSD. Some are or have been homeless. To casually commit those who gave their all to protect us, horrifies me.

I meant round them up to get them off the street. Only the drug addicted and mentally ill should be institutionalized. Those on the street because of falling on hard times should be taken off the street and helped with getting back on their feet. Helped with getting a job and a place to stay.
Drug addicts need to be institutionalized to detox them off of drugs. They won't come off drugs unless you deny them access to drugs. And the mentally ill who can't care for themselves even with medication, needs to be in an institution rather than on the street eating from trash cans.

 

[Victoria]

It might. Fascism is a real threat to our country right now, and if it takes hold, I could accuse someone like you of doing drugs or some other "crime," and you would wind up in the (metaphoric) gallows. That's the problem I have with the death penalty: people wrongfully accused of a crime could wind up paying with their lives.

But a drug test would have to prove it though, not just going by someone's word.

 

[Victoria]

My proposal -- and I'm serious -- would be for age limits on political office holders. No one could hold any Federal or state office -- including Senate, SCOTUS, Congress, POTUS -- after their 72nd birthday.

Think about it. That would get rid of Pelosi, McConnell, Grassley, Feinstein, Clinton, Warren, Sanders, Trump, Biden and so many others in one fell swoop. It would be great!

And there's more to it than that. I don't think people that old (and I include myself -- I'm 70) can develop or even properly entertain new ideas. And we certainly need new ideas to get us out of the mess we're in.

I'm the fittest 70 year old I know, mentally and physically. But I still forget things, and my energy level is not what it was. I shouldn't hold public office and neither should anyone much older than I.

I agree with this! There does need to be an age limit for sure! 80 is just too old.

 

[Warrigal]

Is the limit on political contributions actually enforced in Canada with any success? If something like that were legislated here, people would be trying to figure out how to get around it within milliseconds.

Australian political parties find fairly easy ways to circumvent limits to donations.

 

[Warrigal]

Basically we need to cast aside all this current left-wing ideology and get back to common sense and decency. It's hard to believe that so many people are going along with this, especially those in positions of power.
We need to remember that this is Great Britain. We once had an Empire, and have had enormous influence on the rest of the world. Why are we allowing ourselves to be brought down by a handful of pathetic fantasists?

Last time I looked the UK had a right-wing, as in conservative, party in office. As for having an empire, the days of empirical power faded with WW I, a century ago, and it isn't ever going to return. Time to heed a few futurists and embrace the best future that we can strive for.

 

[Warrigal]

It's good... probably not the correct term... to hear the folks from Great Britain chime in. Here in the U.S., we get wrapped up in our current political clime and the attempt to defeat democracy. We don't open our ears and hear people across the globe seemingly dealing with their own set of issues... and realize we are not alone.

We've lost respect for our fellow man. How do we regain the ability to regain that?

...

Technology is awesome!! We can talk to people around the world with this little device in our pocket. We benefit from modern medical miracles through technology. Yet, that technology includes an internet full of falsehoods, grift, etc. Can we ever see some means of sorting out truth from trash?

Life is good. People are good. We just have to find out some means of being kinder and hope that evolves to less hate in society.

Really good points, Patch.

As an Australian I have learned a good deal about how we Aussies are different to other English speakers from UK, US and Canada. And vice versa.

I agree that technology is awesome in this day and age. It is a shame that all too often it is abused.

I try to remember that when I post something I may be causing offence to some people who think otherwise. With this in mind, I temper my language. I can get my point across without being taking pot shots at another poster.

When I fail in this regard, I apologise because that is what I would do in a face to face situation.

 

[Victoria]

This is what needs to change and why i say we have to be tough on drug addicts and the homeless. It's happening all across America and getting worse. This can't be allowed to go on. This is hurting the good citizens who want to live a productive life but are stuck in areas like this. This will continue to spread all over the country. Lord have mercy!

This is Philadelphia

And this is California

Just do a search on YouTube for poorest and most dangerous cities in America. No place in America should look like this.