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I guess that makes sense, but isn't your picking and choosing not a logical result of a 2-party system?
In my opinion a 2-party system can only polarise the population.
Absolutely. And those that are farther left or right are quicker to label others who don't entirely agree with them. People think I'm "conservative"
because of my views. I am anti-gay politics (don't dislike gays, disapprove of the behavior, but understand people are different), pro-military, pro-gun rights, and anti-abuse of social programs. Those are all considered conservative values. But I am also pro-life, pro-stem cell research, pro-separation of church and state. Those are mostly liberal views. So, it depends on who I disagree with in the forums how I get labeled! LOL
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Originally Posted by Tricky D
BTW is there a fundamental difference in how Liberals and Conservatives interpret your Constitution (besides their own political philosophy)?
From what I can tell (and this is only my opinion, you'll get plenty of rebuttal after I post, I'm sure), the conservatives interpret the Constitution in a way that provides for all people as a whole. This tends to overlook the individual freedoms and rights liberals fight for. Additionally, I've noticed that conservatives try to make the Constitution apply to the masses as a whole. This means that minorities (whether ethnic-based, sex-based, religously-based, etc.) get less say because they'll always be out-voted by the "majority" - which is Christian or conservative, although I think that demographic ratio is changing. In this case, often the individual (or the few) suffer for the benefit of the majority.
Liberals, on the other hand, seem to place individual freedoms above what is best for everyone (legalizing drugs is a good example). They interpret things to their benefit, or the benefit of each person as an individual. "Norms" and "society" don't hold as much value to them. In this case, often the majority suffers so the few (or individual) is happy.
Is either one more right than the other? Hard to say. I guess that's open to an individual's perspective.
So, it depends on who I disagree with in the forums how I get labeled! LOL
I can relate.
Many Christians ( and atheists) on the religion board can't really tell if I'm a theist or not, but this is because I simply don't care if I am or not.
I only know that although I do agree with Jesus' philosophy, I don't believe that he is God.
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Is either one more right than the other? Hard to say. I guess that's open to an individual's perspective.
I think it is in the balance of these 2.
And this makes politics very complicated because although a group consists out of individuals, the individual is not more important than the group, nor is a group more important than the individual; although there are exceptions.
One exception is that I don't believe that some criminals (like serial predators) should have the fundamental basic right to return to society.
And because I don't believe that we can't ‘cure’ and / or rehabilitate everyone, most of my countrymen brand me a 'fascist' because in such cases I'm not against the death penalty. So I guess I'm not a good Dutch dude.
Originally Posted by allah truth LoL, you Americans pride yourself on the fact that you donate so much to good causes but according to 1 of your own American institutes, the Center for Global Development, it is the Dutch people who donate the most to charity around the world.
For the 4th year in a row. The US isn't even in the top 10.
Based of several articles I was reading today, I got wondering "what makes an American the "TRUE" American or a "GOOD" American"?
What would be the characteristics you'd say "that's totally American?"
I don't think I've ever used the phrases "good American" or "true American" by my own choice. I wouldn't be comfortable with anything making someone an American besides being a resident of America.
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So I figured I'd googel what the immigration officers do to determine who'd get citizenship in our country and who doesn't and came across this test on the link below
I've been through the immigration process with a few people. Unless they've changed something, you don't have to pass any test to become a legal resident. You only have to meet some portion of a set of rudimentary requirements, which I wouldn't call a "test" or in any way evaluative of whether someone "should really be an American". To become a citizen, you have to learn some rudimentary facts about US history and the structure of the government. The test you linked to looks very similar to the rudimentary facts you had to learn previously.
Personally, I'm against immigration laws. I think people should be able to live anywhere in the world that they'd like to live without any hassle about it.
That's who gives the most percent of what they make. in actuality America is by far the leader.
LoL, you accused us of not doing anything which I've proven to be false.
Besidez, there are many more Americans than there are Dutch so how come America isn’t even in the top 10 in that list?
First of sorry for not having returned in so long (moved).
I have to say reading all 3 Pages in one is bottom line simply inspiring to me and at times it makes me stop and think / consider. I really love the way this thread is going!!!
And no this is not been placed in reg to immigrants! If you want to get real technical here, we are all immigrants or at least our relatives have been at some time and points, unless you're also from Indian tribe somewhere here.
As for the test this is how I understood it (see here http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrele...st_27sep07.pdf)
Did you notice thou, a lot things said have less to do with our country or being American then simply more along the lines of "what makes a good person".
Having moved around the world few times, I gotta say one of the things I love the most coming back right now (apart from the food places lol) is the respect for diversity here at home, rather then "needing to fit in a box".
I apologize I have to run for now, but promise to be back online soon.
As for our involvements and aid around the globe, I pers think we all should work (incl our Govt) in our own backyards for a change right now and then when all is said & done, then go past our borders.
Haha, sorry I couldn't resist. I could write a lot more like that but i'll hold back.
Really though. There are so many different kinds of Americans. There is too much diversity in this country to say what it means to be an "American". In America you can be anything, and you don't have to be anything in particular, that's the beauty of it.
Based of several articles I was reading today, I got wondering "what makes an American the "TRUE" American or a "GOOD" American"?
What would be the characteristics you'd say "that's totally American?"
So I figured I'd googel what the immigration officers do to determine who'd get citizenship in our country and who doesn't and came across this test on the link below - Up til then I actually considered myself fairly smart, well paying job after graduating collage etc - But if these listed question's are what makes someone a good citizen or not- I'd def better find a new home quick
There is no such thing as a "good American" or a "bad American". All Americans alike have a sense of what is best for their own interest and, to varying degrees, the interests of their fellow Americans. Those interests are interlinked, and no individual can flourish without the cohesion of the nation as a whole. However, no two people are the same, and there are many diverse views on what is best for America. You cannot say that "good Americans" subscribe to a certain view of what is good for America.
Americans did not invent the concept of patriotism. It is hard-wired into every human being since the beginning of our species, because social organization is not possible without every member possessing a sense of the survival and the best interests of the group.
If you wish to insist that there is such a thing as a "good American", you must also be prepared to acknowledge that there is such a thing as a good Latvian, or a good Iranian or a good Basque, as opposed to bad ones. Are the good Basques the ones who favor a sovereign nation, or the ones who believe the best interests of their fellow Basques is to live under the umbrella of a greater Spain? Is a "good American" one who believes we ought to be kicking butt in Iraq, or one who believes we have no business being there? Both are expressing a sentiment based on what is best for America, so both are equally good Americans.
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I can relate.
and atheists) on the religion board can't really tell if I'm a theist or not, but this is because I simply don't care if I am or not.
I think it is in the balance of these 2.
The US isn't even in the top 10.
