The Current Events Thread

[Kamak]

That's the problem. The states decide because "the Feds don't have power over this yet" (for better or worse) and the federal government is so gummed up in controversy that the states can pretty much get away with it until the day the nation can come to a concensus.

[TheStranger]

Thats what happens when you foster the "lone wolf" bullshit the US has been clinging to since its founding. Never mind that society has evolved beyond the need for an independent local goverment, because the federal goverment can now easier respond to local problems, youve basically been bred into a continually paranoid state of territorialism, where every state has culturally become its own nation, and clings to the concept like rabid dogs. Nevermind what the outside world says, only the pack matters. Anyone who speaks against the pack is a gay atheist traitor commie.

[TerraChimaera]

Having learned about the Civil War recently in History, we're pretty much taking a step back to the early 1800s.
'MURICA

[Lambeth]

Having some state-wide-only laws isn't a bad thing in itself.
But. With things that are not only present nationwide, but internationally too, like marriage, you kinda want a nationwide consensus about it.

If I recall my american history correctly they didn't get rid of "seperate but equal" segregation nationwide until most states had gotten rid of it themselves. You only had a handful of states dragging their heels, like Alabama. I imagine it will be very much the same with gay marriage and marijuana legalization, once they stop the drug war.

A huge part of the problem in a lot of states is that tea partiers and ultraconservatives have wormed their way into the political system, then they gerrymander it to hell and back to prevent democrats from getting in. Democrats would have gotten the house back if the districting in the US was sane.

[Riku]

Thats what happens when you foster the "lone wolf" bullshit the US has been clinging to since its founding. Never mind that society has evolved beyond the need for an independent local goverment, because the federal goverment can now easier respond to local problems, youve basically been bred into a continually paranoid state of territorialism, where every state has culturally become its own nation, and clings to the concept like rabid dogs. Nevermind what the outside world says, only the pack matters. Anyone who speaks against the pack is a gay atheist traitor commie.

As someone who actually lives in the United States, I'd like to point out that the state government is more due to the fact that the US is so spread out. It is a country of over 300 million people on almost 4 million square miles. Even given electronic communication, you would still have to elect so many representatives to a federal congress system in order for each region's issues to be addressed appropriately (given differing industries, demographics, and environmental aspects), that you might as well just have state government anyway.
People seem to forget that America is not just New York, California and rural Texas, and frequently get hung up on their stereotypes and the way that each one tries to distance itself from the other two. Yes, there are INDIVIDUALS that get very territorial and nationalistic toward their state when they feel that the federal government is screwing up. But I"d hardly say that there's a serious issues. You have some rivalries that basically equate to "my football team is better than your football team", or the sort of joking East Coast/West Coast clash.

[Turbro]

or the sort of joking East Coast/West Coast clash.

Of course it's a joke, everyone knows east coast is better.

[Riku]

Wow, your schools over there must be shit. You just misspelled "west"

[[Citation Needed]]

+1 for East Coast

neeewwww dinosaauuurrr

[TheStranger]

People, people, you're both just... just terrible

[[Citation Needed]]

Progressive Catholics ordain a female priest in Louisville, Kentucky

She'll be excommunicated and ostracized by the greater part of the Catholic Church.

[D-vid]

Comments. Oh boy. So much booty backwardness in one place.

[Mete]

Reading stuff like this feels especially backwards when my country has had female priests since the 80s and we were decades late compared to other Nordic countries.

[D-vid]

All there is to say about it has been said by one of the greatest German poets already.

"Only what changes will prevail." - Friedrich Schiller

[[Citation Needed]]

Sarah Palin tries desperately to be relevant.

[Exeres]

Is she implying that, if she were President, she wouldn't have held or attended the annual dinner party?

Because of course that is bullshit.