Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to NationStates - Canada. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Obama's record
Topic Started: Jun 27 2009, 06:27 AM (120 Views)
Shelter from the Storm
Member Avatar
Mayor of Taco Island
President Obama has been attacked since gaining office by the right. Labeled a socialist and criticized for his fiscal policy and being "weak" on terrorism is the usual stock in trade.

We now see the first attacks from his supporters, and as a 'lefty', I am also feeling somewhat disillusioned. This "Fierce Advocate" of gay rights has failed to suspend the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy (see video clip below), failed to deliver on his promise of more transparent government and seems ready to back away from a universal, comprehensive public health care plan. The left is growing impatient.


Click here for Youtube Video
__
Mayor of Taco Island Posted Image
Ambassador of 10000 Islands.
Posted Image Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pez201
Member Avatar
New and improved
My only internet access for the next three weeks is here at the public library so no Youtube. :(

So without seeing that I may be barking up the wrong tree. However...

... no no major political party in the Western world can really be "pro-gay" or "anti-gay" or whatever. It would cost too many votes. Gays can be - and are - both left and right. So politicians just walk in the middle path, hoping to lose as few votes as possible.

... I read somewhere that per capita Americans pay more for healthcare than anyone else in the world, and I've yet to see how Americans are healthier than the rest of us, in terms of life expectancy etc they're level with other Western nations. But for some people government-funded healthcare might be morally wrong and in that case you'll never get it. :(

My $0.02
"I never said i was the first person..yesh. I admit Pez was the first one to throw a goat" - Fin
Leader of the Canadian Fat Whale Party from 21/5/08 - 29/8/09 and from 1/8/09 when his 48 hour brain fuzz cleared up. :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Niongor
Member Avatar
Giver of the *Hi-5*
You've got to love Obama for this.

(To Pez, it's Obama swatting a fly.)

I agree with Pez, it's not helpful to be one of the extremities on the pro-/anti-gay issue. The US has it good by allowing individual states and cities to set the agenda because in the UK the central government introduced civil partnerships in 2005, despite poll after poll showing that 60% of people didn't want them introduced. There was no major backlash, and most people now would say they support civil partnarships, but can you imagine the federal government of the US introducing something like that? Ironically, hell hath no fury like Reverend Extreme Evangelical scorned...

As for the healthcare thing...say what? The US healthcare system is almost "backwards" in my eyes. The main opposition to it seems to be the right of the Republicans whom invoke the term "socialism" to make sure nobody wants what essentially could save literally millions of lives each year. Again, there's an irony here, the Christian lobby which so strongly advocates the teachings of the bible completely ignore their own message by refusing to do the human thing and pay for universally free healthcare. "That which you do unto the least of my brothers..." and all that.
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Shelter from the Storm
Member Avatar
Mayor of Taco Island
I guess I should state for the record that I am a straight married man with two children.

Still, I have several gay friends, some of whom are married to same-sex partners. I just don't see how their relationships differ from the one I share with my wife. Of course, if I die tomorrow, my wife will have no trouble inheriting my estate, collecting my life insurance, managing the arrangements for my funeral, collecting my employment benefits and keeping custody of our children. I can't say the same for my gay friends and this is fundamentally unjust. The United States is supposed to be a country that emphasizes freedom and individual rights. It is time that Obama made it so.
__
Mayor of Taco Island Posted Image
Ambassador of 10000 Islands.
Posted Image Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kyleslavia
Member Avatar
Stanley Cup Champ
I agree with many of the other comments about healthcare. The system that we have in the United States is leaving too many people out of quality health care because it is inefficient and backwards. Of course, universal healthcare will cost a lot of money. However, at least more people will have access to something that is essential to living a long healthy life. People should not be turned away because they don't have insurance or can't afford our outrageous medical costs.

The gay marriage issue is something that is so controversial that it's hard to take a definite stance on. I hate to put it this way, but right now, people are generally still in favor of retaining the current definition of marriage. We have to remember that the United States is a conservative country. It has taken years for gays to gain the acceptance of society. Our country is at a point where we have begun accepting homosexuals, but we still are not quite at the point of allowing same sex marriage across the board. That will take negotiation, work, and most of all, time.
Come and visit Kylesburg City, please clicky!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Nordrige
Member Avatar
Nordrige for alltid!
I am originally from Norway and on 1st January this year Norway introduced gay marriage. Norway has always been a progressive country but often we are progressive to the point of ignoring and sometimes ridiculing those who aren't same minded. The small majority of my country didn't totally approve gay marriage but knew it would happen regardless of what they thought and so they were and are indifferent to it.
Kongeriket Nordrige

Canada's resident viking! Posted Image
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
libcon95
Member Avatar
42
I like him. Sure, I'd prefer it if he took a stance on his thoughts on homos, but he's better then Harper!
Esteemed Prime Minister of the Patriotic or else Canadien Union.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Niongor
Member Avatar
Giver of the *Hi-5*
Nobody is as bad as Brown


If the country wasn't in such a mess I would openly laugh at those who voted in New Labour only to come to regret it (and where I live in the UK there are a good many in that boat). Speaking of those regretting such, my mother's dad was in the UK when Labour came to power in 1997. He voted for them being a Labour supporter. Thus, I will use his fitting words to describe the government: "New Labour, old tricks..."

He's back in the UK now and for the first time in his life he's ready to vote Tory. (Better late than never :P ).

And so, I shall leave you with this surprisingly accurate image:

Posted Image
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create a free forum in seconds.
Learn More · Register Now
« Previous Topic · Real Life Politics and Current Events · Next Topic »
Add Reply