h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Several ways you can interpret the question, so what's your view?

Well indeed there are several ways of looking at it but as far as I can tell - aside from the US form of democracy being imperfect (as they all are) - they already can, can't they?

Not many democracies in the world give the voter all _that_ many choices at election time

No, I think the British public should get to choose the US president.

...via an ITV phone-in, hosted by Philip Schofield.

Can I text, please? It'd be even better if I have to answer a preposterously easy question in order to feel I've really proven my right to enter...

It seems only fair.


After all, the US president tells the UK PM when to go to war, unelected Brussels bureaucrats make most of the legislation effecting the UK, and Scottish MPs get to vote on issues that effect only England.

It's called 'democracy'.

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Can't do that, no no no no. Then redneck racist bigots would stop black people voting (again..).

Felons aren't allowed to vote are they? I can't see why someone who's been let out of jail shouldn't be allowed to vote.

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How? By asking them a preposterously easy question they won't be able to answer?

Well, in the bad old days when having basic reading ability was necessary to vote, black people would be given preposterously difficult passages to read, or hugely complicated sums to do. All while being glowered at, no doubt, by obviously racist white people willing them to fail.

Then ensuring they did.

I doubt it would be repeated immediately today, but it would certainy need Federal oversight to stop it in some backwaters.

Phillip Schofield I haven't heard that name in a long time (he used to be a kiwi).

If the Brits get to vote for the US prez, then shouldn't the rest of the world too? We've got one of their spy bases here, surely that would qualify us to vote?

To be in with you chance to vote, text 'MYPREZ' and your answer (a, b or c) to *overpriced text number* NOW!

Q. Where does rain come from?

A) The Sky
B) Rocks
C) Cows

That's cheating! You can't leave out the *real* answer, or nobody will get through!

d) It's angels crying if we elect someone who's not a conservative white male

I apologise, I forgot to put in
e) god is peeing on us because it's all we deserve...

I see there is a general consensus view on American politcs here.

Can I add:

f) It's bottled in the Cairngorms, shipped to Alaska, and then distributed to the least needy by means of satellite forecasts.

Personally I think the US president should be the actor that gets the most Oscar/Emmy nominations? Or basically, the same as now.

>Phillip Schofield bigeyes I haven't heard that name in a long time (he used to be a kiwi).<

Really? Did you get Gordon the Gopher too?

My Uni took a field trip to the US in February. I flew over a week early to visit my grandparents and then took a Greyhound bus up from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

There was a Texan woman sitting in the back, bouncing her baby on her knee and singing to it (for hours on end! ) "Your country ain't ready for anything but a white male president!"

To what tune? I have a long journey ahead of me soon...

But when McCain gets "elected" he will very soon hand over to Palin, whether he knows that yet or not. Someone needs to write the next verse...

Btw, I wish to object to the racist term 'redneck'. Wealthy, powerful caucasians have more to answer to in respect of the aforementioned.

Who's Gordon the Gopher?