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

A couple more points occur to me - a tie in the US Electoral College (where normally only 2 candidates have any representation) is a lot less likely than a hung parliament in Britain (where, as you say, there are ignificant minority parties represented). Therefore Britain is a lot more likely to have uncertainty about the winner. America's situation at the moment isn't a tie, it's a dispute over who has won.

Perhaps I should mention I'm a Brit who has lived in 4 other countries - including the US - and currently in one with the eminently sensible STV system, the strength of which is that a candidate hated by 55% of the voters is almost certain to lose. I can't help feeling Thatcher wouldn't have lasted as long under such a system.

Okay Ben - may I be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas .
A pleasure crossing wits with you.
PF

In a recent argument with some bouncers outside a club here in my native England I set in concrete my shame in British attitudes towards foreigners (I was with some Finns and Germans at the time). The attitudes I'm talking about are the ones often supported by tabloids and require the least possible thought about other people.
I therefore salute Girl Ben's earlier comment.

As for Americans, a lot of what's been said has some truth to it, especially regarding "big=good", but on an individual level I've found most Americans, Canadians etc to be very nice people. I recently spotted some terrifying opinions of America voiced on French governmental websites (I'm a student, I was doing a spot of research). I hope what I saw there doesn't characterise French people's view of the world.

that 'big=good' thing is usually restricted to texas. go figure. was it this thread that someone said, 'no new texans'?

The examples given so far involved people's poor behaviour whilst in another counrty or the behaviour of locals towards foreigners. These examples, if I recal correctly, have ususlly involved the likes of school kids, bouncers outside night clubs and a few other (I hate to class people but ...), lets just say, people who don't get out much.

In these cases, I feel that ignorance is mainly to blame. Not only because they haven't been out much themselves, but also because they come from backgrounds where they haven't been exposed to different cultures. In a lot of cases, the only experiance with different cultures would be through the media; mainly television, film, newspaper articles, cartoons....

The other point I was trying to make is that cultures have varying levels of what they consider "acceptable behaviour". In particular I'm thinking of the likes of Japan, where it is quite easy to offend many people with such every day things as blowing your nose in public.

To quote a famous (now off the air in the USA) talk host my reaction to this forum is:
Picture Arsino Hall, a tall black man, well dressed - suit & tie,
impeccable, Large wide white smile.
He cocks his head to the left, places his large slender fingered hand on the side of his right cheek four fingers tucked in with the index finger pointing to his forhead and slowly says, Hmmmmm.....Things that make you say hmmmmm.....

I am an American......and I like everybody....some I EVEN LOVE!
*off in a daze thinking of those she loves*

I'm an American, and I am constantly shaking my head in wonder at my countrymen's actions.

Well..that too...but what can be done?
I have attended Congressional Hearings & protested at an Embassy, been on CNN every 15 minutes for two days...in the end. Has a difference been made? I think not. I spent many years being political active in my area. What has changed? I have sat and had long talks with people like Bob Dole, and you know what? One person just is unable at this point in time to make a rats ass worth of difference! I use to think otherwise. But then reality jumped up & took one heck of a bite out of my 'sit down'.


Where could we live where we would be better off? (I mean other than the tropical island in my day dreams?)

If you know of a place, a safe place, I'll meetcha' there!

Your tropical island, is that the one next to my tropical island?

The best thing about your tropical island is the total absence of politicians!? Given that politicians tend to be pretty much everywhere, so the next best thing would be to go to a place where simply no one cares about politics or politicians. Australia and New Zealand spring to mind (and not too far removed from the tropical island theme, albeit a large one).

i`d like to take this opportunity to encourage all members of the ellectorial college to ignore all party ties and do whatever you think is best for the people.never trust a cornflake db db db db db db db db db db db~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My fellow Earthings, I would just like to take this monent to declare today a non political PARTY day Each year on this day, give thanks, for it was on this VERY day in 1956 (12/9) that my mother btought forth a beautiful baby girl who now types before you. So come together. Give peace a chance!!!!!

(If anyone has a tropical island they are selling cheaply...I'll give you my address) ~Pan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PANDORA

Dearest Pandora,
I was so pleased to read you elucid response to this question. I believe that I will eventually hang it all up and go back to the islands. Kind of like Leon Russel the muscian wrote: Well, I hope you understand, I just had to get back to the islands.And watch the sun go down, see the sea roll in....
Happy Happy Birthday!!!!
Worlds of Love,
JLC the TTP writing from AnnaNorseGoddess' new location.
She intends to respond to this What's Wrong with Americans forum as well. Very soon, and I expect to get her Scandinavian/East European perspective after having lived here for over 10 years in the Good Old US of A.

Thank you both for your kind words!
All I can say about the tropics is...the scuba diving is GREAT...the MEN are ... Ooo La-la...the food healthy, the smoke pure and the policy for workers is wonderful, ask anyone for anything and the main respons is,"It's not my job mon." *Ahh to relax like that again...I do wonder why I EVER returned....*
I know I've strayed from the topic, sorry (not) but me thinks we all need a break....take a breath, visit my island...it's like Gilligan's,
anything you want/need just appears!
And being an American, I must say, there aint a whole Hell of alot wrong with me. (place tongue between lips & blow...off season raspberries!) ~Peace & Love~Pan

Sounds like you were livin in the Bahamas for awhile. That's their motto down there "That Ain't My Job, Mon". It really is "Better in the Bahamas" isn't it! I used to study with the Royal Bahamian Ballet down there just for a thrill of course, even took some native African Dance from them, a lot of shoulder moving.

Now that's very interesting....I studies African Culture in college.

I was actually on a three mast clipper sailing the West Indies. I sure loved to dance to those steel drums I met so many wonderful people! Ahhh...I think I'll go to bed & have a NICE dream
(I was actually stranded on an island for a day it's only wonderful in dreams...in reality I encountered a huge snake, countless lizards & was lost in the jungle for some time. ) So, sometimes dreams really are better than reality

Happy Birthday Pandora. I live in the tropical part of the biggest island (or is that the smallest continent). You would be quite welcome down here. No politics to speak of, just the odd CYCLONE.
Rocket

"That Ain't My Job, Mon"

Now that's a motto we can ALL live by. I'm starting right now!

Yeah Mon!!! And thank you Rocket....I am looking for a place to live. I thought I had built my dream home.....well the home IS a dream, nice big log cabin! However, as the story usually goes...
phooy with marriage! *shudders at the thought* So I've been looking for a place to have a modest cottage by the sea...ANY sea.
*starts dancing around singing,"It aint my job Mon...yeah"...*