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

Diversionary tactics? Or are we getting this thread back on track and away from your off-topic comments about Arnie?

Anhaga's right, but it's very difficult to keep that in mind when people get so angry about what a mess America's government is making in the rest of the world.

It's interesting to watch how the media is covering the war, and Bush's new PR spin on Iraq. I can see that the mood of the people is changing. At this point, I have to wonder if Bush will run again for reelection, considering how bad things look right now. I suppose it's too much to hope for - the newly elected Republican governor of California makes his chances better.

"Diversionary tactics? Or are we getting this thread back on track and away from your off-topic comments about Arnie? "

are you talking to me? surely not. I stated quite plainly that I don't care about arnie

What, pray tell, *are* my "diversionary tactics"? What, exactly, am I diverting from? I was asking an honest question, one that I hadn't seen the answer to, and I wasn't directing it at anyone in particular. I think I made that quite clear.

And frankly, if you're going to insult me, why the hell should I stay around and bother to offer answers to *your* questions? Really, Apparition, is the snotty attitude necessary?

What, pray tell, *are* my "diversionary tactics"? What, exactly, am I diverting from? I was asking an honest question, one that I hadn't seen the answer to, and I wasn't directing it at anyone in particular. I think I made that quite clear.

And frankly, if you're going to insult me, why the hell should I stay around and bother to offer answers to *your* question. Really, Apparition, is the snotty attitude necessary?

that wasn't hard to see comming. It's late and I'm off

Montana please don't withdraw. The whole point of this website, as I see it, is to exposit opinion. If we don't agree so much the better. At least, after a clear explanation, we will know why.

By leaving you're throwing away priveledge. I understand your point of view and your passion. Wihout prejudice I ask you to stay...

Oetzi, with few exceptions, every thread I go to on this website contains people with similar attitudes. It gets a bit old having someone flinging insults at others from thousands of miles away. Apparently, they feel that those distances allow them to be rude and/or insulting, and never consider the consequences of their words.

I have never intentionally insulted anyone on hootoo, even when I disagreed passionately with their position. Even early on in this thread, when the anti-American rhetoric was cranked up to an extremely high level, I tried to find commonalities, things that made all of us humans, rather than the national/ethnic/racial/whathaveyou differences. I left because it turned into "everything that's wrong with the world is all the Americans' fault" and no one was having a decent discussion. Is America perfect? No. But is anywhere else? No. Every country has its discontents, its problems, its underclass.

Thanks for the reply. I must admit when I found this site I was a little lost to the purpose it was serving. I've already had several scuffles with the media about bias, it drives me up the wall, perhaps I should have had the sense to log off then.

But if you see someone in need I don't walk away. The fact is a lot of folks who should'nt do. This often leads to damaged ego's. Take Tango for instance, if he is the person I think he is this site can only bring conflict because there are no hard and fast answers here, or anywhere else for that matter.

With Montana, I believe she has a lot to add but she seems to be fixed on a loop. But no I don't give up or walk out on folks and yes I see your motive, if I were you I would'nt give up.

There are plenty of topics this site has not opened yet!

And what "loop" am I stuck in, Oetzi? I am hoping you can help me there, because that could explain sooooo many things!!!

I have'nt detected any characteristics about you that are notable.
You tell me and I'll try to corellate!

I don't know...you're the one who said I was in a loop, so I was hoping you could answer it for me!

Anywho, now that that's all done, perhaps someone can answer the question I had earlier? While I appreciate that most of the researchers here try to separate the US government and the US people, is there something about the fact that someone is American that perhaps puts up extra barriers?

I know this has probably been discussed here in the recent past. But I'm simply too lazy to look back over the thread.

The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California is further proof (as if it were needed) of the inadequacy of the mental equipment sported by the average American when it comes to exercising their right to participate in the democratic system.

They vociferously advocate and defend the participatory democracy but completely fail to appreciate its importance on election day. I’ve said this before but, I’ve actually sneezed more brain cells than most Americans use on election day.

So confident are they in the superiority of their brand of democracy they have no compunction about wantonly and unjustifiably invading other nations in order to arrogantly inflict their system on others.

But do they appreciate it at home? Do they really understand it’s importance? Do they really hold sacred their right to participate?

Hell no! All they do is provide further evidence to the rest of the world of their inability to separate Hollywood fantasies from life’s realities.

In no other nation - in no other society - on no other planet would anyone take seriously the notion that the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger could seriously be considered the best choice to govern one of America’s most influential, most strategically important and most populated states.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has no particular expertise or experience when it comes to public office. His use of drugs (both performance-enhancing and recreational) is a matter of public record. As is his misogyny, lack of diplomacy and general self-centered attitude towards dealing with people. He’s not exactly the first name that would spring to mind when it comes to selecting a candidate for governorship.

How, then, can the Austrian Oak’s rise to the top of California politics be explained?

The only explanation is the, all too common, confusion between Hollywood fantasy and reality. The inability on the part of the average American to realize that the movie action hero portrayed by Schwarzenegger does not equate to the real-life person is frightening enough in its implications.

But perhaps more worrisome is the belief (at least subconsciously) that the fantasy, musclebound, shoot-em-up hero is the most appropriate figure to occupy the office of Governor. It goes a long way towards explaining America's murderous and warmongering attitude to international diplomacy and the US public's support for it.

The election of Schwarzenegger to Governor is such a blatant and obvious illustration of the nonsensical and unrealistic attitude of the average American that it's bordering on the satirical. Any sane person can see this. Any sane person outside of the USA, that is.

I feel more confident than ever in saying that the majority of Americans lack the ability to grasp reality. If anyone has the slightest doubt about this – here's your proof.

Okay. I see what you mean Handmade Toner (Montana Redhead). Sometimes timing is everything. It is possible for some to make the distinction.

How you folks can sit on one of the most fortunate continents on the planet and fret over a provincial election is pathetic. Have you awoken from a coma. California has groud to a halt. Please ,be attentive, read backlogs please....good standards for your on a BBC site!

"How you folks can sit on one of the most fortunate continents on the planet and fret over a provincial election is pathetic."

Huh??? But we're constantly being reminded that California is equivilent to one of the largest 'nations' in the world, in its population and influence. How can its politics be trifling and provincial?

Make up your mind!

Empty Sky, the truth is, I agree with you. The very fact that Arnold is the governor of the state in which I live makes me ill.

But that doesn't answer the question. Does the fact that I am American immediately predispose you to setting up extra barriers to who I am as a person? Would you approach me differently if I were, say, Canadian?

On a completely unrelated, but later apparent topic, is there some sort of president of the EU?

Hi Handmade. I have always tried to be careful to say "the majority of Americans" or "the average American". I realise it's not appropriate to generalise about an entire nation.

But AS was elected by a majority of voters. And although GWB was not, the majority keep him in office and will probably re-elect him.

So certain assumptions are appropriate.

Yes, there is an EU presidency.

(I'm not in Europe, BTW).

"is there some sort of president of the EU?"

Member nations take their turn to do a six month stint of presidency. Currently it's Italy.

Alrighty, then. Thanks, Empty Sky!

This brings me to a point Apparition raised earlier, about the US being xenophobic in not allowing immigrants to be president. Is the EU president required to come from one of the EU countries, and are there any rules about being nativeborn? It's something to make you think, anyway.

The EU president is a nation, not a person.

And the terms are so brief as not to give any one person, or group, undue influence.

America could learn a thing or two about consensus politics from Europe.