The United States' concept of democracy is a failure.

[old man emu]

Most countries which claim to be democracies seem to have a separation between their method of giving their citizens a voice and the personage who fulfils the role of Head of State. In those countries, the Head of State has a very limited role in the enactment of laws. Also, those countries have a robust means of voicing varience of view to that of the governing group. Just look at Australia as a familiar example. We have a Head of State with limited powers. We have political parties in our parliaments who are able to challenge when necessary porposals of the governing Party. Most importantly, both the governing Party and the opposition Parties have identifyable leaders who announce their Party's views.

 

That doesn't appear to be happening at present in the United States. The current head of State (President) appears to be calling the shots, and the parliamentary leaders from the President's Party are simply going through the motions to enact the pronoucements of the Head of State. There does not appear to be any vigorous opposition to these action within the two houses of government. Nor does there appear to be any leader forceful enough to stand up to either the heads of the houses of government, nor the Head of State as is as the moment.

 

We are witnessing the destruction of an economic and military power which has held sway over the World for eighty years. The Make America Great Again concept is provoing itself to be an abject failure, with global economic and politcal implications. What is tragic is that there is nothing to suggest the creation of a concept to Restore America amongst those who sit in Opposition to the current Party in power. No one is standing up to take the roles of Leader to reconstruct the United States.

 

Many in the United States and other countries are hoping that the World can hold on for the next three-and-a-bit years of MAGA-madness. However unless a strong leader arises soon to counter the present incumbent, and his cohort, democracy will collapse in the United States. 

[nomadpete]

42 minutes ago, old man emu said:

Most countries which claim to be democracies seem to have a separation between their method of giving their citizens a voice and the personage who fulfils the role of Head of State. In those countries, the Head of State has a very limited role in the enactment of laws. Also, those countries have a robust means of voicing varience of view to that of the governing group. Just look at Australia as a familiar example. We have a Head of State with limited powers. We have political parties in our parliaments who are able to challenge when necessary porposals of the governing Party. Most importantly, both the governing Party and the opposition Parties have identifyable leaders who announce their Party's views.

 

That doesn't appear to be happening at present in the United States. The current head of State (President) appears to be calling the shots, and the parliamentary leaders from the President's Party are simply going through the motions to enact the pronoucements of the Head of State. There does not appear to be any vigorous opposition to these action within the two houses of government. Nor does there appear to be any leader forceful enough to stand up to either the heads of the houses of government, nor the Head of State as is as the moment.

 

We are witnessing the destruction of an economic and military power which has held sway over the World for eighty years. The Make America Great Again concept is provoing itself to be an abject failure, with global economic and politcal implications. What is tragic is that there is nothing to suggest the creation of a concept to Restore America amongst those who sit in Opposition to the current Party in power. No one is standing up to take the roles of Leader to reconstruct the United States.

 

Many in the United States and other countries are hoping that the World can hold on for the next three-and-a-bit years of MAGA-madness. However unless a strong leader arises soon to counter the present incumbent, and his cohort, democracy will collapse in the United States. 

OME, don't expect an answer to your post.

 

There isn't one.

 

I don't hold much hope for a true leader to materialise in our lifetime.

[old man emu]

19 minutes ago, nomadpete said:

OME, don't expect an answer to your post.

It's a conversation opener. 

 

It's an opinion and somewhat of a lamentation.  Perhaps one could say that the bombastic promotion of US-style democaracy has, in reality, been "fake news".

[nomadpete]

Well PRIOR to the great orange one, wasn't USofA referred to as a 'flawed democracy'? Or something similar. 

 

Considering how the wrecking ball has been swinging for the last eight months, would any clear thinking person believe that democracy is  now better than ever? 

 

My opinion is..... the new, MAGAfied States of northern America has irreversibly joined the new global wave of dictatorships.

 

And what can we call it when Don declares 'You'll never need to vote again'?

 

 

 

Edited September 5 by nomadpete

[onetrack]

Amazingly, the U.S. stockmarket has been booming under Trump, with high expectations that his economic changes will greatly benefit the U.S. economy. As a result, many Australians are seeing benefits in their superannuation balances, as the superannuation funds managers are skewed towards U.S. shares investment. I don't know how long the U.S. economy can continue to rise, with China making every effort to disrupt American economic gains. 

 

The odd part is the number of Americans who will put up with worsening economic conditions and inflation, fully hoping that "things will eventually get better". I've got some news for them - it won't - especially with Trump in charge, and where loyalty to Trump counts more for job position, than actual job skills.

 

There will have to be a "left field" moment, where something totally unexpected happens out of left field, which will cause a major economic upset for the U.S. What that event will be, no-one can predict. 

Remember that the U.S. economy thrives on arms production, and there's plenty of that going on at present. Trump's BS and lies will eventually come home to roost, though.

 

Trump BS such as stopping the Ukraine/Russia war in 1 day, after being inaugurated. He's been in the Big Seat for 228 days now, and his third attempt to stop the Ukraine war has just failed, with the ending of a 2 week submission to Russia to cease their attacks on Ukraine, ending yesterday. This makes Trump look like an incompetent leader, all the while he brags about how great he is. 

 

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/09/04/trumps-2-week-deadline-for-russia-to-start-peace-talks-comes-and-goes/

 

Edited September 5 by onetrack

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

It's pointless voting anyway, the same two parties always get in.

 

I asked the question a little while ago: "what would you do or think if parties other than the ALP and the Coalition rose up and governed Australia". Only one of you replied. The rest of you chickened out. Why?

[onetrack]

It's not politicians or political parties that run our countries, or our economic systems - it's the super-rich, and they control nearly everything, by corrupting the democratic processes that are supposed to protect ordinary people from the robber barons of the 21st century.

 

This bloke is on the right track, it's amazing he hasn't been made to disappear, he's up against the worlds elite and their unbelievable levels of power.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-05/gary-stevenson-economist-and-former-trader/105734926

[Siso]

Looks like we aren't ready for an honest politicians. apart from the Ukraine war, he has done pretty well everything he has said he was going to do. Remember our "won't be a carbon tax under a government I lead", "electricty bills will be $275 cheaper". Just 2 I can think of off the top of my head, there is others. Not that I am a fan of Trump.

[spacesailor]

Politicians promises ,  are made to be broken. 

HOWARD'S ' photo licence's will not be an identity card .

What happened to his promise .

spacesailor

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

2 hours ago, onetrack said:

It's not politicians or political parties that run our countries, or our economic systems - it's the super-rich, and they control nearly everything, by corrupting the democratic processes that are supposed to protect ordinary people from the robber barons of the 21st century.

 

This bloke is on the right track, it's amazing he hasn't been made to disappear, he's up against the worlds elite and their unbelievable levels of power.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-05/gary-stevenson-economist-and-former-trader/105734926

Gary Stevenson is a prodigal son. What the article didn't say about him is that he started his teenage years heading down the wrong path and had some skirmishes with the law. I don't think he was ever convicted of anything much. Someone (I am not sure who) relaised he has a maths brain and straghtened the ship, so tp spealk.

 

A couple of years before Covid, one of the derivatives desk would mark (value) deals they later found out to be struck by him to zero as they knew they were going to lose on it. Then they would try and sell it off at a discount to par to get something back. If the counterparty was Citi, you were always very wary (he is not the only one like this,; he just chose a different path to constant enrichment). It is the others that are piling in  the money to keep the status quo. 

 

Although he is on a crusade, in the same way Punter Politics on you tube his (he is an ex teacher), he is little more than an annoyance. The press here mostly dismiss him; there is another money man they promote who is all about the average person getting more out of the system, but he is about tinkering at the edges as opposed to Gary, who is about fundamental change. Punter Politics is causing a stir, though, as he uses his YouToob money and donations to put up faily poignant billboards on how the wealthy and multinationals are ripping off the system. He frequently compares us to Qatar and Norway, where they tax their gas exports properly and have a wealtheier society by far. 

 

Still, democracy has its flaws; some deep as power corrupts (but  absolute power absolutely corrupts). I can't think of anything better. 

 

Chump 2 was always going to be a blood bath. His view was a) I can never run again, but b) I'll have a good go at it or setting up a dynasty to beat a technicality of the constitution.

 

What amazes me is that a lot of information is at ones' fingertips.. yes we all tend to congregate our sources to our echo chambers, but it is not hard to look up different perspectives. We are just too lazy, or ofull of inertia, so I guess we deserve what we get. 

Edited September 5 by Jerry_Atrick

[nomadpete]

17 hours ago, onetrack said:

Amazingly, the U.S. stockmarket has been booming under Trump, with high expectations that his economic changes will greatly benefit the U.S. economy.

I am not surprised. Quite the contrary.

In my opinion, when the experts announce a great economy, it has nothing to do with the financial lives of the masses. 

When the big end of town flourishes, it usually means the Ginas & Clives are raking in record personal wealth.

 

 

[nomadpete]

What did chump do?

 

He put the n in demoncracy

[Jerry_Atrick]

And the z: demoncrazy 

Edited September 6 by Jerry_Atrick

[nomadpete]

It's time I dug out my copy of Idiocracy. When I first watched it, I  thought it was just a silly comedy. Was it actually prophecy?

 

With all the great material so far this year, they might be ready to film 'Idiocracy II'