How do you feel about the new president of USA?

[reasonist]

I expect world leaders to have basic knowledge of top issues and communicate effectively. Obviously the general public sets the bar lower.

Trump is a unique experiment in political leadership.  He isn't a politician, has never been elected before.  He is flaky like former President of Venezuela ... Hugo Chavez.  He is a businessman, not a lawyer.  He hires lawyers.  America simply decided to cut out the middlemen ... the lawyers.

Yes, but he is unethical and lies like a drunken sailor. If you read his tweets, you think a 10 year old is typing. Now he claims that millions voted illegally, otherwise he would have won the popular vote handily. So the 'rigged' line is on again.
I dread the thought of January 20th. Hopefully he gets impeached quickly. I won't give him more than 1 to 2 years; he'll dig his own political grave with some stupid stunt.

[Mike Cl]

he'll dig his own political grave with some stupid stunt.

I'd amend this to 'stunts'.

[Jason78]

I think this is the funniest thing I've seen americans do in a long time.

[Shiranu]

http://shareblue.com/trump-fails-his-first-diplomatic-test/

Trump vs Obama...

Trump (Via Twitter):

Fidel Castro is dead!

Obama:

At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. We know that this moment fills Cubans â€" in Cuba and in the United States â€" with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.

For nearly six decades, the relationship between the United States and Cuba was marked by discord and profound political disagreements. During my presidency, we have worked hard to put the past behind us, pursuing a future in which the relationship between our two countries is defined not by our differences but by the many things that we share as neighbors and friends â€" bonds of family, culture, commerce, and common humanity. This engagement includes the contributions of Cuban Americans, who have done so much for our country and who care deeply about their loved ones in Cuba.

Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people. In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America.

[reasonist]

Just shows you: One is a statesman, the other a toxic clown.

[Hydra009]

I think this is the funniest thing I've seen americans do in a long time.

Just wait until it starts affecting our foreign relations.  That'll be a blast.

[Baruch]

Reasonist ... every election is stolen, the question is was the theft effective (did it steal enough votes to matter).  Voting is too important to be left to the Hoi Polloi.

You might not understand the American ennui toward Castro ... and how important the Cuban exile, Bacardi (millionaires in rum) and organized crime (who ran casinos in Cuba) are to ... elections here.  The Cuban Missile crisis isn't forgotten, though it turned out to be ... not an apocalypse, barely.

Our enemies might be statesmen, but we want them dead just the same.

[reasonist]

Reasonist ... every election is stolen, the question is was the theft effective (did it steal enough votes to matter).  Voting is too important to be left to the Hoi Polloi.

You might not understand the American ennui toward Castro ... and how important the Cuban exile, Bacardi (millionaires in rum) and organized crime (who ran casinos in Cuba) are to ... elections here.  The Cuban Missile crisis isn't forgotten, though it turned out to be ... not an apocalypse, barely.

Our enemies might be statesmen, but we want them dead just the same.

I meant Obama vs. Trump. I know you are not a fan but I think he is one of the better Presidents you had. Sure one of the smartest. Probably too nice for the job.
You are right, voting IS important. To see that over 2 million votes don't even count is outrageous. That is the reason why so many people get disillusioned. Even in a constitutional republic every vote should count. It's just a different branch of democracy anyhow. So majority vote should decide. Apparently it does not take a constitutional amendment to get rid of the electoral college, that buck can be passed to the individual States. Don't know if that's true. I am still trying to find a country that has the same system as you. So far no luck.

[Baruch]

I meant Obama vs. Trump. I know you are not a fan but I think he is one of the better Presidents you had. Sure one of the smartest. Probably too nice for the job.
You are right, voting IS important. To see that over 2 million votes don't even count is outrageous. That is the reason why so many people get disillusioned. Even in a constitutional republic every vote should count. It's just a different branch of democracy anyhow. So majority vote should decide. Apparently it does not take a constitutional amendment to get rid of the electoral college, that buck can be passed to the individual States. Don't know if that's true. I am still trying to find a country that has the same system as you. So far no luck.

I love your contributions by the way ;-)  The Electoral College I do think is part of the Constitution (article 2), it is the two-party system that is not part of the Constitution.  George Washington warned, and was ignored, regarding partisan politics, in his farewell speech.  The exact implementation is often statutory ... the details are to be worked in legislation.  The amendment that created the Federal Reserve ... you won't find the Federal Reserve mentioned in it at all ... strictly covered by "enabling" legislation.  I was shocked!  I expected ordinary legislation to be sloppy, but an amendment sloppy!!  Anyway, I am surprised you don't see the precedent ... regardless of the arguments in the Federalist Papers ... the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire.  Of course our electors are popularly selected, they aren't German noblemen.  As far as popular vote goes, the past and never ending brouhaha over the current Presidential election is so horrible to my eyes, I would abolish the popular vote for both Senators (returning it back to the states) and even for the President/VP.  I would let the Senate (upper house) be the decider (like the Roman Senate vis a vis the two Consuls).  All the popular politics should be in the House.  I don't think massive votes over vast geography work at all ... and yes, we could increase the number of people in the House, so that each representative covers fewer people.  There are lots of ways the House could be improved, say avoiding gerrymandering by letting the state judiciary decide voting districts, not the state legislature.  I am simply no longer in favor of popular democracy in the modern age ... beyond a Congressional House district that is.  The people aren't up to it.

[Cavebear]

There are so MANY idiot Republicans to choose from as "very very bad" choices.  Trump, Palin, Carson, Cain, etc.

[reasonist]

I love your contributions by the way ;-)  The Electoral College I do think is part of the Constitution (article 2), it is the two-party system that is not part of the Constitution.  George Washington warned, and was ignored, regarding partisan politics, in his farewell speech.  The exact implementation is often statutory ... the details are to be worked in legislation.  The amendment that created the Federal Reserve ... you won't find the Federal Reserve mentioned in it at all ... strictly covered by "enabling" legislation.  I was shocked!  I expected ordinary legislation to be sloppy, but an amendment sloppy!!  Anyway, I am surprised you don't see the precedent ... regardless of the arguments in the Federalist Papers ... the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire.  Of course our electors are popularly selected, they aren't German noblemen.  As far as popular vote goes, the past and never ending brouhaha over the current Presidential election is so horrible to my eyes, I would abolish the popular vote for both Senators (returning it back to the states) and even for the President/VP.  I would let the Senate (upper house) be the decider (like the Roman Senate vis a vis the two Consuls).  All the popular politics should be in the House.  I don't think massive votes over vast geography work at all ... and yes, we could increase the number of people in the House, so that each representative covers fewer people.  There are lots of ways the House could be improved, say avoiding gerrymandering by letting the state judiciary decide voting districts, not the state legislature.  I am simply no longer in favor of popular democracy in the modern age ... beyond a Congressional House district that is.  The people aren't up to it.

Hey Baruch, thanks for the encouragement, I return the compliment. We all can suckle on your knowledge and insight.
I agree with you, but what would be a viable, more inclusive alternative for a popular democracy? I still like a direct democracy, it makes the most sense to me.
You mentioned the Fed. That's another uniquely American institution. Basically privately owned, controlling all the money flow, interest rates, Bond rates etc., printing and lending money to the govt., it should be another govt. branch, like a Central bank in other countries without private ownership. Or part of the Ministry of Finance.
What was the thinking behind this set up? Why have private ownership with such sensitive issues? Are the control mechanisms enough?

[Baruch]

There are a lot of problems with the origin and operation of the Federal Reserve.  Early American Presidents killed its prior incarnations.

A kind of public-private partnership, still very popular today.  We don't trust government and we don't trust business, so we try to force them together (fascism) so that they can counter-balance each other, like Hegelian dialectic.

North Dakota has public banks, and suffered not at all from the 2008 downturn.  Wonder why?

At one time, we had postal banks at each post office (a public institution, not private) that was the bank for anyone who wasn't credit worthy to bank at a private bank.  We got rid of those in my lifetime ... because all Americans are now creditworthy ;-)

When I was little, we had three kinds of currency; Federal Reserve Notes, Silver Certificates, and United States Notes.  We got rid of all our silver, so we can't do silver certificates (thanks LBJ).  We could still do United States Notes (issued by the Treasury, without going thru the Federal Reserve), but powerful people wouldn't like that, just like they didn't like Silver Certificates (or earlier Gold Certificates or earlier commercial bank currency).  Might get a trip to Dallas if you mess with the Federal Reserve ;-(

[Jason78]

Just wait until it starts affecting our foreign relations.  That'll be a blast.

It already has.   Have you seen what Nigel Farage is up to?

[Hydra009]

It already has.   Have you seen what Nigel Farage is up to?

You mean Trump saying he'd be a great ambassador to the US?

[Jason78]

Yep, that's exactly what I mean.