Do we live under a dictatorship, yes we do...

[Javaman]

I had a very interesting conversation with a new friend. She is from Brazil.

I asked her what she felt about the U.S. when she was growing up in Brazil.

She basically said, that yes, the U.S. had it's problems, but by and large, we were a good nation.

However, everything changed in the late 90's and by 9/11 their opinion of us had gone from good to bad.

Many of her contemporaries actually were happy when 9/11 happened because as she stated, "that no one in Brazil wasn't in the least surprised by it happening"

The conversation next lead to our elections and I had to ask her what she felt about them.

And here I quote her verbatim, "your recent elections are just like the elections we had when we had dictators, the only difference is that instead of the winner getting 75-80% of the votes, they got 51% to make it look like it was legitimate, but everything else was just like how it used to be for us". She went on to say, how she was just appalled at the lack of interest and anger over the elections. The basic question she had to ask was, "why weren't people in the streets demonstrating in mass?" I shook my had sadly and did a poor job of defending myself by saying I was.

I'm so tired of living in an alternative universe.

[twilight_sailing]

1. "why weren't people in the streets demonstrating in mass?"

Indeed.

[Dresden]

2. Did you ask your friend about the midtern.....

elections in 2006 and how they turned out?

Was she appalled then too?

In a dictatorship, the ruling party rarely allows the minority party to gain power...unless of course you are living in an alternative universe.

[Journeyman]

7. Touché! . . .

n/t

[madmunchie]

9. She still had very good..no EXCELLENT points to make and if we aren't

close to a Dictatorship, than it is because of the Grace of God, and, again, WHY aren't people demonstrating in the streets? As far as 2006 elections, THEY miscalculated the number of votes and THAT is why they lost, OR haven't you heard?

[cali]

11. Well, aside from my belief that your

claim that we live under a dictatorship, is utter tripe, there are people protesting in the streets, including last month's large demonstration in DC agaisnt the war and the many smaller satellite demonstrations held in other cities that same day. Perhaps people aren't marching in the streets in large enough numbers for you. And the business about miscalculating the number of votes is just vague nonsense. Hate to disappoint you, but we still live in a democracy- a very flawed, and severely strained one, but we are not yet a dictatorship.

[onenote]

14. well said

[madmunchie]

18. "and if we aren't close to a Dictatorship..."

Close does not equal "claim that we live under a Dictatorship," So, while you choose to think that you are taking the superior high road and correcting poor uninformed me, read ALL of the words in a sentence before spouting off.

[demrabble]

12. An Incompetant Dictatorship?

An incompetant dictatorship -- especially a dictatorship that allows (or miscalculates) its opponents to win isn't much of a dictatorship, in my view.

[madmunchie]

19. I can't go for the "Dictatorship" thing, hook line and sinker, but we are

close to one as we ever have been, as flawed as it is in calculating how much fraud to do for votes. It is downright scary and not too far from being a dictatorship if this goes on much longer or goes too much farther.

[demrabble]

3. Our "Recent Elections"

When your friend said that our "recent elections are just like the elections we had when we had dictators, the only difference is that instead of the winner getting 75-80% of the votes, they got 51% to make it look like it was legitimate, but everything else was just like how it used to be for us", did she include the election of November, 2006?

I have hope, based on the results of the last election.

Also, where would your friend prefer to live -- here in the US (where she is) or in Brazil (where she is from)?

[madokie]

5. I don't know

America has had 200 plus years to build all the things we cherish, she prolly too. That doesn't change the fact we are a dictatorship now. the reason for the last election they were thinking they could keep it close but they didn't put enough cushion in is what I think.

[demrabble]

6. That's It!

We have a dictatorship, all right!

But our dictatorship is just incompetent.

"They" were thinking (well, not thinking, really) that "they" coul keep it close, but "they" just didn't put enough cushion in.

Can I have some of what you're smoking?

Please?

[Double T]

4. Currently, 'WE' live under a self appointed bushco dictatorship............

created solely by the RW and enabled by lemming apathetic couch potato americans. Formula for straightening out this mess: 1) verifiable elections with a paper trail, 2) ouster of ALL RW candidates in the next elections, 3) participation by the apathetic masses in the next elections. I am certain the majority of the American people do NOT want our current form of government represented by a dictatorship.

[demrabble]

8. You Really Want All Those Apethetic?

Do you really want all those apethetic couch potatoes voting in the next election?

Be careful what you ask for.

I would prefer elections where only those who can demonstrate an understanding of the issues are allowed to vote.

[Double T]

10. The apathetic couch potatoes are losing their jobs to slave wage.......

labor countries. SOMETHING has got to motivate THEM to vote for change!!

[Balbus]

13. I think your friend is a lunatic..

and if she was one of those that were "happy when 9/11 happened" I'd piss on her head if I had the chance.

[demrabble]

15. When, Exactly?

When was it, exactly, that your friend said things began to change in the US?

"However, everything changed in the late 90's and by 9/11 their opinion of us had gone from good to bad."

What happened in the late 1990's (before Bush came to office) that made them change their opinion of the US?

I can understand saying that they changed their opinion of the US after Bush began his saber-rattling.

But I can't understand the change of opinion in the late 1990's.

[Iwasthere]

17. I agree

When Clinton was in office our country was booming and respect for USA was high! He was a brilliant president. Did much good. I remember Greenspan in 99 (I think) was worried about the talk of paying off the entire national debt with the surplus. So Clinton had a sex problem, BIG DEAL! As long as he kept our country going in the right direction he could have frequented brothels as far as i was concerned. I digress...

[Swamp Rat]

16. No, most Brazilians like Americans, but they dislike Bushler.

I do not know and have not met any Brazilians that were happy about 9-11.

I lived in Brasil and half of my family is Brazilian, so I know quite a few of 'em.

[rinsd]

20. Clinton caused Brazil to hate America to the point there was rejoicing on 9/11?

Sounds like your friend is absolutely full of shit.