hello ZiaAries thread

[boingo]

Hi Zia

I hope you've had a nice day

Funny! MAD TV

Take care

[vixen37]

hello zia

[panty-man]

Hi Zia,

Hope you are having a good day / week.

[wildchild]

hey zia

[little_miss_forceful]

hello zia

[rosie727]

afternoon zia

[boingo]

Evening Zia


I just saw a bit on the news about the huge US political convention from the other night. I can't believe how many people go to those things. We don't have anything like that here. We've got a state election in a week, but all I've seen is a one hour timed debate between the heads of the two major parties: Labour and Liberal, plus the odd 30 second campaign advert.
Even for federal elections we don't get any info about the election until about two months before. It does make voting a little haphazard because we have to actively search for information.
We probably get more information about the US federal election than we do about our own state election!
Voting's compulsory in Australia. I disagree with that idea, because that means the people who don't give a hoot and therefore don't know much about the people they're voting for, can end up voting for any old candidate. We can actually get fined if we don't vote or fail to register to vote when we turn 18.


Hope you're having a nice evening.

[panty boy]

Hello Zia

[boingo]

Evening Zia


I just saw a bit on the news about the huge US political convention from the other night. I can't believe how many people go to those things. We don't have anything like that here. We've got a state election in a week, but all I've seen is a one hour timed debate between the heads of the two major parties: Labour and Liberal, plus the odd 30 second campaign advert.
Even for federal elections we don't get any info about the election until about two months before. It does make voting a little haphazard because we have to actively search for information.
We probably get more information about the US federal election than we do about our own state election!
Voting's compulsory in Australia. I disagree with that idea, because that means the people who don't give a hoot and therefore don't know much about the people they're voting for, can end up voting for any old candidate. We can actually get fined if we don't vote or fail to register to vote when we turn 18.


Hope you're having a nice evening.

Fined?

Maybe that might explain why Americans are so passionate about our elections. We actually get involved and it ain't all the time pretty. I guess that's why when foreigners criticize us, it doesn't register because we know that they don't even take the kind of interest in their own elections and then they want to bitch about ours. (You are no foreigner BTW, you are allowed to talk.)

I've been watching it this week. It is the Democrat side, next week it will be the Republican side.

You have a good day my friend.

Ooh. An honourary American. Thank you.

I agree, People in the US do seem to have more passion about things of importance than people in Oz. I don't have a very informed opinion of US politics at the moment because I prefer not to watch too much of our bias, largely sensationalised news. We get a distorted view of the US through our media. They jump on any bad stories because that's what gets the most viewers. In the age of the internet, a rumour can quickly be spread as a "fact". Many times I've seen an article on one station, only to be told completely differently on another. One example, I'll always remember, is channel 7's half hour nightly news, the most unreliable news service in the country, had a statement about some significant law change a few years ago. Channel 10 has a one hour nightly news with more time for interviews and they had the prime minister at the time talking about the same proposed law change, that never did end up being passed.

I don't know if you have this in the US, but our politicians seem to spend most of their time slagging off the opposition in 30 second commercials than they do telling us what their own policies are.
I was quite surprised how civil our state election debate was on TV the other night. Can you believe both politicians actually agreed on at least a quarter of the issues? I'm not sure who to vote for now. We've got Labour in federal seating, but Liberal in state for now. The state Labour party wants to introduce genetically modified foods which I'm dead against, but that's another conversation. While Liberal stuffed up big time in the federal parliament. There's also the other argument that having Labour in both houses (Federal and State) gives them nearly all the power.
We have a minor party called The Greens. They're primarily an environmentally concious group, but they have the odd extremist policy too. If The Greens don't get primary seats in an election, then all their votes go to Liberal because legally all minor parties, ie. any other than Labour and Liberal, must choose one of those two major parties to give their votes to. The minor parties don't get as much advertising funding than Labour and Liberal either. It's not exactly a fair voting system.
Ho-hum. I'm sure I'll work it out by the 6th of September for polling day.

Oops. That was a bit of a long reply. I guess I'm in voting mode too.

Sleep well. G'night

[boingo]

I don't know if you have this in the US, but our politicians seem to spend most of their time slagging off the opposition in 30 second commercials than they do telling us what their own policies are.

YES, they absolutely do it all the time. Big and small elections. It gets old. However in this presidential election, I don't mind it at all. The man I don't want to win has the most negatives going against him. I'm wanting everyone to see how he isn't what he says he is.

Thanks for the tutorial on Australia. I'm learning from you too. It's terrible how ya'll get all the bad stuff on us. As Cartman would say " Those B.ASTARDS". We aren't bad at all. Forgive me for saying so myself, but we American women are gorgeous.

Oh, I have no doubt about that last part.

I like learning the truth about the US and I'm greatful to you for sharing that with me.
I probably shouldn't bag on Australia too much. It's not a bad place to live. I think we can become a bit too isolated from the rest of the world, so people tend to believe what they see on TV instead of getting it straight from people who live in those parts of the world.

Cartman's cool Clicky NOT safe for work!

[azraelle]

I see we're still defending McCain...

As Utah, with it's 4 electoral votes, won't matter in the final scheme of things--I think I'll sit this one out. But more power to you Zia

[boingo]

G'day from Oz, Zia

I had a delicious dinner tonight.

I'm gonna go to the shops to buy a new stainless steel soup ladle tomorrow and a couple of other things. I don't like to use plastic utensils if I can help it because they leach chemicals when heated.

I hope your day's running smoothly.

[wildchild]

hello zia

[boingo]

Hi Zia

Those special pills you sent me are great. Apart from the eye and shoulder twitches and occasional waking up screaming in the middle of the night, there's no side-effects.
BTW What does "Animal use only" mean?


Hope you have a terrific day!

[rosie727]

evening zia