Are Europeans too smug, condescending and secular...

subgenius · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:26 am

Drifting wrote:

Why do Americans (I'm generalising obviously) think Europe is a country?

its just easier to bulk them together, because (generally) they have the same attitudes, just cultural nuances.....and the whole European Union has the obvious political and economic implications that tends to lump it all together form that perspective, and the perspective of our discussion now (so its as much our generalization as it is Europe's)
Everyone realizes that UK, France, Austria, etc..have different styles of food and painters...but the attitudes are the same because we are the same obnoxious tourist whether we are in Spain or in China.

subgenius · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:36 am

Drifting wrote:

Let's see if I can help settle this...

Quote:

Representative democracy is a variety of democracy founded on the principle of elected people representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy.[1] For example, two countries which use representative democracy are the United Kingdom (a constitutional monarchy) and Germany (a federal republic).

Quote:

Direct democracy (or pure democracy)[1] is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives.[2] Depending on the particular system in use, it might entail passing executive decisions, making laws, directly electing or dismissing officials and conducting trials. Two leading forms of direct democracy are participatory democracy and deliberative democracy.

Now which one is America?

we are a unique one, to say the least.....
Federally more of a Constitutional Republic :wink:

Locally more of direct democracy seasoned with representative democracy.

many people do not understand that several united states actually compose The United States.

Drifting · **Joined:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:52 am **Posts:** 7308

subgenius wrote:

Drifting wrote:

Why do Americans (I'm generalising obviously) think Europe is a country?

its just easier to bulk them together, because (generally) they have the same attitudes, just cultural nuances.....and the whole European Union has the obvious political and economic implications that tends to lump it all together form that perspective, and the perspective of our discussion now (so its as much our generalization as it is Europe's)
Everyone realizes that UK, France, Austria, etc..have different styles of food and painters...but the attitudes are the same because we are the same obnoxious tourist whether we are in Spain or in China.

Where to start...

Samantabhadra · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:49 am

Drifting wrote:

Where to start...

Maybe here?

subgenius wrote:

its just easier to bulk them together, because (generally) they have the same attitudes, just cultural nuances..

Sub would you mind explaining a bit how a European would be out of place saying the exact same thing about "these united States"?

Also:

Drifting wrote:

What about the system Bush employed? The one where you keep counting and recounting votes until the numbers add up to you winning...

Although as I recall it was Bush's challenger who had the (re)counting problem...

subgenius · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:28 pm

Samantabhadra wrote:

Sub would you mind explaining a bit how a European would be out of place saying the exact same thing about "these united States"?

i never said they would be...and my response was in kind to Drift's

Drifting wrote:

Why do Americans (I'm generalising obviously) think Europe is a country?

(emphasis mine)

Samantabhadra wrote:

Also:

Drifting wrote:

What about the system Bush employed? The one where you keep counting and recounting votes until the numbers add up to you winning...

Although as I recall it was Bush's challenger who had the (re)counting problem...

the system Bush employed? that comment seemed rather nonsensical...still not sure how it related to the discussion...nor why you bring it up here.
The key thing to remember is that its not about counting votes but rather which votes you count....as was the case with Bush (who did not win, nor had to win, the popular vote at all - on these United States the most votes does not mean you get elected, the most "representatives" does)

Are Europeans too smug, condescending and secular...

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