Russia Today question New Yorkers on Current Affairs - General

[QUOTE=Vasili;34019457]since when did it become a requirement to vote, don't have to if I don't want to.[/QUOTE] In some places voting is a duty, enforced by law, not just a right. It is an extreme interpretation of the common idea that voting is a responsibility. If you don't vote (but have the right to, i.e. you're old enough), you really have no right to complain about current affairs. If you do vote, you are partly responsible for your government's actions. [QUOTE=Vasili;34019457]At the end of the day they are pretty much all the same. You can't blame someone for murder because apparently you voting for a politician or government could of stopped that. Blaming a entire population because of a few peoples mistakes because they have the right to vote is is childish and shameful.[/QUOTE] It is just a matter of degree. Naturally, some are much, much more responsible than others - that doesn't mean the voter doesn't have an ever so tiny part of the blame too. It's something voters can definitely live with and I wasn't suggesting anybody thinks they have enough responsibility to prosecute them or anything silly like that, but pretending you're not a (tiny) part of the problem is just being an asshole. [QUOTE=Vasili;34019457]Not knowing a location of a country or who the president of said country is or where their cities are located[/QUOTE] You should try to know these things if your elected government is killing people there. [QUOTE=Vasili;34019457]or the foreign affairs of your government isn't a crime nor is it a responsibility for you to know if you do not wish to know.[/QUOTE] Ignorance is bliss, no doubt about that. That doesn't make it right not to seek such basic, freely-available knowledge. [QUOTE=Vasili;34019457]Governments do so many things behind closed doors and have so many conflicts that go unheard of that its pretty difficult for your average person who works from 9-5 to keep up with it.[/QUOTE] The average person doesn't have to keep up, just be aware that it's happening, and not try to pretend it isn't. In a healthy democracy - personally I don't think the US is one, alleviating the blame for the vast majority of citizens - a bad government is ultimately everyone's fault. If you (that is, whomever is reading) agree that the US isn't a healthy democracy then I yield my point completely. Realizing that it is your fault is the first step to fixing it. You've been blessed with the right to vote and you're not trying to use it for good. That makes you (in a general sense, not [I]you[/I]) an asshole.

[QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019099]Every American with voting rights is a partner in crime. Never mind the fact that a country's foreign policy [I]does[/I] indirectly affect its citizens at home: you still don't care about the countless people your elected government is killing? That's OK, it just makes you a complete asshole. Ignorance is no excuse when the relevant information is freely available to you.[/QUOTE] rofl what the hell are you on about and I've already said my part... we should stop shitting on other countries and deal with our own issues first... don't like my opinion? Piss off, it's an opinion, you don't have to agree with it. I focus on more domestic issues and don't support the wars, what is there to not get? and considering how much craps going on in the modern day it's impossible to be up to date on EVERY SINGLE THING, stop with that, that's retarded. You can be ignorant or politically aware, but you can't know everything. [editline]2nd January 2012[/editline] not only that, but sometimes filtering real news with crap can be hard. If you honestly expect people to remember every detail all the time... you have to be insane. I don't care how "Easy info is to get", sometimes shit just happens. [quote]Realizing that it is your fault is the first step to fixing it. You've been blessed with the right to vote and you're not trying to use it for good. That makes you (in a general sense, not you) an asshole.[/quote] Except the candidates we have to choose from are all fucked in the head beyond any measure of reason... who do you want me to vote for? And don't say third party, I rarely, if ever hear about them. [QUOTE='[Seed Eater];34018109']but if that's the way you think, I'm sure you'll be fine with America coming over to your nation and ejaculating all over your populace, and everyone in America just letting it happen. After all, the populace aren't responsible for the government and they don't have to give a fuck about it, as long as it doesn't affect them.[/QUOTE] Like I said, I'm against the war. And not my fault the government doesn't listen and has all these stupid reasons to be stuck in stupid wars. What the hell do you want me to do about it? Spend thousands of dollars to protest against it? [U]I can't even afford a car, what could I possibly do when I'll just be ignored[/U]. Spend hours alone in my home town protesting? Uhh, who gives a shit about some suburban kid, the media sure as hell won't, Obama sure as hell wont. No matter who I vote for they're not ending the war anyways. [B]Tell me what you want me to do about it?[/B] It's not about responsibility, it's about being realistic. [editline]2nd January 2012[/editline] I'm responsible and an asshole for something I can't help though. Sorry guys for being such a gigantic cunt.

I don't get it, why should someone in America care what's going on with the middle east?

[QUOTE=J!NX;34020484] and I've already said my part... we should stop shitting on other countries and deal with our own issues first... don't like my opinion? Piss off, it's an opinion, you don't have to agree with it.[/QUOTE] So I guess, that's just, like, your opinion, man? [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484]I focus on more domestic issues and don't support the wars, what is there to not get?[/QUOTE] I don't get how you can think it's OK to not give a shit about knowing the first thing about the wars your elected government is waging. [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484]and considering how much craps going on in the modern day it's impossible to be up to date on EVERY SINGLE THING, stop with that, that's retarded. You can be ignorant or politically aware, but you can't know everything.[/QUOTE] Nobody said you should know everything or be up to date on every single thing, not even close. [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484]not only that, but sometimes filtering real news with crap can be hard. If you honestly expect people to remember every detail all the time... you have to be insane. I don't care how "Easy info is to get", sometimes shit just happens.[/QUOTE] Firstly, you don't have to learn by listening to the news. Secondly, nobody expects people to "remember every detail all the time", nobody suggested it, nobody implied it. [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484]Except the candidates we have to choose from are all fucked in the head beyond any measure of reason... who do you want me to vote for? And don't say third party, I rarely, if ever hear about them.[/QUOTE] I agree, your situation sucks. I think your democracy sucks. Two party systems don't represent most constituents accurately, everyone is just choosing the lesser of two evils every time. [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484]Like I said, I'm against the war. And not my fault the government doesn't listen and has all these stupid reasons to be stuck in stupid wars. What the hell do you want me to do about it? Spend thousands of dollars to protest against it? [U]I can't even afford a car, what could I possibly do when I'll just be ignored[/U]. Spend hours alone in my home town protesting? Uhh, who gives a shit about some suburban kid, the media sure as hell won't, Obama sure as hell wont. No matter who I vote for they're not ending the war anyways.[/QUOTE] All I asked was for people to realise that if indeed their democracy is healthy, they're partly at fault for their government's actions, and have no good excuse to be ignorant about really serious shit like millions of innocent civilians ending up dead because of those actions. [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484][B]Tell me what you want me to do about it?[/B] It's not about responsibility, it's about being realistic.[/QUOTE] I'd like you to stop defending people who think it's OK to be ignorant about the wars their elected government is waging, but it's just an Internet forum, I'm not going to freak out if you don't. [QUOTE=J!NX;34020484]I'm responsible and an asshole for something I can't help though. Sorry guys for being such a gigantic cunt.[/QUOTE] You can easily learn about Middle-Eastern countries and the various wars your country is involved in and make informed decisions at the voting box (or prepare for it for the future). That was the only point I was arguing.

This happens every time someone posts a public polling.

The ignorance in this thread is astounding.

So what if they picked out the worst answers, it's still scary knowing that there are people out there who don't know who the [b]vice president of their country is[/b]

[QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]In some places voting is a duty, enforced by law, not just a right. [/QUOTE] What shithole country forces people to vote? I'm glad I don't vote, because choosing between Obama and Romney in November is going to fucking [I]suck[/I].

I know i've heard the answers of those questions come by on tv and such but if anyone asked me i wouldn't know the answer to most of those questions sadly.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;34030058]What shithole country forces people to vote? I'm glad I don't vote, because choosing between Obama and Romney in November is going to fucking [I]suck[/I].[/QUOTE] No one forces you to vote for a major party candidate. Even if you think they won't win, you can vote for a third party in protest.

[QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]In some places voting is a duty, enforced by law, not just a right. It is an extreme interpretation of the common idea that voting is a responsibility. If you don't vote (but have the right to, i.e. you're old enough), you really have no right to complain about current affairs. If you do vote, you are partly responsible for your government's actions.[/quote] And those places that stand for liberty and freedom of choice? We don't have to vote if we don't want to. This is your problem, you assume they are complaining about their affairs and don't vote. I don't vote for governments because its the same shit over and over, you can't vote that away no matter how much you believe in democracy. [QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]It is just a matter of degree. Naturally, some are much, much more responsible than others - that doesn't mean the voter doesn't have an ever so tiny part of the blame too. It's something voters can definitely live with and I wasn't suggesting anybody thinks they have enough responsibility to prosecute them or anything silly like that, but pretending you're not a (tiny) part of the problem is just being an asshole.[/quote] no it doesn't make you an asshole [QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]You should try to know these things if your elected government is killing people there.[/quote] not if I elected them [QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]Ignorance is bliss, no doubt about that. That doesn't make it right not to seek such basic, freely-available knowledge.[/quote] Its not right in your opinion, morality is objective on ones opinion. [QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]The average person doesn't have to keep up, just be aware that it's happening, and not try to pretend it isn't. In a healthy democracy - personally I don't think the US is one, alleviating the blame for the vast majority of citizens - a bad government is ultimately everyone's fault. If you (that is, whomever is reading) agree that the US isn't a healthy democracy then I yield my point completely.[/quote] Except a real democracy would be chaotic, no one on this earth is an actual real democracy system. [QUOTE=jA_cOp;34019972]Realizing that it is your fault is the first step to fixing it. You've been blessed with the right to vote and you're not trying to use it for good. That makes you (in a general sense, not [I]you[/I]) an asshole.[/QUOTE] What are you a catholic? Everything is our fault forever because of the actions of a few? Because I had the chance to vote for some party that had some minor differences towards the other? What happens if I feel that there isn't a party or a person who represents me or my vote? Does that make me suddenly a huge asshole because I didn't vote? Your idea of morality is pretty fucked.

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;34032157]No one forces you to vote for a major party candidate. Even if you think they won't win, you can vote for a third party in protest.[/QUOTE] I can't remember a third party candidate I was vaguely interested in.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;34032330]I can't remember a third party candidate I was vaguely interested in.[/QUOTE] I think he meant it as in that it's better to vote some bullshit than voting someone you're against (here we have a party for the animals which is a popular choice).

I've always wanted to be interviewed by one of these things so I could answer correctly, and not get on tv.

[QUOTE=J!NX;34013692]It's close to a youtube poop in editing. Try and point out the wackiest shit someone said by twisting what they intend to say. Though Rick Perry is a dumb ass, truly. I don't care about Libya... nor know about it. I'm far more concerned with whats on American soil than oversee's right now. Though "What is New Mexico is it a state or a country?" How does anyone get that wrong... I guarantee they asked that 50 times until they got that answer. They're using a Steven Colbert comedy tactic.[/QUOTE] lmao dumb american

[QUOTE=J!NX;34014724]Who gives a fuck? we've been spending tons of money from no where on jack shit and getting no where at all with it for a pretty long time now. I'm tired for hearing that we are doing that. Do you really think I want to keep hearing that over and over? Of course I'm concerned over the wars, but I'm sick of it. America is trying to solve issues of people they can't and they [B]can't even fix their own issues.[/B][/QUOTE] This guy is completely and right the rest of this thread is full of retards. Hey how about we fuck Europe in the ass and let the middle-east blow everything up with their nuclear research; because they seem oh so grateful by calling us stupid.