Did a reporter ask him what crow tastes like?

Alright, not nice... but I really dislike that dude...

Without disrespect. Probably more than you. Definitely more than your average American.

Part of my training was the knowledge if different democratic systems, history and development of classical and modern democracies and so forth. The US is the oldest and first modern democracy. Always important to look to.

We in Europe have pretty much the next evolution of that system, although for different reasons.

Because it's a rather backwards way of voting and exacerbates most of the problems with simple majority voting instead of alleviates them. It also has the tendency to shut down third parties before they even start as everyone is too busy voting for the lesser evil, because otherwise that motherfucker they REALLY HATE might get in.

Essentially it largely leads to disenfranchisement on a national level, even though congress isn't chosen that way, people tend to vote for the same party all the way through and that means sticking to whatever parties are "allowed" for the POTUS.

Most of the democratic world has come up with clever ways to alleviate some of these problems, they all have some shortcomings, but are rather largely considered superior to the electoral college. These solutions aren't new, so we're consequently considered rather backward. Well, frankly, the US is extremely backward on a lot of things compared to the rest of the first world...

OWS = spoiled rich kids.

There was some actual interesting movement under that, but that quickly went under.

I know why the American election system is how it is, but why is that an issue? We don't live in the times of horse carriages anymore, there is TV and internet now - so why not change the system according to modern inventions?

Also, since the other thread appears to be dead, I'm repeating my question here:
I just read about a popular vote in Puerto Rico about becoming the 51st state of the USA, which was decided heavily in favor of statehood, but everything I could find about what that means was very vague.
Is there an American who knows more about this?

i almost voted for rosanne bar. she was on the ballot in california.

In a swing state I believe you need to choose between candidates who have a chance, because the stakes are higher. In a state like Texas making a statement by choosing who you like rather than the candidates who have a chance allows you to choose the person you like the most and still doesn't affect the national election. I believe swing state voters have a duty to choose the candidate among the ones who have a chance. Look at what Nadar did to Gore's campaign. If a few thousand of the Green Party votes that went to Nadar went to Gore instead (and I'm sure the Green Party voter would prefer Gore to Bush) Gore would have won Florida and won the Election.

She was on the ballot here in Colorado as well.

Ahh you drank their cool-aid. Sorry man. There is hope though. One just need think for themselves and see the obvious demographics of Occupy. We are ALL represented in that movement. See for yourselves. Look upon the faces who march for us. See the young and old, the fat and the thin, the rich and the poor, the student and the professional, et all. i see em all out there. i see em on the livestreams, i see em in the photos, i follow journals and i've stood out in the cold and assemebled with em. i've meet in a private room of a brewery, and in a small town tavern. Talking community over drinks. devising peaceful revolution over the net. i don't see what you say you see. OWS=spoiled rich kids... ?? bull fucking shit dude!! Check it with your own brain and you will see. ooof... i think i did good not popping off on that despite my buzz and your bullshit :)

I would like to thank America for not fucking this one up.

Not to mention that there was an increase in voter turnout. Another good sign.

And this shit right here is why our voter turn out is so low it's the laughing stock of the democratic world. His "duty", as a voter, is to vote for the best candidate as he sees it. Not vote for some asshole he doesn't like just because a majority of the country happens to be too fucking scared to vote for the guy they actually like.

This is the reason this shit will never change here. Most people don't even go to the polls (I know I fucking didn't), why does it matter if some guy in Ohio votes for a dude he actually liked.

Those people who voted for Nader didn't like Gore, that's why he lost, quit blaming voters for voting for the person they actually like, it's what they're supposed to fucking do!

I'd like to join you.

And while you did all that, I was writing laws which are now in effect and actually equalized (through some legal loophole) gays/non-married couples with married couples in an increasingly homophobic nation. It got me blacklisted, but it was worth it. I made a change. A real change people are feeling right now.

How did I do that? By years of education and training. Putting me in positions where I could actually change stuff. Not by posting it on twitter with my macbook.

Andrew Sullivan - a conservative blogger - has said tonight that he's very happy to see a moderate republican be elected to the presidency. :)