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Let's agree to disagree. I actually think big alarming changes are coming (and have already happened). I'm just a Canuck though, and not out to convince anyone.

by rapind 7y ago

Let's agree to disagree. I actually think big alarming changes are coming (and have already happened). I'm just a Canuck though, and not out to convince anyone. I'm really fascinated with the political changes I see happening (or think I see happening at least).

caseysoftware 7y ago
After 10 years in DC working in political circles, I can tell you that very little is actually changing. The giant, faceless bureaucracy still runs most of the show. If you look into many of the "unprecedented events" you'll see that most of them aren't new and some of them are decades old. Though if the events really are bad and were ignored before, it's worth asking "why?"
- noir_lord 7y ago
  > After 10 years in DC working in political circles, I can tell you that very little is actually changing. The giant, faceless bureaucracy still runs most of the show. Maybe but aren't you in danger of missing the big changes coming precisely because you are inside the bubble? A political equivalent to "let them eat cake". As an outside observer to the US it does seem like the pressure has to give somewhere soon at some point (and in a few other western democracies including my own though I think the US is further down the pipe on this one).
  - caseysoftware 7y ago
    Valid line of reasoning but I'm 10 years out from that world specifically because the bubble was/is ugly. I think you're 100% right that there's building pressure and something will give but that's precisely because things haven't changed much. If the general populace decides "no matter how I vote, things don't change" some will lose hope and give up.. while others will look to other approaches. (And those other approaches aren't usually good.)
pcwalton 7y ago
Canada is very different, because the party in power in the House of Commons can basically do anything it wants. By contrast, the political system of the US is effectively designed to produce gridlock. The Canadian Senate rarely blocks and introduces legislation unlike that of the US, just to name one example. There are benefits and drawbacks to both systems. Right now I'm pretty happy with this aspect of the US system. (There are other parts of the US system I'm less happy with—such as the Electoral College.)

by rapind 7y ago

caseysoftware 7y ago

After 10 years in DC working in political circles, I can tell you that very little is actually changing. The giant, faceless bureaucracy still runs most of the show. If you look into many of the "unprecedented events" you'll see that most of them aren't new and some of them are decades old. Though if the events really are bad and were ignored before, it's worth asking "why?"

noir_lord 7y ago
> After 10 years in DC working in political circles, I can tell you that very little is actually changing. The giant, faceless bureaucracy still runs most of the show. Maybe but aren't you in danger of missing the big changes coming precisely because you are inside the bubble? A political equivalent to "let them eat cake". As an outside observer to the US it does seem like the pressure has to give somewhere soon at some point (and in a few other western democracies including my own though I think the US is further down the pipe on this one).
- caseysoftware 7y ago
  Valid line of reasoning but I'm 10 years out from that world specifically because the bubble was/is ugly. I think you're 100% right that there's building pressure and something will give but that's precisely because things haven't changed much. If the general populace decides "no matter how I vote, things don't change" some will lose hope and give up.. while others will look to other approaches. (And those other approaches aren't usually good.)

pcwalton 7y ago

Canada is very different, because the party in power in the House of Commons can basically do anything it wants. By contrast, the political system of the US is effectively designed to produce gridlock. The Canadian Senate rarely blocks and introduces legislation unlike that of the US, just to name one example. There are benefits and drawbacks to both systems. Right now I'm pretty happy with this aspect of the US system. (There are other parts of the US system I'm less happy with—such as the Electoral College.)