Eiade Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Good point. I think I shouldn't have ever said the word 'democracy' in my question. That's not what I wanted to ask about. If capitalism (in contrast to socialism and communism) is considered a right-wing idea, then yes, I guess you could say that the US has 2 right-wing parties. But as far as most all of Americans are concerned, everyone wants to stay capitalist. So within the parameters of right-winged capitalism (which will be here to stay until the US falls), we have two main parties: a left and right. So that is why it seems that the US has 2 right-wing parties. None of us want to veer away from capitalism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darnoc Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Yes, of course. Then it is different. OK, not as different. Since even the Socialist Party in Switzerland recognizes Capitalism as something good (Swiss Banks... :D ), what they want is more influence of the government in the economy, not the abolishment of Capitalism. The only party which wants to abolish capitalism completely is the PdA, the communist party. And as said, I couldn't think of Switzerland without all the different oppinions around. We have balance, because no party is dominant and even the smaller parties have some influence. Because of all the different oppinions inside the government, discussion, debates and critizism takes place. Swiss people (mostly the younger ones) do like to critize their own government. And even the older ones which tend to be conservative, can critize something: the mighty left-wing inside the government. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eiade Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Question 1: So in the United Federal Assembly, are all parties represented in some form or fashion? 2: We can overrull all decisions made by our government with a referendum, followed by a voting of the people. Or we can make our own laws with a peoples initiative, which also follows a voting of the people. How often do overrulings take place? Who can initiate one? Who decides whether or not a peoples initiative becomes a law? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darnoc Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 How often do overrulings take place? Who can initiate one? Who decides whether or not a peoples initiative becomes a law? In every year there are four dates of peoples votings, where both referndums and initiatives are voted on. So you can think about how many times it happens. Acctually, almost every law is overruled by a referendum, because there is always a party which doesn't agree and you only need to have 50000 signatures in half a year. Swiss people normally tend to vote "no" and you can think for yourselfs that a lot of politicians are annoyed by this, escpecially those from the economy which all demand that the peoples rights are abolished to some parts. No chance at all, the people won't take away their own rights. An initiative or referendum can be started by any Swiss citizen, when you are 18 years old. For an initiative you have to collect 150000 signatures in one and a half year, for a referendum you must have (as said above) 50000 signatures in half a year. When an initiative is successfully in collecting enough signatures, it is given to the federal council, voting takes place normally in about two or three years. The people vote on this initiative and when they say "yes" the initiative is the law and must be added to the constitution. Even when the politicians don't like it, they were just overruled by the people. It acctually happened in the last few years quite a lot that the peoples voted against the wishes of the government. So a law had to be enacted that sexual criminals which repeat such a crime are put away for their whole life. This initiative was launched by two women who were the victims of such crimes, the people voted "yes", even when the government recommend to vote "no". Now the hands of the government are bound, there is nothing they can do, the decision was made by the people, they always have the last word in any matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icefiddell Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 I'm UK Independance Part. GO KILROY lol you gotta love Kilroy he's a complete moron lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malchik Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 I am amused to see that the original poster considers liberal democrat as 'far left'. There is no 'far left' in the US. Being English the definitions do not apply to me but my answer has to be 'none of the above'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_it_ Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 iam a socialist democrat i believe in equality and freedom so iam somewhere left i think in holland i think we call it purple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albareth Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Yes, indeed, referring to anything to do with the two big parties in the US as even remotely left is absurd. I say this as a member of a "democratically left party" (not communist or anything of the like - just very liberal) - the contrast is appalling. Both parties, Democrats and Republicans, are right. Democrats are about as right as our rightmost party. If I lived in the US, if talking about the current presidential elections, I'd vote Nader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayabusa Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 I`m a monarchist - therefore I`m completely relaxed, knowing it`s an option with no true chance. Apart from that, I`m a liberal - conservative. I mean I`m liberal when it comes to the economy and the society , and conservative with some aspects of the social life and political system, to say just as short and explaining as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Link2135 Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 conservative republican, definitely, although i do not just agree with them because they say something, but most of my views lie along the conservative republican lines. one thing i do not have in common with conservative republicans is foreign policy, dont agree with much of it. at least i think, havnt checked their foreign policy for awhile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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