General Discussion

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

41. You do make a good point

Thu Jan 19, 2012, 03:27 PM

Jan 2012

in that it's something that would never happen in a parliamentary system. So determined were our Founding Fathers to distance themselves from all things British, however, that they rejected the tried-and-true system in favor of our current one, which they sort of pulled out of their, uh, powdered wigs.

Another major advantage to the parliamentary system over ours is that third parties, notably the NDP, are viable. Our system does not allow for coalitions and thus tends very strongly towards two parties. Example: When the Republican Party emerged during the runup to the Civil War (believe it or not, they were the good guys!), they completely supplanted the existing Whig party within a couple of election cycles.

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Please tell this Canadian...why is the Repub. presid. canadidate being decided by a small state? [View all] glarius Jan 2012 OP

Why do all Canadians have to learn French when they only speak it in Quebec? ddeclue Jan 2012 #1

Actually, the only offically bilingual province is KamaAina Jan 2012 #5

New Brunswick is great. They also speak English in Nova Scotia, if you can understand the dialects. AnotherMcIntosh Jan 2012 #37

No one has to learn French in Canada. Swede Jan 2012 #6

they may not learn it but the gov't makes them go to classes anyways.. ddeclue Jan 2012 #7

No they don't n/t sharp_stick Jan 2012 #11

not so. n/t arthritisR_US Jan 2012 #13

Nope. Swede Jan 2012 #16

Really? OneBlueDotBama Jan 2012 #40

Actrally, we don't all HAVE TO learn French. glarius Jan 2012 #12

for the same reason all Americans have to learn Spanish. provis99 Jan 2012 #28

There is no requirement to know French in most provinces other than Quebec.... riverbendviewgal Jan 2012 #30

My understanding was that you had to learn French unless you spoke it. ddeclue Jan 2012 #44

I met two quite attractive sisters from Edmonton KamaAina Jan 2012 #39

Concerning the 2nd part of your question Frances Jan 2012 #2

As an American, I do not understand this devotion to tradition LonePirate Jan 2012 #3

Fortunately or not, we enable the Parties to come up with their own mechanisms. elleng Jan 2012 #4

The Primaries are a country-wide process blogslut Jan 2012 #8

I can't tell you but I never understood how Botany Jan 2012 #9

Because both politcal parties want it that way... MicaelS Jan 2012 #10

That is not the way that it is supposed to work, but it is, in fact, how it does. potone Jan 2012 #14

I like the "small states first" method JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2012 #15

Why is Canada's Head of State the Queen of England? Nye Bevan Jan 2012 #17

The difference is that the Queen is merely a figurehead. glarius Jan 2012 #18

Wouldn't it be more appropriate for this "figurehead" to be a Canadian? Nye Bevan Jan 2012 #23

This was all decided without bloodshed and it serves us well..... glarius Jan 2012 #26

On reflection, your system does make much more sense. Nye Bevan Jan 2012 #27

the Queen doesn't cost Canada any money. provis99 Jan 2012 #29

Your sarcastic comment does not seem to recognize the fact that we don't sweat over a head of state glarius Jan 2012 #31

It's designed to allow Party insiders and monied interests to select the candidates. Romulox Jan 2012 #19

Our political process is somewhat of an enigma tawadi Jan 2012 #20

South Carolina is representative of reality get the red out Jan 2012 #21

Beats me. Beacool Jan 2012 #22

You are very tolerant of outsiders' opinions...a nice American trait n/t glarius Jan 2012 #24

Thanks!! Beacool Jan 2012 #25

Thanks for asking! FinsUpTechGuy Jan 2012 #32

There's plenty of outrage up here about all those things. polly7 Jan 2012 #33

i know there is some FinsUpTechGuy Jan 2012 #34

I believe people are starting to realize what Harper's intentions are and we will do to his glarius Jan 2012 #35

Think of it this way. Here we have elections, but the majority is never truly represented. AnotherMcIntosh Jan 2012 #36

There is an answer to this question cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #38

You do make a good point KamaAina Jan 2012 #41

Simple - two reasons. 1) NH constitution mandates it have the first primary; 2) people are stupid. HopeHoops Jan 2012 #42

We sort of bumbled into it. Jim Lane Jan 2012 #43

Dear glarius, rest in peace dear. AAO Sep 2013 #45

requiescat in pacem, dear glarius. niyad Sep 2013 #46