Bill Maher: Proud Patriot
Bill Maher was in Canada recently proclaiming his love of America.
CBC News – I think what Canadians should know about the American election is that you’re lucky you don’t live here. You don’t have to participate in this sham democracy we have, you know? I mean I could tell you about, I could tell you five ways we don’t really have a democracy in this country.
Only a stupid, self-centered, coddled, leftist celebrity would call America a “sham democracy.” Maher runs a show on HBO where he consistently castigates the leader of this “sham democracy” with total impunity outside of viewer ratings. There is nobody telling him what he can and cannot say politically. He has the right to speak his mind. Yet somehow America is still a “sham democracy” in his mind.
Why don’t you say that on your show to your viewers, Mr. Maher? Why run to Canada and say it? You chicken shit.
Well, maybe he does say it on his show. Its not like I watch or anything.
Anyway, go read the whole stinking interview if you think you can stomach it.
yes, it did fail you, and the fact that even make that argument is further proof.
it is a “REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC”
“well, technically, i’d say it falls under this dictionary definition, blah blah blah.” how loosey-goosey of you. really, i’m surprised that you’re not voting for kerry.
before you start posting definitions in support of a position that you clearly have no idea about, try doing a little research.
there you go again, playing all loosey-goosey with words, this time my words.
where did i call you stupid for it? i said that your schooling failed you, and i said that stupid people want a democracy. there is a difference between these statements:
“stupid people call it a democracy” (which you seem to think i said)
and
“stupid people want a democracy” (which is what i did say.
I agree with alot of maher’s arguments but am adamantly against alot of his views.
im not going to read the interview, but i can tell you that he’s right – america isn’t a democracy. it’s a republic. if you think that we live in a democracy, then your schooling failed you miserably.
that said, i’m not complaining. i don’t want a democracy. the left does. the stupid people do. please tell me you’re not one of those stupid people.
you’re wrong. it isn’t a simple matter of calling it something different.
go read the federalist papers. the founders explicitly chose to not have a democracy. they called democracies some of the worst spectacles of an attempt at governing in the history of the world.
some info for you:
http://www.banned-books.com/truth-seeker/1994archive/121_3/ts213d.html
your dylan example is misguided. what you’re really doing is saying that aerosmith is a rap group because they collaborated with run dmc on a rap version of “walk this way.” that our republic contains an element that democracies also contain does not make it a democracy, any more than putting a toyota part into a chevy makes the whole car “technically” a chevy.
If anyone wants to get together, pick up Maher, and drop his stupid, self-centered, coddled, leftist celebrity ass off in downtown Tehran so he can see a REAL sham democracy, I’ll but the ticket.
Yes, America is a representative republic. Something that falls under the definition of democracy. If a country elects officials to represent them in government that country is, without equivocation, a democracy.
If calling it something else turns your crank then fine. Doesn’t bother me a lick. Really, its a rather stupid thing to argue about. Its like you coming here and calling me stupid because I called Bob Dylan and rock singer instead of a folk singer.
Just chill out a little bit.
an we aim the last sentence of this directly at his ass?
Whatever. Think what you want. The definition I use for democracy includes America. We elect officials, they represent us in government. Period. That’s what a democracy is.
If you have some other definition feel free to use it. I still think its a dumb thing to call somebody stupid over.
Actually, I didn’t say that you specifically called me stupid. I said that this issue would “be a dumb thing to call someone stupid over.”
Really, I think you’re making a mountain over a molehill. I’m quite surprised that I’ve wasted this much of my time even responding to you about this.
You have your definition of democracy, I have mine. There is room for interpretation on this issue and clearly you and I are interpreting it differently. You’ve stated your case and points (rather untactfully I might add, but whatever) and I’ve respectfully disagreed. Since it doesn’t seem like either of us is going to agree with the other I really don’t see the point in discussing it further.
Definition of democracy:
Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
I’d say that America falls under that definition. A lot of votes are straight popular votes. We also have the electoral college where each state elects delegates to go to Washington and vote for the President. Either way, America is a democray. So no, my schooling didn’t fail me at all.