Cancelling the USA

[can2]

US is a great democracy, I think — as direct as it can be. They even elect judges. You can have democracy and capital punishment. I’m against it, but not because it is anti-democratic.

After all, the US is not a social democracy, unlike Scandinavia etc, never ever I claimed it.

I don’t think one can address anything about the US politics without exploring the link of [put your favourite means of discrimination in the US] and capitalism.
It’s their way of capitalism — the root of all evil.

[JDB]

@can2 – is it a good thing that judges are elected? Or should they be completely independent of the political fray? Is it right that US Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President of the day according to their political leanings and that every case is heard by the same panel rather than a randomly selected panel?

[can2]

@JDB, yes to all.
Just because they are elected and their political leanings are out there, it doesn’t necessarily mean their legal decisions in court are not impartial.
SCOTUS is a different beast. Despite what happened during Trump’s first reign, I think it is important they have life long tenures and are appointed by the POTUS. It simply changes the maths of the game only a bit. And, As long as the rules of the game are known, it is a fair game.
Everywhere else, I am certainly not sure every Supreme Court judge is textbook impartial, has never lobbied in his life for his position and an exemplar legal scholar. At least in the US, I find the game more transparent and fair. They respond to social needs better. Their interpretation of law is more dynamic. I value that.

One can say more on Roe v Wade and the dynamics of SCOTUS from my view point, too; but I stop here.

[Aston100]

Weren’t the recently executed ‘Canadians’ actually dual citizens who were involved with drugs?
Puts a different perspective on it.

Anyway, since my previous comment got deleted because someone here got upset at Trump being called “the orange imbecile”, I’ll post an amended version:

As long as the tangerine tyrant and his Sieg Heiling sidekick are in charge and continue to turn the USA into an enemy and also bizarrely continue to support Russia (who until now were the actual enemy) I will not be supporting their economy through leisure travel.
Any comments along the lines of “oh but so and so country have a poor human rights record” is of no relevance to my reasons. Those countries are either places I was never intending to visit, or (more importantly) have not directly impacted me personally – my pension pot has taken quite a hit since the tangerine tyrant went into full idiot mode.

Unlike JDB & co I do see value in visiting parts of the USA (away from the larger cities). I even had the beginnings of a plan to visit numerous states in one long trip after I retire.
My decision to suspend any travel is based purely on politics, not economics.

If you are a Brit, the USA is currently not our friend.

[JDB]

@Aston100 – re the side kick, Chris McCausland has a good series of gags about him including the satnavs being reprogrammed to tell you to take the third reich turning. Whether it’s politics or economics keeping one away, just so many other great places to visit that it’s not exactly a hardship to avoid the US.

[Aston100]

JDB wrote:

Whether it’s politics or economics keeping one away, just so many other great places to visit that it’s not exactly a hardship to avoid the US.

Definitely agree with you on this.
Currently trying to visit as many countries as possible in East and South East Asia.

[jj]

Aston100 wrote:

…someone here got upset at Trump being called “the orange imbecile”…

I was the first to comment on your earlier post, but I wasn’t remotely upset. I just thought that needless insults reflected poorly on you, and I still think that.

There is plenty of room for thoughtful disagreement over Trump’s actions and character. Name-calling adds nothing of value and is unnecessarily divisive. If you have any self respect, stop.