Welcome to Word on the Street, when we ask gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans folk and allies from around the world a topical question.
In this edition, set in the lovely city of Toronto, we asked our neighbors to the north:
What do you make of the U.S. presidential campaign?
Brian, 45
Sales Associate, Priape
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“I don’t know who the good guy is. I personally want to see Obama stay. As far as Romney, he seems like another Bible-thumping ass-kissing idiot. Just be patient. With every new president there’s going to be change whether you like them or not. Protest to make things change. Some Canadians do get affected by the U.S. elections—I have friends who have partners there.”
Hannah, 25
Documentary Production Coordinator
“I think it comes across as a bit of a clown show to us: That Mitt character sure is a clown. There’s no better way to say it. We have a hard time with our own conservative government but our issues are petty in comparison to the issues Romney is presenting. Our government, for instance, wants to open a lot more prisons and everyone is concerned about mental institutions closing as a result and the crime rate going up. Whereas your guy wants to get rid of health care. Romney doesn’t care about half the country—and said it. It’s weird to hear it so bluntly.”
Jasper, 18
Gallery Receptionist
“My friends and I follow it a little bit but now that we have Mayor Rob Ford here to deal with, so our eyes have been turned away from the US. He’s been ‘borrowing’ money and not paying it back from the city. We’re more worried about him than Romney.”
Joanna, 28
Student
“That Romney is actually in the running and people are taking him seriously is really depressing. I can’t believe there’s not an uproar [that he paid only 14% tax]. I can’t understand that at all. I think it just says something about the state of society that people are, like, ‘that’s the way it is now.'”
Taikun, 20
Art Student
“I treat it like reality TV. But part of me is horrified because we treat it like fiction but know it’s not. And the fact that Romney is being regarded like an actual alternative to Obama is terrifying in a way I guess. Basically anything that comes out of his mouth is kind of crazy.”
How about the American gays that support Romney?
“Crazy. Crazy or stupid. Or both. Or they just don’t really know what’s happening.”
Dumdum
How about the American Gays that support Romney?
“Crazy. Crazy or stupid. Or both. Or they just don’t really know what’s happening.”
Out of the mouths of babes.
Shadeaux
The best comment was the last one! LOL
Eric Auerbach
Who cares what these people have to say about the US election? They’re Canadians.
Avenger
@Eric Auerbach: I agree. I couldn’t care less about Canadian politics or government. I think Canada is basically liberal Kook-ville, but whatever. Why any citizen there would bother to concern themselves with US affairs is beyond me, but again…whatever. What I find annoying and disingenuous is that of course Queerty is going to present a partisan slant with the article, by only publishing anti-Romney/pro-Obama reaction.
Dan Avery
@Avenger: We are an LGBT blog, so our reporter asked people in the LGBT community in Toronto what they thought of the elections. Not surprisingly, they’re not supportive of Romney. There was no slant or skewering of responses to be pro-Obama or anti-Romney.
BJ McFrisky
What a completely pointless story.
@Dan Avery: But WHY do we care what Canadians think about our politics? Why did you go to another country to get opinions on our political process? Do you likewise care what gay Australians think about the presidential election? Gay Romanians? How about the ever-important political opinions of gay Ethiopians? No sir, you can spin it any way you want, but it’s absolutely a blatant partisan slam at Romney designed to make Obama supporters feel good about themselves (and the strangest thing about the article is that it’s not like Obama needs any help in the gay community—he’s been labeled the “First Gay President” by the media for God’s sake, and he’s black, so he’s a shoo-in with our demographic).
Lefty
The political direction of the U.S. tends to have a major effect on the rest of the World, so it is kind of important to everyone including non-Americans.
No one’s saying “you” should care, but it’s still important in the grand scheme of things what non-Americans think, esp. LGBT non-Americans from around the world.
Also, I imagine plenty of non-Americans read Queerty, so it’s important it doesn’t just cater to what Americans “care” about.
Dumdum
@BJ McFrisky: People in Canada and many European countries tend to be more thoughtful and intelligent than the 78 percent of brain dead Americans who care more about their shiny gas guzzling SUVs than anything else. Guess you REALLY don’t get out much. Why don’t you use a chunk of your disposable income to travel around the world a bit. It might broaden that narrow thing you call a mind.
BJ McFrisky
@Dumdum: Oh DD, you’re so clever when you’re being catty. I have to marvel at your hypocrisy, though. If you truly believe your fellow countrymen are a bunch of dolts and that Canada and Europe moreso reflect your hyper-intellectual personal ideology, why are you still here? Why haven’t you moved there? Oh, that’s right: Because no other country on the planet offers the freedoms and opportunities (and welfare checks) that ours does, so it’s easier to stay and take advantage of America’s benefits while publicly trashing it than it is to do what you “believe” in, like eschewing the U.S. and all its principles by moving away.
Also, if you don’t use gasoline, how do you get anywhere? How do companies get their products to you? Unless you ride a bike everywhere and grow your own food and heat your home with solar power, then I guess you’re just as guilty as the rest of us “brain dead Americans” in our “gas-guzzling SUVs” when it comes to killing the planet with eeeeevil oil. (seriously—if you don’t want to live up to your name, you really ought to think these things out before you post them).
MikeE
@BJ McFrisky: if you want freedom, opportunities and “welfare checks” I’d HIGHLY suggest that you DO SOME TRAVEL, because the U.S. is most definitely NOT the “land of the free” when compared to Canada or most European countries.
Your comment demonstrates how out of touch you are with the reality of your own country.
Your economy is in the dumpster… yet you go ahead and disparage Canada, whose economy has NOT failed like the American economy?
You talk about “Freedom” and disparage Canada and Europe… yet you cannot marry in the U.S., but seem to forget that in Europe, there are many countries where you can, and Canada has had marriage equality for years.
The “principles” that you so loudly trumpet in the U.S. have been hopelessly tarnished by greedy corporations and radical fundamentalist religious groups.
There is no “opportunity” in the U.S., that’s an illusion… unless you’re part of Romney et al’s little clique of pampered privileged buddies.
There is no “freedom” in the U.S. unless the freedom you seek is to be a male, white, christian, fundamentalist, biblical literalist.
So get that flag from over your face and actually OPEN YOUR FREAKIN’ EYES to what is going on around you.
MikeE
@Eric Auerbach: Well, YOU should care, considering Canada is the United States’ single largest trading partner. The American economy depends in large part upon its economic relationship with Canada… so knowing what your neighbors think about your politics? yeah, generally a good thing to know.
Dumdum
@BJ McFrisky:My carbon footprint on this earth is as small as I can make it,and I do ride a bike and drive a hybrid car. I also have a job and do extensive volunteer work with the elderly and counsel troubled teens. Have YOU ever been homeless? Have you ever been so hungry that you dug in garbage to find something to eat? And by the greatest nation I suppose that means richest. we are one of the richest nations in the world. Where 1.5 million children are homeless. 47 million people unemployed. Where one fifth of this nations wealth belongs to one percent of the population. I have no political affiliations as I do not trust ANY politician not Obama not Romney because they ALL LIE. THEY belong to the one percent that are paying less in taxes than they were in 1953. Congress has blocked Obama’s feeble attempts to fix things he is no firebrand he is as weak as Romney is phony and creepy. The redistribution of wealth, the cutting of defense spending and heavier taxes on oil and the wealthy one percent would make a big difference. Education, job training in conjunction with housing and assistance. But what do they do? They cut the very tools and programs designed to empower people to make their own way in life. 16 million dollars is spent every night in Las Vegas Nevada just for fun. I am an Anthropologist it is my job to observe human behavior amongst other things. It is easy to criticize when you are comfortable and well fed. 50 million people cannot do as you claim to have done as far as personal success. Yet that is what you and your conservative friends think needs to happen. Kick them to the curb, sink or swim. I spent a year in the Peace Corp in Africa 1983-1984 I have seen things that still haunt me to this day things that would send YOU screaming into the night, I suspect. And I say Armchair Politician.Your comments have been singular in scope and does not express the ability to grow beyond your seemingly limited level of consciousness. I would be happy to provide my email address for an intelligent discourse if you are up to the challenge. I have been to university and have done extensive field research on several continents. So bring it on buddy! I am game. Are you? Just a heads up I did work and put myself through school, aside from grants EARNED through achievement not CHARITY. I worked my freaking ass off. My anger is my armor. Because the simple truths seem to escape mankind until we have an earthquake, fire, or flood. Within the philosophical frame of critical social theory, critical thinking is commonly understood to involve commitment to the social and political practice of participatory democracy, willingness to imagine or remain open to considering alternative perspectives, willingness to integrate new or revised perspectives into our ways of thinking and acting, and willingness to foster criticality in others. Narrow minded armchair politician, prove me wrong, move beyond your tiny reality. Welfare indeed you pompous ass.
Eric Auerbach
@MikeE: Actually, that shows why Canada should care about what happens here. It doesn’t explain why Americans should care what Canadians think. What, they don’t like Romney so suddenly they’re going to stop trading with us if he wins? Yeah …
Lefty
@Eric Auerbach: Who said Americans should “care” about anything?
This is a series asking some members of the LGBT community from around the world their views on particular subjects.
To respond with “Why should Americans care?” is deeply moronic.
BJ McFrisky
@Dumdum: Sorry, but yeah, I believe in reforming welfare to remove those who take advantage of it.
@MikeE: Most of what you stated wasn’t even factual, just left-wing editorializing (no opportunity or freedom here? Really? Then why do so many people want to come here?), but you’re factually wrong about the U.S. not allowing gay marriage, because there are a number of U.S. states that allow and recognize same-sex marriage, and have for quite some time. Or, perhaps if you’d “open your freakin eyes,” you’d have noticed such facts that are inconvenient to your claim.
MikeE
@BJ McFrisky: so, DOMA doesn’t exist eh?
State-level support gives next to nothing.
Most of what I’m stating is FACT, not “editorializing. That you’re too stupid or blind to understand that is on you, no one else. have fun, vote for Romney.
Little-Kiwi
of course Canadians care. we’re a country that believes in helping out fellow man – universal healthcare, anyone?
and of course we care about injustice in the USA. that’s why, historically, we’ve always been progressive. The Underground Railroad, anyone?
From cowardly anonymous wimps like “Avenger” to cowardly wimps like BJ McFrisky, the conservative right obviously lacks heart, spines, and testicles.
Hey, McFrisky, insulting Canada won’t change the fact that your conservative parents hate you.
Little-Kiwi
you’ll have to forgive McFrisky – if he doesn’t insult the left and vote for Romney his parents will shun him more than usual.
Eric Auerbach
@Lefty: Yeah … way to miss the point, Lefty. Asking Canadians about US elections is like asking men what the best tampon is, or straight men ways to improve Grindr. It’s just completely irrelevant.
Little-Kiwi
or straight republicans thinking they have any say in what LGBT people do with their lives?
or conservative men telling women what they can or cannot do with their bodies?
y’all should be thanking your lucky stars Canada exists – all the cultural problems America refuses to figure out? Canada has figured ’em out.
openly-LGBT military service since 1992.
marriage equality across the country for nearly a decade.
full and total protections and rights for LGBT citizens.
universal healthcare.
so, yeah. whenever american conservatives say “how can ______ work?” remember to look north to see that yeah, it’s working.
Lefty
@Eric Auerbach: ” It’s just completely irrelevant.”
The irony is, you appear to feel your opinion is relevant, when it really isn’t. Just like the people in this feature. No one is being asked to care about their opinions anymore than they would care about your opinions. And yet, here you are…
Dumdum
@BJ McFrisky: Eleven countries (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden) allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Same-sex marriages are also performed and recognized in Mexico City, Quintana Roo, and parts of the United States. Some jurisdictions that do not perform same-sex marriages but recognize it being performed elsewhere include: Israel, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, parts of the United States, Mexico, and Uruguay. Australia recognizes same-sex marriages only if one partner has had gender reassignment therapy. Since 2001, eleven countries (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden) and some sub-national jurisdictions (parts of Mexico and the United States) have begun to allow same-sex couples to marry. Introduction of same-sex marriage has varied by jurisdiction, resulting from legislative changes to marriage laws or from court challenges based on constitutional guarantees of equality, or a combination of the two. The recognition of same-sex marriage is a political, social, civil-rights and religious issue in many nations, and debates continue to arise over whether same-sex couples should be allowed marriage, be required to hold a different status (a civil union), or not have any such rights. In the European Union, discrimination of any type based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Dumdum
Societal acceptance of non-heterosexual orientations such as homosexuality is lowest in Asian and African countries, and is highest in Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Western society has become increasingly accepting of homosexuality over the past few decades.
Dumdum
@BJ McFrisky: Meneer, jy is baie dom.Dit is inderdaad redelik algemeen vir die Amerikaners te wees oningeligte wanneer dit kom by die gebeure in die wêreld en selfs meer so in hul eie land.Jou volk is een van die laagste posisie in die onderwys.Dit is ‘n wonder dat jy nog kan lees.Vir jou om selfs impliseer dat ‘n ander persoon is minder as intelligent wanneer jy jou self lyk ‘n dwaas is ‘n komiese teenstrydigheid.
Randal Oulton
@Avenger: ” I agree. I couldn’t care less about Canadian politics or government.”
That’s fine. We prefer it when America doesn’t notice us. We’ve seen what’s happened to countries that America notices.
BTW, who is your largest trading partner in the world? Canada. Who is your second largest trading partner in the world? The province of Ontario. So to some economic extent, you should care a bit. But, it works without ordinary Americans caring or knowing, so why change that?
As to why ask Canadians? Well, I guess they wanted to get an outside take on the election and if they’re going to do that, no foreigners know America better than Canadians. Always have, whether we want to or not, you guys are kinda loud down there lol. Canada has of course and always will work closely with whomever is President or whatever parties control the House / Senate, as our relationship goes above politics. That being said, the people they asked *did* have a certain slant but most of their slant was directed towards Canadian politics lol. Avenger, I take it you’re a Republican supporter?
And, Canadians actually care about the US. On 9/11, we took in, housed, and fed for a week over 10,000 Americans that were stranded in the air and couldn’t land. People just took them right into their homes. Fire and police brigades from all over eastern Canada raced down to New York City to help. During your power outage this year, Canadian hydro line crews were down helping to speed repairs along. So we actually care, beyond the economic relationship.
mlbumiller
A lot of countries pay very close attention to what happens in U.S. Having been stationed in Iceland, Italy, and having been in port of Thailan, Korea, Phillipines, Austraila, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kenya, Omar, United Emerites and many more, many of those people that care to talk about politics knew more about what was happeing in our government then most Americans did.
In a small way, We should pay attention what other countries say about out political process and our government actions.
Eric Auerbach
@mlbumiller: Eh. Maybe we *should* care what “other countries” say about our political process. But this isn’t some other country; it’s not even other countries’ leaders or even people who’ve studied and understand US politics.
It’s just five random morons in Toronto.
I mean, read what they have to say in answer to the question “What do you make of the U.S. presidential campaign?”
Brian: Romney’s a Bible-thumper. Guess I don’t know he’s a Mormon. Oops!
Jasper: Our mayor is a thief!
Joanna: I, like, don’t understand this election. (Really, Queerty? You had to travel all the way to Toronto to find some ditzy chick who doesn’t understand US politics?)
Taikun: That Romney sure is crazy! He cray-cray. Also, people who don’t agree with me on this are deluded. Because I, a 20 year old art student from Toronto, get American reality in ways most Americans don’t.
Yeah. That’s a hell of a lot of insight there. I feel so enlightened now about the American political system.
Randal Oulton
@Eric Auerbach: Romney’s a Bible-thumper. Guess I don’t know he’s a Mormon. Oops!
Mormons do have the “Bible”, Old and New Testament, plus also their “Book of Mormon” so Mormon’s can still be Bible thumpers. Or is that not what you meant, did you mean instead that “duh, Brian, when is a Mormon *not* a bible thumper?”
Anyway — true what you said, they didn’t pick the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, did they, lol. Not what you’d call analytical thinkers, but then again, Querty just wanted quick “sound bites.” And that Brian guy’s gotta be lying about his age — 45?
Anyway Eric, are you a Republican supporter?
Eric Auerbach
@Randal Oulton: I’m *not* a Republican. The idea of a Romney presidency fills me with dread.
As to Mormons:
They do have the Bible. However, it’s not their main holy book. Although they claim all scripture is equally holy, in truth, in terms of how much it’s read and how much it counts for doctrine, the holiest Mormon book is the Book of Mormon, followed by Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. The Bible’s like … fourth. You can actually spend years at Mormon seminary and never have to read a single passage of the Bible. So, as to what I meant: if Mormons were to “thump” something, it would not be a Bible. It’d be some *other* weirdo fairy-tale book.
As to Bryan:
Life is tough in the mean streets of Toronto.
stadacona
Obama posted the fourth largest deficit in United States history today and there are still people that want him re-elected? Oh that’s right – they’re all liberal half-wits with career titles like “Art Student” and “Gallery Receptionist”.
Randal Oulton
@stadacona : Well, looking over the past 20 years, there hasn’t been a great track record of fiscal prudence by anybody from any party — except Clinton I think managed to produce some kind of surplus. The sad thing about all that borrowed money is, (if you’re going to borrow it at all, which I think ya shouldn’t) that it’s been spent on foreign entanglements with 0 return for America, instead of being invested in population health and education that would have at least produced a healthier, more educated workforce (and therefore a broader tax-base.)
The political dialogue has become so toxic in America, that people in one party will cut off their noses to spite someone else in another party. Sad to see, historically there used to be a lot of statesmanship that used to reach across both parties in the states. Now all they do is use the lack of it to beat each other over the head with as being the cause of it.
I personally think, and this is just me, that some of the toxicity has come from the growth in political power of the hard-core, right-wing religious fundamentalists who see the world in absolute black and white and take no prisoners.
Randal Oulton
FYI
On taxes, Paul Ryan looks overseas to Canada :
Canada’s corporate tax code is worth emulating, U.S. vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan said in Thursday night’s debate.
The Republican Congressman gave Canada the kudos while explaining why the U.S. needs tax reform.
“That’s why we’re saying we need fundamental tax reform. … where I come from, overseas, which is Lake Superior, the Canadians, they dropped their [corporate] tax rates to 15 per cent,” Mr. Ryan said.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/on-taxes-paul-ryan-looks-overseas-to-canada/article4609077/
scoobner1
Tons of trolls on this shit tonight. Stirring the pot. Don’t buy the hype dudes. BJ McFrisky is probably some sad middle manager, if that, who dreams of power from his futon in his mother’s basement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ca8_WRrjmg
Ogre Magi
JASPER IS YUMMY
Dumdum
@stadacona: Vous êtes un imbécile stupide mal informés. Il plusieurs régimes fascistes où je pense que vous devriez visiter et peut-être rester. You don’t even know what you are talking about. I am only responding because without the liberal media which you have just stupidly criticized people like you would be unable to voice their uninformed opinions. These so called liberal halfwits which you have so artfully expressed with disgust. Are responsible for the very freedoms that you abuse and take for granted. So just GTFU !!! And read a book or do a little research before you vomit your crap you stupid ass TROLL.
Randal Oulton
@ Dumdum. Thank you Dumdum for illustrating so clearly the principle of “toxicity” which I made reference to; I think you’ve really moved the discussion along with your contribution.
BJ McFrisky
@stadacona: . . . art student, gallery receptionist, global warming alarmist, social justifier, protest rabble-rouser . . . community organizer-in-chief. All of the pillars of our communities who know nothing about commerce or economics but believe they should be in charge.
Brad007
I love Canada and I’m pretty liberal but I have to say I don’t give one big steaming shit what some 18-year old twink thinks about politics. Go change your diaper dummy, your trollish sugar daddy is calling ya!
Dumdum
@Randal Oulton: Your welcome. Anytime, it never hurts to help.