I Am A Swede

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRa8g-m4UNk

Oh dear..... I must say I smiled a little at this: "The conservative Republicans warned that the international community is a scary place." After reading all the articles and stuff posted in this thread leading up to the presidential election, I would say that it is the US that is a scary place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jo-XYrY6WI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SXUEZXU83I

I understand that high voter turnout is good news for the democrats and bad for the republicans. I just didn't think that anyone would be so candid about being more interested in gaining power than in increasing people's interest in exercising their right to vote. I'm not surprised he feels that way, I'm just surprised he's so blatant about it. I don't know what the voter turnout usually is in the US, but I do know that here it was seen as a problem when voter turnout decreased from almost 87% in the general election in 1991 to just over 80% in the election in 2006. It then increased again, and in the election in 2010 we had a voter turnout of 84,5%. A big voter turnout is usually seen as favouring the Social democrats, but all parties want to see as many people as possible go and vote.

I really don't understand his point, if he has any. What difference does it make where the voters live? More people voted for Obama than for Mitt Romney. Does it really matter where the voters come from? And I would think that a big voter turnout is a good thing. It means more people took an interest in the election, and that's one of the cornerstones of a democracy isn't it?

Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!

I wonder if people really realize the consequences that hate like this can lead to. We had a prime minister, Olof Palme, who was the target for the same kind of hate rhetoric from right wing extremists. He was murdered.....

So true!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFORObM3I68&feature=related

I'm amazed at how some people have reacted after the election. The comments that Wales2004 quoted above are just horrible. Where does all the hate come from? What has happened to society when people can actually say such things?

I don't think that is a thought that has crossed anyone's mind here. Most people, if not all, would be amazed at the fact that you don't have to show ID when you vote in the US. It's just the way it is here. Perhaps it's not fair though to compare Sweden to the US in this regard. We don't have the same issues with race or ethnicity that you have, nor do we have the same problems with poverty. (If you don't mind me generalizing a bit) We really don't have any minority groups that could feel targeted. Religion is not an issue either, since we're one of the most secularized countries in the world. Maybe it's becoming more of an issue with the muslim immigration, but most Swedes couldn't care less about religion.

Maybe I'm being naive, but doesn't everyone have an ID in the US? If not how do they identify themselves when getting prescription drugs, or withdrawing money from the bank etc? Here you can't vote if you can't identify yourself. Before every election we get a voting card, and when you vote you have to bring that card, and a photo ID, otherwise you can't vote.