How America is seen in the world

Yes you do absolutely have to get specific with your assertions that corporations purchase elections in the U.S. when here in reality corporations are by law prohibited from funding elections in any way, shape, or form. How do they "indirectly" purchase elections without being able to fund political action committees, and/or national party committees?

More to the point, do you even know what these words mean? Because from your response to the term liberal democracy I don't think that you do.

 

The perception of America by the rest of the world is divided by two main branches: Hatred the US policies, love for the culture and regular people.

People from other countries love the company, the visit, the presence of American people, but hate the US government influence.

Today, the world is evading the US policies... specially when we see president Obama going to Africa, and being rejected by former South Africa president Nelson Mandela because Obama went over there specially to promote homosexualism... come on... lol

After this Russian action of taking back Crimea and the US not moving a single war plane, war ship, war strategy... surely that the world police country (the USA) has passed to retirement...

 

Oh dear. Another American who doesn't know how his political system is run. It's quite a common affliction.

But I am not the one that is going to explain it to you other than to draw your attention to superpacs, bundlers, 501(c)4 ("social welfare" organisations), and '527s'.

When you are familiar with all these disguises for corporate campaign funding, don't get back to me.

 

People = OK, for the most part. Friendly enough at home, but largely ignorant. Don't ask them what they know beyond the end of their own noses. And expect a lot of flag-waving. As tourists, they are best avoided.
Political system = appalling.
Culture = largely superficial Hollywood rubbish. But some great music pre-1990. Much of it inspired by African-Americans. Occasional literary figures that have stood out - but relatively few. Don't know much about the Amish.
Religion = heaps. The most of most countries outside the Muslim world.
Technology = pretty good considering the post-war gifts they received from the British and Germans.
Social tolerance = forget it. But prezzy is black. Which is a start. Next one probably a woman - hopefully Elizabeth Warren.

 

Oh dear another European who thinks he knows what he's talking about but in reality is talking out of his ass.

Super PACs and 527 organizations can not coordinate with candidates or donate money to political campaigns and can not directly advocate the election or defeat of either candidate but rather can only discuss issues and the backgrounds of individual candidates and can not advertise within 30 and 60 day time frames before elections in line with the McCain-Feingold Act.

Political activity

Section 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from supporting political candidates, and are subject to limits on lobbying. They risk loss of tax exempt status if these rules are violated.[35][36] An organization that loses its 501(c)(3) status due to being engaged in political activities cannot then qualify for 501(c)(4) status.[37]
Elections

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to intervene in elections to public office.[38] The Internal Revenue Service website elaborates upon this prohibition as follows:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.

On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that

(a) would favor one candidate over another;
(b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or
(c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates,

will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.

The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501(c)_organization#Political_activity

And 501 c (4) organizations can not advocate specific candidates and are limited to promoting or rejecting specific legislation:

501(c)(4) organizations are generally civic leagues and other corporations operated exclusively for the promotion of "social welfare", such as civics and civics issues, or local associations of employees with membership limited to a designated company or people in a particular municipality or neighborhood, and with net earnings devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.[41] An organization is operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare if it is primarily engaged in promoting the common good and general welfare of the people of the community.[37][42]

501(c)(4) organizations may inform the public on controversial subjects and attempt to influence legislation relevant to its program[43] and, unlike 501(c)(3) organizations, they may also participate in political campaigns and elections, as long as their primary activity is the promotion of social welfare.[44] The tax exemption for 501(c)(4) organizations applies to most of their operations, but contributions may be subject to gift tax, and income spent on political activities – generally the advocacy of a particular candidate in an election – is taxable.[45] An "action" organization generally qualifies as a 501(c)(4) organization.[46] An "action" organization is one whose activities substantially include, or are exclusively,[47] direct lobbying or grass roots lobbying related to advocacy for or against legislation or proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation that is related to its purpose.[48] A 501(c)(4) organization may directly or indirectly support or oppose a candidate for public office as long as such activities are not a substantial amount of its activities.[37][49]

Contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations are usually not deductible as charitable contributions for U.S. federal income tax, with a few exceptions.[50] Dues or contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations may be deductible as a business expense under IRC 162, although amounts paid for intervention or participation in any political campaign, direct lobbying, grass roots lobbying, and contact with certain federal officials are not deductible.[51] If a 501(c)(4) engages in a substantial amount of these activities, then only the amount of dues or contributions that can be attributed to other activities may be deductible as a business expense.[52] The organization should provide a notice to its members containing a reasonable estimate of the amount related to lobbying and political campaign expenditures, or else the organization is subject to a proxy tax on its lobbying and political campaign expenditures.[51] The organization should also provide an express statement that contributions to the organization are not deductible as charitable contributions during fundraising solicitations.[51]

501(c)(4) organizations are not required to disclose their donors publicly.[53] The lack of disclosure has led to extensive use of the 501(c)(4) provisions for organizations that are actively involved in lobbying, and has become controversial.[54][55] Criticized as "dark money", spending from these organizations on political TV ads has exceeded spending from Super PACs.[56][57]

The origins of 501(c)(4) organizations date back to the Revenue Act of 1913, which created a new group of tax-exempt organizations dedicated to social welfare in a precursor to what is now Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(4).[58]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501(c)_organization#501.28c.29.284.29

Are you asserting that organizations; such as, the AARP shouldn't be able to advertise to promote maintaining Medicaid and denounce legislation which would seek to eliminate it or shrink its budget?

 

And how much time exactly have you spent in the US?

 

None. But I am told Americans are a friendly people to visitors from outer space.

Never having been one, I could be wrong.

But I can see most of the rest of the stuff I mentioned without having to put myself through the torture of going there.

The Internet, you know.

 

Explains a lot unfortunately

 

Explains nothing, unfortunately. The things I mentioned are on full display. Thanks to advances in communications of many kinds.

You imply I need to go to the US to understand Americans. But, as Sarah Palin once said, I can see Russia from my porch. What do you think I am missing?

 

At Face, Your

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/03/140167467/superpacs-explained-by-stephen-colberts-lawyer

Yeah, I know. Dodgy source, eh?

 

On the topic of religion you claim the

. Yet you live next door to the most Catholic nation in the world and don't even realize it - yet you presume to claim others are ignorant.

But hey feel free to choke on your stereotyping

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Importance_of_religion_by_country

 

You mean Austria?

United States 65% 34.5%
Austria 55% 43%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Importance_of_religion_by_country

But I suppose you mean Italy (71%) which, as we all know is quite close to the Papacy, being as it is in Italy..

And how do you get off on calling facts "stereotyping"?

Aren't you getting a little over-wrought?

 

Sorry I meant to type near too - as in Italy. The most religious non Muslim country in the world is Bangladesh. The highest ranked Christian nation is the Philippines. The United States does not even crack the 20 most religious Christian nations. So where were you again with your facts?

 

I exempted Muslim countries. And said "one of the most".

 

And so did I - Bangladesh is a Hindu nation. To further make it easy I referenced only Christian nations after that - Unless of course you did not realize the Philippines is a Christian country

 

Still with "one of the most", I'm afraid.

And one of the noisiest.

Anything useful to say about their culture?

 

Oh really - care to share your methodology for establishing that

And I am sure you have something to back this up - aside from your opinion of course.

You are as qualified to speak about American culture as I am to speak of German

 

We're quite qualified to say that as bad as things are, they aren't nearly as bad as it is expensive to live in the Euro Zone. Europeans should focus on their own little holes rather than the U.S State.

 

Ah, a "methodology". I just look at the facts, sunshine.

You would be well advised to do the same.

But I understand you well too. You are a South Pacific American. Rowdy, boisterous and usually obnoxious travelers. From all accounts, you understand.

BTW, I was asking you to correct what seems to be, in your Australian mind, a flawed opinion of American culture. Which I know you adore.

 

Sorry to disappoint but I do not adore America culture - But my opinions are based on living in the USA for now over 5 years. What I do though is treat different cultures with respect, and dont rely on internet stereotypes to form my opinion - you should try it sometime

 

So the internet is just a set of stereotypes? Not a vast resource of knowledge?

Living in America may not have been your best choice. It encourages people to develop stereotypes of knowledge and an insular perspective..

Which is why the British find them such an inexhaustible fund of mirth.

 

Anyway, I am thrilled to hear you have opinions. What are they?

 

You put methodology in scare quotes and then ask him to look at facts? Do you know what empirical analysis and evidence are? Quite obviously not.

The fact of the matter sir is that the United States is the first secular nation ever to exist in the history of this planet so put that in your pipe and bite down.

Overt xenophobic bigotry, touche sir. This is nothing more than a bash America troll thread.

 

It clearly says that they can not endorse candidates or advocate for the defeat of candidates nor can they coordinate in anyway with candidates or campaigns negating quid pro quo situations.

 

Hello? But they can buy billions of dollars of advertising pushing their favoured cart.