I've done my flailing elsewhere...
Nov. 5th, 2008 03:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
highlyeccentricBecause there are far more Americans on my fandomflist. And also because I couldn't be bothered changing accounts.
Some things I think:
1. John McCain's concession speech was excellent and commendable. Why is it that politicians often show their best side when they're losing?
2. American elections are all about money. The coverage kept going on about who had out-spent whom in which states. With campaign bills in the MILLIONS. I just don't get it. I don't know what our campaign budgets are like, but with the shorter campaign season they're undoubtedly much smaller. (I wonder what the $/per day ratio would break down to?) And the only time we TALK about them is to criticise them. Australians get *cross* with expensive political advertising.
3. The US had record voter turnout, apparently, although I haven't seen the actual percentage. I remain completely incapable of comprehending how you exist in a country where you have to campaign just to convince people to vote. It is completely burko, you guys.
4. Obama's speech just now is pretty. But, my GOD, between Obama and McCain's speeches, I have only one thing to say: MY GOD AMERICANS ARE ARROGANT. There are other countries out there, you know. They're pretty nice, too. A good deal of them are also trying to do the right thing, [interruption: OMG he's buying the kids a puppy!] trying to make their countries a better place and the world a better place.
5. So, Americans. The ENTIRE WORLD watches your elections. Because we know- even when we don't like it- that your country is nearly as powerful as you think it is. Because we know that the composition of your government affects international treaties, affects wars and truces, affects the global economy and god knows what else. Sometimes I'm a little weirded out by all the foreigners hyping out about Obama and telling you who to vote for, but I understand why.
My best friend said to me last night that she didn't think Australians or anyone else should try to tell Americans how to vote, and that we would get upset if Americans had been blogging and saying things like 'vote Kevin Rudd in 2007'. But, you know what? You should. We all should. We can't sit here on the internet and point and say "you, do this, because it's better for MY country", but we should actually care about what goes on in other countries. So yes, Australians were and should have been blogging their support for Obama (or, for that matter, McCain). And we should do the same when the next British election comes up. And for elections in Germany and Russian and god knows where else.
America: the world is invested in your politics. And there are a lot of you, and you are all over the intarwubs. In the two-and-a-bit-years before you have to start fussing with your next election, use your time to be a little concerned with the politics of the rest of the world. If your country prides itself on being the "leader of the free world" (blech), then you, as individuals, need to care about the rest of the free world. And about the un-"free" world too, for that matter.
6. Aaaand Barack Obama is preaching. These are preacher's techniques, folks. Very pretty, very emotive, and... not really saying very much. Makes me fond of Kevin Rudd and his boring businesslike speeches.
~
ETA: It seems I need to state that I am in fact pleased; 'tis a great day, etc etc. I did flail, I swear, even if it wasn't on this account.
Nor, regarding points 2 and 4-6, do I think all individual Americans are morons, or disinterested in the rest of the world. I'm concerned with the pervading spirit of American political discourse. And I'm concerned with the vast disparity between the number of non-Americans whose LJs show that they were deeply interested in this election, and the number of times I can recall reading posts by an American which show that they're deeply interested in any political activity not immediately affecting America. I'm not saying it doesn't happen; it's just evident that America's privileged economic position means America is of more interest to foreigners than other countries are to America. You can't just take that for granted: your *government* needs to earn it with their economic and foreign policy; and if you personally are going to take pride in your country's leading position in the world, then you need to return the interest of the world you purport to lead.
And, mea culpa, I have not until now been particularly interested in foreign politics. I can remember being disappointed when Bush got back in; I can vaguely remember the change of prime minister in Britain. I had the OPPORTUNITY and good reason to be interested in the French election- I was studying French; I had friends deeply interested in it- and I couldn't be bothered. I don't know who the President of Russia is or even the Prime Minister of Canada (I do remember that the more conservative bloke got in there). Hell, I think Helen Whatshername might not even be PM of New Zealand anymore, and I don't know who is.
That has to change.
Some things I think:
1. John McCain's concession speech was excellent and commendable. Why is it that politicians often show their best side when they're losing?
2. American elections are all about money. The coverage kept going on about who had out-spent whom in which states. With campaign bills in the MILLIONS. I just don't get it. I don't know what our campaign budgets are like, but with the shorter campaign season they're undoubtedly much smaller. (I wonder what the $/per day ratio would break down to?) And the only time we TALK about them is to criticise them. Australians get *cross* with expensive political advertising.
3. The US had record voter turnout, apparently, although I haven't seen the actual percentage. I remain completely incapable of comprehending how you exist in a country where you have to campaign just to convince people to vote. It is completely burko, you guys.
4. Obama's speech just now is pretty. But, my GOD, between Obama and McCain's speeches, I have only one thing to say: MY GOD AMERICANS ARE ARROGANT. There are other countries out there, you know. They're pretty nice, too. A good deal of them are also trying to do the right thing, [interruption: OMG he's buying the kids a puppy!] trying to make their countries a better place and the world a better place.
5. So, Americans. The ENTIRE WORLD watches your elections. Because we know- even when we don't like it- that your country is nearly as powerful as you think it is. Because we know that the composition of your government affects international treaties, affects wars and truces, affects the global economy and god knows what else. Sometimes I'm a little weirded out by all the foreigners hyping out about Obama and telling you who to vote for, but I understand why.
My best friend said to me last night that she didn't think Australians or anyone else should try to tell Americans how to vote, and that we would get upset if Americans had been blogging and saying things like 'vote Kevin Rudd in 2007'. But, you know what? You should. We all should. We can't sit here on the internet and point and say "you, do this, because it's better for MY country", but we should actually care about what goes on in other countries. So yes, Australians were and should have been blogging their support for Obama (or, for that matter, McCain). And we should do the same when the next British election comes up. And for elections in Germany and Russian and god knows where else.
America: the world is invested in your politics. And there are a lot of you, and you are all over the intarwubs. In the two-and-a-bit-years before you have to start fussing with your next election, use your time to be a little concerned with the politics of the rest of the world. If your country prides itself on being the "leader of the free world" (blech), then you, as individuals, need to care about the rest of the free world. And about the un-"free" world too, for that matter.
6. Aaaand Barack Obama is preaching. These are preacher's techniques, folks. Very pretty, very emotive, and... not really saying very much. Makes me fond of Kevin Rudd and his boring businesslike speeches.
~
ETA: It seems I need to state that I am in fact pleased; 'tis a great day, etc etc. I did flail, I swear, even if it wasn't on this account.
Nor, regarding points 2 and 4-6, do I think all individual Americans are morons, or disinterested in the rest of the world. I'm concerned with the pervading spirit of American political discourse. And I'm concerned with the vast disparity between the number of non-Americans whose LJs show that they were deeply interested in this election, and the number of times I can recall reading posts by an American which show that they're deeply interested in any political activity not immediately affecting America. I'm not saying it doesn't happen; it's just evident that America's privileged economic position means America is of more interest to foreigners than other countries are to America. You can't just take that for granted: your *government* needs to earn it with their economic and foreign policy; and if you personally are going to take pride in your country's leading position in the world, then you need to return the interest of the world you purport to lead.
And, mea culpa, I have not until now been particularly interested in foreign politics. I can remember being disappointed when Bush got back in; I can vaguely remember the change of prime minister in Britain. I had the OPPORTUNITY and good reason to be interested in the French election- I was studying French; I had friends deeply interested in it- and I couldn't be bothered. I don't know who the President of Russia is or even the Prime Minister of Canada (I do remember that the more conservative bloke got in there). Hell, I think Helen Whatshername might not even be PM of New Zealand anymore, and I don't know who is.
That has to change.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-06 01:12 pm (UTC)And especially the patriotism.
Don't get me wrong, it's a healthy thing to recognise the good points of your country, but I was amazed at the footage of people saying they'd vote McCain because "I know he's definately a patriot". Presumably because of his military service.
Of course a president has to look out for their country, but I think it's quite noticable that a lot of the people who have been vocal on US politics but are themselves not US citizens, support Obama. Maybe it is important to think beyond the obvious expressions of patriotism? Diplomatic relations help a country too. What's more patriotic than making non-Americans love the US too?
Anyway, this is not a McCain attack, just some things I think.
Also, are any other Aussies excited about seeing Kevin and Obama together? Does Obama speak Mandarin too? Little Kevin's schoolboy face will light up, and Obama will stand there looking all earnest and handsome. A friend of mine is having flashbacks to the Bush-Howard relationship...