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I am neither a political pundit nor a political analyst. My personal politics are neither left nor right – or, in the case of the USA, rightish or extreme right. But what the world doesn’t need at the end of this year is a Shrub replacement from the same political mould. What the USA might need is another matter but the rest of us need a change. Like it or not, the man (or woman of course) who sits in the big white building on Pennsylvania Avenue does have a global effect. Economically that is true but more importantly, as I have said before, America can be a power for good with the right leadership. You only have to have lived through the last seven years to understand that and the next incumbent will, hopefully, make a priority of healing the wounds that have been inflicted, rebuild relationships where trust has vanished and stop shooting the USA in it’s own metaphorical foot.
So I am a little alarmed that the front runners for the Democratic nomination at this stage of the game are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Personally, I have nothing against either of them and I am not worried about the prospect of one of them getting the top job. I am more concerned about the prospect of either of them actually winning the final election.
I made two trips to the USA last year. One to the east coast, Washington and New York, where a strong Democrat tradition persists and one to the west coast – Los Angeles, Nevada and Arizona who always seem to me to be somewhat more politically ambiguous. I talked to a lot of people on those trips as the candidates for the next president were starting to become known. Every time I asked about the prospects for Clinton people would collectively shake their heads and say “America isn’t ready for a woman as president”. Mention the name Obama and people would collectively shake their heads and say “America isn’t ready for a black man as president”. And of the people I spoke to, the ones who seemed to shake their heads hardest were female democrats.
Of course my little straw poll, especially with so long to go before the ballot, is totally meaningless but it leaves me wondering if these views are pervasive and if it does end up as a fight between Clinton or Obama against the big, bad Republican are people going to think to themselves “No.. we’re just not ready for this”?
Hey Andy. Being one of them Yanks, I’m not sure (either) if this country is ready for a female president, a black president…or a Mormon president, for that matter (and I happen to be of that religious persuasion). What I wish we WERE ready for, however, is a president (of whatever gender, race or religious conviction) that is ready to DO SOMETHING to solve some of our thorniest problems. I would, humbly, suggest that a few of the top thornies would be: 1) getting our troops home as quickly as possible (I’m sorry, but Middle East factions have been killing each other for centuries…U.S. policies – backed up by force of arms – is not going to turn them into copies of heartland-of-America Republicans & Democrats debating rhetoric at town meetings); 2) sorting out the mess that our insurance/health care has embroiled itself in; 3) jump-starting the economy; 4) working at getting people off the government dole and regaining the self-respect that comes from SELF-reliance; 5) addressing the needs of our most vulnerable citizens – our children (their health and educational needs), our victims of domestic violence and abuse, and our elderly; and 6) repairing and reinforcing our infrastructure.
However, the sad reality is that those who WANT the "top job" the most are the ones who really, REALLY shouldn’t get it. And whoever does get it, would have to work with the Congress…which is just like telling a man to go and build a house and then chopping off his hands.
Jansy,
Sorry to hear your politicians are extremely closely related to ours
Malc…I believe, sadly, that it’s an occupational hazard. (Or perhaps a matter of individuals sinking to the level of their incompetence?)
Jansy
I actually rather approve of the mid-term election concept but to be fair it does rather lead to political deadlock in your country. I am constantly surprised that you guys get anything done at all. And then there’s Presidential vetoes. And members of congress who seem to have to start campaigning for their next term a couple of weeks after taking up office.
As Malc pointed out, politicians are politicians the world over although I truly believe that some of them (note that’ some’) do start out with good intent.
Anyway – I noticed you didn’t put ‘restore the Constitution’ on your list…
Jansy again…
So are you a Utah gal? I liked what I saw of Utah last year…
Andy…I’m living in Utah currently, but was born and raised in California. (Does that make me some kind of aberrent two-headed something-or-other?) (Glad you liked the state…it certainly does have its good points!)
No, I didn’t mention the Constitution. I’m not sure it needs to be restored more than it just needs to followed as the Founding Fathers intended (read: Colonial Uptarts). I think our government (in theory) is pretty good…it’s the people that mess it up.
The really sad thing is there ARE those who seek elected office wanting to try to make a difference, but they find out quickly that the deck is stacked against them.
Jansy,
I was gonna post earlier, but something got in the way , looking on Wikipedia, I see from the last U.K. election 61 % of the us voted, and in U.S. 2004 60.8% of you guys voted. For us that means the party with that 22% of the popular vote is in power – ergo 78% didn’t vote for Blair, yet he gets to ‘represent’ me (don’t mention Gordon – 0% voted for him!)
I envy you, I get to choose between 3 self serving white blokes, looks like you could have all sorts of fun !
Malc
Andy,
Is ’some’ large enough to measure, or just a ‘figment’ ?
Well… I always had time for Kate Hoey!
I think Jansy is right about the machine of government. It has become a juggernaut that consumes everything in its path. I think the type of person who starts off with their parish council tackling local issues and moves up to being an MP quite often started out with good intent. And it’s not just the old maxim of power corrupting either but equally down to the simple fact that these people remain back-benchers. It’s undeniably true that those who rise to power are hungry for it – those who believe they are there for a purpose wilt in the wilderness.
Maybe one of the good things about US presidents is that they have a maximum of 8 years and they’re out. As Bush has proven too well – a lot of damage can be done in 8 years but at least everyone knows that one day it will end. We have to endure the same tired old faces with their bankrupt ideas for much longer.
I personally support the notion of small government (verging on minarchism), public referenda and the Swiss system of petitioning. And maybe the odd firing squad wouldn’t be a bad idea as well.