I'm starting this thread to see what the TFP's participants outside the US have to say about their upcoming election.
For my part, I'm Canadian, and the sheer size of the US, economically, population, etc...
compared to us makes their elections far more interesting than our own.
I could link innumerable articles about how many Canadians are far more interested in
what is going on South of the border than our own upcoming elections, but take my word for it, we are actually more interested in their results than own, this time around.
Some observations;
-Often when a Democrat states their preference, a Republican will call them Liberal.
From my perspective, our Conservative Prime Minister (Stephen Harper) is conceivably as liberal as Obama seems to be. What is wrong with liberalism, anyway?
-Why can't the States, as the supposed bastion of Democracy, get away from the two-party system? This might be the answer to my own question, but it seems to me that the amount of power vested in those two interests alone creates a fairly inflexible system insofar as allowing Candidates to vote their conscience, or express truly new ideas.
-Why is it that Democrats are automatically seen as fiscally irresponsible? Reagan increased the US debt in a way not seen since the Depression, and Bush Jr.'s overseas adventures are draining resources unbelievably (including the will to serve in US military).
This is not meant to knock the US in any way, shape, or form. I love the fact that they are out there, trying to do what they think is right, most of time.
I just don't get how an otherwise decent, relatively well educated population gets hooked time and time again by jingoism, simple labeling of opposing Candidates, and the obvious power grab by private interests.
The rest of the world might not like everything the US does, or even respect their choice of leaders, but it's ridiculous to say that as an entity they are not respected, or that it doesn't affect us.
What do you think?
