Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Why do we care so much about the US elections?

For the last week, certainly the last couple of days, everyone it seems has been obsessed with the presidential elections. But why? We are British: so why do we care so much?
In fact someone cared so much, this was their status update last night:
"If Mitt Romney gets into power, I will take it upon myself to burn down every fast food place and twinkie factory in the US #voteobama"
A more common and less extreme update was a simple "Good luck America," because we did not wholly trust that the correct [read: our] choice would be made.
Everyone seemed to look on in horror as the polls became uncomfortably close, because we all knew who we wanted. This is what the rest of the world thought:
Now, I don't know a lot about politics, even in this country. I remember being quite enthusiastic about our 1997 elections. I got up super early to discover that Tony Blair was PM and I probably skipped a little. No, not because I was a young Labour supporter, passionate about those ideals and policies. I was 8. I was excited about Tony because he was (fractionally) more glamorous than John Major (who reminded me a little of Mr Somerville, the local vicar).
In the elections that have followed this, I've not really cared so much. I vote of course, I love to vote, but they all seem much of a muchness. No one in British politics really inspires me. British politicians of the past (probably through some weird nostalgia) were much better. More eccentric. I like an eccentric politician. It makes me think they a)have a genius quality, b)care about the country, not about the power or money c)wear interesting hats. Bring back the Bowler!
American politicians, however, are bigger, stronger, more glamorous (Tony pales in comparison), just more.... You can get excited about them because they are more exciting. The candidates seem to represent two such different images of America. Stereotypes even: one liberal, progressive and sensibly impressed by the genius of the NHS; the other who seemed anti-women's right, anti-gay rights, part of a slightly odd religion that nobody understands (not that that matters really, I'm just building up the character profile), and probably loves Country and Western (just an assumption).
As you can see I've followed it all extremely closely. I believe if I lived there I'd be most concerned about the economy. But I don't understand money. No one in the world seems to have any so I reckon things are bound to improve whoever takes the lead. I'm an optimist.
But crucially, none of it directly affects us so we can really get behind our choice, because if it all goes wrong we can simply send our sympathy across the Atlantic and continue to complain about our own boring government.
That is all except: Bravo Mr Obama. I would have voted for you. I might love you a little. And good luck for your second term...because I know you'll be reading this.

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