The world’s leading democracy, in a hard-fought election with a polarized electorate, just peacefully elected a new leader.
It’s often said that the results of an American election can have a bigger impact in the day-to-day lives of people in other countries. And, as the rest of the world — the other 96 percent of humanity — watched our results come in, most of them were satisfied with our choice. (While 49 percent of Americans aren’t so sure, in many parts of the planet, President Obama is much-appreciated. As never since Roosevelt or Kennedy, Obama is a world favorite.)
Here in the world’s richest country, the dominant issue was our “financial crisis.” And we were closely split in choosing a leader to deal with our economy. Meanwhile, we basically ignored topics critical to much of the rest of the world — issues of war and peace, climate change, and support for the half of humanity struggling to live on $2 a day. But because we’ve re-elected a proven multilateralist with a track record sympathetic to those concerns, today there is happiness beyond our borders.
My European friends are particularly impressed that America has granted a second term to a president who has already expanded heath care rights and ran on a pledge to increase taxes to defend social programs–two Europe-friendly issues that were a political live wire here just a few years ago. These, along with the breakthrough state-level success of some same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization initiatives, may indicate that America is inching philosophically closer to Europe.
Perhaps most importantly, over these last several months, we’ve shown the world how a democracy works: We can stage a heated, but still respectful, debate about differing values. And, even as a huge and powerful nation of 300 million people, the title of most powerful person on earth is decided not on a battlefield or in a smoke-filled back room, but as tens of millions of individual voters fill out their ballots. The challenger was classy and statesmanlike in his concession speech, and deserves our respect and our thanks for prodding a healthy political discourse. This election demonstrated to the world not just the American values of today, but the democratic principles our nation is founded upon.
Apparently the people who kept President Obama in office were: women; voters between ages 18 and 44; Latinos; Catholics, Jews, union member families and of course sundry others. But those without jobs overwhelmingly favored Romney as did older people and Protestants who are born again Christians and go to church weekly. A less than 2 percent margin is not much and I’ll bet Europeans wondered why it was so close when Europeans admire Obama so much. In the final analysis however, we are a diverse country of roughly 310 million citizens and I believe the vast majority will benefit from having Obama for a second term. But we cannot ignore the tens of millions who are passionately against him. Hopefully, we can come together in some form of compromise.
the reason the economy gets so much representation is that without productivity there’s nothing for the government to tax and then give away in those precious social programs.
Reply to bk – there doesn’t appear to be “some form of compromise” that’s possible when the House speaker declares an intent to “wreck” the programs put forward by the President. In my view, all we’re going to get is another two or four years of petty political point-scoring and a refusal to work together. Obama had his chance in the first two years of his first term, when he was handed a Democratic congress, and he blew it big time with all of his attempts to be ‘inclusive” and work in partnership with the GOP. How much did we hear about bipartisanship when Dubya had his GOP Congress?
Brian: What massive & partisan measures did “Dubya” pass with his GOP Congress? Anything on the level of the massive & partisan “Obamacare”?
Well. Very well. I’m extremely proud of you. Hard to accept, though, that- once more- he won’t be MY president. Anchormen had a big smile on their face yesterday night! Greetings from Italy, that’s the inspiring America we love
I can’t claim to be very conservant with local issues that are undoubtedly of great concern to countless American voters, such as health and social insurance.
But since the reaction of others in the world is what this post by Rick is about, as an Egyptian Christian (and I speak here about the general position of my community, not necessarily my own), there’s been not a little amount of disappointmnet at Obama’s re-election.
The reason is that, there’s a perception in the world that American has a say in the directions other countries take, either through direct dictating, or though “soft power”: aids to governments or to non-governmental organizations.
And, depending on how strongly you buy into that notion, you can’t escape the fact that during Obama’s administration, for the first time in decades, if not centuries, a semblance of an Islamic caliphate is resurgent, including in countries that are thought of as America’s allies, like Egypt.
There’s been talk that during the election here the US contributed considerable sums of money to the Brotherhood (an issue Romeny even brought up during his campaign).
There’s been also talk that the US pressed the military council to propel the ‘Hood to the presidency (personnally, I think what actually happenned was that the US pressed the military council, contrary to what it might have wished, not to put any obastacles in front of Islamists; to give them a clear field).
Some people even go as far back as 2009 to see a mysterious link between Obama’s “inaugural address to the Islamic world” (my naming) in Cairo (where he *insisted*, to the previous regime’s vexation, that representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood attend) to, fast-forward 3 years, the ascendency of Obama’s “guests of honor” to the throne.
All these perhaps explain the angry crowd that received Hillary Clinton at her last visit to Egypt–the majority of which, btw, were not Christians, but ordinary Egyptians who oppose the ‘Hood (remember, very nearly half the voters here chose the other secular candidate). While I don’t approve of everything the protesters have said and done (such a taunting her by shouting, “Monica!”, which I thought was too mean), you have to understand that that was the reaction of people perceiving that their country, its future and the future of their children were “sold” offhandedly to Islamists by the US. Again, this is not necessarily my opinion, but that of a sizable portion of the population here in Egypt.
Anyway, to those who voted for Obama: congratulations! I hope America, and the world, all the best.
Steven (I’ll assume it’s a typo in your name) – I’m not really very much inclined to debate with someone who tries to put words into my mouth. If you read my original post again, you’ll see that I said **not one single word** about any specific measure which Bush passed. I just said that we didn’t hear much about bipartisanship. If you want to disprove that point, you’ll need to give me a list of Democrats whom Bush appointed to, or retained in, prominent office. I also don’t recall Harry Reid going on record about trying to “wreck” Bush’s legislative programs when the Democrats regained control of the senate, in contrast with Boehner and the House.
However, if you insist on me matching your mention of Obamacare, how about Bush’s 1.3 trillion dollar tax cuts to try to implement the usual “trickle down” nonsense. I don’t recall that measure having overwhelming support from the Democrats.
It is very interesting to see how dependent the world is about the US. I love to help others but it is a hard pill to swallow when citizens of other countries complain about what the US is doing or not doing for them. My family works very hard, we are not rich, and we pay a lot of taxes to “fund” all the money that goes around the world. Happy to do it because I believe that we live in this great planet. But people of other nations still have to stand up and drive their own future. Just like we get out and vote for our country. We cannot go into a military action in every country that is not going well. We have been considered bullys in the past. There has to be a certain ambition to freedom. The kind that founded our country.
I think this election reinforced: how philosophically divided we are; how much money is squandered on politics; how shallow our knowledge is of key international and national issues; how wedded we are to ideology and how selfish many of us are. A certain degree of incompetence also tinges our voting process as Floridians have to suffer at the hands of a 9 page ballot plus elected, and possibly partisan, poll officials.
Bill you are a wise person, your words ring true.
I wish election day was also veterans day. I think of the many who died to save the right to vote in this country and how many of us ignore that right. How many of us deface the very Commander in Chief that so many proudly served. When people say he is not my president then who is he. He is your president like it or not. Racial undertones like that keep us separate. I was and still are very proud of my country which didn’t allow their votes to be bought and the negtive ads from both sides to keep them away from their right.
I wonder what intelligent, informed Europeans think when they read that at the University of Mississippi 400 demonstrated against Obama’s win using racial slurs? Maybe they realize that a few immature Neanderthals are no more representative of the USA than is the foolish loose cannon and convicted felon who made the highly derogatory film about Islam’s prophet? Unfortunately, it’s the lowest common denominators in our society who often get the media attention so it can continue to sell advertising.
“…we’ve shown the world how a democracy works…”
Writing as someone from “the world”, I think quite a few of us already knew how a democracy works, thanks. Though if we ever forget, we can always look back on US’ 2000 elections to remind ourselves of how a democracy doesn’t work.
Would the Europeans be happy to know how much money was spent by our candidates’ political “action” committees and wealthy donors in their greedy power grab for power? I can only imagine what good those billions could have gone for, instead of funneling into a political machine: additions to hospitals, career-prep for homeless adults, expanding grants and scholarships to at-risk children…the list goes on. It’s appalling to me – and probably to our overseas brothers and sisters – how much needless money is spent on political dog fights. It’s disgusting to me. Shame on both the GOP AND the Democrats for pissing away this much money on talking heads. If they want real ‘hope and change’, re-allocate that money to those who actually need it.
Ryan I totally agree with you. Makes me sick! I can only imagine what 2016 it going to cost. I am ashamed that these people don’t see a better place to invest and donate their money.
Ryan and Judy, you two have obviously not given the political spending thing very much thought. I would agree that on the very surface it seems like a prodigious amount of capital to be “pissing away” but if you were to actually look into the political advertising business you may think,,, not so much so. One small example is in our neighboring village there is a man who publishes a newspaper for the surrounding area of a few thousand souls and could not stay in business without the added income of the lawn signs, flyers etc. that he is paid to print every election. Maybe this is what upsets you so much, it is all done without “forced IRS investments” from the general public. I cannot see why someone else spending his own money would disgust and appall you so greatly. I am guessing that nearly all those billions stay here in the USA and get circulated around and around the vast network of capitalists. What perhaps should PISS YOU OFF is the fact that TRILLIONS of dollars are borrowed by the Obama regime and then seemingly vaporize with nothing left behind to show for it. That makes me sick and truly appalls me and it will continue to appall Americans for generations, that is if there are “Americans” by then.
North Americans are what we are and spending is what we do. Three quarters of our U.S. GDP is consumer driven. And frivolous discretionary spending by those who have that luxury is exemplified by baubles and bangles and $40/pound salmon or cheesecakes on home shopping networks. I believe people have the right to spend their money on what they want and that is one part of our system that helps capitalism thrive. Impulse spending probably helps some people get through the day in otherwise non-gratifying work days. In the same breath we complain about high taxes and seem unwilling to pay for the kind of government we want. Failing infrastructure, 40 million without health insurance, and 60 degrees of separation between the halves and the other 75 percent doesn’t bode well for a stable and durable society.
I have given political spending thought. I understand it, I just said it makes me sick. In California we are now paying our own taxes to keep our schools afloat. But that Proposition was attacked by the Super Pack that the Koch Brothers particiapate in by spending 11 million dollars on a Propositon against it. All that super pack money could have gone to our public schools. They may have every right to spend their money where they would like, I just feel that some of that money could be better used. This just seems to be the theme now. Going into other states and disrupting our process.
America is one nation – divisible.
Der Doppelganger
WEDU Tampa
Divisible, and maybe that’s not so bad!!! It helps keep politicians off balance and (a little) honest even if it makes some of us: angry; uncomfortable; think; get involved etc. There is a lid for every pot — and steam helps blow the lid off.