Presidentials

[franceslievens]

frenchani wrote a post last week entitled "As if the whole world wished to vote in the American Presidentials". This had me thinking, because in a way the whole world is watching the happenings on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, and various international journalists and bloggers are commenting on something they can't take part in. Do we pay so much attention to elections in Nicaragua? Why do we want to know what another country does? This is an age of nationalism. Why should others bother?

The U.S. are perceived as one of the biggest powers in the world, a country that reigns or wishes to reign other countries. This is also the case with Russia. Still we don't get so much coverage of presidential elections over there. Probably because we know beforehand how things work, with nepotism providing the power hungry president and first minister. The outcome in the U.S. isn't clear – even though some might want it that way. But this is how democracy works, and we aren't allowed to intervene or consider voters to be wrong. The voter is always right.

It doesn't explain so well why we all want to have an opinion about it. Is this truly admitting the U.S. is the biggest country in the world, or a case of keeping your enemies close, and watching every move of a molloch who wants to have a finger in every part of the world?

Comments

[iphi1.livejournal.com]

I think it's because the U.S. is the biggest country in the world that we want to be friends with. It's always been the country that will protect little Europe from perceived possible bad guys like Russia or China.
But the last couple of years the U.S. has been a lousy friend, one that, frankly, we've been ashamed of to be associated with.

I believe we're so interested because we now have a chance to have our friend back and we're really, really hoping that we can go back to a mutually beneficent relationship.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

I think that partly the interest stems from the fact that they put up such a damn good show - what with the whole nomination process, the debates and so on. It's also a much more personalised election process than in a lot of other countries - you don't just vote for a party, it's much more about the candidate.

And of course, the reasons you mentioned are true as well.

[lijability.livejournal.com]

Patriotism/nationalism can be a dirty thing.

But I don't think the US wants to take anyone over. Though about 10% might be so bassackwards to think so. Runover and check out the Freepers at FreeRepublic.com for the worst of America