Canadians take a healthy interest in American politics. American conditions affect us greatly. We are neighbors. Many of us have family on both sides of the border. ( My daughter lives in Chicago.) Our press covers U.S. politics and elections in great detail.
I'm sure that many Americans feel as I do that I'm glad the election over.
Since we receive many U. S. television channels we are not spared election ads. For me ads become rather tedious.
It's our new services that are a little hard to take. We get a blow by blow account of the the whole affair. I have said many times in this blog that I appreciate a well reasoned logical opinion. Sadly, very little of the reasoned and logical were present in this campaign. It's sad to see that the advertising can be so negative.
So the day after the election most people are saying that things have to change. Many good suggestions are being made as to what has to be done. I hope that what the politicians are saying about working together gets done. Not only Americans depend on a successfully functioning government , but also your neighbors to the north...Canadians.
One thing following an American election gives me is a much better understanding of the U.S. government system and how it works.
In case you're wondering , our Canadian elections are full of attack ads. Our Canadian politicians try to divide and conquer all in the name of winning an election and when elected do a very mediocre job.
Politicians in many countries could stand a tremendous improvement in their behavior and tactics. Politicians need to come up with realistic policies that can be put into effect and build our country so that we have a secure future. Promises and attack ads just for the purpose of wining an election don't bring about concrete actions.
You couldn't be more right!
ReplyDeleteHey, I get 100% . first time in my life.
Deletea huge frustrated *sigh* from me on the negative ads and all the money down the drain to run them.
ReplyDeleteThe money spent is obscene.
DeleteThank God - the coverage here after of course our "National Day" - the Melbourne Cup was driving me up the wall.
ReplyDeleteAnalysis and more analysis es will now drive us crazy. The simple solution for the US and the mess that it is in, is for both parties to come to the table and agree what is best.
People "MUST" be put back into the workforce, this Welfare stupidity which is World wide, must cease. I see capable young people here everyday who just refuse to try to get a job.
The mining industry here is screaming out for applicants. OK, you may have to leave the cities where you live on drugs, as they said way back "Go West Young Man". Achieve something.
Here in Australia with our political parties, absolutely nothing but insults are thrown around by the Canberra "nitwits".
Now this latest from my railway station master.
Sit down - this is just the most idiotic thing I have ever heard.
I observed whilst talking to Col, the Station Master, that seats on platforms were removed.
All, Col, could do was laugh. He said: "Well Colin, they were removed as they were not under video coverage and could present a target for terrorists"!!! Thank God, I didn't collapse.
So we have bureaucrats, highly paid, of the PR, MR, HR and PC coming up that my station will be the next target for another 9/11.
See how can you as a voter win, these idiots fill the elected member with these "out of space" ideas, and worse still, the "pollies" listen.
Good luck to the USA - but I doubt if anything will really change.
Colin ( Brisbane - now the target on rail stations for terrorists - Australia)
Some voters would not change their vote even if the party promised to shoot them. People have to look at policy and then the pols might be forced to do something that counts.
DeleteThe politicians are the same the world over.
ReplyDeleteAt least we don't get television advertising and election expenses are capped.
I hear some muttering about spending caps and that may do some good as it could keep out the big boys who want to buy and election.
DeleteWell said Red!
ReplyDeleteThe election is over, half the US people are happy, half aren't.
It is what it is. The analysis I've read today note many good points as to why Obama won and Romney lost. The people are still split almost 50/50 at least of those that voted. Those who didn't we won't discuss. Regardless now of the outcome both US parties must make compromises or nothing can be accomplished. This would hold true if the election had been reversed. Can we come together over party lines? That, remains to be seen.
The key word you use is compromise. They also have to consider the people in a genuine way .
DeleteI'm so glad the election is over, I just hope our gas prices don't go right back up again. Funny how that works when there's an election in the States it seems our gas prices always go down just before, but right back up shortly after.
ReplyDeleteI detest smear campaigns, what's the point? If a politician isn't working for the people it'll come out, like my mother always said "Give a man enough rope and he'll hang himself." Words to live by.
Have a great day Red!
Well, some of these guys have an awful lot of rope. I also think electors have to use their votes more wisely. We can't keep on voting for the same idiots which means from time to time we have to vote for another party...like hold your nose.
DeleteMy main feeling is one of relief that the loony fringes seem to be drifting out of favour. At least I hope so.
ReplyDeleteThe loony fringes are probably going to split up a party.
DeleteUnfortunately when you throw lots of money at something you end up with handfuls of mud. If we could get the money out...only IF.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of money spent was obscene.
DeleteWe also have had wall-to-wall coverage over here in the UK as well. I suppose the justification is that whoever rules the USA will have an important impact of the rest of the world. Equally, the Chinese are choosing new leaders this week. There will be no negative campaigning, no annoying TV ads, and little TV coverage. Somehow, I prefer the USA (and Canada and the UK) approach.
ReplyDeleteYes democracy in all it's messy processes is still the best. However, there's going to have to be some major changes to bring things back to some form of sanity.
DeleteI'm so glad it's over. I can't stand all the nastiness inherent in election campaigns these days. It's a complete turn-off. If I didn't so fervently believe in the importance of doing your duty and voting, I'd ignore elections entirely. It's appalling how low things have sunk.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable how nasty and far from the truth they can get. Some parties want to discourage us from voting like Steven Harper.
DeleteI agree so much Red. The money that is wasted in ATTACK ADS could be well spent in other ways. My Dad always said that Politics today was just how Hitler almost won the war. You go out there and talk, and attack, and talk, and brainwash (for that is what attack ads do), and you keep on doing it till the people see it as being true. I personally dislike the attack ads and think "I hope this jerk doesn't get in because he has bad-asssed a particular opponent or several opponents again and again and again". I know such a party here in Canada and that is exactly how they pretty much run their campaigns and they start brutally attacking an individual long before the campaigning is even off to a start. Frustrating to even think about turning on TV during election, so I made it simple - There's not much on TV anyway, mostly reruns and $$$$$$ for more reruns, so I cancelled my satelite/cable and I get more news on the internet and I have a choice - I don't have to listen to the slander/accusations of political parties, and the internet gives me the great opportunity of going into the backgrounds of all RUNNERS and see how they got to be where they are today. It might surprise some people to actually know true FACTS about those Godly like people that are and want to run our Country. I guess it is the same just about everywhere - where there is politics - there is DIRT and somebody is going to sling it, Eh.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day Red - Great post.
Brain washing is a very accurate term for what is going on.
DeletePoliticians are the same the world over, Red. But I for one realized after Tuesday's election that Americans are not won over by negative campaigns that flooded the airwaves because of unlimited money. I can't help but think of all that could have been fixed if that money were used for peaceful purposes.
ReplyDeleteThe money spent is absolutely mind boggling.
Deletethe comment i heard that i liked was the winner recieved the popular vote and loser the unpopular vote
ReplyDeleteGood one!
DeleteWe have the privileged of the ads and robo political calls...maybe the Queen needs to reclaim us. :)
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
No don't look for the Queen to help you. We have attack ads and robo calls. One of our parties used robo calls to send people to the wrong place to vote.
ReplyDeleteGlad it's over, too. Now we can move onward and upward and hopefully reunite our United States.
ReplyDeletegrieving for America since the elections...and our decent from decency.
ReplyDelete