USA - Election 2008

[adelle fan.]

This is the first time i've followed the US election but this year i've been following it and i really hope Barack Obama wins - he seems alot better then John McCain - plus if McCain wins i don't think i could stand seeing that Sarah Palin everywhere she annoys me so much

[Slade]

I support Barack Obama and I think he will win. Hopefully the American people use their votes wisely and vote Obama. I agree with his policies on a number of issues (especially education, environment & economy), rather than McCain. Also I think Obama as president will implement the right change that is needed in the US, his beliefs and ideas for the future sit well with me.

I agree if Obama is president then that sets a positive precedence for change in the US. Call me a cynic but I personally feel that the minute a Republican administration is voted back in things will simply revert back to how they were. In order to have a permanent impact Obama would have to have such an effect that former Republican voters would continue to vote democrat forcing the Republicans to change their policies. But I can’t see that happening. All that will happen is that we will simply get a flip-flop of parties every few years. I hope I’m wrong!

[Cal]

I don't understand how America can vote for a Republican. Ireland's main government party is Republican. They're awful and I don't agree with anything they do. I have never supported a single thing they have done. Never ever ever ever ever. I support the Progressive Democrats who, unfortunately, are almost extinct thanks to this country's obsession with the Republicans. Apparently there is going to be another election here next year (don't know why, we just had one) and I'm voting for the Progressive Democrats because they support every form of liberalism. They are the party that legalized divorce in Ireland (Yes, Divorce was illegal here until 1997). And if the PDs get in, I can see Abortion being made legal also.

Anywho, what I'm trying to say is - Why do American's put themselves through x amount of years of Republican rule? Maybe it's different over there, but how could physically vote for a Republican? I think John McCain is a good guy and a great politician, but I don't agree with any of his policies. And I certainly don't agree with Palin on anything.

Barack Obama is the guy. And I would be very happy if he got in to the White House... even if he does try and take the huge American companies out of Ireland who were attracted here due to our almost non-existent corporation tax

[Eli]

I actually do understand it. America is not a country that's been around forever, it was created state by state, and not until 1959 did it have all the states it has today. All these states from Alaska in the north to Texas in the south, urban New York on the east coast, star-struck California on the west coast, rural Kansas in the midwest and Hawaii in the Pacific ocean, are supposed to be one nation, with one leader. Giving the states power is good because of different people living in different places, but it makes it harder because America still is one country with one government. I do get why a lot of Americans are scared of change, because what the Republicans are really promoting is the traditional American values, which are based on simple principals such as freedom of speech and the right to own a fire arm. And I get it, America has always tried to be the country to save everyone else, but at the same time they've had difficulties because there are so many different people who call themselves Americans. The American society has developed into a eat-or-be-eaten direction in many ways, and a lot of it has to do with the fact that a lot is built on the faith in The American Dream. The Republicans support those who succeed in The American Dream, but unfortunately not everyone does. Everyone wants to, but not everyone does. Conservativism, on which the Republican party's values are founded, stands for traditional values, and not jumping on all new changes because there's always a risk with change. Look at how it went when Soviet enforced communism, for example. Change comes with a risk, and that's why a lot of Conservatives rather would see a slower, more controlled change. Patriotism is a big part of America as a nation, because like I said earlier it's a challenge for America to be "One nation under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" when nor everyone agrees on what that means. And I think Republicans are those who still have faith in the American Dream being the answer, and that America can be like that. I understand it, but I don't think it's what's best for America. And that's why I support Obama, and what I agree is "Change we can believe in".

That being said, I think we've seen a change in the Republican party this year. A lot of the voters are probably still the same, but I'd definitely say the GOP has taken a step in the right direction. I've said it before, and I'll be happy to say it again; I don't think the GOP could have chosed a better candidate than John McCain, and even if he does become President it'd be a huge improvement for America and the American people. It's not John McCain I fear, it's Sarah Palin.

[Cal]

I guess it's different over there then! I suppose anything can be better than Bush at this stage. And Palin scares me with her glasses.

I wish there was an Irish Dream. I want a little wooden house with a white picket fence with a dog named Spot And a basement. I want a basement.

[Slade]

I actually do understand it. America is not a country that's been around forever, it was created state by state, and not until 1959 did it have all the states it has today. All these states from Alaska in the north to Texas in the south, urban New York on the east coast, star-struck California on the west coast, rural Kansas in the midwest and Hawaii in the Pacific ocean, are supposed to be one nation, with one leader. Giving the states power is good because of different people living in different places, but it makes it harder because America still is one country with one government. I do get why a lot of Americans are scared of change, because what the Republicans are really promoting is the traditional American values, which are based on simple principals such as freedom of speech and the right to own a fire arm. And I get it, America has always tried to be the country to save everyone else, but at the same time they've had difficulties because there are so many different people who call themselves Americans. The American society has developed into a eat-or-be-eaten direction in many ways, and a lot of it has to do with the fact that a lot is built on the faith in The American Dream. The Republicans support those who succeed in The American Dream, but unfortunately not everyone does. Everyone wants to, but not everyone does. Conservativism, on which the Republican party's values are founded, stands for traditional values, and not jumping on all new changes because there's always a risk with change. Look at how it went when Soviet enforced communism, for example. Change comes with a risk, and that's why a lot of Conservatives rather would see a slower, more controlled change. Patriotism is a big part of America as a nation, because like I said earlier it's a challenge for America to be "One nation under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" when nor everyone agrees on what that means. And I think Republicans are those who still have faith in the American Dream being the answer, and that America can be like that. I understand it, but I don't think it's what's best for America. And that's why I support Obama, and what I agree is "Change we can believe in".

You say that Americans or more to the point Conservatives don’t advocate change but to be honest why would they? People that typically live in the Republican areas are generally more well off than their democrat counterparts. Right-wing policies tend to favour people such as these e.g. lower taxes. Leftwing policies tend to favour those less well-off i.e. higher taxes, which means more state sponsored benefits. My experience even from the UK is that private health care (e.g. the dentist) is far better than that run by the state. Put yourself in the position of somebody that is reasonably well off. What would you stand to gain by having the government implement left wing-policies that would overall benefit everyone at your expense? Most people outside the US obviously want the most powerful country in the world to do things to benefit everyone on the planet (such as ratifying the Kyoto Protocol or pacifying their aggressive foreign policy) but considering that 80% of Americans don’t even have a passport why should they really worry about things that will happen outside their country. Yes I now global warming affects everyone but the reality is that most people are worried about the here and now not something that will affect us decades from now.

[bailey4]

What?! Where on earth did you ever hear that?! I very much doubt that the FBI and CIA would threaten to "wipe out" the KKK if they tried anything like that. To say they were gonna "wipe out, no questions asked" an entire clan makes then just as bad as the KKK in many ways, so I very much doubt that's ever been said. But Obama said himself that he's being protected my the best; Secret Services are shadowing him 24/7, making sure nothing happens. Obviously you can never be sure, but if Obama is at greater risk, then the better his security system probably is.

Although its hard to believe with the whole KKK thing being wiped out it is true!!! We have a former CIA agent currently lecturing our classes for Political Science and he said it was something that the KKK have been warned about ever since the assasination of Martin Luther King! Wiping out the KKK by the CIA doesn't necesarrily make them as bad as the KKK if the person they're looking out for might happen to be the saviour of their country...its hard to believe i know, to me it sounds like a fricken movie, but the way politics runs in America anything can happen!!!!

[Eli]

I agree that those who have a lot of money would want to keep it that way, and I understand why a lot of them would choose to vote Republican. However, a lot of those who vote Republican aren't particularly wealthy. Actually they are the opposite. Most Republican voters in typical Republican areas such as Alabama, Kansas and Oklahoma aren't wealthy; they are people with very little money. So it has to do with a lot more than money, because yes, it does make sense that those with a lot of money would vote Republican. When those who are the opposite still vote Republican you gotta look for other reasons, and that's where history and religion comes into the picture. In the rural parts of any country it will be more important to stick together. While someone in a big city will be more likely to have to adapt to changes and learn to accept a progressive world, those in a smaller community will need to find a way to survive. And that's where the American dream become important; it's a way up. For those it works for. And in a smaller community, religion become a lot more important as a tool to keep the community united, to create something common to gather around. I'll use an example from my own situation. I come from a small village, but I live between the village and a medium sized city. Even people in that city (which is pretty small) don't get the thing about going to Church on Christmas Eve, and when I talk to people from bigger cities they are shocked to hear that I do, since I'm not Christian at all. They don't get it at all. But when you belong to a small community, the Church become one thing everyone gathers around. On Christmas Eve you can give up getting a seat in that church, and I doubt that 90 % of those people really consider themselves practising Christians.

If you don't have a lot of capital in America, and don't have a particular super talent, you very little hope of going to one of the prestigeous schools. But it happens for a few, lucky people. It's the underdog that keeps the American dream alive, the underdog that makes it out and into the world. And that's who a lot of people dream of being.

[Slade]

OK let me use an example. My manager used to work in Germany several years ago. During his stay he met a lot of people that were part of the former GDR. He said that most of whom he spoke to said they did not like the new unified Germany. Do you know why? With the old GDR the people were a community, there was a sense of unity, spirit everybody did things to benefit each other and help one another. Now they thought a lot of people were selfish. They were only doing things for themselves. You could argue here is one example where for some people change did not work. To be honest I think a lot of people will simply play it safe and stick with what they know. If things are going ok for people (money aside) why would they really want to change? There’s no point trying to fix something, which isn’t broken!

BTW - Don’t think I’m Republican or right-wing because I’m not. I’m just trying see things from their point of view, that’s all.

[Eli]

I understand what you're saying, and believe me, I'm trying to see it from their side as well, I think maybe we're just seeing it from two different sides of the Republican side of it, if that makes sense

Obviously, with a big country like the US, where most people identify with either the GOP or the Democrats, there are more than just one side to each of those political sides, so I think maybe we're both right (because I don't think you're wrong at all, I think you're making some very good points that make a lot of sense, but nor do I think I'm wrong about what I'm saying) but we're talking about different people who define as Republicans.

I'm not right-wing either, like I've said, but I think it's very interesting to see this from more sides, so when I've said I don't understand how anyone can trust Sarah Palin, it has nothing to do with understanding why people can support Republicans, because with the history and was the US society is today, it makes a lot of sense in many ways.