I’ve managed to catch a little bit of the US presidential debates over the past couple of weeks, and although it doesn’t directly concern me – I’m Australian, I don’t get to vote on this one – I’ve still been pretty interested to hear what each of the candidates have to say.
Make no mistake: if I was American, I’d be voting for Obama. Even though I wouldn’t have to, because nobody has to vote if they don’t want to. I believe in voting, though, because I believe in having a say in the running of my country… and believe you me, that has me in somewhat of a bind when it comes to the next federal election here in Australia, because I don’t want to vote for either of the major parties, and my electorate is a very safe Liberal seat anyway.
Back to the US, though. I don’t feel that Romney is completely useless. As a businessman, I’m sure he’s probably quite good, and he seems like he could perhaps manage people fairly effectively. I’m not entirely convinced that he is the right person to hold the job of the so-called most powerful man in the world, though.
Without getting too far into it, the image of Romney that’s emerging from the debates is that his entire policy platform seems to be built on three things: mining the living shit out of whatever natural resources are left in America, rather than focusing on finding natural, renewable solutions; carrying on spending ridiculous amounts of money to build up the US military so the country can continue sticking its nose into everyone else’s business; and turning the whole of the United States into the magical mystical dreamland that is Massachusetts.
That’s all, right?
Good post, I also think Romney must have been a good businessmen but that doesn’t mean he is cut out to be President. Also some of the things Romney said have been reminiscent of an 80s politician and I believe the American President should be a bit more innovative and forward thinking – new ways to solve problems, not old ways to keep problems.
I also couldn’t agree more in regards to the next federal election in Australia. I too live in a safe Liberal seat so my vote in the lower house doesn’t make the slightest impact but I can’t help but think I want to do a donkey vote or something because neither major party and their leaders inspire me/ give me faith in their ability to run a country.
Many are saying that’s the biggest problem: that the businessman/manager doth not maketh the President.
Romney does have that kind of Reaganesque blind ambition. He’s the only leader in the Western world not thinking at all about issues like climate. He has little to no real solution re: the middle east. I’m really not quite sure how he’s managed to make it this far, but I suspect it has to do with being marginally better than the rest of the useless options.
The Aus election will be interesting. Nobody particularly likes either party leader, from what I can tell, so it’s almost going ot be a matter of voting against the person you like least. I agree about the donkey vote, and that pains me because I genuinely believe in voting. Bloody Australia. Bloody America.