Tuned in to the US Elections?

The other day one of the readers of this blog reminded me that I have international readers who aren't that into American politics. Make that interested in or involved with. Fair enough. I'm from a smallish island nation (Britain) that was very self-involved, so I think a degree of tunnel vision probably goes with the territory of being human. We all tend to think ourselves the center of the universe and try to make the appropriate arguments ("But because it's so economically huge (substitute whatever measure you wish), the US HAS to be the center"). Ain't necessarily so, as the song goes.

All this leads me to an interesting question: if at this time and place, the rest of the world isn't much interested in US politics, is this a good thing or not?

Right now, the US is undergoing a raging battle for its national soul. Everyone is unhappy in one way or another and, according to a Japanese proverb, when elephants dance, the grass beneath them suffers. This is not to say the rest of us are the grass, but it does imply that the clash of large forces tends to create chaos as it happens.

Chaos is what's happening in the US and no one here can relax until this clash somehow finds resolution. For that reason,I do believe this is something that the rest of the world needs to watch. Let me explain--in my own prejudiced words and views--why I say this.

There are at least three sides to the clashes occurring in this country.

One is a so-called Tea Party that claims a pedigree stretching back to the founding of the country. According to the polls, this is the party of the previously empowered (older white males) who see the emergence of new elements (minorities, non-Christians) and they don't like it. It's a rebellious group that is proving itself rather incompetent in selecting respectable candidates (they're shooting off their mouths in crazy ways). It's hard to be credible when all you want to say is either no or to hell with it. Unfortunately (and take note here, World) these are the kind of people who once in power are likely to send in troops to places with orders to kick butt.

These people are closely linked with corporate interests because the party advocates little to no government (for other people, of course, as they have no intention of giving up their government pensions). Corporations love smaller government as it means less regulation on their ability to make money. For the rest of us, and the rest of the World, it means if the conservative Republicans, of which the tea party is part, get into power, we can be once again at the mercy of these unregulated corporations--as we were before with the global financial meltdown. If the Republican party (and these tea baggers) get back in, we can look forward to more of same. If that happens, I'll be looking for a remote patch of land to live on and grow my own food.

Opposed to them are the so-called liberals, who traditionally have supported unions and social programs. Corporations are seldom found in this group, for obvious reasons--they are asked to pay for the programs, which cuts into their profits. The liberals are usually called "bleeding hearts" by the conservatives, because they favor universal health care, free public education, and support for the elderly and infirm. Conservatives want all support to come through churches (probably with a good dose of evangelical prosletyzing and judging who's really worthy of help along with the care packages).

Somewhere in the middle, opposing both sides, are what are generally called moderates who try to weave their way through the mess of ideology created by the other two. This moderate group tries to be practical about the nation's future, favoring steady as she goes over (1) an angry, judgmental godhead who wants people to suffer if they don't plan for their futures and (2)a nation committed to "social justice" (hence labeled socialist) for groups that the conservatives don't like (homosexuals, minorities, illegals). All many people know about socialism over here is that they don't like it.

So, yes, rest of World, I'd keep an eye on what happens next election here. It could very well determine US foreign policy. It could also happen in your own country if you have corporations that can buy lobbyists and legislators, as they have in ours.

So, as I say--this is not just a political election, it is an election about what kind of USA there will be in the future and how it will react to the rest of the World. This election, World, I'd stay tuned if I were you.

Ranging ag