A personal perspective on today’s American presidential election
In many ways, it’s helpful that despite being a resident of the USA I am not eligible to vote. That’s because my residency status as a ‘Green card’ holder does not give me such entitlement. That’s the domain of citizens, and rightly so.
The reason I find it helpful is that as a non-voter and still very much the ‘newcomer’ to this county, I view the proceedings from a different perspective; well that’s my take on things!
So here are two thoughts.
Integrity
The motivation behind Learning from Dogs came from the realisation that dogs offer mankind many lessons, especially the one of behaving with integrity. You can read more about this aspect of dogs here.
Maybe it’s a naive hope but politicians around the world must rapidly embrace the fact that without integrity in the political processes we are all lost. To underline this plea, go and read a recent essay that was introduced by Daniel Honan on The Big Think. Here’s a dip into that:
Larry Lessig: End Raging Cronyism, Save Our Republic
What’s the Big Idea?
If you are not planning to vote in the upcoming election, Larry Lessig has a good explanation why.
You, like most Americans, believe that money buys results in Congress. No matter who wins, you believe that corporate interests will still have too much power and prevent real change. You are correct in your belief that money buys results in Congress, Lessig says. However, he has a different prescription than non-participation.
What’s the Significance?
Lessig points out that .000015 percent, or 47 individuals, have given 42 percent of the Super PAC donations this election cycle. As a result of this “money election,” Lessig says a few powerful interests exert an influence that conflicts with the public good.
“… 47 individuals, have given 42 percent of the Super PAC donations this election cycle.” Just reflect on the power and influence that flows from such a distortion of fairness.
Truthfulness
My second thought is about being truthful.
The time for all our leaders, right across the world, to come together and face the reality of climate change is upon us. There is no time left to duck and weave.
Peter Sinclair of ClimateCrocks blogsite recently posted this video. Watch it and ask yourself how much longer the leader of the most powerful nation in the world can sit on the sidelines of the greatest threat to our civilisation ever seen.
Learning from Dogs 
Here in the UK, the BBC Breakfast News programme carried an item about the US election, in which numerous US citizens expressed frustration and even anger over the length, intensity, and negativity of the election campaign; and many seemed to be saying it all made them less – not more – likely to vote.
The statistics you include above are indeed a shocking indictment of the entire US political system.. As is the silence about climate change. Obama may well have been told to keep quiet about the subject because mitigation will be expensive; and is not a vote winner. However, the problem will not go away ijust because US politicians ignore it. It will just get more expensive to adapt; and the number of those able to do so will diminish.
When people stop denying the nature of reality, they will eventually become very angry about the fact that solving this problem has become more expensive because of the decades spent arguing about whether or not it exists. In the meantime, we (US and UK) need to get big money out of politics. This means putting all electoral expenditure on a statutory footing; with a fixed (and very limited) budget. If this happens in the next 4 years, it will be the only good thing to come out of this election.
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And one reflection by someone who does not even have a green card is
Spam or not spam that is the question
How many of those soliciting by email contributions to one or the other of the candidates are for real? Is there a central register? I mean some of them sound just so unreal?
Since I assume that any serious political organization would do its best efforts to bridge the divide that exists in the public opinion, instead of stoking the fires of polarization, I normally mark as spam anyone who while begging for my five dollars to save the world, describes the other candidate in terms of being an absolute sociopath.
And sometimes when I hear an “I approve this message” I just can’t believe the candidate has heard that message.
But, then again, I could be wrong in which case the US, in this respect, is just like any other Venezuela. If so, poor US and poor us!
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Thank you both. Only time will tell, both in the short-term as to whom will be the new President, and in the longer term as natural forces ‘speak’ to mankind in more and more obvious ways. Interesting times before us!
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Thanks Paul. Your post was one of many on Superstorm Sandy. Most major news agencies all credit climate change which is unusual in itself! All 24 climatic indicators point to the new norm of more severe storms. One thing that we should strive for governmental action on besides CO2 emissions is to not allow rebuilding on the coastlines. With 25 to 35 Billion dollars estimated in damages not counting loss of business revenues the insurance companies and the government will be paying out huge sums for many years to help rebuild infrastructure! Sadly a cost we will have to bear for some time as these storms continue to increase in magnitude…Rob
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Thanks Rob, your comment much appreciated. I truly hope that whoever ends up leading this fine Nation that he will recognise Hurricane Sandy as an urgent call to action. But not holding my breath on that. 😉
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