The world votes!

[withing]

The Economist has a set up a world poll to see who other countries would vote for between Obama and McCain. Not may votes are in at this time, but so far, Obama the favored of Economist readers with internet access around the world.

[crazynotstupid]

Of COURSE other countries are gonna vote for Obama.

Who cares. What they want in our leader doesn't matter. Other countries' citizens need to keep their noses out of our politics.

[MiaB]

Other countries' citizens need to keep their noses out of our politics.

That's incredibly short-sighted, given the power that the US wields and the impact that what happens there has on the rest of the world. And by the same token YOUR country should keep ITS nose out of OUR politics.

[lottacrazy]

We are NOT ready for Obama...and this has nothng to do with race...his ideas are not what we need, and dropping out of Iraq would be a huge mistake...we are there for a reason, and unless we want another attack we need to gain control over there, which hasnt happened yet.

And I do have a brother in the army that is being sent over in January so I know what it is like to have a loved on going in to harms way...we need the military over there...the terrorist are plotting right now and the military can stop them before they make their move

And we need to keep our nose out of other countries crap as much as they need to stay out of ours...BUT right now these are troubling times and the whole world is on Alarm, so I can understand why other countries have interest and McCain is our best bet right now.

[isis]

Other countries' citizens need to keep their noses out of our politics.

That's incredibly short-sighted, given the power that the US wields and the impact that what happens there has on the rest of the world. And by the same token YOUR country should keep ITS nose out of OUR politics.

i agree.

an outsider's perspective is valuable. not affected by all the hype, advertising and insignificant bickering.

i also believe other countries' media is less ridiculous. Our international news is more objective and less biased.

I'm not anti-american - half my family lives there, and i'll be able to vote when i'm 21.

I think the rest of the world is hoping for change - even if americans are not.

[withing]

I'm not sure why it's a given that other countries would vote for Obama, but I agree that with miab and berry that we Americans should see how the world feels. It's not going to change my vote, but really, I'm interested in knowing what the rest of the world feels and why.

I don't think that everyone should, "keep their nose out" of other country's business to the extent that we're not *curious*. After all, the United State is a major world player, and our politics (like it or not) have a huge influence on world affairs. Of course they'd like to see who's going to be in office. I'm sure we're not hotly debated in the pubs all over the world, but I'm sure it's of interest here and there.

[MiaB]

I'm sure it's of interest here and there.

As far as my own country (South Africa) goes, I can assure you that it's more than just here and there. The progress of your presidential race is being followed in newspapers, on local news websites, and my family and friends and I speak often about it all. This is despite the massive political crisis we're in ourselves. One thing the US should never do is underestimate the very far reaching ripple effects of decisions that are made there.

[withing]

I'm sure it's of interest here and there.

As far as my own country (South Africa) goes, I can assure you that it's more than just here and there. The progress of your presidential race is being followed in newspapers, on local news websites, and my family and friends and I speak often about it all. This is despite the massive political crisis we're in ourselves. One thing the US should never do is underestimate the very far reaching ripple effects of decisions that are made there.

See, that's interesting because I've seen some people here chided by international visitors for assuming (and saying) that we're so important, but now you're saying that we are that far reaching. I dunno, I'm always middle of the road. Of course the important stuff, like presidential elections, are going to be important, but some Americans seem to think that "All Things American" are oh-so-important to the rest of the world.

[lysergia]

See, that's interesting because I've seen some people here chided by international visitors for assuming (and saying) that we're so important, but now you're saying that we are that far reaching. I dunno, I'm always middle of the road. Of course the important stuff, like presidential elections, are going to be important, but some Americans seem to think that "All Things American" are oh-so-important to the rest of the world.

good point. living in the subcategory "rest of the world" means we do get annoyed by the cultural self-centredness of the US (in general, not always true of the individual of course). we get annoyed, though, because the US is indeed so powerful that we CAN'T ignore y'all whether we want to or not. and you get to ignore us (us again being the "rest of the world"). without a lot of impact on your individual lives. it doesn't mean we hate you. it means we are jealous of your privilege, so we get bitter and resentful.

being canadian means that i can't ignore America, because you already own most everything we have, and what's left, NAFTA has promised to you when you run out of yours (that was our prime minister's fuckup as much as it was a shady offer of a "trade agreement"). i can't turn on the television or radio or buy a magazine or go shopping for absolutely anything from food to forklifts without being told that it came from the US, and boy aren't we lucky, because all this cool shit certainly couldn't be made here... we're too poor or something.

oh wait no, we sell everything to you because apparently someone makes more money that way? that couldn't be.

it only matters how the world sees you if you actually care. when you're on top of the heap, and have your heels dug in so hard they'll need an entire revolution to pull 'em out, you don't really need to pay attention to what anybody else wants to see you do in an election. unless you're scared someone else might get mad enough to do something about it if they don't like what you did in that election. nah, that never happens to superpowers. that's why they're called super. everybody loves 'em.

i'm cranky (you think?) because i hear more about your upcoming election than ours, that's all. because America owns our media. shut up now lysergia.

this is interesting though patheral, thanks.

edited because i can no longer spell

[MiaB]

thanks lysergia, you said it very well. Especially this:

good point. living in the subcategory "rest of the world" means we do get annoyed by the cultural self-centredness of the US (in general, not always true of the individual of course). we get annoyed, though, because the US is indeed so powerful that we CAN'T ignore y'all whether we want to or not.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

[celestia]

thanks lysergia, you said it very well. Especially this:

good point. living in the subcategory "rest of the world" means we do get annoyed by the cultural self-centredness of the US (in general, not always true of the individual of course). we get annoyed, though, because the US is indeed so powerful that we CAN'T ignore y'all whether we want to or not.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Jesus, I am American and I get sick of America's cultural self-centeredness. This does not make me un-patriotic.

i can't turn on the television or radio or buy a magazine or go shopping for absolutely anything from food to forklifts without being told that it came from the US, and boy aren't we lucky, because all this cool shit certainly couldn't be made here... we're too poor or something.

And most of the crap I buy says, "made in ________(China, Taiwan, Mexico, et al."). Go figure.

[withing]

I want to point out that *I* certainly never told the rest of the world to pay attention to the United States. I am thrilled with the fact that everyone else *seems* interested in our presidential race, but I really never thought it was a forgone conclusion that they *would* be. That's why I found the Economist poll so interesting.

Also, I don't think of "the rest of the world" as a sub-category. I mean really, in any conversation there is always going to be an "us" and a "them" no matter what I'm speaking of. The "us" being whatever group I'm a member of and the "them" being whoever isn't in that group... be it MI/normals, women/men, political categories, ethnicity, nationalities, or whatever - so no offense intended, okay?

[isis]

thanks lysergia, you said it very well. Especially this:

good point. living in the subcategory "rest of the world" means we do get annoyed by the cultural self-centredness of the US (in general, not always true of the individual of course). we get annoyed, though, because the US is indeed so powerful that we CAN'T ignore y'all whether we want to or not.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

i agree.

[MiaB]

so no offense intended, okay?

Fair enough - actually, it was what CNS said that I took offence to, not your post. I appreciated that you expressed interest in an article that spoke about the rest of the world. I think this is just such a touchy area for everyone, both in and outside the US.

[crazynotstupid]

Other countries' citizens need to keep their noses out of our politics.

That's incredibly short-sighted, given the power that the US wields and the impact that what happens there has on the rest of the world. And by the same token YOUR country should keep ITS nose out of OUR politics.

I'm never short sighted. That's a stupid, insulting thing to say, thinking that I haven't thought through my little statement.

I wasn't talking countries keeping their noses out of others' politics, duuuuuh. I was talking other countries' citizens. I don't stick my nose in your Goddamn politics so you keep your nose out of mine and fob the fuck off.

[isis]

and... where is a country without its citizens?

perhaps the US government doesn't need its people.... i'm pretty sure other countries' governments do.

I'm never short sighted.

and wouldn't that, in itself, be somewhat short sighted?

[crazynotstupid]

and... where is a country without its citizens?

perhaps the US government doesn't need its people.... i'm pretty sure other countries' governments do.

A country without its citizens...is a lot like North Korea, I expect.

But that has absolutely nothing to do with what I said. Stick with the subject at hand, don't head off on some weird tangent.

I love it when people make up arguments out of thin air, cuz then you can't debate them and...they're always right! (to themselves anyways)

[lysergia]

I want to point out that *I* certainly never told the rest of the world to pay attention to the United States. I am thrilled with the fact that everyone else *seems* interested in our presidential race, but I really never thought it was a forgone conclusion that they *would* be. That's why I found the Economist poll so interesting.

Also, I don't think of "the rest of the world" as a sub-category. I mean really, in any conversation there is always going to be an "us" and a "them" no matter what I'm speaking of. The "us" being whatever group I'm a member of and the "them" being whoever isn't in that group... be it MI/normals, women/men, political categories, ethnicity, nationalities, or whatever - so no offense intended, okay?

patheral i'm sorry, that came off like i was irritated with you when i really wasn't at all. that's my bad, i can see why you'd think that. i tend to pull out the stronger words for stuff like this. canadians have a complex about our inferiority, don't you know?

(that tired old joke is actually true)

i actually think it is just about a foregone conclusion that the rest of the world is watching closely. nobody american would be self-centred for thinking that, because it's true. (the self-centredness would only be foolish if one thinks the world HAS to watch because we're all in awe of the process of freedom-keeping.) i guess maybe some of the reasons why we're all watching so closely get lost in translation.

it's foregone for us because we're right next door. the majority of our news comes from american news programs, not canadian. i'm pretty sure it isn't as overwhelming if there's an ocean in between. it's like we as a people almost forget at times that we aren't your northernmost state (yes we go further north than alaska, that's not russia Palin sees from her house hehe). because everything that happens in america ripples over here. you slash health care budgets, we have to also. american corporations sometimes fail and pull out of buying our services, or employing our people, or producing american products, leaving huge holes in our own economy. the face of the latest american diva to become an addict is burned into our brains just like yours (get her out! get her out!). the world gets mad at you politically, and our dollar goes up a bazillion points (oh wait, we LIKED it when that happened!). america wants to stay in iraq, so we stay in iraq. america is our bigger, stronger, older brother whom we need but can't stand because he won't stop giving us noogies and stealing our lunch when we aren't looking. but we don't want him to go away because he owns the playstation and without him we'd have nothing to do . and besides that, what would we do if the bully from across town came to beat us up?

(well really that's what it boils down to)

i know you personally didn't mean "us and them" in an exclusive sense, i'm sorry my post sounded like i did think that. when listening to something like fox news, stories do have an "us" and "the rest of the world" feel, presented in such a way that the "rest of the world" just means one big backwards country that isn't democratically capitalist enough yet. i never see any stories that say "wow look at what this country does, that's amazing, we should do that too". canadians are neurotic, so we constantly compare our political behaviour to the rest of the world, and often end up deciding we got it wrong (not that we do anything about it necessarily. but it gives us something else to complain about). so we get kinda baffled in the face of a population that doesn't do that quite so loudly.

i don't know if i am being any less prickly... i'm really not meaning to be. i'm trying to illustrate some of what it's like being on the outside looking in, but my mouth is full of bitter marbles

[graduation day]

I'm not sure why it's a given that other countries would vote for Obama, but I agree that with miab and berry that we Americans should see how the world feels. It's not going to change my vote, but really, I'm interested in knowing what the rest of the world feels and why.

I don't think that everyone should, "keep their nose out" of other country's business to the extent that we're not *curious*. After all, the United State is a major world player, and our politics (like it or not) have a huge influence on world affairs. Of course they'd like to see who's going to be in office. I'm sure we're not hotly debated in the pubs all over the world, but I'm sure it's of interest here and there.

I must say I agree. Personally, I am very interested in the American elections and I believe it affects us Europeans a great deal - economically and culturally. I'm not surprised the rest of the world is watching the American elections - what surprises me is that America is not watching the rest of the world as they vote.