06 November 2008

USA - it IS the man in the mirror

So a majority of those who voted want change.

Really?

Why do you think that one man, with a lot of power, is going to make that change? You do not live in North Korea, where everyone is taught they owe everything to one man and his son. You live in a country where life is what YOU make it.

If you want to change your community, you do something about it. Use YOUR money, your time, why do you think the Federal Government would be more effective?

If you want everyone to have health care, what are YOU doing about it? Why don't you sponsor another family to have health insurance, or is it better for the Federal Government to force you to do it?

If you want to be better off, what are YOU doing about it? Retraining? Are you looking for new opportunities?

Is the Federal Government in your way, or does it help you? Most of think it will help you, most of you probably didn't think how in order for it to give, it must take away.

So as much as I am loathe to quote Michael Jackson it IS about the man (and woman) in the mirror.

If you're worried about global warming, drive less, use less electricity, fly less. You can choose to do that. If you're worried about people less fortunate than yourself, give them money, work for a charity, do something direct - voting is possibly the most useless thing you can do.

The Federal Government can change a lot - it can spend more of your money, it can withdraw from the world, it can cease to give a damn about what happens in other countries. However if you want your life to change, it's up to you - if you spend your life worshipping the idea that someone else is your saviour, then don't be surprised when nothing changes the way you want it. Because you handed him the power to change.

05 November 2008

Castro on US elections

Castro writes in the official Cuban state newspaper (there is no other kind) Granma about how he prefers Obama.

Interesting to wonder why he thinks it is ok for Americans to get to choose their President, but he has always denied Cubans that same right.

Obama's victory speech

His groupies in rapture, he talked of family, thanked McCain for his concession. He talked of the campaign made of millions who helped him get elected. It is "their victory".

He talked of a "planet in peril"
He talks of harnessing new energy, building new schools, alliances to repair.
"We will get there" (wherever that is).
The government can't solve every problem
Need a new spirit of service and sacrifice.
Republican Party believed in individual liberty, values we all share.
New dawn of American leadership is at hand.
Those who seek peace and security we support you.
Those who seek to tear down the world we will defeat you.
Our Union can be perfected.
Unyielding hope.

It all sounded nice, he sounds inspiring.

However, what does it really mean?

"Hi, I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

and people believe it.

Other US results

Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr came fourth, with 347,161 votes at 0438 GMT
Ralph Nader third with 421,978 votes.

Other states?
Arizona - McCain 10 electoral votes
South Dakota - McCain 3 electoral votes
Nebraska - proportional McCain 3, Obama 2
Colorado - Obama 9 electoral votes (a change from 2004)
Florida - Obama 27 electoral votes (a change from 2004)
Nevada - Obama 5 electoral votes (a change from 2004)
Hawaii - Obama 4 electoral votes

338 Obama to 155 McCain

A convincing win for Obama.

Ballot measures:
Arizona - Ban on gay marriage - 56% yes (74% counted)
Arizona - Ban on hiring illegal immigrants - 60% no (74% counted)
Colorado - Human life from moment of conception - 74% no (37% counted)
Maryland - Allow video lottery - 59% yes (67% counted)
Massachusetts - Repeal state income tax - 69% no (79% counted)
Michigan - Allow medical marijuana - 63% yes (50% counted)
Nebraska - End affirmative action - 57% yes (55% counted)

So what now USA?

Barack Obama is President elect. He has been elected on a wave of enthusiasm by young people, African Americans and people hyped up on a campaign of slogans and promises of a better future.

It is difficult to belittle how important Obama's success is to many African Americans who lived through appalling bigotry only a generation ago. If they now feel they can participate in the political process, that may well be nothing other than a good thing. Accusations that the USA does not have a system that offers opportunity can be put to one side.

However Obama has promised much, on the basis that government can deliver economic recovery, jobs, health care and a better society. He has promised cheap energy, he has promised a new foreign policy that makes friends abroad.

Now he will be expected to deliver - with a majority Democrat Congress.

Will he discover how hard it is to get government to deliver anything? Will his supporters learn that relying on government to save them is a lost cause?

Hopes have been raised high - on the basis of little more than Obama being a star. How will his groupies react when they find he can't deliver?