UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE

10 Responses to UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE

1. David Johnson says:

   November 1, 2004 at 15:52

   “Perhaps because I am a Canadian, and a liberal, I am reluctant to believe American voters have been either brainwashed or ‘dumbed down’ to the point they are consciously voting for someone who is clearly working against the interest of the majority (the 96% who are worse off now, by every imaginable measure, than they were four years ago).”But they are dumbed down. I am sure you watch American news channels from time to time. It is sad how little they delve into the issues and how little they really talk about how each candidates plans (if they even have one) would affect the average joe. If you watch CNN after watching CBC and BBC you feel like you are in a completely different world.On American news channels no one talks about how the United States is losing the war of hearts and minds in Iraq, and more importantly that they are losing that war to Iran. No one discusses how this might affect the balance of power in the middle east and thus the long-term supply of energy.No one discusses how American foreign policy in the middle east, and in particular with respect to Israel, is a key reason why the Bin Ladens of the world come to hate the United States. No one discusses the pros and cons of being so stongly pro-Israel. Americans don’t know why bin Laden does what he does. They all assume that he and his fellow terrorists are simply “thugs and assassins” with a horrific hobby. No one mentions that they guys actually are fighting for a cause.You hear about the huge deficits but no one really discusses its impact. The average person can’t get their head around what $500 billion really is but there is little or no attempt to explain the burden it puts on future generations let alone foreign confidence in the current U.S. economy.You hear a bunch of health care plans with one side saying we can provide health care for not too much expense and the other side calling them liars and saying it will force them to dramatically increase taxes. Butno one ever discusses that by lifting the burden of health care off corporations that corporations will actually have more money to create jobs. No one ever considers that providing health care benefits is really just another expense, just like taxes are. No one ever considers that Canada’s public health care system is actually a competitive advantage for Canadian businesses.None of that is ever really discussed either in or outside of election season, either by politicans or by the media. I am sure some of this is going on behind the scenes but until it is brought out into the open, American voters will continue to be ‘dumbed down’.”People vote for the ‘mascot’ that they feel best represents the full set of their beliefs.”Maybe they do that because of what I said above. There isn’t much else to judge them by. And say what you will about Bush, he can, with confidence and poise, speak lies and half truthes.
2. lafave says:

   November 1, 2004 at 17:51

   I think more Americans are starting to wake up..True, there are some that refuse to see the truth & ignore facts..I think they are scared so they want to believe Fox,etc..But many more are angry & tired & want answers & change..Hopefully this will prove true tomorrow..!!
3. mgolby@mweb.co.za says:

   November 2, 2004 at 03:04

   Proportional representation has worked well in South Africa and, were we to adopt the checks and balances of PR-STV, it would work better still. Many bleat, but most whiners choose to forget the gerrymandering evils of the old, whites-only Westminster system. That the U.S. refuses to learn from the party financing and appointment policies of new democracies, etc. casts some doubt on the motives of those administering the process. Americans might also find reverting to marking a paper ballot with a pen not only gives them a reliable paper trail, but a far keener sense of meaningful participation.I stubbornly refuse to believe, despite evidence to the contrary, that Americans are dumber than you or me. Enright’s not far off the mark speculating that people vote for the mascot best representing their set of beliefs. I believe, however, it’s even closer to the bone than that. People vote for their perception of themselves. Bush’s continuing popularity and the blunt refusal of many to face realities as in-your-face as they can hope for, indicate many Americans want a president reflecting their personal,
4. David Johnson says:

   November 2, 2004 at 06:55

   “That the U.S. refuses to learn from the party financing and appointment policies of new democracies, etc. casts some doubt on the motives of those administering the process. Americans might also find reverting to marking a paper ballot with a pen not only gives them a reliable paper trail, but a far keener sense of meaningful participation.”The problem is, Americans are constantly told that they live in the best country in the world and that they can do no wrong. I saw an interview with a Pennsylvania politician. He was a democrat and was addressing charges by the republicans that democrats are illegally signing up fictional voters. His response, to paraphrase, was that he would never do that and would never do anything illegal to hurt this great and unique democracy. He actually used the word “unique” and as a Canadian I was offended because he came across as saying that only in the United States is there true democracy and everywhere else is substandard. And this thought process is not unique and I think Americans get the idea that they do have the best system so I think they would be extremely resistant to any major changes.Americans are, in general, a very sheltered society. Their news from outside the United States is very filtered. I was talking to one American who thought medical drugs in the United States were so expensive only the United States does and drug research and all other countries steal the patents and develop cheap drugs. It is scary when you realize how sheltered from the outside world some Americans really are.I think it is great that they are proud of their country (they should be, they have done a lot of good in the world) but I just wish they would get a more realistic view of things and understand that even the United States isn’t perfect at everything and even on occassion they are wrong.
5. feith says:

   November 2, 2004 at 09:11

   Having lived there, I have to agree with this statement: Americans are, in general, a very sheltered society. Their news from outside the United States is very filtered. I was talking to one American who thought medical drugs in the United States were so expensive only the United States does and drug research and all other countries steal the patents and develop cheap drugs. It is scary when you realize how sheltered from the outside world some Americans really are.They really think like that. Those who aren’t inclined to do their own research, to discover for themselves what’s really going on, are accepting the mush fed to them by mainstream media, which is not telling them what they need to know to participate in their government.It’s pretty terrifying.Feith
6. Dave Pollard says:

   November 2, 2004 at 11:18

   David: You’re right, but it’s amazing how people are able to get information even when the information systems (mainstream media) don’t provide it. I think that’s why blogs have been such a phenomenon in countries with limited access to information — China, Iran, and yes, the US. Even countries that shut down information entirely, like the USSR did, developed mechanisms to get the real news by underground ‘technologies’. As McLuhan said, “information is always trying to be free”. Mike: Very perceptive. Thanks.Feith: Absolutely right — the sense that many Americans have that they are the best in the world at everything is even more dangerous than their fragile, corrupt and undemocratic political systems. When you think you have all the answers, you become blind to other ideas and viewpoints and ways of doing things. In short, you stop learning.
7. Joe says:

   November 2, 2004 at 17:24

   http://nationaljournal.com/taylor.htmThe above article gives a very insightful analysis of the US.As to the comments about the USA being sheltered, it is also a very large country – and the sheer size tends to inwardness. I find the comments about Americans as dumbed down not entirely accurate – the US is so big you can find large numbers of whatever you are looking for. There are lots and lots of idiots but also lots of brilliant people. As a Canadian I take issue with the CBC and BBC are so much better than American news – they are different. Different does not always imply better or worse. As to the article above, the US press seems to have split into two, and there is no trust in basic facts. This is a huge problem. Huge.Both sides do not trust the facts as discussed by anotherAny sort of discusion requires basic facts to be understood by both sides – and it is difficult having a discussion with someone who has a different reality. Joe
8. Rebecca says:

   November 2, 2004 at 23:00

   I was very optimistic that Kerry would win this election by something more than a squeak. I knew there would be big pockets of red around the country but really believed that most people could see just how important it is that we as a country get back in tune with the rest of the world. Now, though the election is not quite yet decided, I am despondent. I can’t believe that Bush might indeed be our president again. Over the past few months I have been able to laugh at his face on the TV rather than scowl because I was so sure he was going to be gone. Tonight I saw his smirking face and my stomach just turned.There was an excellent interview on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross today. T.R.Reid was interviewed about his book “The United States of Europe” and had a lot of interesting points about the difference between European and US outlooks on politics, such as the huge difference in the importance of religion in society (too important in the US), the abhorrence of the death penalty in Europe, and the treatment of drug use there as a healthcare issue rather than a criminal one . His major point is that the European Union is becoming more of a “superpower” and for that I am utterly thankful. Though the continued degradation of the United States will undoubtedly be difficult for the little people in terms of personal economics, healthcare, education, and probably further terrorism, I think in the long run a less powerful US is crucial for a peaceful world.I’ve heard the word ‘revolution’ more often than usual in recent months, people’s reaction to the idea of Bush getting elected. But the feeling of being trapped in the existing system is so strong and widespread, even a motivated optimistic person like me feels trapped in this powerbroker system that has evolved. Revolution seems a long impossible way off. Democracy is the mantra, but capitalism is the practice. We are being robbed of our country and given material possessions as a replacementand most people accept it. It kills me to think about it.The one bright spot was the landslide election of Barack Obama. Finally, a minority representative in the Senate.
9. Michael Foley says:

   November 3, 2004 at 04:39

   I’m despondent,too. Yesterday, I came away buoyed from the “fiesta civica” of my polling place. No one had ever seen such crowds. Turnout, to my mind, meant the end of George Bush, because every poll for the last 30 years has shown that Americans don’t buy into his issues and so-called values. But, unless fraud and intimidation did it, turnout hasn’t proved enough. If we take the current numbers seriously, it looks like a majority of Americans bought into this guy.That makes the question of why, why it is so easy to fool so many Americans, especially pressing. The mascot theory just doesn’t cut it because it begs the question: why do Americans have such bad taste in “mascots”? The theory that people’s votes capture their uncertainty — and their determination, in a seeming majority of cases, to stick their heads in the sand — has some ring of truth to it. But we’re still left with wondering how people could bring themselves to do buy this smirking, tinhorn politician.Not only don’t I have an answer, I’m not sure what the next step is. “Organize!” is my standard answer, but we’ve done a lot of organizing over the last four years, and here we are. I’m left with that mantra of what Lenin called “left-wing infantilism:” “the worse the better.” Once it’s bad enough [how bad does it have to get?], maybe people will wake up.
10. Jon Husband says:

    November 3, 2004 at 07:57

    It’s the day after, and I second all of the above (except fo the porn spam), and would addAi yi yi … duck often and stay close to the ground.

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