Wednesday 3 November 2004

4 more years...

So Kerry lost...so what ? The American people exercised their democratic right and chose their leader.

Okay, I admit I was a little despondent watching the results roll in last night. Me and my pal, Chivas Regal, were preoccupied with the state by state breakdown of votes...the map looking increasing red, punctuated by the odd blue for the Democrats.

What struck me was how polarized US society is with an increasing widening schism between northern liberals and an assorted array of coalition partners including anti-war, pro-choice types, and southern/mid-west rural conservatives - you know the types who believe Jesus would vote for Bush...(and what's with those Floridian Cuban-Americans ??) I'm still puzzled at the workings of the electoral college system...never mind, I have another 4 years to work that one out. Now, maybe if Hilary Rodham Clinton was to run for President in 2008..that might be interesting...

Okay, so right now we have another 4 years of Bush...but irrespective of Republican or Democrat:

- 9/11 would have still happened - the future 'clash of the civilizations' is still on the table

- Saudi Arabia is still on the brink of regime collapse

- Kerry's exit strategy from Iraq would be no different from Bush's (coz there is no exit strategy)

- The huge US deficit is still there, fuelled by the import-purchasing behaviour of American consumers, and subsidized by foreign investors

- US would still not ratify the Kyoto Accord on greenhouse gas emissions

- The Hollywood machine will still globally disseminate movies which venerate the cultural values of an anglo-centric imperialist empire.

So dosto, that's my political rant for the day (or year). I shall go back to my unquestioning shell and look forward to watching another superficial episode of 'Everybody Loves Raymond' tonight, as do millions of insular Americans each night.... :)

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