[–] mcdowell_ag 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I grew up reading American Science Fiction in N. Ireland during the troubles, about the time when Reagan was just taking over from Carter. It seemed clear that the Americans had this "E Pluribus Unum" stuff working much better for them and that we hadn't a clue (although I was well aware that the troubles were partly funded by Irish American romantics who would have thrown up on the spot if they'd seen first hand what their money was paying for). I would have voted for George W. Bush the first time, but was not at all impressed with his presidency. I have been very impressed by Obama, but I am not at all impressed with the current slate of candidates contending for either party.
So yeah - what you do goes round the world, and sometimes it's incredibly impressive, but sometimes even some of your bigger fans (like me) are appalled at what seems to be a godawfull mess, and can only hope that, in the words of Churchill, "The Americans will always do the right thing... after they've exhausted all the alternatives."
[–] crazy_eyes ago (edited ago)
What about Obama has impressed you?
He's not been very impressive from the perspective of inside the country
[–] mcdowell_ag 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
The UK is very proud of its National Health System and my parents are old enough to remember a time before that and are great fans of it (I especially remember my Dad pointing out to me all the wonderful care he was getting for free, just after being told that the terminal cancer his Doctor had failed to diagnose had just destroyed his lower spine). So Obamacare looks like a great achievement from here. Even putting aside whether it was worth doing, my view of Obama vs Hilary as capable politicians is heavily influenced by the fact that Obama did what Hilary failed to do, because she made too many enemies.
Coming after George W Bush almost anybody would look good (let's face it, that got Obama his Nobel Prize) but Obama always appears calm, collected, and capable of giving a reasonable explanation what he is doing and why. And if he hasn't done the equivalent of tearing down the Berlin Wall, the Obama Doctrine of "Don't do stupid shit" is pretty reassuring for the rest of the world.
For those who want a tough guy in times of crisis, I refer you to the "Obama as Michael Corleone" view of Bin Laden's killing e.g. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/opinion/04dowd.html?ref=maureendowd&_r=0). I was also impressed by the picture at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Osama_bin_Laden#Killing_of_bin_Laden - look where he's sitting. This is a President who lets the military get stuff done without micromanaging and without needing to stand up every five minutes and tell everybody he's a winner.
[–] Citizen_Bongo ago
In the UK we pay far more attention to U.S politics than to any over nation, people here are far more likely to talk about it. Had a conversation with my friends about it the other day, on two separate occasions.
America is the global super power, it's relevant to us because they are so involved with world events. Also U.S politics seems eccentric to U.S, the electoral college encourages flash candidates who grab headlines. In our parties the leaders are decided in far more internal elections, so more mundane people with establishment ties tend to get the role, and when they don't they are still pretty mundane individuals.
Since we only see media reports and those are so wildly inaccurate, if not half truths, people are generally quite misinformed. They have no real incentive or inclination to look further, they see all the Trump is like Hitler stuff. Looking into it I think he's probably more like Theodore Roosevelt, which still has it's problems sure...
[–] mcdowell_ag ago
If we're going to criticize the US for Trump, we really should warn them that we have this guy Corbyn, the party leader who was decided in something which I guess is pretty close to the US primary process.
[–] un_salamandre 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I feel I need to stop caring so much about americal politics, part because it's just a huge shitshow, part because I have no real impact. I should focus on my country. The only problem is that the internet flows through america, so I have to be at least somewhat concerned about the NSA, etc.
[–] RayLomas 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I'm from EU, and I pay quite a lot of attention. The next election is actually important - I'm aware that Trump will probably be slightly better for American economy, but, if he tries to switch to a more isolationist international policy, it's a bad news for Europe (considering recent Putin's behaviour and increasing strength of China).
Also social trends that start to spread in the US, will sooner or later come to Europe. And that's worrisome too.
[–] Monsantos_Schlong 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Don't forget that Trump wants the US to be best buddies with Russia
[–] escapefromredditbay 1 point 5 points 6 points (+6|-1) ago
we would like to not have to pay attention but, your shit has a way of affecting our shit and were very fucking annoyed by this
[–] Olisonera 0 points 7 points 7 points (+7|-0) ago
In Australia we do mostly because, as it was previously mentioned, the media likes to tell us all about it. They even broadcast your elections as they happen. Most of us don't actually understand how your political system works, though. I don't either, tbh. Our own is confusing enough.
What I don't get is why y'alls are even entertaining the thought of electing another businessman to be president... Have you already forgotten what George W Bush did to the world?
[–] Rusted_Cervix 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Both Bush's were businessmen long before they were presidents.
[–] CONGLOM-O 0 points 7 points 7 points (+7|-0) ago
We Americans have the attention span of a 4 year old. Every problem is the result of the current administration as if the last one in office wasn't even in office. And the funny thing is the same things happen whether a Democrat or Republican is in office. It doesn't matter because both parties work for the same people and it isn't us commoners.
[–] 4419195? 0 points 12 points 12 points (+12|-0) ago
In Australia we pay attention because the US is one of our biggest allies, but for the most part the US is the punchline is a joke. Sorry to say but your country doesn't have the best reputation. And yes, that's coming from someone who lives in an actual former penal colony but hey, at least we were founded by honest criminals and not religious fucking nutters.
[–] thefloodcontrol ago (edited ago)
I care as a Canadian because it effects me. If my countries politicians were not such spineless faggots I wouldn't have to follow as much.