OH!..BAM!..AH!

After more than two years of campaigning, yesterday America finally elected a new president. I can' believe this long fight has finally come to an end, and even with the result I was hoping for. It's taken me all day to take in the realities - Obama won! What a great chance for the World! Thank you America.


I only have one regret: I wasn't there. We had the best tip ever to the US and enjoyed every single day and every single person who took the time to talk with us about values, hopes and opinions on the future of this great country, but for sure we should've stayed until the election. For some reason it wasn't quite the same to sit in Denmark and watch the election half the night. Where I really wanted to be was here ..or maybe here.

That being said, I am extremely happy that so many Americans fulfilled their civic duty and voted. According to the latest news, more than 62 % of all eligible voters exercised their right and that number is the highest in more than 40 years!

January 20th. January 20th is the day this amazing guy will be moving to that big white house, and rest assured I would sell my right arm (or maybe a kidney?) to be in DC for the official inauguration. The expectations to Obama are so sky high that I don't really know how he'll ever be able to fulfill our hopes for change. But we'll await him and the new administration with great excitement and all I can say is YES WE COULD!



/Anette

If the world could vote..

Being a European, deciding who I would vote for in the election is an easy choice. That's not to say that I don't see both good and bad sides to both candidates, but to be frank - in my mind, the choice has been made - Obama is my guy.



Of course only Americans are allowed to vote - and quite naturally, as the USA is an independent country. However, in some aspects it would be more than fair to let the rest of the world vote as well. You guys are in fact electing the most important and powerful person on the planet. American politics affect the rest of the world more than I think most Americans are aware of. Everyday we follow in horror the crashing American stockmarkets and banks, knowing that we will be next. As a matter of fact, Denmark has already, along with most European countries, experienced the consequences of the financial crises and just like most Americans we fear that we haven't seen the end to this nightmare yet.

For this reason, I have for some days been following several articles that focus on who would win the election - could the world vote. Several polls have shown that Obama has the upper hand in this election and there are several reasons for the positive attitudes towards him. Europeans see Obama as a symbol of the American dream, and hope for more collaboration across the Atlantic than has been common during the Bush years. Just like many Americans, the Europeans like the messages of hope and change.

I recently found a new initiative, which has been started by 3 guys from Iceland. Like the rest of us, they are interested in what the rest of the world think of the candidates. Their goal is 1 million votes before the election. Please take a minute to cast your vote for either candidate on: www.iftheworldcouldvote.com.

/Anette

Is America a Banana republic?

Having discussed the election with tons of people and following the election debates I find that freedom can have a lot of different meanings. Coming from Denmark it's sometimes difficult to discuss election issues because the word freedom comes in the way.

For me freedom means that I can go to the doctor whenever I want to for free. Freedom also means that my parents don't have to worry about my education, because it's free - the biggest worry is to find the right education. Freedom is receiving about 900 dollars a month in support for studying. Freedom is knowing that the government will distribute the wealth around so that - in theory - no Danish citizen would have to live on the streets. Freedom is leaving a lot of decision making to government, so I have time for other things. Freedom is receiving a voting ballot in my mailbox and not having to register.  Of course I pay a high tax to be able to enjoy this freedom - but if given a choice I would never change that.

In America spreading the wealth around is considered a terrible thing to say. McCain even used it as an attack on Obama at the last debate. People cherish their right to make every decision about their lives and thereby individualising freedom. People who have a good income can afford health care and have better chance of surviving in this world. (I can't believe that many Americans don't believe in evolution, when Darwin's theory about natural selection is built in in your perception of freedom)

I am aware of the cultural and historical differences between Denmark and the US - but still. Wouldn't it be easier to have health care and college education deleted from you expense list and to focus on other aspects of life instead?

The only reason you would say no to this is if you don't trust your government. When talking to my friend about this he said that he wouldn't want government to get more power because what might be used for good purposes under one president may be used totally different by another president. 

I began understanding this lack of trust towards the people in power and it's no wonder -  I mean if I was an American citizen I wouldn't want Bush to have more power than he has had the last eight years. 

But something is fundamentally wrong if you mistrust you government so much that you'd rather take away from the president's responsibilities and take care of them yourself. It resembles the shady governments in shady countries, where you never quite know what the government might do. 

I believe that Obama is going to change this culture of mistrust. He is saying all the right things - he seems like a listener and has earned the trust of the American people. But I understand know why some are hesitant with voting for him - there is a sense of fear installed in people.

And this fear is the fuel on the republican campaign machine. I really hope that American people have enough faith in Obama and let him show them and the world another sense of responsibility.

Like he said at the rally - I am going to be working for you! Please give him the chance.

X,

Fabijana

The last debate..

                   

Through the Obama website we had signed up for an event, which encompassed us going to the DC home of Maury Lieberman and Leslie Scalle to watch the last debate between the presidential candidates.

It turned out to be a great evening, with a variety of attendees: from the college students to the retired folks: Americans, Swedish, French and Danish

At 9 PM sharp some 40 people where seated with snacks and drinks - ready for the debate. For one and a half hour, the candidates touched upon many subjects important to the Americans



Here is what we noticed the most:

Economic plan

"The fundamentals of our economy are weak" - Obama. This was a great statement because you get the feeling that he's honest and that he won't just tell you anything to make you vote for him.

"HE WANTS TO SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND" - McCain. Coming from a pretty socialist country like Denmark it's hard even to grasp that this sentence was an attack. However, McCain continued to argue that Obama was killing "the American dream" by raising taxes for "Joe the Plumber".

(Even if you've only done a tiny bit of rhetoric you can already identify several tricks McCain is using - but it's too much)

Obama goes on talking about stuff that make sense and which we already cherish in Europe. 

- Corporate responibility

- Tax break for the middle class

- Identifying the nurse, the firefighters, the plumber and so on as the drivers of our economy

McCain got lost in talking to Joe the Plumber, offending Obama by rolling his eyes while Obama speaks and so on.

Leadership in the campaign

- Very interesting question. The candidates were asked directly if they'd admit to any negative campaigning.

McCain talked briefly and abstractly about some of his own adds and then went to attacking Obama playing the "I am so hurt by your indecency"- card, while Obama had a brilliant comeback:

"I think the people don't care about our hurt feelings" (S-C-O-R-E)

In the end of this question the candidates said something that categorised their life views. Obama was trying to round this question off by saying, we've both had negative campaigning but we can't categorise each other as bad people... McCain answered that he was VERY proud of the American people who come to their rally (and scream kill him about Obama).

One tries to unite - the other one tries to divide.

Climate Change

On energy, the candidates have quite different points of view although they agree that America needs independence from Middle Eastern and Venezuelan oil. While McCain and Palin hvae gone for the 'Drill baby, drill' tagline, as was discussed in a former contribution to this blog, Obama highlighted that Americans cannot drill themselves out of the problems.

Funny statement from McCain again when he referred to Obama as an extreme environmentalist for wanting drilling to be safe. (WTF?)

Education

A thing I loved about this debate was when Obama talked about an army of teachers, which I recognized from the politics in Copenhagen. The give and take thought. You give the teachers more pay and recognition - but you also demand higher standards.

'Joe the plumber' turned out to be the main character of the evening, and all changes to taxes, healthcare and such discussed by the candidates were put to the 'Joe the plumber test' by McCain. However, a little research shows that 'Joe the plumber' might not agree all that much with McCain.

Closing statements

McCain spent his life in service for America and he would love to get the chance to serve again (that is probably the most eloquent sentence from his side)

Obama: Yes things look bad but "I believe that our brighter days are still ahead"  Another beautiful statement was that "we need to invest in the American people" (tax cuts/midddle class, education, healthcare, energy economy)

"It's not gonna be easy and it's not gonna be quick - we have to come together and renew a spirit of sacrifice, service and responsibility" (Uniting words)

Our 'closing statements'

It was clear as mud that Obama had the upper hand at all times during this debate. He was the most eloquent, able to explain his own policies and the highest credibility. But of course we're not really McCain's target group so who's to say what sounds good in their ears.

It was so exiting to be part of this event and get a chance to talk to Americans about what they think about the election and the important subjects the candidates have to consider and respond to. American hospitality is great, and I cannot believe these people invited strangers, only connected by the trust in Obama, to their house. As Maury Lieberman said to us as we were leaving: "This is the spirit of Obama"

/Anette and Fabijana