A few words on the US elections

At time of writing Barack Obama is leading his Republican rival, John McCain, by 3 points in the latest polls in the US presidential race. Another huge boost (if any were needed!) for Obama was the revelation, over the weekend, that former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell will vote Democrat in this year’s election. It seems that for the first time in American history a black man will be moving into the White House, and that’s not as a Janitor.

Unusually for an Irishman, I’m not all that interested in US politics. Americans are it seems expression first and thought second. Maybe the ‘American Dream’ does a lot for people. Not my bag I’m afraid. It is the extremities and uncaring approach of the people that repels me from any fawning affection; furthermore it’s a place in which I would never consider going to: the prevalence of guns, the religious fundamentalists, the lack of respect for human rights and the arrogant approach to wealth over services I could go on….

Yet I am not anti-American, just glad not to reside there. In those respects, admittedly, out of step with most Irish people. We after all helped to build the US and Ireland has always had cordial relations with that country. I would not seek to change that fact despite ‘Rendition’, Guantanamo Bay, and the obvious shortcomings of the current administration. They have a very autocratic president at the moment and that will, almost certainly, change next January when the new president (of whatever party) is inaugurated. Even though no lover of the ‘American Dream’ I know that to ignore the US would be a mistake. My interest is minor; everyone knows that the world’s affairs are dominated by decisions made in Washington.

In so far as US politics goes it is human rights that interest me most and America’s attitudes towards them. There was a seminar in central Dublin recently, organised by Amnesty International, and I was struck by the lack of humanity in the US with regard to the death penalty (illegal in Ireland, a country with an economy a fraction the size of the US). We were told of the difficulties faced by black people if they are convicted for serious offences. Even if, years later, these people are acquitted, for offences that they didn’t commit, there are no forms of rehabilitation to help them return to society. If they are able to leave prison they have nothing to go back to (I’m reminded here of the film Shawshank Redemption, featuring the wonderful Morgan Freeman).

I was shocked by the US system – not everything is apple pie and cola. So whilst even though America has a fantastic reputation in terms of entertainment (Hollywood, Rock ‘n’ Roll etc) there are major flaws in society that everyone, both inside and outside the great nation, needs to be aware of.

Paying attention to the media, it is becoming increasingly clear that Mr Obama is on course to be the next president. If I could influence him it would be to try and change, positively, the way the US is viewed abroad due to the previous administration. Too much energy has been spent on damaging America’s relations globally. There has been a negative approach by the neo-Conservatives to US diplomacy. Indeed ‘with us or against us’ has been the battle cry from the current president and an inability to understand world affairs is something which many resent.

There should be no need for people anywhere to hate Americans and Barack Obama is well placed to, not only challenge, but to uproot anti-American sentiment across the world. For these reasons I would be happier, as a foreign observer, for Obama to be the next president of the United States. He may make the world a safer place to live in.

But what of Mr McCain? I have already made known my lack of interest and knowledge of the US electoral system, but the former Vietnam veteran may still have a chance of overcoming the odds and making it to the White House. Definitely his room for manoeuvre may have been narrowed by choosing Governor Palin of Alaska as his running mate, seems she scares a lot of people. But Senator McCain is a good-humoured, moderate Republican and, although his opponent has presidential qualities, McCain may well be the sort of fellow you could have a laugh with over a pint.

By contrast Obama is more serious in demeanour. In the end though the choice is with the American voting public. Only they can tip the balance either way. For it is they who will have to live with the consequences of who they vote into the White House when the results are announced on 4th November next. And no, I won’t be holding my breath.