Voters of the world...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I don't write much on politics. I have many opinions on the matter, but, well, I'm not the most eloquent with some of my arguments. I love the democratic process, and I think it's pretty cool that voting's compulsory here in Oz. So, in the last twelve months, there have been four elections that I've been quite interested in. Three in the southern hemisphere, and given lip service by the international media, and one in the northern hemisphere which the world has watched with a microscope...
The first was last November the Australian Federal Election. Australia took a step to the left and voted to support K. Rudd and his 'working families'. I voted at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, which was a truly novel experience. In the last twelve months, Kev's achieved quite a bit. He signed Kyoto within a fortnight of taking office, he's said 'Sorry' to the indigenous people of Australia for the 'Stolen Generation' and maintained his appeal to both the mortgage belt whilst still being, as Wonderwoman says, 'down with the kids'.
The second election of note was the situation in Zimbabwe. The opposition MDC narrowly beat the incumbent Xanu PF in the first round; but in the second round, amid reports of violence, kidnappings, false arrests and threats, Mugabe and Xanu PF were reported as the victors. After nearly a month. Ex-President of Sth Africa, Mbeki attempted, and failed, to facilitate a deal. The power-broking shudders and lurches 'forward'. Zim really is a nation in strife; its population are starving.
Thirdly, as most of the world is aware, on 4th November Barack Obama smoked home in the US. The laughable Sarah Palin did 'Maverick' McCain no favours in what should have been a much tighter race. America was ready for Change, and that's what Obama promises. McCain has been tarred by the brush of his exteremist colleagues, a necessity of them giving him any semblance of support. Obama has, in many ways, created new hope for Americans. Out here in Oz, there's a lot of talk about the guy; he's appears charismatic, a little unconventional, down to earth and direct. I'm more than optimistic about his role withing the global community, particularly on the back of pressing economic times. I hope that he can help to reform the US health system from it's current situation; it's absurd that a nation doesn't offer some of the most basic healthcare to all and sundry. A Change we need, indeed.
On Saturday the 8th November, as a result of the General Election, New Zealand took a leap to the right. The new National party-ACT coalition is, without a doubt, the most conservative in more than fifteen years. The centrist and leftist parties have been left out in the dark, and Ms Clark has resigned as Head of the Labour party. New Zealand, lead by mercurial Mr Key, in for a period of economic change after a well-engineered decade of social development (and, my brother tells me, near zero unemployment). As traditional 'early-adopters' of technology, this will bode well for the middle- and upper- classes, but considering the lashing the economy is currently copping from the global climate, it'll be a hard ask for those not so fortunate.
In summary, Yay K.Rudd, Boo Mugabe, Yay Obama, Boo US health system, and Hmm to NZ and the challenges it approaches. Hmm indeed. In the words of the Beastie Boys; Voters of the world.... Unite!
The first was last November the Australian Federal Election. Australia took a step to the left and voted to support K. Rudd and his 'working families'. I voted at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, which was a truly novel experience. In the last twelve months, Kev's achieved quite a bit. He signed Kyoto within a fortnight of taking office, he's said 'Sorry' to the indigenous people of Australia for the 'Stolen Generation' and maintained his appeal to both the mortgage belt whilst still being, as Wonderwoman says, 'down with the kids'.
The second election of note was the situation in Zimbabwe. The opposition MDC narrowly beat the incumbent Xanu PF in the first round; but in the second round, amid reports of violence, kidnappings, false arrests and threats, Mugabe and Xanu PF were reported as the victors. After nearly a month. Ex-President of Sth Africa, Mbeki attempted, and failed, to facilitate a deal. The power-broking shudders and lurches 'forward'. Zim really is a nation in strife; its population are starving.
Thirdly, as most of the world is aware, on 4th November Barack Obama smoked home in the US. The laughable Sarah Palin did 'Maverick' McCain no favours in what should have been a much tighter race. America was ready for Change, and that's what Obama promises. McCain has been tarred by the brush of his exteremist colleagues, a necessity of them giving him any semblance of support. Obama has, in many ways, created new hope for Americans. Out here in Oz, there's a lot of talk about the guy; he's appears charismatic, a little unconventional, down to earth and direct. I'm more than optimistic about his role withing the global community, particularly on the back of pressing economic times. I hope that he can help to reform the US health system from it's current situation; it's absurd that a nation doesn't offer some of the most basic healthcare to all and sundry. A Change we need, indeed.
On Saturday the 8th November, as a result of the General Election, New Zealand took a leap to the right. The new National party-ACT coalition is, without a doubt, the most conservative in more than fifteen years. The centrist and leftist parties have been left out in the dark, and Ms Clark has resigned as Head of the Labour party. New Zealand, lead by mercurial Mr Key, in for a period of economic change after a well-engineered decade of social development (and, my brother tells me, near zero unemployment). As traditional 'early-adopters' of technology, this will bode well for the middle- and upper- classes, but considering the lashing the economy is currently copping from the global climate, it'll be a hard ask for those not so fortunate.
In summary, Yay K.Rudd, Boo Mugabe, Yay Obama, Boo US health system, and Hmm to NZ and the challenges it approaches. Hmm indeed. In the words of the Beastie Boys; Voters of the world.... Unite!
Challenges ahead, for sure.
So many people in America seem to think that a socialist health system (what we in Australia have, and NZ) is one of the 7 horsemen of the apocalypse. Different countries, but it works (more or less) in the antipodes.