A Note on the US Elections...
I do hope that America will inspire the world tonight, but seeing as the Presidential race is hopefully secure in Sentaor Obama's hands, let's look at the other races. I'm curious to see if the Democrats will have a better majority in the House of Representatives and Senate. Lately, I've been reading an epic biography of FDR (FDR by Jean Edward Smith) and much was made of FDR's first hundred days as President - he had more legislative activity in that short time span than had ever been achieved before...
As a non-American, I should obviously be interested in what happens in the federal level elections since those can affect foreign policy which can affect my country. However, I find myself much interested in the American practice of "ballot measures," (also called "propositions" or, 'referenda' in Canada). As badly corrupt as the American political process is (according to Open Secrets, the Republican Presidential campaign has spent $293 million while the Democratic Presidential campaign has spent $573 million), these measures strike me as truly democratic. That's why it is so sad to see this democratic instrument being used to inflict such political wrongs. According to CNN, there are 15 ballot measures: 4 of these are anti-gay, several are abortion related. The two surprising ballot measures are the bid to repeal the income tax in Massachusetts (simply madness!) and then there is Washington State's ballot measure to allow doctor-assisted suicide....
As a non-American, I should obviously be interested in what happens in the federal level elections since those can affect foreign policy which can affect my country. However, I find myself much interested in the American practice of "ballot measures," (also called "propositions" or, 'referenda' in Canada). As badly corrupt as the American political process is (according to Open Secrets, the Republican Presidential campaign has spent $293 million while the Democratic Presidential campaign has spent $573 million), these measures strike me as truly democratic. That's why it is so sad to see this democratic instrument being used to inflict such political wrongs. According to CNN, there are 15 ballot measures: 4 of these are anti-gay, several are abortion related. The two surprising ballot measures are the bid to repeal the income tax in Massachusetts (simply madness!) and then there is Washington State's ballot measure to allow doctor-assisted suicide....