So, I’ve been hesitant to write about politics because (1) I haven’t studied politics and feel kind of bad contributing to the mass of thousands of uninformed voices, and (2) I’ve been out of the country, only getting snippets of the big news from afar.
I’m setting this aside though, because there is always room to say what’s on your mind, whatever that may be.
American Politics observed internationally
I sometimes wondered what the world thought of us, or how they viewed us. The opinions are sure to vary depending on the country and the individual observer, but there might be something to say about the way these opinions are acquired.
Living in Spain has made me more aware of how inundated a “newswatcher” in America is with our politics. I need to specify a group of people as “newswatchers” to sift out the large number of Americans that only use TV and Radio for music, entertainment, movies, etc. I’m talking about people who listen to talk radio/talk podcasts on their commute, watch at least a couple hours of news on cable (MSNBC, FOX, CNN, etc). I have always been around it, and yes I felt like a lot of life was spent thinking about politics – and I’m not writing about the value of doing so, no judgment calls here – but when you take yourself out of that environment, go somewhere without CNN, with the radio in another language and only spending about five minutes on American news, you feel a bit of withdrawal. At first you feel very out of the loop and fear that it’s making you ignorant. You skim papers for the international section or the word Obama and read about what US politicians are doing in a very matter-of-fact voice. This is from El País:
Obama logra su primera gran victoria al sacar adelante su reforma sanitaria
Una vez más, Obama ha hecho historia. La Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos ha dado luz verde a la ambiciosa reforma sanitaria impulsada por el presidente.
Obama wins his first big victory rescuing his health (care) reform
Once again, Obama has made history. The US House of Reps has given the green light to the ambitious health care reform propelled by the president.
I translated it for you, just in case. So yeah, it appears that Spain is somewhat in favor of this, but really they’re just saying that the president won his battle. It could have been something they don’t agree with and still phrase it the same. I’m not quite sure. I’m only assuming they support it because Spaniards have a functioning social health care system here and people think that’s what he’s trying to do.
I’d like to comment on that, but I’ll get back to it later.
So, then the next stage is that you probably give up (looking for news) because you feel like everything is so out of context. I then come back after not hearing much, just out of curiosity, to look at the American news and…
I’m disappointed in (US) politics
1. Shame on you, media
As newspapers die on the streets, American media continuously strives to keep the increasingly short attention of their audiences. Stimulated with animations, bright colors, and other flashy things, we have seemingly become used to a grand show of just about anything. So why not the news right? Anyone who doesn’t play along, making a song and dance out of the news is probably running the risk of losing advertising (as a result of decreased viewership).
Sure, I understand the situation FOX, CNN, MSNBC and the like have got themselves into. Once you start you can’t stop. I don’t have to agree with it though. This is coming at the cost of damaging the information they are supposed to convey to us.
Primarily, information has lost the protection of the law of journalism: unbiased reporting. To keep things interesting, everyone has to put on a show about their opinions for an hour on about five minutes worth of news. Opinions are a keystone to ethical decision-making. I highly value the sharing of different opinions, but people have presently blended their conceptual lines for news/information and opinion/editorial. We receive them simultaneously. To save the time of thinking of our own opinions, we simply tune into the station that digests it for us. Republicans have their crazy, the-sky-is-falling FOX news anchors, and Democrats have their annoying but less-famous counterparts… I don’t know, it’s whoever that guy my Dad likes to watch after dinner.
Share the information, please! But like dessert, save your opinions for after dinner. I guess that’s all I’m saying. Don’t forget your primary job. Keep on the ball, because thoughtless thousands depend on that.
2. Shame on you, politicians
All I have heard lately is that politicians from both sides have been yelling and devising crazy slogans left and right. That is the job of the masses. You are politicians. I thought about politics at one point and I was impressed by the MS/JD program at Stanford and all those stimulating and challenging courses offered. If these people have gone through expensive and rigorous education, I expect more from them. Is it too much to ask?
You are grown adults. You are educated. Your sense of direction for the country isn’t limited to the opinions you and your co-workers share in the office, and your perspective isn’t bound by your monthly bills. You should have the mind to broaden your sense of policy for millions of citizens, and yet it seems incredibly narrow. If there is something so central that you believe in so strongly, then debate it! I haven’t seen any debate. I haven’t seen the exchange of ideas and statistics and studies to support opinions. I could glance at the House or Senate and without knowing any better, take a guess that no one has been through university. Sure, I have my grand ideas or theories about language, but I couldn’t state a single one (among peers in higher education, when I get there) and expect to be listened to without several examples of supporting research.
3. The Tea Party, the Coffee Party
Honestly? First, the Tea Party sounded like a joke. It reminded me of high school when we made nerdy history jokes. They don’t act like a serious party, they just sound like extreme protestors giving republicans a bad worse name. I tolerated it, though. I could expect as much from the outlandish conservatives. What really got to me was the Coffee Party.
Not only is this a blatant comeback of adolescent proportion to “tea,” but they’re also playing along! I remember the few times I got in trouble for something at school when I was little. The usual thing I heard from teachers or my parents was that even though the “other person” was doing something wrong, I should have known better. I feel like it is so immature that there is even such a thing as the Coffee Party. I consider myself a democrat (if you haven’t noticed so far), but I feel like a slap on the wrist is in order here. This is simply playing along with the kids that we made fun of for inventing the “tea party” in the first place.
If you want to band together and push a political message, do it under your own party. What’s wrong with that? Why can’t the Tea Party just get together as good ol’ republicans and why can’t the Coffee Party do the same among democrats. Do we really need to create cliques and sponsor grown up bullying and name calling? That’s really all it is at this point. If I’m wrong, then that’s all it appears to be, and that appearance is the fault of public behavior and the behavior of the media.
4. Obama’s bill vs. Increased national debt
I know you’re tired of reading this by now, but spare me one last thing.
Perhaps there’s a counter-argument that I haven’t researched, but…
I looked online at the bullet point rundown of what this passed bill will include. First off, let me say “woo hoo” to still being covered by my parents’ until I’m 26. I was a bit worried about not being able to go to the dentist or doctor when I came home. Okay, honestly I wasn’t losing any sleep about missing the dentist, but I knew in the long run, it wouldn’t be very good for me to go without. That little thought gave me the perspective of everyone without insurance because of one reason or another. Perspective everyone, is so important.
Let’s jump on the hypothetical train for a minute:
Jimmy is 30 or something like that and he’s got a job. It’s nothing fantastic, let’s say he works as a bank teller and makes decent money for his modest lifestyle (about $18/hr?). He has some kind of “pre-existing condition” … I don’t know, what do you want to call it? He can still work just fine, but he can’t get health insurance, or at least one that he could afford with his “condition” – shall we call it diabetes or something? Okay, so he’s got “diabeetus” and he accidentally breaks his leg. Well I don’t know of many who would do that one on purpose, okay now I’m just being snarky.
Alright so: Jimmy, middle-aged, employed, diabetes, broken leg.
Jimmy goes to the hospital and can’t afford the bill. The government picks up the tab, and cha-ching, our national debt goes up. Sound about right?
Isn’t that what the republicans were complaining about? Our national debt going up? Kind of like how they complain about illegal mexicans going to the hospital and we pick up the tab and it costs us millions (and yet they wouldn’t want to ask the Mexicans to pay taxes).
Obama’s bill basically says “hey insurance company! Quit being cheap bastards and give this guy some health insurance, he’ll still pay you just like everyone else.” I mean, God forbid an insurance company has to start paying for sick people! At the end of the day, Jimmy has insurance, the government doesn’t have to pick up the tab, the private company does.
In summary, this is LESS social, and simply asking these existing companies to broaden their client base. Am I wrong? Leave a comment if you made it this far. Given that I don’t get as much of the news as the continental folk, maybe I’m wrong about all this. It makes sense to me, and it’s not because I’m a democrat. I could explain that part too, but this would get a lot longer.
Sadly, I’m also aware that all the whining in the world won’t change a thing.
The weather’s getting nice here 
