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Monday, November 10, 2008
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The F Word, and no not F*ck and not that programme by Gordon Bloody Ramsey
Well, by posting our little announcement and then not adding anything new to the blog for a fortnight, I think I've squeezed every last possible comment out of my readership. Thanks for all your kind words, it really was nice to hear from you all. Thanks for turning out!
Speaking of large turn-outs brings me on to the big news of the day, the fantastic election results in the US. It's hard to believe it's all over, especially since even in the UK the US election has been headline news for well over a year now.
American democracy seems to be a strange beast, sometimes inexorably slow, other times remarkably swift. Americans appear happy to spend years preparing for each election, conversely on the day of voting they're impatient for the results, often declaring results just after the polls have closed and well before all the votes are counted. But then, after the result is known, weeks pass before the incumbent hands over to the President Elect.
Coming from a country where snap elections are called with a few week's notice, the results aren't declared until all the votes are counted, and leaders change overnight, it all seems a little arse-about-face.
But what I do I know? We only invented democracy. Or was that the Greeks? I forget. Or are we the ones who've been doing it the longest? Something like that. We're definitely the best at it. We should get a cup or something.
Anyway, thinking about Obama's victory brings my thoughts full circle, back to my life and the new life that's coming. In particular I'm thinking about the F word: the Future.
The Future isn't something I've thought about much in my life, to be honest. It's just something I've allowed to arrive and wash over me. One of the creeping realisations that's dawning on me since Junior started setting up shop in Wombsville (population 1), is that the future isn't a blank page anymore, it's got a definite structure and form, and certain things are going to have to happen.
The blank page is now more like a sheet of A4 feint ruled. With a margin and everything. Begging to be written on.
I've already started with the first line: "stop making crap analogies".
That will do for now.
Speaking of large turn-outs brings me on to the big news of the day, the fantastic election results in the US. It's hard to believe it's all over, especially since even in the UK the US election has been headline news for well over a year now.
American democracy seems to be a strange beast, sometimes inexorably slow, other times remarkably swift. Americans appear happy to spend years preparing for each election, conversely on the day of voting they're impatient for the results, often declaring results just after the polls have closed and well before all the votes are counted. But then, after the result is known, weeks pass before the incumbent hands over to the President Elect.
Coming from a country where snap elections are called with a few week's notice, the results aren't declared until all the votes are counted, and leaders change overnight, it all seems a little arse-about-face.
But what I do I know? We only invented democracy. Or was that the Greeks? I forget. Or are we the ones who've been doing it the longest? Something like that. We're definitely the best at it. We should get a cup or something.
Anyway, thinking about Obama's victory brings my thoughts full circle, back to my life and the new life that's coming. In particular I'm thinking about the F word: the Future.
The Future isn't something I've thought about much in my life, to be honest. It's just something I've allowed to arrive and wash over me. One of the creeping realisations that's dawning on me since Junior started setting up shop in Wombsville (population 1), is that the future isn't a blank page anymore, it's got a definite structure and form, and certain things are going to have to happen.
The blank page is now more like a sheet of A4 feint ruled. With a margin and everything. Begging to be written on.
I've already started with the first line: "stop making crap analogies".
That will do for now.
-
Suzie Tall Congratulations on your new president!
British democracy has succeded better than others because it has been tempered by the upper house who can apply common sense to moderate excess without having to be popular.
The Americans really did not have very much choice in a two horse race where there is little opportunity for the candidates to disagree on anything.
The future is bright despite government, not because of it.
Suzie x
Vote Suzie for First tranny Prime Minister -
Pandora Caitiff What do you mean first tranny PM?
Wikipedia claims that Thatcher was born female...
*gets coat* -
Carolyn Ann There's one reason the elections are done the way they are, and another (almost related) for why the actual hand-over is at a different time...
First, election timing. The Founding Fathers looked at the British Parliamentary system, and decided that the ability of the governing party to manipulate the system was too much. As you know, the British PM decides to hold an election when he or she thinks they stand the best chance of winning. This led to one Parliament in the 1700's that sat for 13 years! The Greeks weren't much better.
So, at the Constitutional Convention - they made the decision that an election falls on a certain date, and let the cards fall where they may.
As a sop to the Southern contingent, this was also when they made slaves and bondsmen 3/5 of a person, and left a gaping hole in the principle by letting States set their own election standards. The one exception being there was no (discrete) property requirement for Federal elections.
There are actually two reasons for the gap between the election and the turnover. The first is the size of the country - it could take a long time for the winner of an election to get to the seat of power (Washington D.C. wasn't around at that point.) It could also take a long time (relatively speaking) to get the election results, and communicate them.
The other reason was to provide some political, diplomatic and military stability. Because of the long travel times, and the rather immediate danger that one of the European powers (Britain or France, mostly) might use the transition of a new President as the perfect time to attack the continent. So, it was decreed that the change over happened after the new Congress was seated, and it was an immediate change: the moment the new President was sworn in, the handover was complete. The problem of being attacked or invaded also explains why Congress was seated first; it's the only body that can actually declare war; but the President can "make" war, specifically within the narrow confines of national defense. (Lincoln, for instance, worried that he might be impeached for his response to the southern attack on Fort Sumter.)
Honestly, between the two systems - and having worked within British politics - I prefer the American Presidential/Congressional system. I think the past few months have actually demonstrated how useful it can be to have fixed-date elections. If Bush and his cronies had suspected that the financial meltdown was going to happen (there were plenty of signs, and even economists saying it would happen, but no one knew how badly or when it would be) - he could have declared an election in the summer, and won. Thankfully, the Republicans of the late 1940's, in a fit of pique, decided to enforce a two-term limit (they were mad at FDR), and Bush couldn't declare an election whenever he thought he might win.
America makes mistakes, but they usually get corrected within a decade! And there is no possibility of a hand-picked successor getting the top job without popular approval. (The choice is made, in the form of the VP. Which is why that role is so important in a campaign. We need only ask Sarah Palin about that...) Fortunately for Gordon Brown, that's not a problem Tony Blair had to deal with.
There are some advantages to the British system, especially in a monarchy. The hybrid system (such as Russia and France) of having a President and a PM seems to be the worst of both systems.
My apologies for having gone at so much length. As at least a few people know, I have a passion for this country, its Constitution (Britain has a Bill of Rights, but I don't think it's been updated in the last 300 or so years), and its political underpinnings.
Carolyn Ann -
Lynn Jones The future's a funny thing. Sure you can worry about it, but does it do any good? Equally, ignoring it isn't a good idea. We're back to balance again aren't we.
Given that the Americans seem to be the last superpower, I feel they've quite a weight on their shoulders with regards to backing up the UN et al. Given the number of small wars of late, it'll be interesting to see if they decide to withdraw from the international scene and concentrate on home events. We shall see I guess.
BTW: I trust you've already loaded all baby changing and soft play areas into your mobile's map function. You will be asked. :) -
Kristina R I hope Obama brings change... because I need to break a fifty.
There's your first "dad joke" for the book. :) -
Oh yes, Obama's promising change...he hasn't said what that change is and what it's change from and to though.
As for the future...well, here are some words to comfort you:
We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future. -
sophie h As for elections and politicians I go with the Bill Bailey train of thought, 'I'm English, and as such I crave dissappointment'.
As for the future, I wish you well and hope you are anything but dissappointed.
Becky Enverite PM. has a good ring to it, yes? -
becca While the future's uncertain, I can't adequately describe the feeling here in the US post-election (at least here in the liberal NW). For the first time in nearly a decade, I don't want to renounce my citizenship and head out for fairer shores. I still get choked up realizing Obama has been elected...and I am not alone. Lots of happy tears this week from lots of people. Obama has a lot of expectations to live up to, and I have faith he's going to do a damned fine job (with the occasional misstep I'm sure).
Bottomline: I feel a boatload better about raising a kid in this country now that we'll have a president who's the opposite of a complete idiot.
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