Barrack Obama: Dont you wish...

[hypochondriac]

...That we had someone like him over here? I don't mean a black leader ad I'm not naieve enough to believe that he will keep to all his promises, but he is a man who inspires real hope to the people of his country. He came accross to me as someone who recognises that his country is going wrong and wants to mae a real change for the better, regardless of political parties and previous wars. It's almost as if he is wiping the slate clean and changing America's outlook on things.

 

I long for a leader and a party for Britain who would recognise that Britain has lost its way somewhat and look to win voters not by trashing the other party but by having superior policies, by offering a viable alternative to the current direction and by letting the nation have its say on issues. David Cameron appealed to my initially. I remember watching Question Time when he first came to power and he refused to get drawn into a slanging match about Labour. It wasn't long before he descended back into the tired British ways of politics, scoring cheap points and worrying about making his campaign as vague as possible rather than actually devising a real way to be better than Labour.

 

Freedoms are being restricted, citizens are monitored more than ever, employers have to jump through ever increasing hoops to achieve anything, HIPS are a maddening waste of money, building work and events like the Olympics are never achieved on time and on budget, the Euro will no doubt be implemented very soon, we are forging ever closer ties with Europe and allowing Brussels to control our laws, ethnic minorities are often favoured over White British citizens (everyone should be equal, the idea of an employer having an ethnic quota is simply ridiiculous). All these and many more are killing things that I love about Britain and I struggle to remember positive moves any government has done in my lifetime which has bought about real change for the better.

 

I suppose what saddens me most is the underhand and devious nature that many policies are voted through. The EU constitution was rejected yet they just renamed it as something else and passed it anyway to avoid a referendum over here. They will do the same with the Euro eventually or say that it will help prevent immigration and terrorism (see ID cards.) Remember children, government knows best.

 

Britain needs some inspiration and positivity before anything really gets any better. Barrack Obama's election win made me slightly sad because I looked at the state of the parties over here and I saw none of that inspiration. Does it suit the main political parties to have a low turnout? No idea, but it will probably get wrse before it gets any better. I expect whoever wins the next election to be largely the same as labour and that's the main problem.

 

 

Sorry for the rather long thread, I was just interested to see if anyone felt the same way.

[Dicko]

I'd rather wait to see if he does a good job.

 

If he stuffs up, it will give plenty of bullets for white America to fire

[EastleighSoulBoy]

I'd rather wait to see if he does a good job.

 

If he stuffs up, it will give plenty of bullets for white America to fire

 

If he stuffs up it will be his policies at fault, not his colour, but I'm sure that the vast majority of people would have the sense to realise that.

[Robsk II]

I guess I'm pretty cynical about all of it - I think there are political and economic realities that no-one, not even the most charismatic leader alive with the biggest ideals - can simply ignore. On the other hand - I do really wish that we did move away from this negation politics.

 

"Our policies..? Well, actually, let's just say - look how bad the oppositions track record on this is - or how crumby their policy is now! What's that? What would we do different? Well, we'd do something that when I say it sounds loads different, because I've just said something opposite to what is already done. That way, you'll assume we're not like them, and that's all that matters to you voters, right? No matter that I can't back up or prove why this way will work, or that in fact it will be impossible to implement. That's not the point. As long as I say enough about a very small range of issues to appeal to as much of a naive and ill-informed electorate as possible, I'll get in power. Then I can just do what the hell I want, frankly! Certainly won't have to do what I said, because I won't be able to, for starters! But anyway - let's get back to the point - the opposition is doing a bad job. They've failed on this this this this. They say they have statistics to prove otherwise? Ah, well, we have statistics to prove otherwise otherwise. Oh, and taxes immigration education knife crime paedophilia."

[RoswellSaint]

Hypo,

 

Wait until Saint George sees this thread! It worries me that he quoted me in agreement on another thread.

 

It is still early days but I have high hopes for Obama. He was knocked frequently in the campaign for not detailing policies just talking about change. Wall St liked his pick for Treasury secretary yesterday. He has shown strength of character by reaching out to Clinton as possible Secretary of State (equiv. of Foreign Secretary) despite all the bad blood in the campaign.

 

He will have to work hard to keep the more extreme elements of the Democrat party in check with big majorities in the House and Senate. The US has many similar problems to the UK, aside from current economic ones. Politicians are viewed with something close to contempt but they sometimes get gaught in their corrupt ways - note the Senator from Alaska. But even cases like that are usually one party out to get the other and the papers report, this morning, that a witness lied.

 

I often roll my eyes when I read of some of the stuff going on in the UK in the name of political correctness but we are hardly immune to that here. It sometimes seems that the celebrity culture is out of hand back home and that from the land of Hollywood.

 

I have rambled a bit here but I will end by saying I love the USA, it is a great place to live but I miss the land of my birth - for all it's faults, it is still a great country.

[bridge too far]

Roswell, I think the system in the US is different and this means that Senators don't necessarily toe the party line in the same way as our politicians do here.

 

I think there have been real leaders in the past but it's only now that their talents are recognised. I'd put Tony Benn in this category. To my mind, he's one of the most intelligent and charismatic people I've ever had the good fortune to meet.

 

I think there is a ray of hope in the Labour Party - Jon Cruddas - he says it as it is but I doubt he'll rise to the top, unfortunately.

 

I really hope Obama succeeds but I, too, fear the backlash if he doesn't. He's got a really tough job on his hands especially as big business calls the shots even more than it does here.

[Sheaf Saint]

I guess I'm pretty cynical about all of it - I think there are political and economic realities that no-one, not even the most charismatic leader alive with the biggest ideals - can simply ignore. On the other hand - I do really wish that we did move away from this negation politics.

 

"Our policies..? Well, actually, let's just say - look how bad the oppositions track record on this is - or how crumby their policy is now! What's that? What would we do different? Well, we'd do something that when I say it sounds loads different, because I've just said something opposite to what is already done. That way, you'll assume we're not like them, and that's all that matters to you voters, right? No matter that I can't back up or prove why this way will work, or that in fact it will be impossible to implement. That's not the point. As long as I say enough about a very small range of issues to appeal to as much of a naive and ill-informed electorate as possible, I'll get in power. Then I can just do what the hell I want, frankly! Certainly won't have to do what I said, because I won't be able to, for starters! But anyway - let's get back to the point - the opposition is doing a bad job. They've failed on this this this this. They say they have statistics to prove otherwise? Ah, well, we have statistics to prove otherwise otherwise. Oh, and taxes immigration education knife crime paedophilia."

 

I'm in total agreement with you on all of this Rob. In all my adult life I have never actually voted in a general election for the principle reason that I have never come across a party that I actually want to vote for, and I refuse to vote for the lesser of the evils just for the sake of voting for somebody.

 

British politics (I guess it's the same the world over though) really is just about trying to make your opponent look bad. Labour and the Tories have been scoring points off each other like this since the dawn of time and it is so tiresome. I long for the day that a politician will come forward who I will look to and respect, someone with the strength of will to gain power not just for the sake of it, or for the associated kudos, but because they actually want to make a contribution to the world and give something back. Labour's entire election campaign in 1997 was basically saying "Look how sleazy the Conservatives are, we promise we won't be anywhere near as bad as that", but they have proven themselves to be just as sleazy and corrupt, if not more so.

 

In my lifetime (I'm 33) there has only ever been one british politician who I had any respect for, but sadly she is dead now - Mo Mowlam. To me she was a shining beacon of light in an otherwise dark and shady world of politics, because she genuinely cared about making a difference. This country, and indeed the world in general, would be a far better place if politicians could show even half the strength of character that she demonstrated during her relatively short career.

[hypochondriac]

Thanks to everyone for replying but my point was more about his campaign and his inspirational qualities rather than if he 'succeeds' or not. He is inspiring ordinary americans to do things personally to help make america a better country. The only thing the political parties in britain inspire is apathy. I don't blame the public for that, I blame the parties. If there was a campaign here which refused to concentrate on the negatives and concede that the party in power has done things well then I would vote for them if they had a sensible plan to make britain better

[RoswellSaint]

Thanks to everyone for replying but my point was more about his campaign and his inspirational qualities rather than if he 'succeeds' or not. He is inspiring ordinary americans to do things personally to help make america a better country. The only thing the political parties in britain inspire is apathy. I don't blame the public for that, I blame the parties. If there was a campaign here which refused to concentrate on the negatives and concede that the party in power has done things well then I would vote for them if they had a sensible plan to make britain better

 

OK, accept your point. Up until this year the politicians inspired apathy here with declining turn out on Election day. Obama did change that.

[Robsk II]

Agreed that we do need someone different, hypo, but I think inspirational is a bit hopeful in this country, We are unlilely to have anyone who could work the errant moron masses into a righteous fervour with a bit of flag waving and talk of equality and so on. It's different here. I don't care if someone is ostensibly dull as dishwater - if they have the character, vision and leadership to at least try to progress the country in a positive direction.

 

Bexy, my parents met Mo Mowlam, oddly, shortly before she died, and they had a lengthy conversation with her - she affirmed what they, and you, already suspected of her. She genuinely said some damn good things and had a sensitive yet sensible, practical approach to issues, and didn't care what anyone said. Very few politicians indeed have proven over time to be this way. I always liked Neil Kinnock, actually. I would echo BTF in adding Tony Benn to category of 'good' politicians as well, actually. Anyone who can say "If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people." after a lengthy political career, I salute. it is true, though - there are, and have been, far too few.

[Dicko]

If he stuffs up it will be his policies at fault, not his colour, but I'm sure that the vast majority of people would have the sense to realise that.

 

Totally disagree

 

Anybody who thinks his colour isn't a major part of the worlds fascination with him are deluded

 

If he fails - some people will use the factor that got him elected to also destroy him

[Robsk II]

So you're implying that if he fails, it is because of his ethnicity?

[hypochondriac]

Robsk- I agree. Apologies for the short reply but I am on my mobile. I would never expect Britain to be the same as America but just to feel that the country is changing for the better due to a political appointment and to make some of the public more willing to help out would be enough for me. Lots will never care because they are fools but there must be many like me who are desperate for something to get behind and believe in and help to make a difference.

[Dicko]

So you're implying that if he fails, it is because of his ethnicity?

 

No, of course not

 

I am saying some people will use his colour if he fails

[Robsk II]

Well that's quite right, and if you're saying some apatehtic voters may have been more inspired to bother because - as a main point - he is black, then I don't think anyone can argue with that. BUT I do think many will have been shaken from their political torpor because of his policy outlines and so on, as well.

[hamster]

I have always thought that we (the country as a whole) would have done well under John Smith. His passing was a real shame. We may even have started being nice to each other again.

 

Obama, has that rare quality which is hard to actually put your finger on, but he just seems so honest and genuinely sincere. If he delivers, or at least tries his darndest to deliver, then I reckon that we may well find someone enter our stage, right out of the blue but of a similar mould. We are just so used to having a procession of untrustworthy soundbite merchants put in front of us. Maybe the world is ready for change now, maybe we are entering a whole new era of jaw jaw, and not war, war (you heard that here first, write it down).

 

Also, the way in which BNP have been 'outed' this week, could be a sign that we are all fed up with people being horrible to each other. They may have a legal right to stand for elction, and have the right to privacy. All the joking aside, people are laughing at them in the main because of their ridiculous blinkered racist views. What a bunch of morons. If someone were to challenge me on this view I will not enter debate, as anyone who does not 'get it', is not worthy of my time. Anyway, Racism just ain't Saintly - FACT